Summary

In Chapter 1, first person narrator, Tiller, lives in a town he nicknames Stagno, with his girlfriend, Val, and her eight-year-old son, Victor Jr., or Veej. Because Val is in witness protection, they barely leave the house. They homeschool Veej, and order everything online.

Tiller and Val met "in a food court of the Hong Kong International Airport" (2). Tiller was returning from a trip abroad. Besides what Val told Tiller during their initial meeting, neither of them know much about the other's life.

One day, Tiller encountered a suspicious man in the neighborhood. He was looking for people who had committed fraud. Val was on his list. Tiller became desperate to protect her afterwards. He sliced the man's tire as he drove away.

In Chapter 2, Tiller grew up in Dunbar, New Jersey. Before his mother disappeared, Tiller lived with both his parents. He stayed...