She continued walking at a normal pace. She couldn't let them know she had discovered the surveillance, and she definitely couldn't let them sense how afraid she actually was.
When they reached the kindergarten gate, Sophie crouched down and kissed each of the three children on the forehead.
"Mommy will come pick you up after school this afternoon."
"Really?" Hale's eyes lit up.
"Really."
Just as Alex was about to walk through the kindergarten gate, he stopped and turned back to look at Sophie.
The glance was brief, but Sophie saw a composure that didn't belong to a five-year-old child. It was as if he was silently promising her: Don't worry, I'll take care of them.
Sophie stood motionless, watching his small figure disappear through the entrance of the teaching building.
She stood there for a long time — until the laughter of the children on the playground grew faint, until the kindergarten's iron gate closed with a clang — before she finally turned and left.
