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  Buddy Read - Back Spin (Book 4) Harlan Coben

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  Synopsis
  
  Kidnappers have snatched the teenage son of super-star golfer Linda Coldren and her husband, Jack, an aging pro, at the height of the U.S. Open. To help get the boy back, sports agent Myron Bolitar goes charging after clues and suspects from the Main Line mansions to a downtown cheaters' motel--and back in time to a U.S. Open twenty-three years ago, when Jack Coldren should have won, but didn't. Suddenly Myron finds him self surrounded by blue bloods, criminals, and liars. And as one family's darkest secrets explode into murder, Myron finds out just how rough this game can get. In novels that crackle with wit and suspense, Edgar Award winner Harlan Coben has created one of the most fascinating and complex heroes in suspense fiction--Myron Bolitar--a hotheaded, tenderhearted sports agent who grows more and more engaging and unpredictable with each page-turning appearance.
  
  CHARACTERS
  
  -Myron Bolitar: Ex-basketball player & current owner of MB SportsRep. A sarcastic guy who sees the fun in provoking everyone! Also hero of the novel
  -Jack Coldren: Golf player who is now amongst the top 2 in the US Open. Had fallen to disgrace 23 yrs back when he made a mistake in his tournament & hasn't recovered from the humiliation. He sees this as his last opportunity to show everyone.
  -Linda Coldren: Jack's wife. Also the top female golf-star.
  -Tad Crispin: Young & new super-star in golf.
  -Chad Coldren: Jack & Linda's son, who gets kidnapped
  -Esme Fong: Marketer at ZOOM
  -Jessica Culver: Myron's girlfriend. Also a popular writer
  -Norman Zuckerman: Owner of ZOOM-
  -Bucky: Linda's father
  -Jake Courter: Add a description of this character.
  -Windsor Lockwood: Myron's friend and trusty side-kick
  -Esperanza Diaz: Myron's assistant
  -Tito Marshall: Neo-Nazi punk
  -Reginald Squires: Matthew's wealthy, shady father
  -Matthew Squires: Friend of Chad
  -Carl: One of Squires henchmen
  -Stuart Lipwitz: Court Manor Motel manager
  -Victoria Wilson: Linda's attorney
  -Cissy Lockwood: Win's mother
  -Diane Hoffman: Jack's caddie

  Kris started this discussion 8 months ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  Kris 

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  1. Were you excited with the golf being a part of this storyline like Myron was?

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    Not particularly as it's not my sport:)

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    Same...game wise I had no clue what was what.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    Me either. Golf is not my thing.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Tracey 

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    Same here. I like watching just about every sport....except golf!

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    I don't pay any attention to golf, so I wasn't excited about this storyline.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Christina T. 

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    I am not a sports fan in general so don't really look forward to any of them lol.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  2. Aha, Win actually has a mother. What did you think about this relationship from the information we were given.

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    I was so glad to learn more about his backstory. Before this book, I hadn't any idea that he was estranged from his mother. Of course, I was dying to find out and it was a nice addition to the main story.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    Exactly. I did wonder about his parents but this explains some of how Win is.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    "Win actually has a mother" - LOL!!!

    I really like the history of Win that we learn in this book.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    I just always imagine he just "poof" appeared ;)

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Tracey 

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    I agree Kris. It was hard to imagine he had a mother before this book.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    I liked the addition of this story. Helped us understand Win...at least a little bit.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Christina T. 

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    I liked it a lot. It did add a depth to Win that he didn't have before.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  3. Did you think Chad was kidnapped or did you think he set this whole thing up?

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    I was never really sure. After they viewed the ATM security video, I thought he did but couldn't really square a motive so I backed away from the notion.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    I was going back and forth with this - every time a clue was uncovered I seemed to go to that side.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    I was the same. For a while I thought he was kidnapped, then I began to think he set it up.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Tracey 

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    I kept going back and forth as well.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    Like everyone else, I couldn't decide if Chad had been kidnapped or set the whole thing up.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Christina T. 

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    I also kept going back and forth.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  4. There seems to be a lot of secret sexual escapades…do you think this was done to make up for the lack of romance and absence of Jessica in this novel.

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    I hadn't thought of it that way but maybe so. I was confused by Myron's attraction to Linda, though.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    Same here. I did not see Jack being gay coming but I thought Diane was.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    I thought Diane might have been gay, too. And, for a time, I thought she was involved with Jack.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    I don't think it was to make up for the lack of Jessica. I think it was just to show how convoluted and screwed up those "perfect" lives are.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    Good point, Erika.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Tracey 

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    I agree Erika. I think there are subtle hints in the book that all is not well with Myron and Jessica. His message left on the answering machine was interesting.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    I also agree with Erika about the seemingly "perfect" lives that were so screwed up.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Christina T. 

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    I didn't think it was added because Jessica wasn't in the book much. I for one was glad she wasn't around a lot. I didn't see the gay thing coming and didn't add anything to the story really.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  5. Speaking of romance in the last few novels Myron while claiming he loves Jessica has also admitted that he is afraid to give too much of his heart. Do you think that Jessica and Myron will make it as a couple?

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    He keeps waiting for her to bail again and his attraction to Linda was very revealing. I don't think he and Jessica will make it, especially since those close to him don't seem to care for her.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    I agree with you, Jonetta.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    Can't answer because I know!! Hee.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    Tease:)

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    :D

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    Boo! lol

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Tracey 

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    I don't think so...

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    I'm not a Jessica fan and don't see this relationship lasting. I thought it was interesting when Win asked Myron about the message he'd left on Jessica's phone telling her he loved her. Who was he trying to convince...Jessica or himself?

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Christina T. 

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    Ditto what Robin said. I don't like Jessica and hope he move on but I thought his attraction to Linda was weird.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  6. What do you think of Esperanza becoming a partner for MB?

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    I see her point of view but understand Myron's reluctance. I'm not certain she's earned partner but deserves to be more than assistant.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    I think she should be hired on but not as a partner yet.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    I can see both of their points.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Tracey 

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    I thought great! Love Esperanza.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    I can understand Myron being reluctant to hire a friend as a partner. It usually doesn't work out in the long run. But, it sounds like she has been with him since the beginning. Maybe she deserves a chance to show what she can do.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Christina T. 

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    I agree with Robin again. It seem as if Esperanza probably deserves more than what she is now but business and friendships rarely work.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  7. What did you think of the ending? And Linda trying to seduce Myron?

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    There were quite a few twists in this story...Jack and Norm being gay, Esme and Chad sexually involved, Esme being Lloyd's daughter and the person behind the kidnapping and Tito's murder, Linda killing Jack and Cissy paying Lloyd to ruin Jack's tournament. Oh! And Cissy and Jack and Diane being Chad's real mother.

    Everybody did it!

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    I know...I was all over the place on that one! I kind of gave up and just went with the ride.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    So did I. I'm learning that with this series, I'll never guess whodunit.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    Coben is really good at keeping you guessing, though I do have to admit that this one was exceptionally confusing.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Tracey 

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    Good! It wasn't just me :-)

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Kris 

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    Lol, I always hate when everyone else figured it out and I didn't :(

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    Well, I certainly didn't figure any of the plot twists out except for the fact that Jack was gay. Didn't have a guess for either the murder or the kidnapping.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Christina T. 

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    I didn't figure it out and now I can see why. Soooo many players. Sooooo many things going on. Almost too much.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  8. Any favourite scenes?

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Tracey 

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    Loved the 2 scenes when he's going through the trees.... The greeting the bushes made me laugh.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    I enjoyed Myron standing outside of the Court Manor Inn and taking pictures of the clientele to scare them off. Really loved his conversation with Carl.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Christina T. 

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    I also like the picture taking Robin.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  9. Any quotes of note?

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Kris 

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  10. Any further comments?

  posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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  • 

    Kris 

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    I totally forgot to ask....did anyone see Diane being Chad's mother coming beforehand?

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Jonetta (Ejaygirl) 

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    Not me! That was really out of left field (pardon the sports pun).

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    I definitely did not see it coming.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Erika M 

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    Win's history makes is relationships and sexual habits more understandable.

    posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Robin M 

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    No, I didn't guess that Diane was Chad's mother. I thought she may have been blackmailing Jack to get the job, but didn't know why.

    posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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