Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of [Joe Pickett 18] • The Disappeared
    MysteryThrillerTrue Crime

    [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.
    PreviousNext
    [Joe Pickett 18] • The Disappeared

    Chapter 27

    by C.J., Box,

    In Chap­ter 27, titled “The Dis­ap­peared,” Joe meets with Steve Pol­lock, a disheveled for­mer game war­den, and Michael Williams, a tense DCI agent, in a din­er. Pol­lock appears unkempt and intox­i­cat­ed, while Williams seems anx­ious to leave. The con­ver­sa­tion revolves around the mys­te­ri­ous dis­ap­pear­ance of Kate Shelford-Long­den, a case Williams inves­ti­gat­ed but was abrupt­ly pulled from. Pol­lock claims he had no inter­ac­tion with Kate or the Sil­ver Creek Ranch, where she van­ished, but hints at the ranch’s unusu­al oper­a­tions. Williams reveals his team felt sur­veilled dur­ing the inves­ti­ga­tion, sug­gest­ing a cov­er-up involv­ing local author­i­ties or pow­er­ful fig­ures.

    The dis­cus­sion shifts to Pollock’s sud­den res­ig­na­tion from his job. He admits to accept­ing a $175,000 bribe from Ted Panos, a man con­nect­ed to Buck­brush, in exchange for quit­ting. Pol­lock, dis­il­lu­sioned by his fail­ing mar­riage, stag­nant career, and bureau­crat­ic frus­tra­tions, saw the offer as an escape. Joe is shocked by Pollock’s lack of pro­fes­sion­al­ism but hides his dis­gust. Pollock’s sto­ry rais­es ques­tions about the motives behind the bribe and its con­nec­tion to Kate’s dis­ap­pear­ance, though he pro­vides no clear answers. The meet­ing under­scores the per­va­sive cor­rup­tion and pres­sure sur­round­ing the case.

    Williams warns Joe to stay vig­i­lant, ref­er­enc­ing his own humil­i­at­ing removal from the inves­ti­ga­tion and draw­ing par­al­lels to Joe’s recent fir­ing. Joe real­izes his ter­mi­na­tion isn’t yet pub­lic, but the con­ver­sa­tion con­firms his sus­pi­cions of a larg­er con­spir­a­cy. The chap­ter builds ten­sion as the men exchange frag­ment­ed insights, hint­ing at a shad­owy net­work of influ­ence pro­tect­ing the ranch and its secrets. Pollock’s abrupt depar­ture and Williams’ urgency leave Joe with more ques­tions than answers.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with Joe press­ing Pol­lock for details about Panos’ demands, but the nar­ra­tive cuts off before Pol­lock responds. The encounter leaves Joe grap­pling with the impli­ca­tions of Pollock’s bribe and its poten­tial ties to Kate’s case. The atmos­phere of para­noia and betray­al lingers, empha­siz­ing the dan­gers of dig­ging deep­er into the mys­tery. The chap­ter sets the stage for fur­ther rev­e­la­tions while high­light­ing the iso­la­tion and risks Joe faces in his pur­suit of the truth.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How do the physical appearances and behaviors of Steve Pollock and Michael Williams reflect their current states of mind in this chapter?

      Answer:
      The chapter vividly portrays both characters through telling physical details. Pollock appears disheveled with 3-4 days of beard growth, unkempt hair, and bloodshot eyes, suggesting heavy drinking and depression after quitting his job. His “deflated” posture and slurry speech reinforce this. Williams, meanwhile, is described as perched nervously “as if he might spring” away, smelling of alcohol, and constantly checking his watch—indicating stress, paranoia, and reluctance to be involved. These details create a stark contrast to their former professional personas, showing how the Kate investigation and institutional pressures have eroded them.

      2. What evidence suggests there is an organized effort to obstruct investigations around Silver Creek Ranch?

      Answer:
      Multiple suspicious incidents point to coordinated interference: Williams’ team felt surveilled during their investigation, noting strange trucks observing them. Joe’s case notes were stolen from his hotel room, and he experienced similar surveillance outside Pollock’s home. Williams also suspects leaks in the Carbon County sheriff’s office. Most damning is Pollock’s revelation that Buckbrush associate Ted Panos paid him $175,000 to abruptly quit—a clear attempt to remove knowledgeable game wardens from the area. These patterns suggest someone with resources (likely connected to the ranch) is systematically neutralizing threats to their operations.

      3. Analyze how bureaucratic and political pressures impact law enforcement in this chapter, using specific examples.

      Answer:
      The chapter highlights systemic dysfunction: Pollock describes salary freezes, district downsizing, and deliberate marginalization of “old-school” wardens by director Linda Greene-Dempsey. Williams faces overtime restrictions and public humiliation when abruptly pulled from the case by the governor—paralleling Joe’s recent firing. These pressures create vulnerabilities; Pollock’s financial desperation made him susceptible to bribery. The “quick to piss inside his own tent” metaphor underscores how political leadership sabotages its own investigators, suggesting corruption or outside influence reaches the highest levels of state government.

      4. Why is Pollock’s account of the Silver Creek Ranch being a “clean operation” potentially misleading or significant?

      Answer:
      Pollock’s insistence that the ranch runs cleanly (“I never had any trouble”) contradicts the pervasive atmosphere of surveillance, bribery, and sudden investigative shutdowns surrounding it. His focus on trivial anecdotes (like the moose with barbed wire) while ignoring Kate’s disappearance suggests either willful ignorance or deliberate misdirection. Given his later admission of taking bribes, his praise for the ranch may be strategic—especially since wealthy guests could easily violate laws unnoticed. This dissonance implies the ranch’s pristine reputation is carefully cultivated, possibly through payoffs and intimidation of officials like Pollock.

      5. How does Joe’s personal situation create both risks and opportunities in this investigation?

      Answer:
      Joe’s recent firing (though not yet public) mirrors Williams’ experience, giving him insider understanding of institutional corruption. This builds trust with Williams but makes him vulnerable—he lacks official backing if threatened. His awareness of being surveilled shows he’s already a target. However, being “off the books” could allow covert investigation methods regular agents can’t use. His disgust at Pollock’s bribery (while hiding it) confirms his integrity, positioning him as the only unbiased investigator remaining—but also isolating him further as others are compromised or removed.

    Quotes

    • 1. “The whole time my team was investigating Kate’s disappearance, we had the feeling that we were being watched and observed.”

      This quote from DCI agent Michael Williams reveals the pervasive atmosphere of surveillance surrounding the investigation, suggesting powerful forces are working to obstruct justice. It introduces the chapter’s central mystery about who is monitoring law enforcement and why.

      2. “Who did we offend? Who wanted us gone?”

      Williams’ rhetorical questions capture the core tension of the chapter - the unexplained resistance to the investigation and the political pressures that abruptly ended it. This represents the turning point where casual conversation shifts to conspiracy.

      3. “I heard the press conference this morning. It sounded familiar. If I were you, I’d keep my head on a swivel.”

      Williams’ warning to Joe connects Joe’s current predicament with the earlier suppressed investigation, suggesting a pattern of political retaliation against law enforcement officers who get too close to the truth.

      4. “His name is Ted Panos… he offered me a hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars to hit the bricks.”

      Pollock’s shocking revelation about being paid to quit his job exposes possible corruption tied to the case. This quote represents the chapter’s climax, revealing a direct financial incentive to remove game wardens from the investigation area.

      5. “I ain’t ever going back.”

      Pollock’s defiant conclusion to his story underscores both his personal resignation and the irreversible consequences of the bribe. This blunt statement highlights how effectively money can remove obstacles to those protecting secrets.

    Quotes

    1. “The whole time my team was investigating Kate’s disappearance, we had the feeling that we were being watched and observed.”

    This quote from DCI agent Michael Williams reveals the pervasive atmosphere of surveillance surrounding the investigation, suggesting powerful forces are working to obstruct justice. It introduces the chapter’s central mystery about who is monitoring law enforcement and why.

    2. “Who did we offend? Who wanted us gone?”

    Williams’ rhetorical questions capture the core tension of the chapter - the unexplained resistance to the investigation and the political pressures that abruptly ended it. This represents the turning point where casual conversation shifts to conspiracy.

    3. “I heard the press conference this morning. It sounded familiar. If I were you, I’d keep my head on a swivel.”

    Williams’ warning to Joe connects Joe’s current predicament with the earlier suppressed investigation, suggesting a pattern of political retaliation against law enforcement officers who get too close to the truth.

    4. “His name is Ted Panos… he offered me a hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars to hit the bricks.”

    Pollock’s shocking revelation about being paid to quit his job exposes possible corruption tied to the case. This quote represents the chapter’s climax, revealing a direct financial incentive to remove game wardens from the investigation area.

    5. “I ain’t ever going back.”

    Pollock’s defiant conclusion to his story underscores both his personal resignation and the irreversible consequences of the bribe. This blunt statement highlights how effectively money can remove obstacles to those protecting secrets.

    FAQs

    1. How do the physical appearances and behaviors of Steve Pollock and Michael Williams reflect their current states of mind in this chapter?

    Answer:
    The chapter vividly portrays both characters through telling physical details. Pollock appears disheveled with 3-4 days of beard growth, unkempt hair, and bloodshot eyes, suggesting heavy drinking and depression after quitting his job. His “deflated” posture and slurry speech reinforce this. Williams, meanwhile, is described as perched nervously “as if he might spring” away, smelling of alcohol, and constantly checking his watch—indicating stress, paranoia, and reluctance to be involved. These details create a stark contrast to their former professional personas, showing how the Kate investigation and institutional pressures have eroded them.

    2. What evidence suggests there is an organized effort to obstruct investigations around Silver Creek Ranch?

    Answer:
    Multiple suspicious incidents point to coordinated interference: Williams’ team felt surveilled during their investigation, noting strange trucks observing them. Joe’s case notes were stolen from his hotel room, and he experienced similar surveillance outside Pollock’s home. Williams also suspects leaks in the Carbon County sheriff’s office. Most damning is Pollock’s revelation that Buckbrush associate Ted Panos paid him $175,000 to abruptly quit—a clear attempt to remove knowledgeable game wardens from the area. These patterns suggest someone with resources (likely connected to the ranch) is systematically neutralizing threats to their operations.

    3. Analyze how bureaucratic and political pressures impact law enforcement in this chapter, using specific examples.

    Answer:
    The chapter highlights systemic dysfunction: Pollock describes salary freezes, district downsizing, and deliberate marginalization of “old-school” wardens by director Linda Greene-Dempsey. Williams faces overtime restrictions and public humiliation when abruptly pulled from the case by the governor—paralleling Joe’s recent firing. These pressures create vulnerabilities; Pollock’s financial desperation made him susceptible to bribery. The “quick to piss inside his own tent” metaphor underscores how political leadership sabotages its own investigators, suggesting corruption or outside influence reaches the highest levels of state government.

    4. Why is Pollock’s account of the Silver Creek Ranch being a “clean operation” potentially misleading or significant?

    Answer:
    Pollock’s insistence that the ranch runs cleanly (“I never had any trouble”) contradicts the pervasive atmosphere of surveillance, bribery, and sudden investigative shutdowns surrounding it. His focus on trivial anecdotes (like the moose with barbed wire) while ignoring Kate’s disappearance suggests either willful ignorance or deliberate misdirection. Given his later admission of taking bribes, his praise for the ranch may be strategic—especially since wealthy guests could easily violate laws unnoticed. This dissonance implies the ranch’s pristine reputation is carefully cultivated, possibly through payoffs and intimidation of officials like Pollock.

    5. How does Joe’s personal situation create both risks and opportunities in this investigation?

    Answer:
    Joe’s recent firing (though not yet public) mirrors Williams’ experience, giving him insider understanding of institutional corruption. This builds trust with Williams but makes him vulnerable—he lacks official backing if threatened. His awareness of being surveilled shows he’s already a target. However, being “off the books” could allow covert investigation methods regular agents can’t use. His disgust at Pollock’s bribery (while hiding it) confirms his integrity, positioning him as the only unbiased investigator remaining—but also isolating him further as others are compromised or removed.

    Note