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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 22

    by Sandford, John

    In Chap­ter 22, Lucas Dav­en­port and his team, includ­ing Del, Jenk­ins, Shrake, and crime-scene techs, search Dar­rell Hanson’s home for evi­dence link­ing him to a series of crimes, includ­ing the mur­der of a police offi­cer. The house appears well-main­tained, with fresh food and healthy plants, but ini­tial search­es yield no defin­i­tive evi­dence. Schmidt, a com­put­er spe­cial­ist, access­es Hanson’s devices and finds pho­tos resem­bling the suspect’s descrip­tion, though some are incon­sis­tent. When Han­son arrives home in a white van, he reacts vio­lent­ly to the police pres­ence, demand­ing answers while his attor­ney advis­es silence. Lucas observes Han­son close­ly, con­vinced he fits the suspect’s pro­file despite grow­ing doubts from Del about the van’s dis­tinc­tive rose decals.

    Lucas deliv­ers a speech to Han­son and his attor­ney, out­lin­ing the case against him, includ­ing the mur­der of his father and oth­er vic­tims. He empha­sizes that a DNA test could exon­er­ate Han­son, but the attor­ney ini­tial­ly resists. Han­son, con­fi­dent in his inno­cence, reveals he has a DNA file from a civil­ian con­trac­tor in Iraq, which he agrees to share. His wife, Car­ol, arrives dis­traught, adding to the ten­sion as the search con­tin­ues. Lucas con­tacts the DNA lab to ver­i­fy the file, hop­ing for a quick res­o­lu­tion. The team’s thor­ough search of the house yields lit­tle, and Hanson’s insis­tence on his inno­cence begins to sway Lucas.

    The DNA lab direc­tor, Ger­ald Tas­ki, lat­er con­firms Hanson’s DNA does not match the suspect’s, clear­ing him of the crimes. How­ev­er, Tas­ki reveals a star­tling twist: the killer is close­ly relat­ed to Han­son, like­ly shar­ing a recent com­mon ances­tor like a grand­fa­ther. This rev­e­la­tion shocks Lucas, who real­izes the inves­ti­ga­tion has tak­en an unex­pect­ed turn. Han­son, relieved but con­fused, strug­gles to com­pre­hend the impli­ca­tions, while his attor­ney scram­bles to reassess the sit­u­a­tion. The chap­ter ends with the team fac­ing a new mystery—identifying the unknown rel­a­tive respon­si­ble for the crimes.

    The chap­ter high­lights the ten­sion between Lucas’s instincts and the evi­dence, as well as the emo­tion­al toll on Han­son and his fam­i­ly. The DNA twist intro­duces a com­pelling new lay­er to the inves­ti­ga­tion, forc­ing the team to recon­sid­er their approach. The search scene, Hanson’s out­bursts, and the lab’s find­ings cre­ate a grip­ping nar­ra­tive that bal­ances pro­ce­dur­al detail with per­son­al dra­ma. The unre­solved famil­ial con­nec­tion sets the stage for fur­ther devel­op­ments, leav­ing read­ers intrigued about the killer’s iden­ti­ty and rela­tion­ship to Han­son.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What key piece of evidence initially led Lucas and his team to suspect Darrell Hanson, and why did this suspicion later waver?

      Answer:
      Lucas and his team initially suspected Darrell Hanson based on his physical resemblance to the Identi-Kit construction of the suspect and the presence of a white van matching witness descriptions. However, their suspicion wavered when Del noticed the van was covered in large red roses—a detail witnesses would have likely mentioned but didn’t. Additionally, Hanson’s cooperation and the eventual DNA results contradicted their initial assumptions, highlighting the importance of thorough evidence verification.

      Answer:
      The chapter shows this tension through Hanson’s attorney insisting on legal formalities (e.g., directing all questions to him and advising Hanson to remain silent) versus Lucas’s urgency to gather evidence. Lucas circumvents this by delivering a “speech” about the case without asking questions, leveraging Hanson’s curiosity to prompt voluntary DNA disclosure. This dynamic underscores the balance investigators must strike between respecting rights and advancing the investigation.

      3. What critical revelation comes from the DNA analysis, and why does Gerald Taski describe it as “weird”?

      Answer:
      The DNA analysis confirms Hanson is not the killer but reveals the killer is a close relative (likely sharing a grandfather or great-grandfather). Taski calls this “weird” because such familial matches are rare and unexpected, suggesting the killer could be someone Hanson knows but hasn’t suspected. This twist shifts the investigation’s focus to Hanson’s family tree, emphasizing the role of genetic genealogy in solving crimes.

      4. Analyze how Darrell Hanson’s reaction to the DNA request contrasts with his attorney’s advice. What does this reveal about his character?

      Answer:
      Hanson eagerly volunteers his DNA, confident it will exonerate him, while his attorney cautions against it, emphasizing legal prudence. This contrast reveals Hanson as impulsive and self-assured, trusting scientific evidence over legal strategy. His willingness to cooperate suggests either genuine innocence or naivety about potential risks, highlighting how personal demeanor can influence investigative outcomes.

      5. How does the chapter use sensory details and setting descriptions to create atmosphere during the search scene?

      Answer:
      The chapter immerses readers in the search through vivid details: the “good cooking” smell, thriving plants, and fresh food in the fridge contrast with the tension of the investigation. The mundane domesticity heightens the intrusion of the police operation, while the van’s rose-covered exterior adds irony. These details ground the procedural drama in realism, making the eventual DNA twist more striking.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Lucas focused on him like a cat on a mouse, his breathing deepening, his eyes dilating. Wanted to smash him—”

      This quote captures Lucas’s intense focus and visceral reaction upon encountering Hanson, illustrating the emotional stakes of the investigation and Lucas’s personal investment in the case.

      2. “I think it’s him. He looks right.” / “I don’t know. I got a bad feeling. I think we screwed the pooch.”

      This exchange between Lucas and Del highlights the tension between gut instinct and emerging doubts, marking a pivotal moment where their certainty about Hanson’s guilt begins to unravel.

      The DNA lab’s shocking revelation reframes the entire investigation, introducing the twist that the real killer is genetically linked to Hanson—a game-changing insight that redirects the narrative.

      4. “They completely tore apart our bedroom. It’s torn apart.”

      Mrs. Hanson’s emotional outburst underscores the human cost of the investigation, contrasting the procedural details with the raw impact on innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

      5. “This is so weird, I only ever heard of one other case like it, out in LA…”

      The lab director’s stunned reaction emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the DNA findings, signaling a rare and significant breakthrough in the case’s forensic trajectory.

    Quotes

    1. “Lucas focused on him like a cat on a mouse, his breathing deepening, his eyes dilating. Wanted to smash him—”

    This quote captures Lucas’s intense focus and visceral reaction upon encountering Hanson, illustrating the emotional stakes of the investigation and Lucas’s personal investment in the case.

    2. “I think it’s him. He looks right.” / “I don’t know. I got a bad feeling. I think we screwed the pooch.”

    This exchange between Lucas and Del highlights the tension between gut instinct and emerging doubts, marking a pivotal moment where their certainty about Hanson’s guilt begins to unravel.

    The DNA lab’s shocking revelation reframes the entire investigation, introducing the twist that the real killer is genetically linked to Hanson—a game-changing insight that redirects the narrative.

    4. “They completely tore apart our bedroom. It’s torn apart.”

    Mrs. Hanson’s emotional outburst underscores the human cost of the investigation, contrasting the procedural details with the raw impact on innocent lives caught in the crossfire.

    5. “This is so weird, I only ever heard of one other case like it, out in LA…”

    The lab director’s stunned reaction emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the DNA findings, signaling a rare and significant breakthrough in the case’s forensic trajectory.

    FAQs

    1. What key piece of evidence initially led Lucas and his team to suspect Darrell Hanson, and why did this suspicion later waver?

    Answer:
    Lucas and his team initially suspected Darrell Hanson based on his physical resemblance to the Identi-Kit construction of the suspect and the presence of a white van matching witness descriptions. However, their suspicion wavered when Del noticed the van was covered in large red roses—a detail witnesses would have likely mentioned but didn’t. Additionally, Hanson’s cooperation and the eventual DNA results contradicted their initial assumptions, highlighting the importance of thorough evidence verification.

    Answer:
    The chapter shows this tension through Hanson’s attorney insisting on legal formalities (e.g., directing all questions to him and advising Hanson to remain silent) versus Lucas’s urgency to gather evidence. Lucas circumvents this by delivering a “speech” about the case without asking questions, leveraging Hanson’s curiosity to prompt voluntary DNA disclosure. This dynamic underscores the balance investigators must strike between respecting rights and advancing the investigation.

    3. What critical revelation comes from the DNA analysis, and why does Gerald Taski describe it as “weird”?

    Answer:
    The DNA analysis confirms Hanson is not the killer but reveals the killer is a close relative (likely sharing a grandfather or great-grandfather). Taski calls this “weird” because such familial matches are rare and unexpected, suggesting the killer could be someone Hanson knows but hasn’t suspected. This twist shifts the investigation’s focus to Hanson’s family tree, emphasizing the role of genetic genealogy in solving crimes.

    4. Analyze how Darrell Hanson’s reaction to the DNA request contrasts with his attorney’s advice. What does this reveal about his character?

    Answer:
    Hanson eagerly volunteers his DNA, confident it will exonerate him, while his attorney cautions against it, emphasizing legal prudence. This contrast reveals Hanson as impulsive and self-assured, trusting scientific evidence over legal strategy. His willingness to cooperate suggests either genuine innocence or naivety about potential risks, highlighting how personal demeanor can influence investigative outcomes.

    5. How does the chapter use sensory details and setting descriptions to create atmosphere during the search scene?

    Answer:
    The chapter immerses readers in the search through vivid details: the “good cooking” smell, thriving plants, and fresh food in the fridge contrast with the tension of the investigation. The mundane domesticity heightens the intrusion of the police operation, while the van’s rose-covered exterior adds irony. These details ground the procedural drama in realism, making the eventual DNA twist more striking.

    Note