Defending Jacob

Jacob creates a new Facebook account under the name “Marvin Glasscock” (187). Andy objects, knowing that all his interactions will become possible fodder for the trial, but Laurie allows it. When Jacob posts an image of Norman Bates from Psycho with his own face superimposed over it, Andy is livid. Jacob insists it is a joke, but Andy loses his temper, yelling repeatedly, “‘You can’t do this. You can’t do it’” (191). Laurie tells him to apologize, and when he does, Jacob tells Andy that he understands his situation perfectly well already.

Andy and Laurie return to Dr. Vogel’s office. Dr. Vogel wants to collect genetic evidence as “mitigation” (194): if Jacob did kill Ben, showing that his genes played a role might help reduce the charge from homicide to manslaughter. She will need DNA from Jacob, Andy, and Andy’s father Billy. Andy is upset, telling Dr. Vogel, “‘I’ve never hurt anybody. I don’t have a temper’” (195). Dr. Vogel asks him how far he is willing to go in defending his son. Andy agrees to be tested for two genre variants “linked to male antisocial behavior” (197).