Buried Prey
Chapter 18
by Sandford, JohnThe chapter opens with the killer in a state of panic after a violent confrontation at the Barkers’ house. Disoriented by the chaos, gunfire, and the sight of an armed cop, he acts on primal instinct, firing wildly before fleeing. He realizes he’s been shot under the armpit but initially dismisses the injury as minor. As he drives away, his adrenaline fades, and he notices the severity of his wound, which is bleeding heavily. He stops at a shopping center to assess the damage, using a newspaper as a makeshift bandage, and removes his disguise to avoid detection.
The killer reflects on the series of misfortunes that led to this moment, lamenting the “if only” scenarios that could have prevented the violence. He speculates whether the people in the house were cops or bodyguards and worries about the consequences if he injured or killed any of them. His anxiety grows as he struggles to focus on driving, his pain intensifying. Despite the wound, he remains composed, planning to treat himself with leftover medication once he reaches home.
Upon arriving home, the killer tends to his injury with rudimentary first aid, using gauze, antiseptic, and duct tape to patch himself up. He takes oxycodone and antibiotics to manage the pain and prevent infection, then lies down to rest. His mind races with paranoia about whether the police have identified him, but the lack of immediate action reassures him. Exhausted and drugged, he dozes off, only to wake hours later eager for news coverage of the shooting.
The chapter concludes with the killer watching a news report confirming his worst fears: he shot a police officer and Todd Barker, and the police have collected his blood for DNA analysis. The mention of DNA terrifies him, as it could definitively link him to the crimes. Despite his physical pain and growing dread, he remains detached, focusing on his meal while the news underscores the escalating manhunt. The chapter ends on a tense note, hinting at the inevitable confrontation looming ahead.
FAQs
1. How does the killer react to being wounded during the shooting, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
The killer initially doesn’t realize he’s been shot, mistaking the wound for a sharp rock impact. When he sees blood, he panics, as he dislikes the sight of his own blood. His reaction—using newspaper as a makeshift bandage and later applying duct tape—shows his resourcefulness but also his desperation and lack of proper medical knowledge. His focus on escaping and self-treating rather than seeking help highlights his isolation, paranoia, and tendency to improvise under pressure. His eventual use of painkillers and antibiotics further underscores his self-reliant yet reckless nature.2. What role does the phrase “If only…” play in the killer’s mindset, and how does it connect to his actions?
Answer:
The phrase “If only…” reflects the killer’s tendency to blame external circumstances for his misfortunes rather than taking responsibility. He ruminates on alternate scenarios (e.g., “If only the apartment building had been put somewhere else”) to justify his violent actions and evade guilt. This mindset reveals his lack of remorse and his delusional belief that his crimes are caused by bad luck or others’ actions. It also foreshadows his anxiety about consequences, as he worries about DNA evidence and police pursuit.3. Analyze the significance of the killer’s disguise (the black beard) and his decision to remove it. What does this suggest about his awareness of the manhunt?
Answer:
The killer removes his fake beard to avoid being identified, showing he understands the police might circulate a description of him. However, his haphazard removal (leaving adhesive residue) and his focus on the van as another identifiable trait reveal his incomplete planning. This suggests he is reactive rather than methodical, scrambling to cover his tracks after the fact. His awareness of being hunted is acute, but his execution is flawed, emphasizing his escalating panic.4. How does the news report about the shooting impact the killer, and what does his reaction imply about his motives?
Answer:
The killer watches the news with “dulled interest,” indicating a detached, almost clinical curiosity about the aftermath of his violence. He is more concerned with how he is described and what the police know (e.g., DNA evidence) than with the victims’ fates. This implies his motives are self-preservation and ego-driven rather than emotionally charged. His anxiety about DNA suggests he fears capture more than he regrets the killings, reinforcing his narcissistic and calculating nature.5. Evaluate the killer’s self-treatment of his gunshot wound. What flaws in his logic or methods might lead to further consequences?
Answer:
The killer’s makeshift medical care—using newspaper, gauze, duct tape, and expired antibiotics—is dangerously inadequate. He underestimates the risk of infection and overestimates the effectiveness of random pills (e.g., amoxicillin for an ear infection). His reliance on oxycodone masks pain without addressing the injury, potentially worsening his condition. These choices highlight his irrationality under stress and foreshadow potential complications (e.g., infection, impaired judgment) that could make him easier to track or capture.
Quotes
1. “Nothing rational was working through his brain: he was down on the lizard level, banging away as fast as he could, both scared and furious and righteous.”
This quote captures the killer’s primal state during the shooting, highlighting his instinct-driven panic and distorted sense of justification. It reveals the psychological breakdown of a perpetrator in the heat of violence.
2. “Most of his life seemed built on the phrase. If only … If only the apartment building had been put somewhere else, if only the Jones girls hadn’t been found.”
This recurring motif of “if only” exposes the killer’s externalization of blame and refusal to take responsibility. It underscores his delusional mindset where external circumstances—rather than his own actions—dictate outcomes.
3. “He was anxious, waiting for it. Anxious to see what he’d done, where the coverage was. Anxious to see how he’d been described. To see what they knew …”
This passage reveals the killer’s narcissistic fascination with his own crimes and media portrayal. It chillingly contrasts his clinical detachment with the gravity of his violent acts.
4. “The officer said, ‘… process it for DNA. When we find h…’”
The truncated final quote (mirroring the chapter’s abrupt ending) symbolizes the looming threat of forensic science closing in on the killer. The mention of DNA represents modern justice disrupting his calculated evasion.