"Where are the others?" Alex asked, almost too quickly. "I expected Danny to be glued to this chair. And Mike and Sarah?"
Linda let out a small, knowing hum, not pushing the Victoria subject for now... though Alex knew she was mentally filing it away for later.
"They stepped out about twenty minutes ago," Linda said, smoothing Nina's hair. "Mike and Danny went to get some real food, and Sarah went with them to stretch her legs. They've been cooped up in here all day. They should be back soon."
"Good, They definitely need the break" Alex said, already beginning to stand up.
"Actually... I think I'll head down and find them. I could use a coffee and a bit of a walk anyway."
It was a blatant pivot... a hasty exit designed to dodge the looming Victoria Blackwood interrogation... and he knew it.
David and Linda shared a look, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corners of their mouths. They had raised him; they knew exactly what a "Hale Escape" looked like.
***
