Chapter 89: A Planted Casing Unlocks a Forgotten Suspect

Spoiler Warning: This analysis contains detailed plot details of Chapter 89 of Crosshairs. Do not read further if you wish to avoid spoilers.

Summary

Detective Michael Bennett wrestles with a growing conviction that Rob Trilling is not the Longshot Killer. He acknowledges that his focus on exonerating Trilling might give command staff a reason to pull him from the case. A call from Walter Jackson interrupts his thoughts: the forensic report on the .308 casing found in Trilling’s car is in. Bennett opens the email and reads it while still on the line—no usable DNA, no fingerprints, not even a partial print. Bennett voices the suspicion that the casing could have been planted, perhaps to frame Trilling. He and Jackson puzzle over who might do that and why. The detective realizes the planting likely happened in a secure lot—either the FBI’s or the NYPD’s—so the culprit must be someone in law enforcement. Suddenly Bennett remembers another suspect he had previously dismissed: former NYPD sniper Joe Tavarez, now relegated to desk duty, who has both the skills and access to police files.

Key Events

• Bennett internally admits he has collected evidence suggesting Trilling isn’t the shooter and worries that his superiors will replace him on the case.
• Walter Jackson delivers the casing report: the shell recovered from Trilling’s vehicle is devoid of any usable DNA or fingerprints.
• Bennett immediately theorizes the casing was planted, because a shooter would not meticulously wipe a cartridge before loading it.
• The two detectives discuss how a law enforcement insider would have the access to plant the evidence in a secure NYPD or FBI parking lot.
• The conversation triggers Bennett’s memory of Joe Tavarez, an NYPD sniper on desk duty whom he previously considered and then overlooked.

Character Development

Bennett demonstrates a troubling tunnel vision: he has prioritized clearing Trilling over pursuing the actual killer. Recognizing this bias lays bare his fallibility and deepens his internal conflict. Yet his detective instincts remain sharp; as soon as the evidence points toward a plant, his mind races through the implications and connects the dots to Tavarez. The moment is a turning point from defensive self-doubt to renewed investigative energy.

Walter Jackson acts as a steady sounding board. He offers no pushback against Bennett’s plant theory, instead asking the logical “who” and “why.” His reliance on Bennett’s judgment reinforces the bond of the investigative team.

Joe Tavarez is reintroduced only through Bennett’s recollection—a former sniper now behind a desk, a straight-arrow cop with possible motive and opportunity. The offstage reintroduction makes him an immediate person of interest and raises new questions about the killer’s identity.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

• Tunnel Vision: The chapter explicitly critiques an investigator’s tendency to latch onto a single theory. Bennett’s admission that he has been “actively looking to exonerate” Trilling shows how cognitive bias can derail an entire case.
• The Insider Threat: The planted casing symbolizes the terrifying possibility that the killer is a trusted colleague. The forensic void on the shell becomes a motif of deliberate sabotage, pointing toward a member of law enforcement.
• Doubt and Reassessment: Bennett’s second-guessing of his own methods—and the sudden recall of a forgotten suspect—mirrors the theme that truth often hides in plain sight, obscured by the investigator’s own preconceptions.
• Evidence as a Double-Edged Sword: The clean casing, which should incriminate Trilling, instead becomes the clue that exonerates him and redirects the hunt. The chapter highlights how forensic evidence is only as meaningful as the investigator’s interpretation.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 89 is a fulcrum in the novel’s investigative arc. For the first time, Bennett openly acknowledges that the case against Trilling is crumbling, then almost instantly pivots to a new, plausible suspect. The revelation that the casing was likely planted shifts the entire narrative from a straightforward manhunt to a more insidious game of misdirection. By introducing Joe Tavarez as a viable alternative, Patterson sets the stage for the next phase of the investigation—one that must navigate the paranoia of a killer hiding within the ranks of law enforcement. The chapter also deepens the reader’s understanding of Bennett’s character, exposing his vulnerabilities while proving his ability to self-correct.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Bennett conclude that the casing found in Trilling’s car was likely planted?
   The forensic report shows no DNA or fingerprints whatsoever on the shell. A real shooter would have no reason to wipe down a cartridge before chambering it; the absence of any trace evidence suggests deliberate cleaning or handling with the intent to avoid leaving clues—exactly what someone would do to plant a sterile piece of evidence.

2. What new suspect does Bennett recall during his conversation with Walter Jackson, and why is that person suddenly relevant?
   He remembers Joe Tavarez, a former NYPD sniper now working a desk job. Tavarez was already on Bennett’s radar earlier in the case. He possesses sniper skills, has access to police files and secure parking areas, and may fit the profile of a “straight arrow” who resents criminals escaping punishment—making him a prime candidate to have planted the casing and committed the murders.

3. How does this chapter highlight a potential flaw in Bennett’s detective work?
   Bennett himself acknowledges that he has become fixated on proving Rob Trilling’s innocence rather than objectively investigating all leads. This tunnel vision could have cost him the case, and he realizes command staff would be justified in removing him. His self-awareness is key, but the chapter shows that even seasoned investigators can let personal convictions cloud their judgment.

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