Question G

[Jonetta]

Morgan and Lance learn that Chelsea had visited an auto repair shop where Harold Burns, a sex offender, worked. His behavior towards Morgan was menacing and aggressive but Sheriff King seemed to side with Burns when he complained about her. What did you make of King’s actions at the time?

[Robin]

At first I thought the Sheriff was just brushing aside Harold's actions because his deputies hadn't been the ones to uncover Harold as a suspect. When Burns complained about Morgan, I figured the Sheriff told her to stay away and he would start watching their newest suspect.

[Jonetta]

I had a tough time here with the Sheriff’s decisions here. I could see him letting her know Burns had complained but to take his side was out of bounds. Burns’ behavior was a red flag and he ignored it.

[Sharon]

Yes, I don't think King can redeem himself in my eyes. I'm ready to vote him out of office.

[Jonetta]

Me, too.

[Lauren]

Looks like I'm in the minority on this one. As an officer of the law, King is duty bound to uphold them. It is also clear from his conversation with Morgan at the time that he does not take Burns side. As soon as Morgan told him that Burns confronted her and Sophie, King realized what Burns was doing. He is constrained by the law that he is sworn to uphold. I would vote out a Sheriff who ignored those laws.

[Charlene]

I thought the sheriff was planning to surveil the Burns operation and wanted Morgan out of danger/out of the way for him to do it his way.

[Lauren]

Charlene wrote: "I thought the sheriff was planning to surveil the Burns operation and wanted Morgan out of danger/out of the way for him to do it his way."

Yes, he did end up doing exactly that. Thanks to this, he was quickly on the scene when Jerry was about to shoot Lance.

[Jonetta]

Lauren wrote: "Looks like I'm in the minority on this one. As an officer of the law, King is duty bound to uphold them. It is also clear from his conversation with Morgan at the time that he does not take Burns s..."

Actually, he waited until he saw the footage before truly taking her word for it. I continue to believe that there was a better way to ensure his rights were protected than to go all in on his side. As a seasoned law enforcement official, red flags should have gone up when a convicted rapist makes this kind of complaint against a woman. He was obligated to pursue the complaint but he needed to be more objective. In my opinion, he failed miserably here.

[Lauren]

Jonetta wrote: "Actually, he waited until he saw the footage before truly taking her word for it.."

Its interesting that we read the same scene had different reactions to it.

While he was abrupt and terse, he did accept Morgan's version once she told him that Sophie was with her in the store. It was Morgan who told the Sheriff that the SFPD had requested the surveillance tapes. King had already toned down his attitude.

[Sharon]

He did tone down his response after he found out the Sophie was with Morgan. His initial response to blame Morgan instead of a known sex offender rubs me wrong. He didn't ask one question, just snapped. I also wonder if King would have requested the tapes if SFPD hadn't. It says a lot that Morgan didn't call King first.

[Lauren]

Sharon wrote: "His initial response to blame Morgan instead of a known sex offender rubs me wrong.."

I agree with this. He should have given her the benefit of the doubt rather than jumping to conclusions. Their conversation is actually quite short and you can also sense Morgan's fear and anger coloring her words as well.

It does say a lot that she didn't call him although it does make sense that she would call her sister instead.

[Jonetta]

Lauren wrote: "While he was abrupt and terse, he did accept Morgan's version once she told him that Sophie was with her in the store. It was Morgan who told the Sheriff that the SFPD had requested the surveillance tapes. King had already toned down his attitude..."

See, that’s what bothers me. Morgan’s an officer of the court and he didn’t change his attitude until she mentioned Sophie. Again...convicted rapist’s version versus a lawyer who was offered a position as ADA?

That goes to judgment.

[Lauren]

I do see your point of view, but for me, King is a sheriff trying to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. As far as he is concerned, Morgan is a meddlesome PI interfering and perhaps even hindering his attempts to find her and making his job even more difficult by having altercations with a suspect.

Regardless of whether King's attitude is correct, Morgan and Lance actually broke the law several times on this case. They had no right to confront Burns, or search his house or break into the trailer. The fact that they saved a Karen Mitchell makes it morally right, but not legal.

[Jonetta]

Now on Morgan and Lance’s breaking into the trailer, I agree. However, as a licensed PI, Lance had every right to talk to Burns who wasn’t under any obligation to talk to them.

By King’s own admission, he was understaffed and those there lacked experience. Why would he treat them as meddlesome when they came there trying to work with him? That’s not unusual in these circumstances. He set up the situation where they worked separately.

[Jonetta]

I also get your point of view about respecting law enforcement. I just think King let his ego get in the way of good policing. This was a tough case and he had no clues other than those given to him by Lance and Morgan and that’s where he fell down for me.

[Lauren]

Yes, I agree that he is understaffed, but I don't think that is sufficient enough reason to allow Lance and Morgan to investigate the case. They are not police officers and are not bound by the law, as they prove when they break it.

Also, it was not my impression that their goal was to help him solve the case, but to get information from him for their own purposes, which just happens to coincide with finding Chelsea. Is King supposed to let any investigator in on a case because he is understaffed?

It seems that our perceptions of King, and his motivations are very different. It makes him a very interesting character.

[Jonetta]

Good points all. I’m certain we will see him again and can measure his actions going forward.

[Sharon]

This is one of our most controversial characters, at least since I became a part of the group. I love it.

I hope he is in the next book so we can discuss the King some more.

[Jonetta]

I loved this, too! We would have had fun in a courtroom debating this.

Lauren, you were extremely persuasive😏

[Lauren]

Excellent debate!

Jonetta, you had me thinking more in-depth about him and why it was that I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Sharon, I too hope we see more of him and can develop a better sense of his motivations.