If you steal money while knowing that you did something rong . Even if you return the money afterwards to the last penny, it does not change the fact that you did a crime. It just show that you are remorseful. especially since you only return it after you are asked to do it or even pressured to do it. We may argue that Harry will return Bob voluntarily at the end, but since the text is as it is, we will never know.
I'm confused as to what you are saying here. Are you saying that it was wrong for Harry to steal Bob in the first place regardless of the fact that he returned him, or that returning him didn't count because Murphy pressured him into doing it, or that you don't think Harry returned Bob at all?
An excuse to comfort his own conscience. A self denial of a sort.
...Then why did he do it? He specifically told Andi that she couldn't be seen to help him, even after she found out that he needed Bob and said that he could take him; however, when he ran into Molly and Thomas, he was just fine with both of
them helping--to me, this shows that Harry was trying to protect his lower-powered friends by keeping them out of it; he was fine getting help from people who could protect themselves.
As for Murphy, I think it precisely because she and Harry has a close partnership at the time which make Murphy so angry and punch him. You see, Murphy is going out on a limb by involving Harry in the investigations, due to those rumors spread at the end of SF. At the start of the investigation, Murphy has requested that Harry tell her everything and grant her full disclosure and Harry agreed. Though from Harry's PoV we as readers can see that Harry is not really trying to hide anything, from Murphy's PoV it sure look a lot like Harry is doing exactly that. In truth, Harry is indeed hiding a lot of things. Harry has not yet clued Murphy in on the supernatural like he did in book 4. Though Harry has a reason for it, it is undeniable that it is a violation of the full disclosure agreement she and Harry consented at the start of the investigations. In a way, it is a kind of betrayal on Harry's part. This is exactly what ID Harry is saying to Harry when he is unconscious.
When do we see this close partnership? Their relationship in Storm Front is basically Murphy not really trusting Harry but trying to get his help regardless, then we're told that Murphy hasn't talked to Harry between Storm Front and Fool Moon, then in Fool Moon their relationship starts as Murphy not really trusting Harry but trying to get his help regardless and degenerates from there.
Harry has his own reasons to do what he did. Murphy has her own reason to blew her top too. I am not saying that it is right for her to punch Harry. I am just saying that it is not out of character for her to do so. She is human after all. She can misunderstand and make a mistake like anyone else.
And I'm saying that if that scene in Fool Moon is not out of character for Murphy, then Murphy is a character whom I do not like and do not think is a particularly decent person.
And of course she is going to listen to Harry. It is due process of the law after all. No matter how angry she was, FM Murphy will never use public power to avenge private wrongs.
Assaulting suspects is not due process of the law, yet Murphy had no problem with that. I fail to see how, after a scene in which Murphy clearly disregards the law, and in which you say that she is not out of character, you can then turn around and claim that it is obvious Murphy would not do something outside the law and that always following the law is an intrinsic part of her character at that time.
Also, you did not respond to my reasons for not believing that Murphy would listen to Harry: namely, that when Harry tried to say something, she punched him in the face and said, "no more talking." That sends a pretty clear message.
