In Claudia Barbour-Lacey's house, six blocks straight down from the Barbour family home in Seacliff, San Francisco, there are lights on in Penelope's bedroom and in the living room downstairs, but otherwise the house is in darkness. Nicky is at the Sky Ranch, and Claudia is spending the evening alone while Penny studies, but she is bored and restless. She puts her book aside and decides to call Hazel, to see if she wants to get together for company and a little gossip.