“Now what’s wrong?” Madelaine asked, her contempt resonating in her tone.
Draven inhaled and exhaled. “There is a…well, I’ll call it a complication.”
Jack immediately disliked the sound of that. “Does the complication involve our ship? Because I know it is right past that wall and around the corner.” It was just out of sight. Jack wished he could see it to ensure that it had not been set on fire or something by the escaped prisoner who was apparently not a problem. Whatever.
The warden nodded. “Unfortunately, it’s currently inaccessible.”
Jack groaned. Of course it was. Why wouldn’t it be?
They’d traveled halfway across the galaxy only to get trapped inside a prison during an escape attempt.
“What do you mean ‘inaccessible’?” Madelaine asked, her tone skeptical.
“The landing field has been sealed.” Draven pointed at the archway several steps from them. “I know you can see the forcefield there.”
“Yes. Why?” Madelaine asked.
“Standard protocol.”
Jack pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I am really beginning to hate the wordprotocol. I cannot be held liable for my actions if you say that word again.”
Draven’s mouth twitched. Possibly amusement. Possibly indigestion. With him, it was difficult to tell.
“The prisoner was last seen moving toward the outer compound.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed. “Toward our ship.”
“Correct.”
That wasn’t good. Not good at all.
Several unpleasant possibilities immediately occurred to him. Most involved stolen spacecraft, explosions or, worse, dying far from home.
Madelaine folded her arms. “Why would this Varner Kessik go there?”
Draven hesitated, but only briefly. He looked directly at Madelaine and then at the cardboard box. “As strange as this may sound, I believe he wants to assist you. Otherwise, I would not be involved in trying to help him with the charade of a prison break so that no one sees him meet with you.”
Jack’s brain sort of did a double-take. What? Around him, the alarm continued blaring and red light pulsed rhythmically around them even though the area was empty except for the three of them. He’d just noticed that the archway did indeed look like there was a forcefield in effect.
Jack stared at Draven. Madelaine stared at him. Draven remained irritatingly calm.
“What?” Jack asked. “We’re meeting with the escaped prisoner? Are you insane?”
The warden sighed. “No. Not insane. Don’t be alarmed. I don’t believe he intends any harm to you. I believe he is trying to help you.”
“What makes you think so?”
Draven lowered his voice. “Varner Kessik requested permission to meet with Winslow in his tower cell six months ago.”
That got their attention. Madelaine said, “Why?”
“I don’t know, but Winslow wouldn’t see him. Kessik was persistent. In fact, he spent four months attempting to speak with the old man.”
Jack frowned.
“And?”
