Pete Downey first appeared as a recently orphaned 16- year-old group home resident. Growing up, his years were mostly sporadic periods of disconnection among an addictive mother, indifferent street people, and sadistic foster parents. Head never known a father. Ann Carson, his social worker, provided positive intervention, and later, a congenial foster home with the Harpers, but Pete insisted on trying to define himself on his terms. This resulted in his leading a parallel life of deceit and ultimate danger. Pete was intelligent, but he was driven by conflicting ambitions, seemingly an escape from an increasingly hollow life. Even a brief liaison creates more confusion than stability. Peteas drift into underworld activity was a disastrous, dizzying spiral, resulting in an ironic and traumatic situation that changed his outlook as he continued the struggle to find meaning in his life.