How characters deal with the main conflict.

In this book the main character, Ethan, has to investigate the activities of suspicious occupants in this secret, post-apocolyptic town. Ethan deals with being in the town well, by integrating into the sheriff's position and by protecting its people. Others however, deal with it in a more violent way, by removing their tracking chips and sneaking out at night undetected. When these secret meetings get someone killed is when we start to see a character diffrence. Insted of adapting well like Ethan, Kate (Another former FBI agent) starts indulging in these behaviors, maybe just to learn more about the town. If you were in this position, do you think you could keep your cool, or end up like kate?