Hollis's daughter, Polly, is finally good and pregnant. She and her husband share their joy with family and friends, except for one. Polly irrationally hates Hollis's wife, Eve. Polly's life and others, take a turn when Hollis mysteriously disappears in an alley behind a restaurant while out of town. An emotionally traumatized family, along with old and new friends, bond like never before through plucky brawls, twists of danger, and spicy escapades to find Hollis. Will he be found alive?

The story blends with a home base in Seattle, WA, Long Beach, CA, and Melbourn, Austrailia.