Nathaniel Blackwood is the lawyer whom Cole’s dad hires to defend Cole after he assaults Peter. Blackwood is a stiff man who, in Cole’s opinion, must starch his underwear, judging by just how stiffly he conducts himself. He regularly wears three-piece suits, even in situations that don’t call for that degree of formality. Cole never really views Blackwood as a full person to Cole—initially, Cole hates him because he insists he can’t do much to help, given the severity of Cole’s crime. Cole eventually discovers that his dad hired Blackwood—and thus, when Cole begins to speak out about his dad’s abuse, his dad refuses to pay for Blackwood’s services.