In the episode Conspiracy from The Whistler, we meet Joe, a reporter sitting alone in a deserted lunchroom as a relentless storm rages outside. He is absorbed in the newspapers spread before him, particularly an article about Alvin Pettis, a local man who has committed murder. The conversation with the waitress, Hazel, reveals Joe's musings about the nature of murder and the darkness that resides in the hearts of men. He wonders how many people might resort to violence if given the chance, setting the stage for his own internal conflict.