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    Buried Prey

    by Sandford, John
    “Buried Prey” by John Sandford is a gripping crime thriller featuring detective Lucas Davenport. When the bodies of two missing girls are discovered decades after their disappearance, Davenport revisits a cold case that has haunted him since his early career. The novel alternates between the original investigation and the present-day pursuit of justice, exploring themes of persistence, guilt, and the passage of time. Sandford’s sharp prose and intricate plotting highlight the complexities of police work and the personal toll of unsolved crimes. A standout in the Prey series, this book delves into Davenport’s character while delivering a tense, satisfying mystery.
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    Buried Prey

    Chapter 15

    by Sandford, John

    Mar­cy Sher­rill, aware of the grow­ing media fren­zy around the Jones case, reflects on Lucas Dav­en­port’s relent­less approach to the inves­ti­ga­tion. Dav­en­port, dri­ven by per­son­al stakes, is lever­ag­ing the media to pres­sure the Min­neapo­lis PD into uncov­er­ing more about the sus­pect, John Fell. Despite the depart­men­t’s over­all decline in crime rates, Sher­rill acknowl­edges Dav­en­port’s ten­den­cy to manip­u­late the press, a tac­tic he employed even dur­ing his time as a Min­neapo­lis cop. She antic­i­pates the chief’s inevitable inquiry about Kel­ly Bark­er, whose tele­vised inter­views have ampli­fied pub­lic atten­tion on the case.

    Sher­rill and her col­league Buster Hill pre­pare to inter­view Bark­er, pri­mar­i­ly for pub­lic rela­tions pur­pos­es. As they dri­ve to Barker’s Bloom­ing­ton home, Sher­rill mus­es about Davenport’s charis­ma and their past brief affair, con­trast­ing it with his unwa­ver­ing loy­al­ty to his wife, Weath­er. She also con­tem­plates her cur­rent rela­tion­ship with Rick, an invest­ment advi­sor, and oth­er poten­tial roman­tic inter­ests, includ­ing an artist and a cow­boy-boot-wear­ing sur­geon. These reflec­tions reveal her rest­less­ness and desire for com­pan­ion­ship, even as she acknowl­edges the imprac­ti­cal­i­ty of some rela­tion­ships.

    Mean­while, the killer, a deeply trou­bled and angry man, stalks Barker’s neigh­bor­hood, fueled by rage and a sense of hope­less­ness. He resents his mis­er­able exis­tence and fix­ates on Bark­er as the sole wit­ness who can iden­ti­fy him. After sur­veilling her house, he devis­es a plan to attack, dis­guis­ing him­self with a fake beard and arm­ing him­self. His inter­nal mono­logue under­scores his des­per­a­tion and vio­lent intent, set­ting the stage for a poten­tial con­fronta­tion.

    The chap­ter jux­ta­pos­es Sherrill’s pro­fes­sion­al and per­son­al mus­ings with the killer’s esca­lat­ing men­ace. While Sher­rill nav­i­gates the com­plex­i­ties of her rela­tion­ships and the demands of the case, the killer’s lurk­ing pres­ence adds ten­sion, hint­ing at an impend­ing clash. The nar­ra­tive bal­ances intro­spec­tion with sus­pense, high­light­ing the par­al­lel tra­jec­to­ries of law enforce­ment and crim­i­nal intent.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Marcy Sherrill view Lucas Davenport’s involvement in the Jones case, and what concerns does she have about his methods?

      Answer:
      Marcy Sherrill recognizes Davenport’s personal stake in the Jones case and acknowledges his relentless approach, comparing it to “Sherman’s March on Atlanta.” While she understands his motivations, she finds his media manipulation tactics annoying, as they pressure the Minneapolis PD to prioritize the John Fell investigation. Sherrill notes that Davenport has historically used the media effectively, both as a Minneapolis cop and with the BCA, but she anticipates backlash from her chief about Kelly Barker’s high-profile TV appearances. Her mixed feelings reflect both professional frustration and personal fondness for Davenport, given their past relationship.

      Answer:
      Sherrill notes positive trends: declining murder, rape, and armed robbery rates, along with fading gang activity. She attributes part of this improvement to reduced cocaine and meth sales paired with higher-quality marijuana. Her analysis suggests that marijuana users (e.g., someone relaxed with “a B.C. blunt and nachos”) pose less civic threat than meth addicts desperate for their next hit. This reflects her pragmatic, if unconventional, perspective on drug policy and crime prevention, contrasting with traditional law enforcement views.

      3. Analyze the killer’s psychological state and motivations as he stalks Kelly Barker. How does the chapter build tension around his plan?

      Answer:
      The killer is portrayed as deeply unstable—filled with rage, self-loathing, and a sense of doom. His physical deterioration (obesity, acne, dandruff) mirrors his psychological decay. The chapter builds tension through his repetitive surveillance of Barker’s home, his escalating anger at being made to wait, and his meticulous yet deranged planning (e.g., the fake beard, scouting escape routes). His internal monologue (“Dumb and doomed”) and violent fantasies (shooting Barker or her husband) create dread, culminating in the cliffhanger as he prepares to act.

      4. How does Sherrill’s personal reflection on relationships contrast with the killer’s mindset, and what thematic purpose does this serve?

      Answer:
      Sherrill’s musings about romantic possibilities (Davenport, Rick, the surgeon) reveal a longing for connection and stability, even as she critiques each man’s flaws. This introspection—about loyalty, children, and aging—humanizes her and underscores normalcy. In stark contrast, the killer’s isolation and misogyny (“contempt in the eyes of the little girls he used”) highlight his dehumanization. The juxtaposition reinforces themes of choice and consequence: Sherrill weighs life options, while the killer’s nihilism drives him toward violence.

      5. Evaluate the significance of media manipulation in the chapter, both by Davenport and Kelly Barker. How does it impact the investigation?

      Answer:
      Media serves as a double-edged sword: Davenport leverages it to pressure authorities into prioritizing the John Fell case, while Barker’s TV appearances force Sherrill to engage in “PR” outreach. The chief’s focus on Barker’s coverage reflects institutional anxiety about public perception. This dynamic complicates the investigation, as procedural work is overshadowed by performative optics. The killer’s awareness of Barker’s visibility (via TV) also escalates his threat, tying media exposure directly to danger.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Among other things, she believed, he was manipulating the media to put pressure on the Minneapolis PD to dig up every scrap of information they could find on the mystery man, John Fell.”

      This quote reveals Davenport’s strategic use of media to advance the investigation, showcasing his unorthodox methods and relentless pursuit of justice, even if it means creating headaches for his colleagues.

      2. “In her humble opinion, a guy lying on his living room floor with a B.C. blunt, a bag of nachos, and Wheel of Fortune on the TV was less likely to do serious civic damage than some freaked-out tweaker looking for another hit.”

      Sherrill’s darkly humorous observation highlights the changing landscape of crime and drug use, reflecting both her pragmatic worldview and the chapter’s underlying commentary on urban policing challenges.

      3. “He was one morose and angry motherfucker, he admitted to himself, and things weren’t getting any better. He had no life, had never had one.”

      This brutally honest self-assessment from the killer provides critical insight into his psychology and motivations, establishing the dangerous mindset that drives him toward violence against Kelly Barker.

      4. “Ring the bell, kill the bitch, and wheel. If her husband answered, knock him down with a couple of shots, go in after the woman, put her down, and go out the back.”

      The killer’s coldly methodical planning demonstrates both his calculated brutality and the imminent threat to Kelly Barker, creating intense narrative tension as the chapter builds toward its climax.

    Quotes

    1. “Among other things, she believed, he was manipulating the media to put pressure on the Minneapolis PD to dig up every scrap of information they could find on the mystery man, John Fell.”

    This quote reveals Davenport’s strategic use of media to advance the investigation, showcasing his unorthodox methods and relentless pursuit of justice, even if it means creating headaches for his colleagues.

    2. “In her humble opinion, a guy lying on his living room floor with a B.C. blunt, a bag of nachos, and Wheel of Fortune on the TV was less likely to do serious civic damage than some freaked-out tweaker looking for another hit.”

    Sherrill’s darkly humorous observation highlights the changing landscape of crime and drug use, reflecting both her pragmatic worldview and the chapter’s underlying commentary on urban policing challenges.

    3. “He was one morose and angry motherfucker, he admitted to himself, and things weren’t getting any better. He had no life, had never had one.”

    This brutally honest self-assessment from the killer provides critical insight into his psychology and motivations, establishing the dangerous mindset that drives him toward violence against Kelly Barker.

    4. “Ring the bell, kill the bitch, and wheel. If her husband answered, knock him down with a couple of shots, go in after the woman, put her down, and go out the back.”

    The killer’s coldly methodical planning demonstrates both his calculated brutality and the imminent threat to Kelly Barker, creating intense narrative tension as the chapter builds toward its climax.

    FAQs

    1. How does Marcy Sherrill view Lucas Davenport’s involvement in the Jones case, and what concerns does she have about his methods?

    Answer:
    Marcy Sherrill recognizes Davenport’s personal stake in the Jones case and acknowledges his relentless approach, comparing it to “Sherman’s March on Atlanta.” While she understands his motivations, she finds his media manipulation tactics annoying, as they pressure the Minneapolis PD to prioritize the John Fell investigation. Sherrill notes that Davenport has historically used the media effectively, both as a Minneapolis cop and with the BCA, but she anticipates backlash from her chief about Kelly Barker’s high-profile TV appearances. Her mixed feelings reflect both professional frustration and personal fondness for Davenport, given their past relationship.

    Answer:
    Sherrill notes positive trends: declining murder, rape, and armed robbery rates, along with fading gang activity. She attributes part of this improvement to reduced cocaine and meth sales paired with higher-quality marijuana. Her analysis suggests that marijuana users (e.g., someone relaxed with “a B.C. blunt and nachos”) pose less civic threat than meth addicts desperate for their next hit. This reflects her pragmatic, if unconventional, perspective on drug policy and crime prevention, contrasting with traditional law enforcement views.

    3. Analyze the killer’s psychological state and motivations as he stalks Kelly Barker. How does the chapter build tension around his plan?

    Answer:
    The killer is portrayed as deeply unstable—filled with rage, self-loathing, and a sense of doom. His physical deterioration (obesity, acne, dandruff) mirrors his psychological decay. The chapter builds tension through his repetitive surveillance of Barker’s home, his escalating anger at being made to wait, and his meticulous yet deranged planning (e.g., the fake beard, scouting escape routes). His internal monologue (“Dumb and doomed”) and violent fantasies (shooting Barker or her husband) create dread, culminating in the cliffhanger as he prepares to act.

    4. How does Sherrill’s personal reflection on relationships contrast with the killer’s mindset, and what thematic purpose does this serve?

    Answer:
    Sherrill’s musings about romantic possibilities (Davenport, Rick, the surgeon) reveal a longing for connection and stability, even as she critiques each man’s flaws. This introspection—about loyalty, children, and aging—humanizes her and underscores normalcy. In stark contrast, the killer’s isolation and misogyny (“contempt in the eyes of the little girls he used”) highlight his dehumanization. The juxtaposition reinforces themes of choice and consequence: Sherrill weighs life options, while the killer’s nihilism drives him toward violence.

    5. Evaluate the significance of media manipulation in the chapter, both by Davenport and Kelly Barker. How does it impact the investigation?

    Answer:
    Media serves as a double-edged sword: Davenport leverages it to pressure authorities into prioritizing the John Fell case, while Barker’s TV appearances force Sherrill to engage in “PR” outreach. The chief’s focus on Barker’s coverage reflects institutional anxiety about public perception. This dynamic complicates the investigation, as procedural work is overshadowed by performative optics. The killer’s awareness of Barker’s visibility (via TV) also escalates his threat, tying media exposure directly to danger.

    Note