Did they ever explain the cop car ...

Seemed to me the cop car was simply attending to other business, hence the lights and sirens. Cops can't be in two places at the same time.

[ Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. ]

Like @suzypulledapistol said. What's to explain really? It was just a cop going to another location.

I interpreted the entire story in the novel as a kind of nightmare-like story where things do not necessarily happen entirely realisticly, but rather in a "worst case scenario" kind of way. So yes, of course the police car was going to drive by without stopping. And yes of course they raped AND killed both the mother and the daughter. Because that is the worst possible way the story could have played out.

-- Greetings, RagingR2

Sorry guys but donuts can't wait

I think it was just to give us a momentary sense of hope, only for it to flee and confirm that even if authorities were around they wouldn't help, and now no one can save them. Bad guys get away with anything in this area, etc.

It's a stereotype of the "nice family gets into trouble in an unfriendly small town" trope.

I was actually surprised that the cancer cop was being helpful towards Tony until I realized that he was going to fit the "rogue cop who loses faith in authority and seeks justice on his own terms" trope.

The only reason he helped Tony was because he was dying, that's a bit of a cop-out (pun intended?)

I think it was just to give us a momentary sense of hope, only for it to flee and confirm that even if authorities were around they wouldn't help, and now no one can save them. Bad guys get away with anything in this area, etc.

It's a stereotype of the "nice family gets into trouble in an unfriendly small town" trope.

I was actually surprised that the cancer cop was being helpful towards Tony until I realized that he was going to fit the "rogue cop who loses faith in authority and seeks justice on his own terms" trope.

The only reason he helped Tony was because he was dying, that's a bit of a cop-out (pun intended?)

Seemed like the cop turned the lights on just as he would've noticed the 2 cars. Could've been to suggest to us that the cop simply didn't want to bother with a fender bender and hit the lights to justify ignoring it.