Well past retirement age and feeling his years--but still staying sober one day at a time--Matthew Scudder learns that alcoholics aren't the only ones who count the days since their last slip. Matt's longtime partner, Elaine, tells him of a group of former sex workers who do something similar, helping each other stay out of the life. But when one young woman describes an abusive client who's refusing to let her quit, Elaine encourages her to get help...

"A new town, a fresh start. A chance to escape old demons. Or meet new ones. He got on the Trailways bus in Galbraith, North Dakota, booked all the way through to Spokane. But the Help Wanted sign at the diner in Cross Creek was calling his name. Soon, he had a job working in the grill and a place to stay, and a new name to go with them. But what he didn't have was peace of mind. Or a clear conscience. Or any memory at all of what he'd done the night...