Alex's lips parted in surprise and slowly, after a few moments of stunned silence, closed again. Somehow, all of PNWS's research into Strand and the Strand Institute had completely missed that tidbit of information.

"You're thinking she's gonna need emergency placement...and you're volunteering. I...wow." That was what he'd meant, that she'd meet Ruby later; he'd had this thought even before the subject of The Advocate had come up in the conversation. She didn't know why it surprised her so much, that Brooklyn had pulled so hard at Richard's heartstrings; even Alex could look at her and see a strong resemblance to Charlie.