Buried Prey
Chapter 23
by Sandford, JohnLucas Davenport, a law enforcement officer, lies awake strategizing how to apprehend Roger Hanson, the suspected killer of a well-liked cop. He anticipates bureaucratic interference once news spreads about their investigation, which could complicate the manhunt. Lucas holds key advantages: he knows Hanson’s identity and can track him via cell phone, but he must construct a plausible trail of evidence to avoid scrutiny over his methods. Darrell Hanson and his wife have implicated Roger, providing a starting point, though more concrete proof is needed to secure a warrant and make an arrest.
To build a case, Lucas plans to retrace his steps from the investigation into Darrell Hanson, verifying details like Roger’s white van and teaching history. He worries Roger might flee abroad but dismisses the idea after noting the orderly state of his home, suggesting he’s nearby. Lucas contacts Shrake, who’s surveilling Hanson’s house, and they speculate Roger may be hiding to treat a gunshot wound from a prior encounter. Shrake agrees airport travel would be risky for a wounded fugitive, reinforcing their belief that Hanson is still local.
The next morning, Lucas directs Jenkins to inspect Hanson’s garage under the pretense of a routine inquiry, hoping to find a dirt bike linked to the case. Jenkins confirms the bike’s presence and its registration to Brian Hanson, strengthening their suspicions. Meanwhile, Lucas tasks Sandy with gathering Roger’s cell phone data, photos, and background information, while Del works on legal avenues to track the phone’s location. The team prepares to obtain witness identifications of Roger’s photo to solidify their case before pursuing a warrant.
As the investigation progresses, Lucas emphasizes the need for speed and discretion to prevent leaks that could alert Hanson or invite bureaucratic meddling. The chapter underscores the tension between legal protocols and pragmatic detective work, as Lucas balances building a credible case with the urgency of capturing a dangerous suspect. The team’s coordinated efforts and incremental discoveries highlight the meticulous process of piecing together evidence to bring a killer to justice.
FAQs
1. What are Lucas’s two main advantages in tracking down Roger Hanson, and why does he need to create a “logical trail of deduction”?
Answer:
Lucas’s two key advantages are that he knows Roger Hanson is the killer and has access to Hanson’s location through cell phone tracking. However, he must create a plausible investigative trail because the initial lead came from an illegal “black bag job” (covert operation) that couldn’t be revealed legally. By using Darrell Hanson’s accusation as a starting point, Lucas can build a legitimate case without exposing the unlawful surveillance. This approach ensures any evidence obtained will hold up in court while maintaining operational secrecy (Chapter 23, paragraphs 2–3).2. Analyze the significance of the dirt bike discovery in Roger Hanson’s garage. How does this detail advance the investigation?
Answer:
The dirt bike, registered to Brian Hanson (the victim), directly ties Roger to the crime. Its presence suggests Roger may have used it during the murder or escape, providing physical evidence linking him to the case. Jenkins’s discovery also validates Lucas’s suspicion that Roger hasn’t fled far, as the bike—a potential getaway vehicle—remains onsite. This finding strengthens the case for a warrant and justifies further surveillance (Chapter 23, Jenkins’s report and Lucas’s reaction).3. Why does Lucas hesitate to involve more law enforcement agencies immediately, despite the urgency of capturing Hanson?
Answer:
Lucas anticipates bureaucratic interference—other agencies might “slice off a piece of the credit” and trigger a chaotic “snake hunt” with excessive manpower. This could alert Hanson or compromise the investigation’s stealth. Lucas prefers a controlled, small-team approach to maintain secrecy and leverage his advantages (cell phone tracking, Darrell’s tip) without scrutiny. His strategy balances speed with precision to avoid tipping off Hanson (Chapter 23, opening paragraphs).4. How does the state of Roger Hanson’s house contradict the theory that he fled the country? Provide specific details Lucas uses to support his conclusion.
Answer:
Lucas notes the house shows signs of intended return: underwear in drawers, dirty laundry near the washer, running computer equipment, and coins left uncashed. These details suggest Hanson left hastily but plans to come back, as someone fleeing abroad would likely take valuables or disrupt the household more thoroughly. The mundane, unfinished tasks imply he’s nearby, possibly tending to a wound (Chapter 23, Lucas’s nighttime assessment).5. Evaluate Shrake’s theory about Hanson avoiding airports. How does this align with Lucas’s broader strategy?
Answer:
Shrake argues a bullet wound would make airport security risky, as bandages might draw scrutiny. This aligns with Lucas’s belief that Hanson is locally hiding, not fleeing internationally. The theory reinforces Lucas’s focus on local surveillance (cell tracking, dirt bike) and justifies prioritizing nearby searches over border alerts. It also underscores Hanson’s vulnerability—being injured limits his mobility, making him easier to corner (Chapter 23, Shrake and Lucas’s late-night call).
Quotes
1. “After that, the law enforcement bureaucrats would get into it, trying to slice off a piece of the credit for breaking the case—and capturing the killer of a well-liked cop. When they got involved, it’d turn into a snake hunt, with cops all over the state beating the bushes, trying to drive Hanson into the open.”
This quote highlights Lucas’s strategic concern about bureaucratic interference in the investigation, emphasizing his preference for a controlled, discreet approach to apprehending Hanson before the case becomes chaotic.
2. “What he needed to do was to ostensibly take Darrell Hanson’s suggestion, as any cop would, and build a case against Roger. He could get some way down that trail simply by redoing everything he’d done to build the case against Darrell.”
This reveals Lucas’s tactical thinking—using Darrell’s accusation as a plausible starting point to construct a legitimate case against Roger while concealing the illegal surveillance that initially led him to the suspect.
3. “The house was not torn up in the way it would be if somebody were fleeing the country. It looked like a house that somebody was coming back to: all the underwear still in place in the bedroom bureau, a pile of dirty clothes sat in front of the washing machine, a stack of computer equipment was blinking into the dark, still running, a jar of coins was sitting on the kitchen counter.”
This detailed observation underscores Lucas’s deductive reasoning, concluding that Hanson is likely nearby rather than fleeing, based on subtle but telling domestic clues.
4. “If I was a wounded guy, I’m not sure I’d want to take a chance with airport security, having a bullet hole in me. If they felt a bandage, and wanted to look at it … they find a bullet wound. It’d be taking a big chance.”
Shrake’s insight reinforces the team’s assessment that Hanson is hiding locally, adding credibility to their strategy of focusing the search in the immediate area rather than pursuing international leads.
5. “This is the first time it’s happened with us. But it opens up lots of possibilities. Say you get some DNA, and you think you know who the bad guy is, but you’re not sure, and you don’t want him to know that you’re l…”
Taski’s excitement about the DNA breakthrough hints at broader implications for future investigations, though the quote is cut short, leaving a tantalizing sense of potential.