But Perry, there was, in Dick's opinion, something wrong with little Perry (p. 108).

Clue: Dick feels Perry is mentally unbalance, but fails to see his own behavior as anything but "normal," when it is far from it

Precognition that Perry is tainted

They shared a doom against which virtual was no defense (p. 185).

Clue: Perry's sister Barbara sees Perry also as damaged goods.

Rivalry and one-upmanship going out of hand.

[Dick] was holding the knife. I asked him for it, and he gave it to me, and I said, 'All right, Dick. Here goes.' But I didn't mean it. I meant to call his bluff, make him argue me out of it, make him admit he was a phony and a coward. See, it was something between me and Dick. I knelt down beside Mr. Clutter, and the pain of kneeling -- I thought of that goddam dollar....
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