Nic is a 24-year-old woman living in Mishawaka, Indiana, who works a dead-end job at a local play and events center. She has struggled with alcohol use disorder and a profound lack of direction since the mysterious disappearance of her older sister, Kasey, seven years ago. Isolated and prone to reactive anger, she is forced to confront her suppressed trauma when approached by a stranger with new information about her sister's case.

Jenna is a 33-year-old receptionist whose sister, Jules, disappeared two weeks before Kasey Monroe. Unlike Nic, Jenna has spent the last seven years collecting information, news clippings, and geographical details about the disappearances. She is calculating and driven by a desperate need for answers, making her both an asset and a composed foil to the volatile Nic.

Kasey is Nic's older sister, who vanished at the age of 19 under suspicious circumstances, her car found abandoned on the side of the road with the driver's door open. Before her disappearance, she was a responsible nursing student at Arizona State who often acted as a caretaker for Nic. Her memory is a driving force in the narrative, though lingering questions suggest her life was more complicated than it appeared.

Brad is the manager at Funland and the best friend of Nic's parents. Following the disintegration of Nic's immediate family after Kasey's disappearance, Brad stepped in as a surrogate father figure. He provides Nic with steady employment and emotional support, though he is highly protective of his own family's reputation in the community.

Sandy is Brad's wife and a close friend of the Monroe family. She serves as a maternal figure to Nic, offering comfort and care in the wake of Nic's mother moving away. Sandy is completely dedicated to preserving her family's happiness and stability within their Mishawaka community.

Steve, often referred to as "Skeevy Steve" by former employees, is a restaurant manager who worked next door to Kasey's record shop. He has a history of making female employees uncomfortable and possesses an objective attractiveness that masks a predatory nature. His proximity to both Jules and Kasey makes him a figure of intense scrutiny.

Lauren is Kasey's former coworker and friend. Now married with two children, she has integrated deeply into the local church community. She holds crucial information about the summer Kasey disappeared but is highly evasive and fearful of revisiting the past, wishing only to protect her current life.

Jules is Jenna's sister, a 24-year-old bartender who disappeared two weeks before Kasey. Her case received significantly less media attention due to her age and working-class status. Her abandoned car was the only initial link between her and Kasey, sparking Jenna's years-long quest for answers.

Detective Wyler is the original investigator assigned to Kasey's case. He has since handed the file over to others and displays a dismissive, bureaucratic attitude toward Nic and Jenna's amateur investigating, insisting that standard profiles and alibis were thoroughly checked years ago.

Detective Aimes is the current officer in charge of Kasey's cold case. Unlike Wyler, she is proactive and willing to share select pieces of withheld evidence to see if it sparks new leads, proving to be more receptive to Nic and Jenna's personal involvement in the mystery.

Nic's father is a hardworking man who has coped with his oldest daughter's disappearance by throwing himself into his job and completely shutting down emotionally. He refuses to discuss Kasey's case, creating a profound distance between him and his surviving daughter.

Mrs. Connor is Jenna and Jules's mother. She suffers from health issues requiring an oxygen tank but remains sharp and deeply cynical. She harbors intense bitterness regarding her daughters and has a highly strained, argumentative relationship with Jenna.

Banksy is a skinny calico cat with a missing eye and a crooked tail living at the local animal shelter. He serves as a vital source of comfort for Nic, who feels a deep kinship with his damaged, discarded nature.

Matty is a waiter at Mesquite Barbecue who unwittingly provides Nic and Jenna with crucial information about the restaurant's staff history and management, pointing out Steve to them.

Beth Anne is Lauren's four-year-old daughter. She inadvertently becomes a pawn in the mystery when an unknown individual approaches her to deliver a warning to her mother.