Chapter 45: Interviewing Kyle Banning Without Notice
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This page contains detailed plot points from Chapter 45 of Obsessed. Read at your own risk if you haven’t yet finished the book.
Summary
Michael Bennett pitches his plan to three colleagues around a table—Harry Grissom and Terri Hernandez are present, along with an unnamed third person. The plan: interview Kyle Banning at his apartment on Saturday morning, catching him off guard. Bennett knows the building has a doorman and good security; announcing himself would allow Banning to refuse. With Grissom’s reluctant approval, Bennett visits his informant Ronald Higdon at the pawnshop. Ronald has already used his network (Artie, Soolie, and a delivery buddy) to arrange access: the building’s doorman owes a gambling debt to a friend of Soolie’s, and in exchange for an extra week to repay, the doorman will let Bennett slip in. Ronald asks for a future favor of unspecified nature, and Bennett reluctantly agrees. Ronald provides the doorman’s schedule, confirming he will be working Saturday morning. Bennett feels proud of the team’s progress but slightly uneasy about the promise.
Key Events
- Bennett explains his plan to interview Kyle Banning at home without prior notice.
- Grissom and Hernandez are skeptical but Grissom eventually agrees.
- Bennett goes to Ronald Higdon for help bypassing the doorman.
- Ronald reveals he has already arranged a deal: the doorman will let Bennett enter in exchange for a debt extension.
- Ronald demands a favor in return, to be called in later. Bennett accepts.
- Bennett learns the doorman’s schedule and confirms he works Saturday morning.
Character Development
- Michael Bennett: Shows resourcefulness and willingness to bend protocol for a case. His agreement with Ronald introduces a moral gray area, and his unease hints at potential future consequences.
- Ronald Higdon: Continues to operate as a useful but ethically flexible informant. His request for a favor underscores his transactional nature and long-term thinking.
- Harry Grissom and Terri Hernandez: Remain cautious but ultimately trust Bennett’s instincts, reinforcing their roles as measured, supportive colleagues.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Favor economy: The entire chapter revolves around debts and exchanges—Ronald’s network leverages a gambling debt, and Bennett’s cooperation with Ronald creates a new obligation.
- Surprise as a tactic: Bennett’s core strategy (bypassing normal procedures to catch Banning off guard) highlights the tension between legitimate investigation and improvisation.
- Trust and leverage: Bennett relies on Ronald’s shady connections, illustrating how investigators sometimes must trade in favors to gain an edge.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter sets the stage for the upcoming interview with Kyle Banning, a pivotal moment in the investigation. It also deepens Bennett’s relationship with Ronald Higdon, planting a future plot device in the form of a promised favor. The ethical compromise Bennett accepts reflects his determination to solve the case, even at personal cost.
Study Questions
-
Why does Bennett want to interview Kyle Banning on a Saturday morning without notice?
Answer: He wants to avoid giving Banning time to refuse or prepare, hoping to catch him off guard and gain more truthful or spontaneous information. Announcing himself through the doorman would allow Banning to deny entry. -
How does Ronald Higdon arrange access to Banning’s building?
Answer: Ronald uses his network of contacts (Artie, Soolie) to find a doorman who owes a gambling debt. The debt holder agrees to give the doorman an extra week to repay in exchange for letting Bennett slip into the building unnoticed. -
What is Bennett’s concern after agreeing to Ronald’s request for a favor?
Answer: Bennett worries about what Ronald might ask for, since he cannot break rules or alter records. The open-ended nature of the favor creates a sense of obligation that could later compromise his integrity.