Question H

[Jonetta]

When David arrives to take Max to the airport and can’t find or reach her, he goes into immediate action, even though it took others some time to accept she was missing. Your thoughts about how he managed the crisis?

[Sharon]

He managed the crisis well, but he created it in my opinion. I didn't feel bad for him when he was beating himself up. It was a rookie move.

I did worry when he talked about resigning though. He is one of my favorite characters.

[Jonetta]

I thought he was just about perfect, including when he told Ben to either get on board or get out of his way.

I’m still not understanding why you feel this was a crisis David created.

[Robin]

As soon as David learned that Max wasn't at her apartment and never made it home, he pulled out all stops to find her. I thought he did a great job at rallying everyone to find her.

[Anita]

It wasn't David's fault Max was taken - she told him to stay with O'Hara, but he feels responsible anyway. His instinct about the situation was right on and he was great.

[Sharon]

Jonetta wrote: "I thought he was just about perfect, including when he told Ben to either get on board or get out of his way.

I’m still not understanding why you feel this was a crisis David created."

It's not David's crisis per se. I just don't get a bodyguard staying with a cop instead of the person he is paid to protect. If he stayed with a civilian, that would be different.

You are right about the way he handled Ben, and everyone else for that matter.

[Jonetta]

Thanks for clarifying, Sharon. I just wasn’t understanding your point of view.

[Melissa]

David is very insightful and everyone should have followed his lead. He did a great job getting all the video and information, that he could get, that they needed. Marco made me the most mad. I know he has known Max for a long time, but he blew off the idea that she was missing/kidnapped too quickly.

[Jonetta]

I was a little surprised that he was initially dismissive, too, Melissa. David had to strong arm him into believing it.

[Anita]

Marco knew Max from a time when she was very headstrong and impulsive. Max just taking off and not telling anyone is something the Max he knew would do. This Max is a more cautious and would have alerted David to any change in her plans.

[Jonetta]

Good point.

[Charlene]

I think David should have stayed with Max, his rule. Even though neither of them imagined the bad driver scenario, he did kick everything in the right direction as soon as he figured out that she was missing.

I don't see how this story could have happened otherwise, unless David stayed with her, was shot early, and the book became a novella.

[Sharon]

You're right. If David stayed with Max, other changes would be needed for the story to work.

[Jonetta]

Sharon, you have an ally!