Sara admired Alex's kindness beneath his toughness, his straightforward approach to things, and his way of partly revealing and partly concealing himself. Alex was someone who knew how to treat others, who didn't hesitate to show interest, and who enjoyed his authority.
This was a matter Alex had been strategizing and preparing for from the outset. He wanted to change the route and become invisible, untraceable. However, achieving this required paying a steep price in contrast to the usual, predictable arrangements. While one bore all the risks, others reaped the rewards. This was his constant perspective. Moreover, when they wanted to discard
someone, a single move would be sufficient. You always had to be their dog.