Chapter summaries 2 Sisters Murder Investigations James Patterson

Chapter 67: Troy Hansen’s Alarming Connections

Spoiler Warning: This chapter summary reveals key plot points from Chapter 67 of 2 Sisters Murder Investigations. Read ahead only after finishing the chapter.

Summary

After being thrown out of the Hansen house, the narrator drives to a diner, shaken by Barney Hansen’s claim that “Daisy weren’t his first.” She checks Troy Hansen’s criminal record and finds no past violent charges, even after searching sealed records. Still suspicious, she receives an email from Detective Will Brogan containing a list of utility pole service calls assigned to Troy. Cross-referencing the addresses and dates against the last-known locations of the ten missing people reveals a disturbing pattern: Troy worked on a pole within a five-mile radius of each disappearance within two weeks of when the person was last seen. Specific cases include Jarrod Maloof (pole replacement near Muscle Beach camp eight days before he vanished), Dennis Maynar (a pole two blocks from his firm on the day he disappeared), and Maria Sanchez (a service call at Franklin Canyon Park a month before she went missing). The narrator concludes that wherever Troy goes, people vanish.

Key Events

  • The narrator is ejected from the Hansens’ house by Barney Hansen, who hurls abuse. She reflects on his earlier statement that “Daisy weren’t his first.”
  • She arrives at a diner and checks Troy’s record for prior violent crimes, finding none after also looking for sealed convictions.
  • She receives a text from Jamie confirming that the army-green pickup following her was reported stolen in Anaheim.
  • Detective Brogan sends a scan of utility pole work orders for Troy Hansen.
  • Cross-checking the addresses against missing-persons data shows Troy was near all ten locations within a tight time window.
  • Three detailed examples are given, removing any doubt about the connection.

Character Development

  • The detective (narrator): Her confidence wavers as she feels humiliation for possibly missing a prior crime, then solidifies into grim resolve as the evidence mounts. She shows resourcefulness by using back-channel legal searches and systematically analyzing data.
  • Barney Hansen: His “hungry eyes” and enjoyment of attention suggest a manipulative, self-serving personality. His outburst reveals he knows far more about Troy’s history than he admits.
  • Reina Hansen: The terror glimpsed in her eyes earlier now appears as a possible sign that she and her husband have been covering for Troy’s violent past.
  • Will Brogan (via email): Cooperative and helpful, he provides the critical police document without hesitation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Weight of Evidence: The utility pole records transform suspicion into near-certainty, emphasizing how cold, hard data can break a case.
  • Parental Complicity vs. Fear: Barney’s aggression and Reina’s silent terror explore the moral dilemma of protecting a monstrous family member.
  • The Geography of Crime: The five-mile radius motif shows that predator and prey operate within overlapping everyday spaces—utility poles, parking lots, parks.
  • Duality of Public Records: Troy’s clean criminal record hides a far darker trail, suggesting that institutional blind spots allow predators to evade detection.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 67 is the moment the investigation pivots from suspicion to confirmed pattern. The utility pole data turns Troy Hansen from a suspect with a circumstantial link to someone whose movements align precisely with the disappearances. It sets the stage for a direct confrontation or a race to stop further abductions. The chapter also deepens the mystery of the Hansen family dynamic—what do the parents truly know?—and ties the stolen pickup subplot into the larger danger surrounding the detective.

Study Questions

  1. How does the utility pole evidence shift the narrator’s approach to the case? The narrator moves from doubting her own instincts to accepting a methodical, data-driven conclusion. The evidence removes reasonable doubt and forces a focus on Troy’s timeline, making the investigation an urgent chase rather than a fishing expedition.

  2. What role does Barney Hansen’s personality play in the detective’s refusal to pay for information? Barney’s “hungry eyes and mean little smile” suggest he would relish a bidding war and enjoy the control. The narrator senses that paying him would only feed his ego and wouldn’t guarantee truthful answers, so she avoids that path.

  3. In what ways do the specific missing-person examples (Jarrod, Dennis, Maria) reinforce the pattern? Each example shows a different type of location—a homeless camp, a parking lot, a park—but all share the common element of a recent Troy Hansen work order within a short distance and time. The variety underscores that Troy’s alleged attacks aren’t limited to one setting, making the pattern more damning.

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