Chapter 62: The IA Interview
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This summary reveals key plot points from Chapter 62 of Crosshairs. Read at your own risk.
Summary
Detective Sergeant Dennis Wu from Internal Affairs arrives at Bennett’s desk with a condescending joke about Bennett’s “gigantic fuckup.” He is sharply dressed and wears distracting ties, more banker than cop. Bennett lets Wu go into Lieutenant Harry Grissom’s office alone, but within two minutes Harry calls Bennett inside.
Wu immediately frames the situation as a mess he can fix with a good interview. Harry, however, reminds Wu of his rank by emphasizing “Sergeant,” subtly pushing back. Bennett retaliates with a jab about Wu’s limited patrol experience, and Wu fires back with a detailed résumé: a month in patrol, five years at the FBI, several in general investigations, and three in IA—arguing he knows exactly how things work. Bennett questions Wu’s concern for a fellow cop, but Wu counters that bad officers taint the whole force, and they should focus on the case.
The questioning narrows to evidence: Wu asks if Bennett logged the .308 casing the FBI provided, and Bennett confirms it was entered into the NIBIN database for ballistic comparison. Wu then notes the absence of spent casings at the sniper scenes and verifies that Trilling hasn’t fired a .308 on duty in over seven months. When Bennett begins to defend Trilling’s character, Wu cuts him off, dismissing good or bad labels. Wu asks whether Trilling can shoot a rifle well, and Bennett says yes, recounting the West Point range trip. Wu instantly challenges the wisdom of that excursion during a serial-killer investigation, calling it a waste of time. Bennett retorts that talking to Wu is the true waste, which draws a threat to question Bennett’s competence and replace him with a “competent detective.” Harry steps in, firmly telling Wu not to threaten officers under his command and praising Bennett’s long record of accomplishment. Wu only says, “Duly noted, Lieutenant.”
Wu then writes in a leather-bound pad, treating Harry and Bennett as if they aren’t there. He asks Bennett to assist in the Trilling interview, probing whether it’s too personal. Bennett, thinking of Juliana and Trilling’s possible hidden relationship, nods without speaking. Wu insists the interview happen today, no delays.
As they wait, Bennett stands by the door, Wu sits, and Bennett gives a small smile—a defiant insult in their quiet standoff. Trilling walks in, smiling, but Harry introduces Wu from Internal Affairs, and the smile vanishes. Trilling looks at Bennett like a child realizing a gift isn’t what he hoped, finally understanding that Bennett truly suspects him.
Key Events
- IA Sergeant Dennis Wu arrives and mocks Bennett.
- In Harry’s office, Wu demands that the focus be on the case, not on protecting a fellow officer.
- Bennett confirms he submitted the .308 casing to the NIBIN database; no casings were recovered from the sniper scenes.
- Wu verifies Trilling hasn’t fired a .308 in his regular duties for months.
- Bennett admits taking Trilling to West Point to assess his long-range shooting, an outing Wu calls a waste of time.
- Harry intervenes when Wu threatens to question Bennett’s judgment, delivering a sharp reminder of rank.
- Wu orders Bennett to assist in the upcoming Trilling interview and forbids delays.
- Trilling arrives, learns Wu is IA, and his expression crumbles as he realizes Bennett suspects him.
Character Development
- Bennett: His loyalty to Trilling erodes under Wu’s logic, leaving him silent when Wu asks if the interview is too personal. The defiant smile during the waiting show his refusal to be intimidated, but his tightened stomach when Trilling approaches reveals deep unease and possible guilt.
- Sergeant Wu: Presented as detached and procedural, he refuses to hear that Trilling is a “good” officer. His calm, clinical approach and willingness to threaten Bennett’s job show an investigator who values evidence over relationships and who sees the IA mission as protecting the force from itself.
- Lieutenant Harry Grissom: Demonstrates firm leadership by defending Bennett’s record and checking Wu’s overreach. His quick reminder of rank structure and his willingness to intervene keep the interview from becoming a free-for-all against his detective.
- Officer Trilling: His initial smile at the end, followed by its disappearance when he hears “Internal Affairs,” marks a dramatic shift. The “dress shoes for Christmas” reaction conveys innocent shock but also suggests a deeper fear, as he now sees that Bennett’s trust is shattered.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Internal Affairs as a Trial: Wu’s presence transforms the squad room into a courtroom, where even informal exchanges are scrutinized. The interview is not just about facts but about loyalty and institutional reputation.
- Loyalty vs. Suspicion: Bennett’s instinct to defend Trilling collides with the weight of the evidence. The chapter forces the question: can loyalty survive when a colleague looks like a suspect?
- Professionalism and Rank: The power struggle between Wu and Harry over who commands respect highlights the formal hierarchy. Wu’s FBI credentials and IA role challenge traditional patrol-based authority, yet Harry ultimately reasserts the local chain of command.
- The Smile as Defiance: Bennett’s small smile during the standoff functions as a silent insult, a way to reject Wu’s control without words. It mirrors the subtle defiance that runs throughout the interrogation.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter shifts the investigation from the external hunt for a sniper to the internal fracture within the police force. The arrival of Internal Affairs forces Bennett to confront the possibility that someone he trained and trusted might be the killer. Wu’s unemotional cross-examination strips away the camaraderie that once protected Trilling, and the final image of Trilling’s vanishing smile cements the suspicion that has been building since earlier chapters. The chapter also demonstrates Harry’s protective leadership and foreshadows a high-stakes interview where Bennett must balance professional obligation with personal feelings, raising the tension for the chapters ahead.
Study Questions and Answers
-
Why does Sergeant Wu dismiss character judgments about Trilling, and what does that reveal about his approach to the investigation? Wu explicitly says, “I don’t deal in good or bad,” signaling that he relies solely on evidence and procedure. His background in the FBI and IA has trained him to see character testimonials as irrelevant distractions from objective facts. This approach reveals a systemic mistrust of intuition and highlights the tension between the human side of policing and the bureaucratic demand for accountability.
-
How does the power dynamic between Harry Grissom and Dennis Wu influence the scene? Harry uses rank to assert control, reminding Wu that he decides who is competent under his command. Wu initially tries to commandeer Harry’s office and sideline him, but Harry’s authoritative defense of Bennett reinforces the local hierarchy. This push-and-pull shows that while IA holds investigatory power, a strong commander can shield his team and shape the interview’s tone.
-
In what way does Trilling’s reaction to Wu’s introduction change the reader’s understanding of his character? Trilling’s smile drops instantly, and he looks at Bennett “like a kid who’d just gotten dress shoes for Christmas.” The simile suggests a painful, unexpected disappointment rather than rage or guilt. It complicates his earlier stoicism, suggesting that if he is not the sniper, he at least now understands how deeply his partner suspects him. If he is guilty, the shock might be the realization that his secret is exposed.