Question F

[Jonetta]

In the background of the case is the murder of Stacy Kincaid. Were you convinced of Harris' guilt or neutral at this point? Did you pick up on any strangeness during Harry's first interview with her parents and their security guy, Richter?

[Robin]

I kind of guessed that Harris hadn't kidnapped Stacy Kincaid. I'm not sure why I felt that way.

Harry's interview with the Kincaids and Richter was strange. Why would they invite their security guy to an interview with the cops? Why was Mrs. Kincaid staring at the floor the whole time? Of course, Harry picked up on it and got her alone the next day.

[Charlene]

I agree, Robin. Good question, Jonetta.

[Lauren]

I never thought Harris was guilty (although he was an asshole).

Richter gave me the creeps from the start. Like Robin, he seemed out of place there and his comment that Kate Kincaid didn't drive the Volvo was weird...

[Jonetta]

Harris was a jerk but too many things didn't add up and that was fairly clear early on.

I agree with Robin and Lauren. I remember being startled when I learned Kincaid was the stepfather who did all the talking. My antenna was raised at this point. Richter had no business being in that interview.

[Charlene]

Yes, Richter (in a normal role) would not have a place at the discussion, but would have been called in when the police wanted to look at security issues only.

[Jim]

Richter's presence in the first interview was a flag that something about them wasn't right. Prior to Harry exposing Kincaid, I had a feeling we would find Harris had not killed Stacy but I couldn't place why I felt that.

I have to say that the car wash connection to Harris' fingerprints should have been seen in the initial investigation. The investigation of Stacy's disappearance was under a lot of pressure, as her body was not yet discovered when Harris was brutalized. Then, Harry's investigation of the Angel's Flight murders was under pressure too for its potential to spur the rioting . . . the author really pushes this theme in this book, how these pressures bear down on the investigations (and, how mistakes result.)