Question F

[Jonetta]

Roman continued to push the theory that Liz was part of the Russian conspiracy, finally convincing Zack that it might be true. Was Roman just doing his job or did he fail to explore the issue thoroughly?

[Sharon]

This was a big fail for me with Roman. He was in a position to investigate Liz, but he took the easy route and just blamed her. Sometimes I thought that Roman was jealous of Liz or blamed Liz for Joy's death. I didn't get his behavior at all.

[Lauren]

Roman REALLY annoyed me with this. Neither he nor Zack gave more than a second's though to the possibility that Liz was being set up. They should have given her the benefit of the doubt and asked her directly as Liz said Roman would have done for Joy.

Of course, if they had done this, Vanessa's role as the mole would have come out earlier and the conspiracy plot would have been fizzled. There would not have been a need for a whole book on it . . .

I did not get the sense that Roman blamed Liz for Joy's death. On the contrary, it was Liz and Zack relationship that would have freed Joy for Roman to be with her (even though it would not have worked out as he didn't love her either).

[Sharon]

I know that before Joy's death Roman was looking forward to Zack and Liz getting together. During this part of the story, I couldn't explain Roman's behavior and the need, it felt like a need, to get rid of Liz. It went above and beyond just protecting the President.

[Lauren]

Sharon wrote: "I know that before Joy's death Roman was looking forward to Zack and Liz getting together. During this part of the story, I couldn't explain Roman's behavior and the need, it felt like a need, to g..."

I couldn't understand it either. I never got the impression in the previous books that he had it in for her, but he went out of his way in this one to turn Zack against her. It was very weird...

[Jonetta]

Roman May be a good body man but he’s a terrible investigator. It’s the difference between following the clues to find the answer and targeting a suspect and finding the clues to fit your suspicions. Just the basic amount of investigating the situations would have led them to Vanessa. In what world do you not interview the suspect??? Maddox was the lone hero here because he never gave up on Liz.

I don’t know what was driving Roman here because it went beyond tunnel vision. It was like he wanted it to be Liz. She’s a better person than me because I’m not sure I’d ever forgive him for what he did.

[Karen ♐]

I was so annoyed with Roman throughout this book. He's supposed to have the President's back but why did he go after Liz so hard. I wonder if he was jealous of Liz & Zack's relationship. I'm not sure exactly when but Liz thought about all the times she, Zack and Roman talked through a problem and how to handle it. I think he wanted to be the only one that Zack went to when discussing an issue.

[Lauren]

Karen ♐ wrote: "I think he wanted to be the only one that Zack went to when discussing an issue"

Yes, this is what I think too. He resents Liz's closeness to Zack and feels that he is taking his place as Zack's primary advisor.

[Lynn]

Roman was doing his job but without much feeling, which in the long run, would make him a good Chief of Staff.