Hank Prior was a police officer in Ennis, Alaska during the Annie K and Tsalal murders. He was the father of Peter Prior who is also a police officer.
History[]
Pete's Accident[]
When Hank's son, Pete, was nine, he fell through the ice and was swept away by the current. Hank ran ahead, broke through the ice with an ice axe, and pulled Pete out, then kept him awake on their way to the hospital. Years later, he admitted to still dreaming about that.[1]
Disappearance of the Scientists[]
Hank went with Liz Danvers and Pete to Tsalal Arctic Research Station when the eight scientists living there disappeared suddenly. Danvers wanted to start searching for them immediately, but Hank worried about word getting out to the families and upsetting them. When they found a severed human tongue, Danvers quickly concluded that it belonged to a Native woman and had Hank check if they had a tongue-less woman in the morgue.
Later, Hank conflicted with Danvers when he tried to release Stacy Chalmers from her cell after she was arrested for driving while drunk and with a suspended license. Danvers forced him to put her back in her cell because she was still drunk.
That night, Hank's son, Pete, came over, saying he was looking for a picture of himself at his son, Darwin's age to show him.[2]
When Ted Connelly came to down, Hank told him what they knew about the case. Later, while home texting Alina, Hank noticed an open cabinet in his house and realized Pete had taken Annie's case file. He went to the ice rink and hit Pete, telling him not to steal from him.[3]
They learned that Clark wasn't among the bodies, so Hank happily led a search for him, using some of his friends to help. As they searched, he ignored Danvers calling for him over the radio. When Hank came back to the ice rink, Danvers told him off for not telling them that Susan Ineak had called him and told him about Annie dating Clark. Then she told him to get back to the search without his extra friends.[4]
Christmas Eve[]
On Christmas Eve, Hank went to the airport to greet Alina as she got off the plane. He was disappointed when she wasn't on the plane. He went to the station, where he tried to rationalize it to Pete, saying Alina's mother had been sick. Then he said that he could come to Pete's for Christmas Eve as he was free. However, as they went to leave, Danvers called Pete and he ended up doing an errand for her instead. Hank went home, where he saw all the things he'd prepared for Alina's arrival.[5]
Deal with Kate and Death[]
After Pete got kicked out of his place, he called Hank, who said Pete could stay with him. Soon afterward, Hank met with Kate McKitterick, who was worried that Danvers would find the cave where Annie died. She impressed on Hank that Danvers couldn't find that cave. She implied that Hank should kill Heiss, but made it clear that she never directly asked him to. Hank reminded her that he'd promised her Danvers' job and didn't deliver. She promised that if he took care of Heiss, she'd get him the job this time.
Hank followed Danvers as she moved around town. He ended up at her house, where he told her he was going to arrest Heiss, claiming Connelly had asked him to sever an outstanding warrant. When Danvers said she was going to check on that, Hank pulled out his gun. Danvers tried to calm the situation down and told Hank he could still leave and everything could be okay. Hank held Heiss and gunpoint and said he was going to do things with Heiss like Danvers had done with Wheeler. He told Danvers he blamed her for turning his son against him, but Danvers insisted that Pete did love him. When Heiss turned to leave while they were talking, Hank turned and shot him. Hank then pointed his gun at Danvers to get her to back off so he could shoot Heiss in the back of his head, killing him. Pete then came in with his own gun and aimed it at Hank. Danvers pleaded with Pete to think about what he was going to do, while Hank tried to persuade Pete to help him. Hank then told Pete that he didn't kill Annie K, but he did move her body. When Hank then lifted his gun to aim at Danvers, Pete shot him in the head, killing him.[1]
Months later, his disappearance remained an unsolved mystery.[6]
Relationships[]
He ws engaged to a Russian woman named Alina.[2]
Career[]
He's a police officer in Ennis, Alaska.
Notes and Trivia[]
- He used to play guitar in a band until his ex-wife told him he wasn't good enough.[3]