Chapter summaries Think Twice Harlan Coben

Think Twice Chapter Sixteen: The Fallout of a Faulty Rescue

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After the police swarm the kitchen, Greg Downing is handcuffed and taken into custody despite Myron’s shouts for him to remain silent. Grace blames Myron for bringing the authorities to their door. Myron tries to secure top attorney Hester Crimstein, but she refuses because of her loyalty to Myron and her dislike of Greg. Greg is denied bail due to flight risk, and the media frenzy explodes over the murder of supermodel Cecelia Callister. Later, at Win’s apartment, Myron learns that the FBI’s involvement stems not just from Cecelia’s murder but also from the unsolved Jordan Kravat case—raising doubts about the original conviction of Joey the Toe. Greg refuses Myron’s help, and Win declares their involvement over. The chapter ends with a late-night text from Emily Downing asking Myron to drive to the Hamptons because their son Jeremy wants to see him.

Key Events

  • Police arrest Greg Downing; Myron orders him not to speak and promises legal counsel.
  • Grace confronts Myron, accusing him of bringing the police.
  • FBI agents Beluga and Hawes reveal they were tailing Myron to Nevada, Montana, and finally to Greg’s location.
  • Myron calls Hester Crimstein, who declines to represent Greg due to past grievances.
  • Greg is denied bail; the judge cites his five-year disappearance and faked death.
  • Media coverage becomes a global spectacle, with opinions forming without facts.
  • Myron meets Win at his Central Park West home; both drink cognac, and Myron admits to feeling the alcohol quickly.
  • Win discloses that PT, an FBI insider, confirmed overwhelming DNA evidence but also revealed a “wrinkle”: the FBI suspects Greg killed both Cecelia Callister and Jordan Kravat, the latter for which Joey the Toe was already convicted.
  • Myron questions the neatness of the DNA case, but Win argues they are done since Greg refuses help.
  • Win falls asleep in his chair, a sign of their aging friendship.
  • Myron receives a text from Emily Downing: Jeremy is coming to the Hamptons and wants to see him.

Character Development

  • Myron Bolitar: Continues to prioritize Greg’s protection despite the personal cost. His guilt over getting Greg arrested weighs on him, and he struggles with the limits of his influence—Hester’s refusal, Greg’s rejection, and the alcohol-induced fatigue at Win’s.
  • Greg Downing: Remains silent and unreachable; his refusal to cooperate deepens his isolation and hints at hidden layers.
  • Grace Downing: Her anger at Myron reveals a protective, possibly complicit role; she quickly follows Greg out of the house.
  • Win (Windsor Horne Lockwood III): Demonstrates both loyalty (contacting PT) and pragmatism (declaring the case closed). His increased drinking and napping signal vulnerability beneath the patrician exterior.
  • Hester Crimstein: A sharp, loyal friend who draws a firm line; her refusal shows that old loyalties and grudges can outweigh professional ambition.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Toxic Relationships: Hester’s refusal to represent Greg because “I know what he did to you” underscores how past betrayals poison present alliances. Myron’s forgiveness is not shared by those who love him.
  • Flight Risk as Metaphor: Greg’s denied bail is not just legal—it symbolizes how his vanished years have made trust impossible.
  • The Weight of Surveillance: The FBI’s tail on Myron and the “wrinkle” of a possibly wrongful conviction suggest that no one can escape being watched, and that justice is shaped by institutional embarrassment.
  • Cognac and Exhaustion: Myron’s uncharacteristic drinking and Win’s dozing indicate that even the strongest characters are worn down by the case; the “new me” joke rings hollow.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a fulcrum. Greg’s arrest ends Myron’s attempts at a quiet intervention and forces the legal system into the center. The revelation about Jordan Kravat’s murder introduces a layered conspiracy that casts doubt on the simplicity of the DNA evidence. Myron’s personal stakes escalate when Emily summons him to the Hamptons—Jeremy’s desire to see his father after years of estrangement adds a family dimension that will likely drive the next phase of the story. Win’s decision to step back leaves Myron to act alone or with new allies.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Hester Crimstein refuse to take Greg’s case, and what does this reveal about her character? Hester refuses because she holds a grudge against Greg for the emotional harm he caused Myron years ago. This reveals that she prioritizes personal loyalty over professional ambition or media attention, despite her reputation as a courtroom showman. Her question about Myron’s mother also shows her deep, abiding connection to the Bolitar family.

2. How does the “wrinkle” about the Jordan Kravat murder change the reader’s understanding of the FBI’s interest in Greg? The wrinkle indicates that the FBI believes Greg may have killed both Cecelia Callister and Jordan Kravat, meaning that the man currently convicted for Kravat’s murder (Joey the Toe) might be innocent. This transforms Greg from a simple murder suspect into a potential serial killer, and the FBI’s desire to keep the connection secret suggests institutional embarrassment about a flawed earlier conviction.

3. What does the final text from Emily Downing imply about the next stage of the story? Emily’s one-word “Awake?” and her invitation for Myron to drive to the Hamptons because Jeremy wants to see him indicates that the Downing family drama is about to resurface. This likely introduces Jeremy as an active character in Myron’s search for the truth, possibly leading to new information about Greg’s past or motives.

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