Chapter 91: Setting the Trap
[⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This page contains major spoilers for Chapter 91 of Crosshairs by James Patterson. Do not read further unless you have completed this chapter.]
Complete Chapter Summary (Chronological)
Detective Michael Bennett returns to the office while Lieutenant Harry Grissom is occupied in a meeting with another homicide detective. Though eager to share his discoveries, Bennett exercises restraint and revisits the case reports at his desk, reminding himself to keep an open mind during investigations.
Once Grissom is free, Bennett enters his office and lays out everything he has uncovered about Joe Tavarez. He walks through the interviews, evidence, and logical connections that point toward Tavarez as the shooter. Grissom listens thoughtfully, stroking his mustache, then observes that Tavarez could have gained access to FBI investigations through his wife. This would explain how victims such as Adam Glossner and Gus Querva—who were not under NYPD scrutiny—became targets.
Grissom acknowledges the logic of Bennett’s argument even though the case lacks physical evidence or witnesses placing Tavarez at the shootings. He notes that revealing these findings will trouble Internal Affairs Sergeant Dennis Wu. Bennett then proposes setting a trap. The plan remains unformed, but Bennett suggests involving the sidelined sniper Trilling—using a sniper to catch a sniper. Grissom agrees, reasoning that if Tavarez is innocent, the trap will simply fail harmlessly. He immediately picks up his phone to begin the process of reinstating Trilling. Bennett resolves to refocus the entire investigation on Tavarez, treating it like a brand-new case.
Key Events
- Bennett returns to the office and waits for Grissom to finish a meeting.
- Bennett presents his full case against Joe Tavarez to Grissom.
- Grissom notes that Tavarez’s wife could have provided FBI investigation details, explaining victims outside NYPD jurisdiction.
- Grissom accepts the logic but highlights the absence of physical evidence or witnesses near the shooting scenes.
- Bennett spontaneously proposes a trap, suggesting Trilling be reinstated to assist.
- Grissom begins making calls to return Trilling to duty.
- Bennett commits to rebuilding the case from scratch, focused entirely on Tavarez.
Character Development
Michael Bennett demonstrates measured discipline by waiting to speak with Grissom instead of interrupting the meeting—a contrast to his earlier impulsiveness. His self-awareness surfaces when he reminds himself to keep an open mind, admitting this is a lesson he must relearn with every mysterious death. The chapter ends with Bennett embracing a complete reset of the investigation, showing a willingness to start over rather than cling to prior theories.
Harry Grissom acts as both a sounding board and a strategic validator. His immediate connection of Tavarez’s wife to the FBI leak shows sharp deductive thinking. His dry humor emerges in his smile at the word “tizzy,” and his swift decision to phone for Trilling’s reinstatement signals trust in Bennett’s instincts despite evidentiary gaps.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The Open Mind — Bennett explicitly states the importance of maintaining an open mind during investigations, a theme that mirrors his pivot away from the Trilling theory and toward Tavarez.
Traps and Deception — Bennett’s sudden idea of using a sniper to catch a sniper introduces a motif of strategic deception. The trap represents a shift from passive evidence-gathering to active, calculated provocation.
Restraint vs. Impulse — Bennett’s choice to wait rather than burst into Grissom’s meeting physically mirrors the intellectual restraint he exercises in reevaluating the case. The chapter contrasts disciplined patience with the urgency to act.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 91 marks a decisive turning point in the investigative narrative. Until now, Bennett has been pursuing leads and building a circumstantial case against Tavarez in isolation. This chapter converts private suspicion into official investigative strategy. Grissom’s endorsement—even without hard evidence—gives the new direction institutional weight. The chapter also introduces the idea of the trap, which sets up the novel’s climactic sequences and shifts the protagonists from reactive to proactive. Bennett’s acknowledgment that he must treat the case as entirely new underscores the depth of the paradigm shift away from the Trilling theory.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Grissom bring up Tavarez’s wife during the conversation, and how does it strengthen Bennett’s theory?
Grissom points out that Tavarez’s wife, through her FBI connections, could have given Tavarez access to federal investigation files. This closes a critical gap in Bennett’s logic: it explains how victims outside NYPD cases—such as Adam Glossner and Gus Querva—became targets. The observation makes the theory harder to dismiss.
2. What risk does Bennett identify in setting a trap, and how does he argue the risk is manageable?
Bennett acknowledges the possibility that Tavarez is not the actual killer. He argues that a properly designed trap carries no real danger because if Tavarez is innocent, he simply will not appear. The operation would conclude without incident, leaving room to pursue other directions.
3. Why is Bennett’s self-reminder to “keep an open mind” thematically important at this stage of the investigation?
Bennett admits he must relearn this lesson with nearly every case. The reminder signals his awareness of confirmation bias and marks his intellectual pivot away from the Trilling narrative. It frames the Tavarez theory not as a final answer but as a working hypothesis that must withstand scrutiny.