When thirty-five-year-old France's father calls to say that her mother, Grendy, has run off, France suspects foul play and heads south to investigate. Recently reunited with fellow former "mermaids" from Mermaid Springs, FLone of the Sunshine State's premier, pre-Disney attractions Grendy had successfully revived her career in kitschy underwater pageants. But if she doesn't find herself or let herself be found soon, she'll miss the big Labor Day show. While the other fin-toting "merhags" regale France with stories of old particularly the night Elvis came to townthey're suspiciously tight-lipped about Grendy's disappearance. Increasingly convinced that Grendy is in trouble and that a psychic cat might hold the clueshe makes a series of unexpected, extraordinary discoveries about Mermaid Springs, her mother, and, in turn, herself.