The Alice Network

In July 1915, Eve continues her duties as a waitress and spy. Even though the work seems superficially boring, Eve is thrilled: “She slept with a smile and woke each morning with the one individual thought she allowed herself before becoming Marguerite for the day. This is where I belong” (150-151).

Eve is less thrilled with the attention she’s begun to receive from René. Every night he asks her to bring the day’s ledger books to his office. One evening he offers her a sip of wine and begins quoting poetry by Baudelaire. Eve protests to Violette that René couldn’t possibly be trying to seduce her.

In May 1947, Charlie’s mother intercepts her at the hotel in Roubaix. Mrs. St. Clair immediately makes plans to schedule another abortion appointment in Switzerland to take care of the Little Problem. Charlie only consents to go if her mother promises to help search for Rose afterward.

Late that night, unable to sleep, Charlie goes outside the hotel for a smoke and finds Finn sitting in his car. She climbs in. Charlie reveals that her brother’s suicide after the war left her demoralized and numb. She began sleeping around with college boys, which was how she became pregnant.