Buried Prey
Chapter 7
by Sandford, JohnThe chapter opens with Lucas, a detective, starting his day exhausted after only five hours of sleep. He meets with his superior, Daniel, who updates him on the ongoing search for a suspect named Scrape. Daniel explains how the police chief spun the situation positively during a press conference, framing their actions as both diligent and civil liberties-conscious. Lucas and his partner, Del, plan to revisit the Smith case from a new angle, exploring whether Smith was a hero, and to investigate a man named Fell. Despite Daniel’s skepticism, he wishes them luck.
Lucas and Del head to a diner for coffee and food, where they engage in banter about relationships and Lucas’s charm with women. Their conversation reveals their camaraderie and contrasting perspectives, with Del teasing Lucas about his sincerity. Lucas offers advice to a fellow officer, Sally, about her romantic dilemma involving a boyfriend who may be involved in drug dealing. The exchange highlights Lucas’s interpersonal skills and Del’s more cynical outlook, adding depth to their dynamic as partners.
During their meal, Del and Lucas discuss their backgrounds and career aspirations. Del shares his experience as a cop, including a brutal winter on patrol, while Lucas contemplates leaving law enforcement for law school or other opportunities, such as writing role-playing games. Del encourages Lucas to leverage his rapport with Daniel to advance his career. Their conversation underscores the challenges and uncertainties of police work, as well as the personal ambitions that drive them.
The chapter concludes with Lucas and Del strategizing their next steps in the Fell investigation. Del suggests a more conversational approach with witnesses to uncover subtle details about Fell’s habits and whereabouts. They contact Anderson, a computer expert, to obtain Fell’s financial records. Visiting a bar where Fell was last seen, they interview the manager, Katz, who confirms Fell’s absence since the night of the kidnapping. The chapter ends with the partners determined to dig deeper, emphasizing their persistence and teamwork in solving the case.
FAQs
1. What investigative strategies do Lucas and Del discuss regarding John Fell, and how do these differ from Lucas’s initial approach?
Answer:
Lucas and Del plan to gather more nuanced information about John Fell by talking to people who know him in a conversational rather than interrogative manner. Del suggests looking into Fell’s habits (like drug use), his vehicle, sightings in the neighborhood, and analyzing his Visa bills to track spending patterns. This contrasts with Lucas’s initial fact-finding interviews, which were more straightforward and less exploratory. Del emphasizes uncovering “ratshit” details—the informal observations and gossip that might reveal patterns or leads (e.g., Fell’s disappearance since the kidnapping night). Their strategy shifts from formal data collection to contextual, street-level intelligence.
2. How does the chapter portray the dynamics between Lucas and Del, and what does their banter reveal about their professional relationship?
Answer:
Lucas and Del exhibit a camaraderie built on sarcastic humor and mutual respect. Their banter about women, careers, and Lucas’s “sincerity” highlights their comfort with each other, which likely aids their partnership. For instance, Del teases Lucas about his appeal to women, while Lucas jokes about Del’s “male viewpoint,” showing they can critique each other without defensiveness. Professionally, this dynamic allows them to challenge ideas openly—as seen when Del critiques Lucas’s interview methods and proposes alternative approaches. Their relationship balances humor with productivity, making them an effective team.
3. Analyze the significance of Daniel’s comments about the chief’s press conference. What does this reveal about police-public relations?
Answer:
Daniel describes the chief’s press conference as a strategic performance, framing Scape’s release as both “civil liberties heroism” and “brilliant police work.” This highlights how law enforcement manages public perception, especially during controversies. By portraying the police and public as collaborators (“hand in hand”), the chief deflects potential criticism for releasing a suspect. Daniel’s remark about learning to “tap-dance” underscores the political savvy required in policing—balancing accountability, civil rights, and public trust. The scene critiques how institutions spin narratives to maintain credibility, even when operational outcomes (like failing to re-capture Scape) are lacking.
4. How does the chapter use the character of Sally, the uniformed cop, to develop themes about morality and personal/professional conflicts?
Answer:
Sally’s dilemma about whether to arrest her drug-dealing boyfriend illustrates the tension between personal ethics and professional duty. Her conversation with Lucas—who offers seemingly sincere advice—reveals how officers navigate gray areas in their private lives. The scene also subtly critiques gendered perceptions: Del reduces the situation to “getting one last terrific piece of ass,” while Lucas claims to consider Sally’s perspective. This subplot reinforces broader themes of moral ambiguity in policing, where personal relationships and institutional rules often collide, and where “sincerity” can be performative (as hinted by Del’s skepticism of Lucas’s motives).
5. What insights does Del’s career background provide about the challenges and opportunities in police work?
Answer:
Del’s career trajectory—from patrol during a brutal winter to intelligence work—reflects the physical and mental demands of policing. His anecdote about directing traffic in subzero temperatures underscores the harsh realities of frontline duty, while his move to intelligence (via a “nasty long-term” case) shows how specialization can offer respite from grind. His advice to Lucas (“have a serious talk with Daniel”) reveals the role of mentorship and internal politics in career advancement. Del’s perspective contrasts with Lucas’s ambivalence about law school, illustrating divergent paths officers take when grappling with burnout or seeking purpose beyond patrol.
Quotes
1. “But the chief can tap-dance. He made it sound like brilliant police work, picking him up the first time. Then, we’re civil liberties heroes, letting him go. Now we’re all working together, the people and the police, hand in hand, getting him back.”
This quote highlights the political maneuvering in law enforcement, showing how public perception is carefully managed even in controversial cases. It reveals the tension between police work and public relations.
2. “I try to see these things from the woman’s point of view. That’s why I got women crawling all over me. That and my good looks and charisma.”
A humorous yet revealing exchange between Lucas and Del that showcases their banter while also hinting at Lucas’s interpersonal skills and self-awareness in relationships.
3. “If you want to hunt, you need to be a big-city cop.”
Del’s blunt advice about career paths in law enforcement captures the essence of their discussion about professional ambitions and the realities of different law enforcement roles.
4. “We’re just sitting here bullshitting.”
Del’s pragmatic remark cuts through their brainstorming session, emphasizing the gap between theoretical planning and actual investigative work in police work.
5. “That’s part of the pattern. We can’t find the tipsters. Or tipster—maybe there’s only one.”
This quote marks a key investigative insight, showing Lucas connecting dots in the case and recognizing a potentially significant pattern in witness disappearances.