Bernice (nicknamed Fry for reasons that will be explained early on in the story) considers her family to be just a run-of-the-mill, ordinary, every-day type-that is, until her widowed father disappears. Though he's only missing for a day, when he returns-with a semi-logical explanation-something about him is slightly out of sync. Fry's sister Sam, the oldest of the three siblings and their father's self-appointed guardian, though he incessantly takes issue with the need for one-he is, after all, still a relatively young man-is initially convinced that his atypical behavior is the result of a stroke. But Fry is not so sure. As events unfold, she begins to suspect something much more sinister.