Chapter 22 Summary: Bennett’s Search for Answers at One Police Plaza
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This summary and analysis contain details from Chapter 22 of Obsessed by James Patterson. If you haven’t read the chapter yet, proceed with caution.
Summary
Bennett starts his day early, heading to NYPD headquarters at One Police Plaza. He dislikes the atmosphere there, which lacks the camaraderie of a neighborhood precinct. His first stop is the Missing Persons Squad to see Detective Gary Avram. After a moment of light banter—Gary pretends to be working on a crossword—Bennett explains why he is there: his daughter’s friend Suzanne Morton, a missing person, was found murdered in New Rochelle. Bennett suspects Suzanne is part of a pattern involving three college students murdered in the past two months. He asks Gary if there are other missing persons cases that fit the same profile. Gary, already ahead of the detective, pulls out three file folders matching Bennett’s description: college students, beautiful, bright. He explains that he noticed the similarity after seeing reports from Bennett and his partner Hernandez. Bennett is impressed by Gary’s foresight. Bennett then plans to visit Gary’s wife, Sergeant Kathy Figler, in the juvenile unit, hoping to get advice on dealing with the bullies harassing his children. Gary jokes about Bennett bothering them at work, and the two share a moment of camaraderie.
Key Events
- Bennett arrives at One Police Plaza and notes the competitive, individualistic culture.
- He meets Detective Gary Avram in the Missing Persons Squad.
- Gary jokingly claims to be solving a crossword before revealing he has already prepared three files.
- Bennett explains his theory that Suzanne Morton is one of several similar murders.
- Gary provides files on three missing female college students that match the victim profile.
- Bennett decides to visit Sergeant Kathy Figler in the juvenile unit to discuss his sons’ bullying problem.
- Gary and Bennett exchange lighthearted remarks about work-life boundaries and impressing spouses.
Character Development
- Michael Bennett: Shows initiative by following a cross‐unit lead. His discomfort at One Police Plaza reinforces his preference for precinct work. He balances professional duties with personal concerns (his sons’ safety), revealing his fatherly side.
- Gary Avram: Intelligent and proactive—he anticipates Bennett’s needs by collecting the files. His playful personality (crossword joke) and strict separation of work and home life show a disciplined yet approachable detective.
- Kathy Figler: Not directly present, but Bennett’s plan to consult her indicates she is a trusted authority on juvenile issues. The chapter sets up her future role.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Collaboration vs. Bureaucracy: Bennett’s tension between precinct camaraderie and headquarters hierarchy highlights how institutional culture can hinder or help investigations. Gary’s willingness to share information crosses unit boundaries, emphasizing the value of teamwork.
- The Missing Persons Database: The ECMS system represents a hidden resource. Gary’s comment that most cops don’t know how many people disappear underscores the vast, underreported problem of missing persons—a theme relevant to serial killer investigations.
- Work‐Life Boundaries: Avram and Figler’s rule to never discuss work at home mirrors Bennett’s own struggle to keep his family safe from his professional dangers. The motif of balancing job and family recurs.
- The Crossword as Mask: Gary’s joke about a crossword symbolizes how detectives sometimes hide their intelligence or preparedness behind humor. It also reflects the intellectual puzzle of linking separate cases.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 22 is a turning point in the investigation. Bennett moves from reacting to a single murder to proactively identifying a possible serial killer. The three missing persons files give the story a concrete lead and raise the stakes. The chapter also deepens Bennett’s personal arc by connecting his professional resources (Kathy Figler) to his family problem, blending the two plotlines. Gary Avram emerges as a valuable ally, and the setting of One Police Plaza provides a contrast to the precinct dynamic, reminding readers of the larger NYPD system Bennett must navigate.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What leads Bennett to suspect Suzanne Morton’s murder is part of a pattern?
Bennett notes that Suzanne is the third college student found murdered in two months. The victims share similar traits: young, female, beautiful, and bright. He theorizes that there may be other missing persons who also match this profile—victims who were never classified as homicides because they were never found.
2. How does Gary Avram demonstrate that he is ahead of Bennett in connecting the cases?
Before Bennett can ask, Gary retrieves three file folders from his desk. He explains that after reading the reports from Bennett’s and Hernandez’s homicides, he searched ECMS (the Missing Persons database) for similar missing college women. He had already identified three cases from the past two years that fully match the victim profile.
3. What does Bennett hope to gain by visiting Sergeant Kathy Figler?
Bennett wants advice on how to deal with the bullies who have been bothering his sons near Holy Name. Since Figler works in the juvenile unit and handles kids who cause problems, he believes she can offer a professional, practical approach to a personal dilemma.