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    [Joe Pickett 18] • The Disappeared

    by C.J., Box,
    In “The Disappeared,” the 18th installment of C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett series, the Wyoming game warden is drawn into a high-stakes investigation when a British tourist vanishes near a luxury ranch. As Pickett delves deeper, he uncovers a web of corporate intrigue, environmental conflict, and local secrets. The novel explores themes of justice, loyalty, and the clash between progress and tradition in the American West. Box’s signature blend of suspense and vivid wilderness storytelling drives this tightly plotted mystery, showcasing Pickett’s unwavering moral compass amid escalating dangers. The book reinforces the series’ reputation for authentic settings and complex, action-driven narratives.
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    [Joe Pickett 18] • The Disappeared

    Chapter 10

    by C.J., Box,

    In Chap­ter 10, “The Dis­ap­peared,” Joe Pick­ett reflects on his first impres­sions of Lance Ram­sey, his daugh­ter Sheri­dan’s new roman­tic inter­est, dur­ing a phone call with his wife, Mary­beth. Despite his usu­al skep­ti­cism toward men pur­su­ing his daugh­ters, Joe admits Ramsey—a cow­boy who defend­ed Sheri­dan in a bar—seems respectable. How­ev­er, his dis­com­fort resur­faces when he wit­ness­es Sheri­dan kiss­ing Ram­sey good­bye out­side his hotel. Mary­beth reas­sures him, but Joe strug­gles with the real­i­ty of his grown daugh­ter’s inde­pen­dence, jux­ta­posed with mem­o­ries of her as a child.

    Mean­while, Joe receives a puz­zling call from Casey Scales about the mys­te­ri­ous dis­ap­pear­ance of keys to a game war­den house in Sarato­ga. Scales reveals the keys were sent to the governor’s office with­out expla­na­tion, leav­ing Joe sus­pi­cious and deter­mined to inves­ti­gate fur­ther. This sub­plot hints at larg­er bureau­crat­ic intrigue, adding ten­sion to Joe’s already com­pli­cat­ed assign­ment in the area.

    Lat­er, Joe reviews the case file of Kate, a miss­ing British woman, focus­ing on the Young­berg broth­ers, who had ear­li­er harassed Sheri­dan. He spec­u­lates whether their aggres­sive behav­ior could link them to Kate’s dis­ap­pear­ance. This con­nec­tion deep­ens the mys­tery and under­scores Joe’s role as both a pro­tec­tive father and a deter­mined inves­ti­ga­tor.

    The chap­ter clos­es with Joe notic­ing a mys­te­ri­ous cou­ple at the bar, dressed in black and speak­ing in hushed British accents. Their out-of-place appear­ance and secre­tive demeanor pique Joe’s curios­i­ty, sug­gest­ing they may be con­nect­ed to Kate’s case. The bartender’s mock­ing imi­ta­tion of their accents hints at local skep­ti­cism, set­ting the stage for fur­ther con­fronta­tion or rev­e­la­tion in the unfold­ing inves­ti­ga­tion.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does Joe’s initial impression of Lance Ramsey contrast with his typical reaction to his daughters’ romantic interests, and what does this reveal about his character?

      Answer:
      Joe typically prepares himself to dislike any man who pursues his daughters, as evidenced by his strong negative reaction to April’s choice of Dallas Cates. However, he admits to having a “pretty good first impression” of Lance Ramsey, describing him as a genuine cowboy who reacted well to meeting Joe and was there for Sheridan. This unexpected approval reveals Joe’s capacity for fairness and objectivity despite his protective paternal instincts. His willingness to give Ramsey a chance shows he judges individuals based on their character rather than preconceived notions, though he still struggles emotionally with seeing his daughter grow up (as shown by his nostalgic memory of seven-year-old Sheridan).

      2. What two significant discoveries does Joe make through his observations and phone conversations in this chapter, and how might they connect to larger plot developments?

      Answer:
      Joe makes two key discoveries: First, he learns through spying that Sheridan and Lance Ramsey share a romantic connection when he witnesses them kissing. Second, through his phone call with Casey Scales, he discovers that the keys to the game warden house were mysteriously sent to the governor’s office—an unexplained bureaucratic anomaly. Both discoveries have potential plot significance: the Sheridan-Ramsey relationship may become emotionally complicated for Joe, while the missing keys suggest political interference or cover-up regarding the missing persons case Joe is investigating. The latter especially hints at higher-level involvement in whatever happened to Kate.

      3. Analyze how the author uses contrasting imagery and settings to highlight Joe’s internal conflict regarding his daughter’s adulthood.

      Answer:
      The author creates powerful contrasts between Joe’s nostalgic memory of seven-year-old Sheridan with “ponytails and missing teeth” riding in his Game and Fish truck and the present image of her as a twenty-three-year-old woman kissing Lance Ramsey in his ranch pickup. The domestic warmth of the earlier memory clashes with the adult reality of bar encounters and romantic relationships. The physical settings mirror this—from the safety of Joe’s work vehicle to the public vulnerability of a bar and icy street. These contrasts visually underscore Joe’s struggle to reconcile his protective father role with Sheridan’s independence, emphasized by Marybeth’s reminder “She’s twenty-three.”

      4. What clues suggest the British couple at the bar might be connected to Kate’s disappearance, and how does this scene build suspense?

      Answer:
      Several clues connect the British couple to Kate’s case: their out-of-place appearance (all-black clothing in a denim-dominated town), the woman’s British accent (Kate was British), their intense conversation, and their equipment (camera and recorder like investigators might use). The bartender’s mocking imitation of the woman’s accent specifically recalls Kate’s nationality. Their furtive cigarette hiding and note-taking suggest secrecy. This builds suspense by introducing mysterious newcomers who may be journalists, investigators, or even suspects—their presence implies the case has broader interest or consequences than initially apparent, raising questions about their true role.

      5. How does the chapter use parallel conflicts—between familial and professional concerns—to develop tension in Joe’s character?

      Answer:
      The chapter intertwines Joe’s personal conflict (protecting Sheridan while accepting her adulthood) with his professional conflict (investigating a disappearance while encountering bureaucratic obstacles). Both involve protective instincts: as a father suspicious of suitors and as a law officer seeking justice. The phone call with Scales about the missing keys professionally mirrors his emotional “missing” of Sheridan’s childhood. His distraction during Marybeth’s call shows how these conflicts compete for his attention. The parallel builds tension by showing Joe stretched thin—trying to solve a case while navigating fatherhood, with neither role offering simple solutions, culminating in his exhausted “Complicated” summary.

    Quotes

    • 1. “He was always prepared to dislike any male who pursued any of his daughters. He’d been correct—in spades—when it came to April’s choice of rodeo cowboy Dallas Cates. Joe wanted to dislike Lance Ramsey. He really did.”

      This quote reveals Joe’s protective paternal instincts and his internal conflict about his daughter’s new romantic interest. It shows his self-awareness about his biases while hinting at past family trauma related to his other daughter’s poor relationship choice.

      2. “When the light went off, the afterimage in Joe’s mind was seven-year-old Sheridan sitting in the passenger seat of his Game and Fish truck during a ride-along sixteen years before. She of the ponytails and missing teeth.”

      This poignant moment captures Joe’s nostalgia and difficulty accepting his daughter’s adulthood. The vivid contrast between past and present highlights the universal parental experience of watching children grow up too fast.

      3. “She said someone from the governor’s office called, but she couldn’t remember who it was…Someone from the governor’s office wanted the keys to a game warden house in Saratoga?”

      This mysterious revelation introduces a political element to the story’s central disappearance case. The unusual request suggests higher-level involvement in whatever happened to the missing woman, raising questions about potential cover-ups.

      4. “What, he wondered, would they be like if they encountered a lone blond British driver on the highway and thought they could grab her and get away with it?”

      Joe’s speculation connects the aggressive Youngberg brothers to the disappearance case, establishing them as potential suspects. This thought shows his investigative mindset at work, drawing connections between different incidents.

      5. “Both looked up and stopped talking as Joe approached. Neither looked enthusiastic at the prospect of an interruption, he noted.”

      This description of the mysterious British couple introduces new suspicious characters while creating tension. Their secretive behavior and foreign appearance make them stand out in the rural setting, suggesting they may be connected to the disappearance investigation.

    Quotes

    1. “He was always prepared to dislike any male who pursued any of his daughters. He’d been correct—in spades—when it came to April’s choice of rodeo cowboy Dallas Cates. Joe wanted to dislike Lance Ramsey. He really did.”

    This quote reveals Joe’s protective paternal instincts and his internal conflict about his daughter’s new romantic interest. It shows his self-awareness about his biases while hinting at past family trauma related to his other daughter’s poor relationship choice.

    2. “When the light went off, the afterimage in Joe’s mind was seven-year-old Sheridan sitting in the passenger seat of his Game and Fish truck during a ride-along sixteen years before. She of the ponytails and missing teeth.”

    This poignant moment captures Joe’s nostalgia and difficulty accepting his daughter’s adulthood. The vivid contrast between past and present highlights the universal parental experience of watching children grow up too fast.

    3. “She said someone from the governor’s office called, but she couldn’t remember who it was…Someone from the governor’s office wanted the keys to a game warden house in Saratoga?”

    This mysterious revelation introduces a political element to the story’s central disappearance case. The unusual request suggests higher-level involvement in whatever happened to the missing woman, raising questions about potential cover-ups.

    4. “What, he wondered, would they be like if they encountered a lone blond British driver on the highway and thought they could grab her and get away with it?”

    Joe’s speculation connects the aggressive Youngberg brothers to the disappearance case, establishing them as potential suspects. This thought shows his investigative mindset at work, drawing connections between different incidents.

    5. “Both looked up and stopped talking as Joe approached. Neither looked enthusiastic at the prospect of an interruption, he noted.”

    This description of the mysterious British couple introduces new suspicious characters while creating tension. Their secretive behavior and foreign appearance make them stand out in the rural setting, suggesting they may be connected to the disappearance investigation.

    FAQs

    1. How does Joe’s initial impression of Lance Ramsey contrast with his typical reaction to his daughters’ romantic interests, and what does this reveal about his character?

    Answer:
    Joe typically prepares himself to dislike any man who pursues his daughters, as evidenced by his strong negative reaction to April’s choice of Dallas Cates. However, he admits to having a “pretty good first impression” of Lance Ramsey, describing him as a genuine cowboy who reacted well to meeting Joe and was there for Sheridan. This unexpected approval reveals Joe’s capacity for fairness and objectivity despite his protective paternal instincts. His willingness to give Ramsey a chance shows he judges individuals based on their character rather than preconceived notions, though he still struggles emotionally with seeing his daughter grow up (as shown by his nostalgic memory of seven-year-old Sheridan).

    2. What two significant discoveries does Joe make through his observations and phone conversations in this chapter, and how might they connect to larger plot developments?

    Answer:
    Joe makes two key discoveries: First, he learns through spying that Sheridan and Lance Ramsey share a romantic connection when he witnesses them kissing. Second, through his phone call with Casey Scales, he discovers that the keys to the game warden house were mysteriously sent to the governor’s office—an unexplained bureaucratic anomaly. Both discoveries have potential plot significance: the Sheridan-Ramsey relationship may become emotionally complicated for Joe, while the missing keys suggest political interference or cover-up regarding the missing persons case Joe is investigating. The latter especially hints at higher-level involvement in whatever happened to Kate.

    3. Analyze how the author uses contrasting imagery and settings to highlight Joe’s internal conflict regarding his daughter’s adulthood.

    Answer:
    The author creates powerful contrasts between Joe’s nostalgic memory of seven-year-old Sheridan with “ponytails and missing teeth” riding in his Game and Fish truck and the present image of her as a twenty-three-year-old woman kissing Lance Ramsey in his ranch pickup. The domestic warmth of the earlier memory clashes with the adult reality of bar encounters and romantic relationships. The physical settings mirror this—from the safety of Joe’s work vehicle to the public vulnerability of a bar and icy street. These contrasts visually underscore Joe’s struggle to reconcile his protective father role with Sheridan’s independence, emphasized by Marybeth’s reminder “She’s twenty-three.”

    4. What clues suggest the British couple at the bar might be connected to Kate’s disappearance, and how does this scene build suspense?

    Answer:
    Several clues connect the British couple to Kate’s case: their out-of-place appearance (all-black clothing in a denim-dominated town), the woman’s British accent (Kate was British), their intense conversation, and their equipment (camera and recorder like investigators might use). The bartender’s mocking imitation of the woman’s accent specifically recalls Kate’s nationality. Their furtive cigarette hiding and note-taking suggest secrecy. This builds suspense by introducing mysterious newcomers who may be journalists, investigators, or even suspects—their presence implies the case has broader interest or consequences than initially apparent, raising questions about their true role.

    5. How does the chapter use parallel conflicts—between familial and professional concerns—to develop tension in Joe’s character?

    Answer:
    The chapter intertwines Joe’s personal conflict (protecting Sheridan while accepting her adulthood) with his professional conflict (investigating a disappearance while encountering bureaucratic obstacles). Both involve protective instincts: as a father suspicious of suitors and as a law officer seeking justice. The phone call with Scales about the missing keys professionally mirrors his emotional “missing” of Sheridan’s childhood. His distraction during Marybeth’s call shows how these conflicts compete for his attention. The parallel builds tension by showing Joe stretched thin—trying to solve a case while navigating fatherhood, with neither role offering simple solutions, culminating in his exhausted “Complicated” summary.

    Note