High Five characters

Appears from the start

A Trenton apprehension agent whose persistence still exceeds her formal skill. Her apartment and routines are recovering from the upheaval of her last case. Her relationship with Joe Morelli has become physical but remains undefined, while Ranger is still her professional mentor and an equally unsettling source of attraction.

Appears from the start

A Trenton police officer and Stephanie's intermittent lover. He wants a more orderly place in her life than her work or her independence readily permits, and he regards Ranger as both a practical danger and a personal rival.

Appears from the start

Vinnie's most capable apprehension agent and Stephanie's mentor. He begins offering Stephanie well-paid work outside her ordinary bond files without explaining much about it. Their professional trust is accompanied by an attraction neither treats as entirely theoretical.

Appears from the start

A former street worker who is now part of Vinnie's office and Stephanie's usual field partner. She brings confidence, local knowledge, and enthusiasm to surveillance and apprehensions.

Appears from the start

Stephanie's grandmother, an energetic observer of neighborhood scandal and police activity. A disappearance within the family gives her a direct reason to join Stephanie's questions.

Appears from the start

Stephanie's cousin and the owner of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, who supplies her fugitive files while trying to protect the agency's money.

Appears from the start

The bail-bond office manager who controls the files and keeps the agency functioning. She gives Stephanie practical information and draws on extensive Trenton connections.

Appears from the start

Stephanie's habitually frugal uncle, whose dispute over a refuse bill is followed by his unexplained disappearance. His ordinary routines leave the family with few obvious reasons for him to vanish voluntarily.

Appears from the start

Fred's wife and Stephanie's aunt. Alarmed when her husband does not return, she asks the family for help and supplies Stephanie with the details of his recent habits and complaints.

Appears from the start

A small, sharp-tongued computer programmer who has failed to appear in court. He is Stephanie's paying fugitive assignment and proves difficult to manage even after she locates him.

First appears in chapter 6

A persistent man asking questions about Fred and presenting himself as someone with a financial interest in finding him. His attention makes clear that the missing man had contacts his family did not know about.

First appears in chapter 6

An easygoing young Trenton resident whose unconventional circle becomes useful to Stephanie during the search.

First appears in chapter 6

Mooner's friend and companion, drawn into Stephanie's improvised network of helpers.