Sober for three months, San Francisco film editor Carty thinks he's in control of his life, no longer a victim of self-inflicted alcoholic blackouts. But after finding a twenty-dollar bill reporting a rape committed in Michigan seven years ago, Carty finds himself perversely obsessed with the crime, determined to solve the puzzle presented by the twenty. Carty follows the clues across the country, suspecting everyone around him. But he soon realizes he's not only chasing the truth, but also running away from his sobriety.