But Mrs. Joan Murphy, the subject, was not making Conklin's job any easier. She was understandably distraught, traumatized, and possibly a bit squirrelly. As a result, she'd taken the interview straight off road, through the deep woods, and directly over a cliff.
Mrs. Joan Murphy, the focus of the investigation, was causing difficulties for Conklin, the examiner, by not cooperating easily. She was visibly upset, traumatized, and possibly overwhelmed, which affected her responses and behavior during the interview.
Her emotional state led her to stray from the expected interview process, metaphorically described as heading "off road," into chaos and confusion. This made it challenging for Conklin to gather clear information, complicating the investigation. The scene highlights her distress and the hurdles it created for the investigation process.
