in a rash moment he decided to lie his way to the truth. If he wasn't mistaken, Ellen Magnusson had had very little experience with the police. She would assume that they searched for the truth by being honest themselves. She was the one who would lie, not the police.
In a moment of impulsive decision-making, the character chooses to deceive in order to uncover the truth. This suggests a complex understanding of the situation, highlighting the potential naivety of Ellen Magnusson regarding police operations. Her lack of experience with law enforcement leads her to believe that honesty is paramount in their pursuit of truth.
The character's insight implies that it is actually she who may mislead others, reflecting on the contrasting roles of truth and deception. This creates a dynamic tension between the motives of the police and those they investigate, emphasizing how appearances can be deceptive in the search for resolution.