Chapter 66

Alice woke up with a start, her heart racing. It took her a moment to remember where she was - in Max's guest room. She looked over at Charlie, still sleeping peacefully in his portable crib, and felt a wave of relief wash over her.

As she got Charlie ready for the day, Alice couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. The photo Margaret had sent kept flashing in her mind, making her hold Charlie a little tighter than usual.

"We're going to be okay, sweetie," she whispered to Charlie as she strapped him into his car seat. "Mommy's going to keep you safe."

At work, Alice found it hard to concentrate. She kept checking her phone, half expecting another threatening message from Margaret. Max noticed her distraction during their morning meeting.

"Alice," he said gently as the others filed out of the room, "are you sure you're okay? You seem really worried."

Alice sighed, frowning her face. "I'm just scared, Max. What if Margaret tries something? What if she tries