Question A

[Jonetta]

We learn in the prologue that Zack intended to divorce Joy and marry Liz if he lost the election. He declared that to her on the same day that Joy was assassinated. Was that a surprise? Do you think the Russians knew his intentions?

[Sharon]

I wasn't surprised that Zack's relationship with Joy was broken. I'm sure the Russians were worried about losing desire to control the President, so they gambled on a way to get him the sympathy vote.

[Lauren]

No, I wasn't surprised. There have been hints throughout the series that he was planning this and the timing was also right as he didn't think he would win the election.

With regard to the Russians knowing, it is possible as Joy was informing on Zack. The fact that Joy was pushing for going to the Midwest also seems to support this as she was apparently doing this as the Russians' urging.

On the other hand, I am not sure that Joy told the Russians as there are hints that she wanted out of the plot and saw Zack losing the election as her opportunity.

[Jonetta]

I was surprised about the timing. Zack was resolved in losing the election and immediately moved on, the night before Joy was assassinated. I think the Russians knew it, either from Joy or his wretched father. It also told me that deep down, he wasn’t invested in becoming President. This was enlightening.

[Karen ♐]

I wasn't surprised that he realized he was losing and I think he just wanted to get on with his personal life. That Joy was assassinated the next day got me thinking that the Russians must have known this.

[Anita]

I was surprised that Zack would make a formal declaration to Liz the way he did. I would have expected him to wait until he lost before doing it. The Russians assassinated Joy so Zack would win. Looking back after the whole book it sure did look like they knew Joy was losing control of Zack and they were losing control of Joy.

[Jonetta]

That’s a great point, Anita, the Russians’ awareness that they were losing control of both of them.

[Lynn]

I was very surprised. From what I had read in the other books, it seemed as though he and Liz had never really had a true relationship - just mutual attraction.