Chapter 95 Summary – Tension Builds at The Hockey Stick
Spoiler warning: This summary contains details from Chapter 95 of Obsessed by James Patterson. Read ahead only if you have finished the chapter or don’t mind knowing what happens.
Summary
Michael Bennett and Terri are inside The Hockey Stick bar, twenty feet from Allie Pritz, who sits alone at the bar as bait. Both wear concealed earbuds: Bennett monitors Allie’s transmitter and the outside surveillance team’s radio; Terri can answer the team with a hidden mike. The Tactical Assistance Response Unit is ready outside, but Bennett feels nervous acid in his stomach. A bartender with a scraggly goatee lingers near Allie, drawn by her looks. The northern surveillance team reports they failed to spot the target, Perry Martin, at his home or Wolfson Academy. Terri scans the bar for potential interference. Bennett briefly removes his earpiece to think clearly. Harry Grissom then announces that a very large man—tall and wearing what looks like a yellow wig—is approaching the bar. The tac team confirms the man’s size. Terri goes to the bar for napkins, nods at Allie, who nods back with confidence.
Key Events
- Bennett and Terri establish their stakeout positions inside The Hockey Stick, twenty feet from Allie Pritz at the bar.
- The northern surveillance team reports they could not locate Perry Martin at his home or Wolfson Academy, eliminating early warning.
- Bennett feels intense anxiety, described as acid eating at his stomach, similar to looking over a high railing.
- Terri notes a bartender’s lingering attention on Allie and scans patrons for anyone who might interfere during a potential arrest.
- Harry Grissom alerts the team that a “very large man” (described as “a yellow wig on a minibus”) is approaching the bar on foot.
- Tac team members comment on the man’s imposing size.
- Terri gives Allie a nod of reassurance; Allie nods back confidently.
Character Development
- Michael Bennett: His parental protectiveness surfaces when he looks at Allie and thinks of his own daughters, hoping they would come to him if in trouble. He also shows the mental strain of operations by removing his earpiece for a moment to think clearly.
- Terri: Demonstrates superior tactical thinking by considering how bar patrons might react during an arrest. Her anxious habit of biting her lower lip is revealed, but she remains composed and reassuring to Allie.
- Allie Pritz: Initially a victim, she now acts as a confident participant in the trap, returning Terri’s nod with assurance.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Parental protectiveness: Bennett’s internal reflection on his daughters highlights the emotional risk officers take when using young people as bait.
- The strain of police work: Bennett’s physical anxiety (acid stomach, needing to remove the earpiece) and Terri’s subtle nervous habits show the toll of waiting for a dangerous suspect.
- Visibility vs. concealment: The earbuds, hidden transmitters, and the bar’s everyday atmosphere contrast with the hidden surveillance and the impending threat.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter builds immediate tension before the expected arrival of Perry Martin. It shifts the narrative from planning to execution, showing the practical details of a police operation (surveillance teams, communications, positioning). Bennett’s personal worry about his own children deepens his character, while Terri’s tactical awareness reinforces the collaborative nature of the team. The chapter ends on a poised note with Allie’s confident nod, setting up the confrontation in the next chapter.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Bennett briefly remove his left earbud during the stakeout?
He removes it to clear his mind. The constant pressure and anxiety from monitoring multiple channels become overwhelming, and he needed a short break to think straight.
2. What advantage does Terri have over Bennett in terms of communication with the outside tactical team?
Terri is the only one who can answer the outside team’s radio calls because she has a small transmitter microphone hidden in her palm, connected to a handheld radio in her purse. Bennett can only listen.
3. How does the description of the approaching man create suspense and emphasize his threat?
The surveillance team describes him as “a yellow wig on a minibus,” and a tac team member later marvels that despite hearing “six foot five,” actually seeing his size is another matter. This exaggeration underlines his physical dominance and the danger he poses.