Jennifer is a reporter with whom Lucas has had a long term relationship with until recently. When Lucas and Jennifer's infant daughter, Sarah, is hurt by a suspect in one of Lucas's cases, Jennifer takes the baby and leaves. This causes Lucas to fall into a dark depression that he is struggling to overcome when this novel begins. Lucas cares deeply for his daughter and her mother. Lucas asks Jennifer to decide if she wants to come back to him or stay gone. At the end of the novel, Jennifer approaches Lucas and asks if they can begin talking to work on their relationship. This helps keep Lucas from falling into depression again after the death of a lover and his forced retirement from the police department.