The atmosphere inside Hayes Mansion had changed overnight, and Alicia noticed it before anyone said a word. There were more guards posted at the entrances, unfamiliar faces replacing the ones she had grown used to, different routines governing every hallway. Every entrance was monitored now, every vehicle inspected before it was allowed past the gates. Even Henry, usually a picture of quiet calm, moved with a new alertness that put her on edge.
From the dining room window, she watched another black SUV roll through the security checkpoint, its windows tinted, its purpose unclear. She glanced across the breakfast table at Alexander, who sat reading through financial reports as though the world outside hadn't shifted at all. Finally, she set down her coffee, unable to stand the silence any
