Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and dialed Albert. It was late, and Albert, though in another city and fresh from a meeting, hadn't yet turned in for the night.

He regarded his phone's screen for a moment before answering in a voice both soft and weary, "What's going on?"

Jessie, bypassing a conversation, handed the phone to Jeslyn, who was in no mood to speak and retreated to a corner in defiance. At a loss, Jessie relayed to Albert, “Elsie sent Jeslyn over."

Under the cloak of night, Albert's voice, rough yet comforting, carried over the Line.

"And why would Elsie do that?"