Reba Lafferty was a daughter of privilege. Nord Lafferty was already in his fifties when Reba was born, and he could deny her nothing. Over the years he quietly settled her many scrapes with the law - until she was convicted of embezzlement and sent to the California Institute for Women. Now, at thirty-two, she is about to be paroled. Nord Lafferty wants to be sure she stays straight, stays away from the drugs, the booze, the gamblers. It seems a straightforward assignment for Kinsey Millhone: babysit Reba until she settles in, make sure she follows the rules of her parole. Maybe a week's work. The money is good. But life is never that simple.