2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

What were your initial impressions of Lawton Cross? Did you have any suspicions about him at all? Did you believe his wife, Danny, was mistreating him? Why did Cross make the accusation?

I didn't have any suspicions about Cross taking part in anyone's death. I figured his partner got mixed up in it and he was an innocent bystander. I didn't believe his wife was mistreating him. She could have left at any time but didn't. I figured he just wanted attention from his friends.

I bought him being a victim...hook, line and sinker. It crossed my mind briefly that he might have been involved but dismissed the idea right away. I figured if it had been a hit, they'd have come back and taken care of him.

I didn't know what to think about Danny. I gave Cross the benefit of the doubt about being truthful but there was something tragic about his wife that also had me stay on the fence until Harry watched the tape.

I also thought of him as a victim for most of the book, but wasn't that surprised at the revelation that he was involved with Marty's disappearance because by that point it is clear that only a cop would have been able to get past her guard, so Lawton had to be involved.

I never thought Danny was abusing him. If anything, he abused her with his constant accusations to anyone who would listen. Kudos to her for sticking by him all those years.