Question E

[Jonetta]

Seth essentially abandons his life for the five years it takes to bring down Clemmons. Was it worth it or were the costs too high? Is this how it looks in real life?

[Charlene]

I don't know how some kinds of villains would be brought to justice if it weren't for undercover agents working and knowing that their lives would be tainted by both truth and untruths. A sacrificial path Seth knowingly undertook; and how would any of us respond to someone close to us being in such a role?

[Jonetta]

I felt bad for him and the costs were steep considering how his family struggled to recover and accept him. He changed, too. I also think this may be all too realistic.

[Charlene]

Yes --a kind of PTSD in a world that passed by while he was "away."

[Quynh]

I felt really bad for Seth, his dedication to taking down Clemmons cost him his family and the love of his life. Once it was over, practically no one stood by him, which was sad. He was a loner until his brother called him for help. I think there's some realistic elements to this. Going deep undercover means you only rely on yourself and not putting anyone at risk. I couldn't imagine the internal turmoil these people would have. It takes certain types of people to do this kind of job that's for sure.

[Jonetta]

I agree that it takes a special personality to go undercover and for this long. When Seth agreed to do this, he was certain it would be short term so I think even he was unprepared for what he ended up doing.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life)]

It does take a lot to do undercover...my cousin worked undercover (he's a police office working with youth and gangs) and when he had his first daughter he got out of it. I agree that Seth wasn't prepared for what happened but stuck i n there.

[Jonetta]

Oh, that's fascinating, Kris! I'll bet he's got stories to tell and that's telling that he stopped after his first child.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life)]

He doesn't tell us too much and downplays it so we won't worry. He didn't do anything crazy or long term. His was to get to know the smaller players that could lead to next rung on the chain. He now works as a gang liaison for schools. He does presentations and works with schools. In the part of the city where we live one of the gangs on the rise is a East Indians so he's able to identify with them as he comes from same culture and such.