Rasbach knows that he’s a cynic. He hadn’t started out that way.
-- Narrator (chapter 3)

Importance: This statement shows the impact that Rasbach’s occupation as a detective has had on his outlook toward life. Lapena also characterizes Rasbach in the eyes of the reader. This is significant because from the beginning of the novel Rasbach is established as someone who will be skeptical and expecting the worst from the players in the kidnapping investigation.

His capacity for surprise seems to have evaporated.
-- Narrator (chapter 4)

Importance: This description of Rasbach’s belief highlights the detective’s expectations for this investigation. Rasbach does not anticipate any surprising twists in this case, which portrays his familiarity with this field of work and also the fact that he has witnessed enough conventionally shocking developments in his past cases that his standard to be surprised has raised.

But he and Cora have had a happy little bond of their...
-- Narrator (chapter 5)