Question L

[Jonetta]

Soon after Drake is released, Alice Lennox, a young night worker, is murdered and bears all the characteristics of his handiwork. He confesses to the crime but Bryant realizes he didn’t do it and suspects Richard Harrison, Wendy’s father, may have killed her to set up Drake. When he and Kim find Harrison has committed suicide, she persuades him to let it go as Travis also decides to let Drake go back to prison, permanently, for the crime. Your thoughts about Travis’ decision, Kim’s advice and Bryant’s final acceptance?

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

This was another part of the plot that didn't sit well with me. The fact that Richard Harrison killed an innocent young woman to frame Drake so he would be sent back to prison. After all that he had suffered by his own daughter's brutal slaying I just don't think he would kill an innocent woman. He had no history of violence and implying his grief made him unhinged... no I just didn't buy it!

And I don't think any of the very competent police involved would have let it go either. Just to close the case. A weakness in the plot for me.

[Sharon]

I didn't have a problem with it when I was reading/listening to the story. However, after thinking about it over night, I don't see how Richard Harrison could do it.

I do understand allowing Drake to confess to the murder. He needs to be locked up. I think once he was out, he knew he would kill again. Prison is safer for him.

[Robin]

When they were investigating Alice Lennox's murder, I began to wander if someone else had killed her to frame Peter Drake. I also have a hard time believing that Richard Harrison would be the person who did it because of all his daughter went through.

I was confused when Peter Drake confessed to the murder. Did he want to return to prison?

[Sharon]

Robin wrote: "When they were investigating Alice Lennox's murder, I began to wander if someone else had killed her to frame Peter Drake. I also have a hard time believing that Richard Harrison would be the perso..."

I think he wanted to return to prison. One of the many true crime stories I read mentioned that it is very difficult for people who were in prison for years to adjust to life outside the strict structure. They often repeat offend to get back where they feel comfortable.

In Drake's case, I believe he was afraid that he would kill another woman, and needed the security of prison to keep him in check.

[Jonetta]

It’s the Shawshank Redemption syndrome. When you’ve spent that many years behind bars, some prisoners adapt to the routine and cannot fit into the normal world, especially if they were guilty of their crimes.

I understood completely why Drake would have confessed. But I struggle with what Harrison did. That young woman was brutally murdered and I’m having a tough time reconciling what he did.

[Jonetta]

I forgot to address the last part of the question.

Kim gave Bryant advice based on how Travis and his team wanted to handle the situation…let sleeping dogs lie and stand with the correction of the parole board’s decision. She would have reacted the same as Bryant if she were in charge. While I was conflicted about that decision, I could live with it because Harrison was dead and Drake had no business being out of prison.

[Lynn]

Kim clearly didn't agree with what Travis's team decided to do, so I think it was out of character for her to give the advice she gave to Bryant. It was almost the exact opposite of what she did in the beginning of the book when she challenged Samantha's suicide. It seemed a bit odd all the way around, but it did put an end to that story arc.

[Lauren]

I never thought Drake killed Alice Lennox and knew immediately that it was Richard Harrison.

I do not see his actions as being out of character. On the contrary, he was obsessed with Drake paying for his daughter's murder and could not see past his own desire for revenge and retribution. This twisted him and made him capable of extreme brutality. I was also not surprised that he killed himself.

As to Kim's advice, Bryant was in a bad place and she was trying to do what was best for him. He needed to find some way to make peace with it all and perhaps even Kim is beginning to see that there is grey between the black and white

Moreover, there was very little Bryant could actually do. This was Travis's case and he was satisfied with the outcome.

[Jonetta]

Thanks for that perspective, Lauren. I seriously struggled with Harrison having it in him to do something so awful. You obviously saw something in his behavior that made that clearer in your mind.

[Lauren]

Jonetta wrote: "I seriously struggled with Harrison having it in him to do something so awful. "

Understandable. It was difficult to accept that a man whose daughter was murdered in such a vicious way could turn around and do the same to someone else's child. The human psyche is a fragile thing (as seen with the cult members too) and given the right circumstances, I think that anyone is capable of evil acts.

[Sharon]

Good insight Lauren. I still can't imagine someone so vicious after suffering the same loss. I guess doing something so out of character triggered his suicide.

[Lauren]

Sharon wrote: "I guess doing something so out of character triggered his suicide."

Yes, I am sure guilt played a significant role in his suicide.