Question F

[Jonetta]

Sheriff King was indeed focused on Tim. However, Morgan and Lance were quickly able to raise doubts about it, especially when the second woman was abducted and the body of Sarah Bernard was found. What’s your impression of King?

[Robin]

Tim was Sheriff King's number one suspect, but I don't think he had stopped looking for other suspects. I don't know if his deputies are trained for this kind of investigation. They missed Chelsea's necklace near the place they found her car, but that was understandable since the grass was so high. If I remember correctly, they didn't question the sex offenders in the area. I thought that was a big misstep. Sheriff King was very upset that his people didn't find these clues.

[Sharon]

Tim as the husband is the usual suspect for law enforcement. I felt like they tend to look at the easy answers instead of doing an in depth investigation. It upset King that his men missed clues. I'm sure a lot of their blunders is due to inexperience.

King didn't like that Lance and Morgan showed better investigative skills than his police, but he did listen to them begrudgingly.

[Jonetta]

I can’t blame the deputies. King knows they’re inexperienced and did nothing to compensate for that, including asking for help. It speaks to his lack of leadership over the case. They all focused in on Tim because that’s what King was doing. And, it took him a bit to even consider her missing. When King did get help from Morgan and Lance, he treated them like competition and setback the case.

I’m hoping he learned something from this. He had a reputation going into this.

[Sharon]

Jonetta wrote: "I’m hoping he learned something from this. He had a reputation going into this.."

I bet he didn't learn anything. He has that personality trait wheret accepting help or even advice is a weakness. It will be hard for him to change.

[Lauren]

I understood King's suspicions with regard to Tim as it is usually the husband. However, he was intelligent enough to realize that the evidence did not support this.

His reactions to Morgan were also understandable given she is questioning his department. Nevertheless, he admits when he is wrong and has a grudging respect for her.

I actually like him a lot despite his gruff attitude. He's a good man doing the best he can with limited resources.

[Lauren]

Sharon wrote: "I bet he didn't learn anything. He has that personality trait wheret accepting help or even advice is a weakness. It will be hard for him to change."

I have to disagree on this one. King is grateful for Morgan's help in his own way albeit grudgingly, and he respects her. I think he has learned from this and would accept help from Morgan and Lance. I wonder if we will see more of him in the next book.

[Charlene]

Lauren, I agree with your comments. Especially as the story unfolded and because Morgan was not (former) law enforcement, I hope that King will be more accepting of their help in the future -- especially if he has a case that his inexperienced crew cannot address adequately.

[Sharon]

Charlene wrote: "Lauren, I agree with your comments. Especially as the story unfolded and because Morgan was not (former) law enforcement, I hope that King will be more accepting of their help in the future -- espe..."

Morgan was a former prosecutor and Scarlett Falls wanted her to accept the job of ADA. When she became a defense attorney, in book 1, the local law enforcement didn't trust her. At least that is the way I interpreted her change in positions.

[Jonetta]

She became one of the "other side" when she defended Nick. It didn't even matter that he was determined to be innocent.

[Lauren]

Sharon wrote: "When she became a defense attorney, in book 1, the local law enforcement didn't trust her. At least that is the way I interpreted her change in positions."

Yes, this was my impression as well. In book 1, Morgan's decision angers the DA and Chief Hoover in Scarlett Falls.
King, however, is the county sheriff, and he and Hoover don't get along. Maybe that indicates her relationship with King will be better.

[Lauren]

Jonetta wrote: "She became one of the "other side" when she defended Nick. It didn't even matter that he was determined to be innocent."

Yes, she questioned the DA's and the Chief's actions and motivations with regard to Nick. Not sure the animosity extends to the Sheriff though as he is disdainful of Hoover.

So far, King seems to be grumpy, but ultimately fair (setting aside the incident with bring Tim into the station which I think he regretted), so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Sharon]

I don't see King the same way as you. We will have to disagree on this point until we get through more books. Maybe he will redeem himself. LOL

[Lauren]

Sharon wrote: "I don't see King the same way as you. We will have to disagree on this point until we get through more books. Maybe he will redeem himself. LOL"

Yes, we can agree to disagree. It sure makes for an interesting discussion. It's the ambiguous characters that really make you think :)

[Sharon]

I agree.

[Jonetta]

Lauren wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "She became one of the "other side" when she defended Nick. It didn't even matter that he was determined to be innocent."

Yes, she questioned the DA's and the Chief's actions and mo..."

Remember, it was his jail where Nick was assaulted and almost killed. He knew of Morgan.

[Jonetta]

Great discussion!

I’m still not convinced about King, though. The smart move from the onset would be to behave more respectfully. She met him face to face after being assaulted by Tyler, too. Nick could still sue the county and Morgan’s his lawyer. Being confrontational with her was just dumb on quite a few levels.

[Lauren]

Jonetta wrote: "Remember, it was his jail where Nick was assaulted and almost killed. He knew of Morgan."

Yes, although I did not get the impression from their first meeting that King held a grudge against Morgan. He starts out being quite condescending but ultimately seems to respect her for the way she handled Tyler.