Suicide, child abuse, domestic violence - these are the staple experiences of Triphammer's working life. He's a cop in Ithaca, N.Y., and a good one, though his lack of anything beyond basic education prevents his passing the all-important lieutenant's exam. He tries to keep his emotions out of the job, but he can't always manage it. When you're off duty and home, you're one type of person. When you're working, you put on a suit of armor.
Nothing leaks in and nothing leaks out.
Every day you check to make sure all the leaks are stopped up. Triphammer's problem is that the suit of armor has become soldered onto his skin. The emotions he denies at work are not always available when he needs them at home. Not that he's an indifferent father, or a bad one. On the contrary, he overinvests in his son.