Chapter 105

After ending the call, Alice took the elevator downstairs and hailed a cab straight to the nearest grocery store. She picked up a free-range chicken and some fresh vegetables—figured making a hearty soup would help her recover faster. That way, she’d be in better shape for her next check-up. She rinsed the chicken thoroughly, seared it briefly in a hot pan, then transferred everything into a Dutch oven along with rosemary, thyme, and a bay leaf. The soup would need at least an hour and a half to simmer. In the meantime, she washed and chopped some kale—she planned to sauté it with garlic later once the soup was done. One protein, one green: a balanced meal. With everything prepared, she left the kitchen and sank into the couch. She picked up her phone and opened her messages, scrolling directly to the latest thread— Alexander Blake… She wondered how he was doing now. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. She typed a few words but paused halfway, then slowly deleted them. No. She didn’