Lethal Prey Chapter 24 (Book Chapter 23) – Uncovering a Secret Girlfriend
Spoiler Notice: This summary and analysis contains plot details from Chapter 24 of Lethal Prey (Chapter 23 in the book). Read at your own risk if you haven't finished this chapter.
Summary
Virgil Flowers visits retired surgeon George Baer at his home on Turtle Lake. Baer recalls that nurse Tina Locklin had been romantically obsessed with Timothy Carlson about twenty years ago, long before the Grandfelt murder, and was encouraged to leave the practice with a generous severance. Baer describes Amanda Fisk as a “cold-hearted bitch” and suggests Carlson’s accident may have been suspicious. Virgil then interviews Locklin at her home. Locklin insists she knew nothing about Doris Grandfelt and was asked to leave months before the murder. She reveals that Carlson told her he was seeing another “professional lady” around the time she left. After leaving Locklin, Virgil shares this with Lucas. Baer calls back with a suspicion: that the unknown woman might have been Amanda Fisk, since Carlson married Amanda very quickly after Grandfelt’s murder—perhaps too fast for a newly met couple. Virgil asks Dahlia Blair to check the exact marriage date.
Key Events
- Virgil talks with George Baer about Tina Locklin’s past fixation on Carlson and Baer’s mistrust of Amanda Fisk.
- Baer calls Locklin to arrange a meeting for Virgil.
- Locklin denies knowledge of Grandfelt and says she was let go six months before the murder.
- Locklin mentions that Carlson told her about another woman he was dating at the time.
- Virgil reports to Lucas; DNA results from Carlson are pending at a Chicago lab.
- Baer calls back, suggesting Amanda Fisk might have been that other woman, given the short time between Grandfelt’s death and Carlson’s marriage.
- Virgil asks Dahlia Blair to look up the marriage date.
Character Development
- Virgil Flowers: Demonstrates thoroughness by following up on Baer’s tip and the mystery woman. He relies on old contacts and public records to fill gaps.
- George Baer: Reveals himself as observant and suspicious of Amanda. His respect for Carlson conflicts with his distrust of Fisk. He is protective of Tina Locklin.
- Tina Locklin: Comes across as calm, credible, and emotionally settled. She offers a key piece of information: Carlson was already seeing someone else when she left.
- Amanda Fisk: Not present, but her character is further questioned by Baer’s hints of a possible earlier relationship with Carlson, which contradicts her own story.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Trust and Deception: Baer explicitly warns Virgil not to believe everything Amanda says. Locklin’s narrative is straightforward, while Amanda’s timeline is now suspect.
- Timeline Manipulation: The chapter revolves around the question of when Carlson and Fisk truly began their relationship. The gap between Grandfelt’s death (spring) and the marriage (same summer) is too tight for a new romance, according to Baer.
- Character Judgment: Baer’s visceral dislike of Amanda (“bats in the attic”) contrasts with Locklin’s gentle demeanor, steering Virgil toward a more critical view of Fisk.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 23 deepens the mystery by shifting suspicion away from Tina Locklin and onto Amanda Fisk’s possible earlier involvement with Carlson. It introduces the idea that Amanda may have been the “other woman” all along, and that she may have lied to Virgil. The pending marriage date check is a concrete investigative step that could unravel the whole case.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does George Baer suspect Amanda Fisk’s timeline is inaccurate?
Baer notes that Carlson was not an impulsive person. Marrying within months of meeting Amanda (if they met only during the Grandfelt investigation) would have been out of character. He remembers that Carlson was already seeing someone in the autumn before the murder—and suggests that woman may have been Amanda.
2. What does Tina Locklin reveal about Carlson’s romantic life that changes the investigation?
Locklin says that during their final conversation (about six months before the Grandfelt murder), Carlson told her he was involved with another woman, described as a “professional lady.” This contradicts the impression that Amanda Fisk only met Carlson after Grandfelt’s death.
3. What specific piece of information does Virgil ask Dahlia Blair to find, and why is it important?
Virgil asks Blair to look up the exact date of Timothy Carlson and Amanda Fisk’s marriage. If they married in the same year as the Grandfelt murder (before winter), it would support Baer’s theory that they were already together before the murder, making Amanda a potential suspect or person of interest.