Creepy mild-mannered Jeremy is creepy, yes. Much like the rest of the city (there's a town and a city, and the town with the finger-biting monsters is less dangerous), he knits every day at six o'clock precisely. And at one point, he may lure Richard into a car, necessitating a Daring Escape.

(It's going to be tricky for them, because in the city, getting on the bus means safety, at least temporarily, and if anyone offers you a lift if a car, they're probably up to no good.)