Chapter 87: A Father’s Dangerous Advice
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Alone in his conference room, Stafford Lee pores over the prosecution’s witness list and the forged e‑mails and texts the DA plans to introduce. One e‑mail supposedly instructs Rue to retrieve a shoe he left behind; a series of texts to Iris threatens suicide and murder. While he doubts the jury will believe these fakes, he has no clear strategy to refute them.
A violent pounding at the door reveals his father, who has come because “all the talk around town” alarms him. He strides into the conference room and is shocked by the photo‑covered walls, calling it “a carnival sideshow.” He criticises Stafford Lee for representing himself and for acting like a lunatic in court. Then he offers what he believes is a winning tactic: blame Rue Holmes. He argues she had opportunity, stole a necklace, lives in Stafford Lee’s house and could have planted hair and the bloody shoe. Stafford Lee, speechless, asks for a motive. His father dismisses the question with sexist generalisations about women being “vengeful” and “sneaky”. Jenny appears in the doorway, having overheard the remark, and glares at the father. He quickly leaves, telling Stafford Lee to think about his advice.
Key Events
- Stafford Lee studies the DA’s fake e‑mails and texts that link him to the crimes.
- His father arrives unannounced and criticises his self‑representation and courtroom behaviour.
- The father proposes that Rue Holmes framed Stafford Lee, citing her access and a stolen necklace.
- Stafford Lee rejects the idea, arguing there is no motive.
- Jenny enters and overhears the father’s derogatory comments about women.
- The father departs, insisting Stafford Lee consider his plan.
Character Development
Stafford Lee – He remains focused despite pressure, but his father’s visit unsettles him. He shows unwavering loyalty to Rue, refusing to blame her even when a plausible case is made. His silence when his father insults women hints at exhaustion rather than agreement.
Father (unnamed) – Portrayed as brash, dismissive, and manipulative. He offers no real evidence, only prejudice and opportunism. His sexist outburst reveals a deeply conservative worldview that cuts him off from Jenny’s disapproval.
Jenny – Her brief appearance signals her role as a counter‑voice. She is not afraid to challenge the father, and her glare shows she will not tolerate misogyny even from a partner’s parent.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Framing and false evidence – The chapter dwells on manufactured evidence (e‑mails, texts, the planted shoe). The father’s alternative theory mirrors the prosecution’s reliance on circumstantial clues, highlighting how easily suspicion can be redirected.
Family tension – The father’s unsolicited advice and judgment create a rift. Stafford Lee feels forced to defend himself against a parent who should be an ally.
Symbol of the conference room – Covered in photographs and documents, it becomes Stafford Lee’s war room. The father’s shock reflects how isolated and obsessive Stafford Lee’s investigation looks to an outsider.
Misogyny as a motif – The father’s blanket statements about women echo old‑fashioned stereotypes. This motif suggests that gender bias may have influenced the investigation or the trial itself.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 87 heightens the emotional stakes before the trial’s next phase. The father’s accusation forces Stafford Lee to reaffirm his belief in Rue’s innocence, deepening his personal commitment. It also introduces a potential conflict with Jenny and sets up a generational clash over ethics and strategy. The chapter reinforces the theme of a protagonist fighting alone, with even family offering dangerous shortcuts rather than genuine support.
Study Questions and Answers
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What specific evidence does Stafford Lee review at the beginning of the chapter?
He reviews fake e‑mails supposedly sent to Rue after the murder (one instructing her to retrieve a shoe) and a series of threatening texts to Iris that show a fictional romantic obsession, including a final threat of suicide and murder. -
Why does Stafford Lee’s father suggest blaming Rue Holmes?
He argues that Rue had opportunity (she worked in the Caro house and lives in Stafford Lee’s house), a prior theft (a necklace), and could easily plant hair from the shower drain and a bloody shoe in Stafford Lee’s closet. -
How does Stafford Lee react to his father’s plan?
He is initially speechless, then adamantly rejects it. He asks for a motive, which his father cannot provide, and refuses to cast suspicion on Rue despite the father’s insistence.