7. Questions for Discussion

Chapter 31

1. DeVasher and Locke see the situation differently. The partners tend to believe Mitch. Why?

2. “They were lawyers trained to argue five sides of every issue.” How does this statement characterize the members of the profession?

3. What were the firm rules of handling the keys to the cabinets of “dirty” files?

4. Sum up DeVasher’s assumptions that made him suspect Mitch of cooperating with Tarrance. What flaws in his vision of the situation can the partners detect?

5. Measures suggested by Lazarov to strengthen security and eliminate McDeere.

6. Mitch gets rid of the car. Why?

Chapter 32

1. Mitch chose to do it his way. It was him who arranged meetings, gave instructions. Why did Mitch think Tarrance was not quite trustworthy? Did Tarrance try to resist and to retain control?

2. How come Mitch was driving a rented car instead of his regular BMW?

3. The heavily locked room. Mitch’s plan to bring the files out of the basement (a search warrant). Why did Tarrance turn it down?

4. How did the company with so many employees manage to maintain such a high level of secrecy about its dirty business?

Chapter 33

1. What did Tammy complain about? Why was she dead tired?

2. Why do you think Mitch needed forged documents and Abank’s involvement? (Use modal verbs speaking about your suppositions)

3. What made Mitch doubt that he would ever see Tammy again?

4. Speak about Tammy’s passing herself off for a member of different professions. Did she succeed? Which was the hardest: a freelance secretary, a prostitute, a cleaner, a lawyer, a private investigator, a courier?

Chapter 34

1. Make up Ross’s character sketch going by his behavior in the opening scene.

2. Why did DeVasher believe that in spite of Mitch’s delivering the first load of documents to the FBI “the damage had not been done’?

3. “The fear is the unknown. He (Mitch) is no dummy.” Comment on DeVasher’s statements.

4. DeVasher and Lazarov vs. Tarrance and Voyles. How different was their conduct in an emergency situation? Comment on their style of coordinating the operation?

Chapter 35

1. Mitch, Abby and Tammy, the three accomplices, go their separate ways.

Why did Mitch fly to Nashville, Abby – to Mobile and Tammy – to Memphis? Use the map to track their routes.

Why did Mitch think Abby was being followed? What were his instructions to Ray like?

2. How did Ray manage to protect his little brother’s wife?

3. What did Mitch mean by saying, ‘We either disappear or we are dead’?

4. Why did Ray wish he were in prison? Ray was being chased without being aware of it. Why did Voyles order that Ray should be caught?

8. Role-play

1. Act as Mitch presenting his plan of having a search warrant issued and getting access to secret files.

2. Act as Mitch giving instructions to Tammy.

3. Act as a guard instructing Ray before his escape.

4. Act as Bud Riley guiding Ray after he had gone over the wall.