Contents
Chapter Six
Overview
After limping into Tusayan, Lucky overhears news about victims of her cons and sees televised coverage of an unclaimed $390M Idaho jackpot. She confirms her own ticket matches the winning numbers. The windfall is unusable, as claiming it would expose her to arrest, deepening her crisis and isolation.
Summary
Lucky recuperates in a Tusayan diner after walking from the Grand Canyon, nursing a cut hand and trying to stay unnoticed as news screens show the Manhattan DA and a segment about the “grifting Bonnie and Clyde.” Nearby patrons condemn the con artists and mention an elderly victim canceling heart surgery, intensifying Lucky’s guilt.
When the televisions switch to lottery coverage, Lucky sees a convenience store winner in Idaho and feels a surge of hope. She hurries to a nearby shop for the printed winning numbers and recognizes them as her own.
Racing to a McDonald’s restroom for privacy, Lucky compares her ticket to the official numbers and confirms she holds the $390 million winner. The realization brings dread, not joy: stepping forward would mean immediate arrest.
Lucky hides the ticket in her shoe and studies her reflection, trying to summon a new identity and plan. Overwhelmed by the impossibility of claiming the prize and the mounting consequences of her past, she leaves the restaurant and walks into the night, more uncertain than ever.
Who Appears
- LuckyOn the run; wounded and exhausted; confirms her Idaho lottery ticket won $390M but cannot claim it without arrest.
- WaitressServes Lucky at the Tusayan diner, distracted by news about the fugitive con couple.
- Female diner patronsDiscuss the cons’ victims and the Idaho jackpot, triggering Lucky’s guilt and urgency.
- Cashier at Daisy MartProvides the printout of winning numbers that lets Lucky verify her ticket.
- Manhattan DA (on TV)Televised presence reinforces the risk of exposure and arrest if Lucky comes forward.