Jim is an older cop who follows his own moral compass rather than strict duty as a policeman. Unlike his son Jack, who adheres to rules, Jim acts from the heart. He supports his daughter financially and allows a bank robber to escape, believing in the best in people. He is a supportive father who misses his late wife and is confused by the disconnected world of younger generations.

The bank robber is a woman compelled by desperation to rob a bank in an attempt to keep custody of her daughters after being left by her husband. Despite holding hostages, her situation evokes their sympathy, illustrating the novel's theme of the connection between anxiety and seemingly foolish actions.