Content Warning: The novel contains references to and depictions of suicide, depression, sexual assault, kidnapping, and dismemberment.

Marin Machado and her four-year-old son, Sebastian, go to Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, one Saturday afternoon. Sebastian begs Marin to buy him a lollipop, but Marin wants him to wait until they meet up with her husband, Derek. She then gets distracted by a call from her friend Sal Palermo and her search for a gift for her salon manager, Sadie. Derek finally calls and promises to meet her soon. Marin turns around and realizes Sebastian is gone. She searches frantically for him, but no one has seen him. She calls Derek, and he blames her for losing Sebastian when he arrives.

The couple gives the market security a photo of Sebastian, and they forward it to their team. Finally, they find footage of Sebastian leaving the market with someone in a Santa Claus suit just four minutes after Marin realized he was missing.

Sebastian is still missing 485 days later. Marin knows that most children who haven’t been found within 24 hours won’t be found. She owns a renowned downtown salon and recently returned to work.