“And Winslow refused, time after time. On the last request, I spoke to Winslow myself. He told me, ‘It’s not time to meet yet, but soon.’”
Madelaine's patience was clearly at an end. “Tell me what you are talking about or the gulag’s first female visitor is going to damage the warden who explains things way too slowly.”
“Fine. Winslow kept refusing Kessik’s request until recently.”
“How recently?” Jack asked.
“Three days ago.” Draven said. “That was when Winslow agreed to meet Kessik.”
Jack frowned as if he didn’t like where this was heading. Madelaine certainly didn’t. Not one bit.
“So, Winslow finally talked to him three days ago?” she asked.
“Yes. Briefly.”
“What about?”
The warden spread his hands. “No one knows.”
Of course no one knew. That would have been too easy. Madelaine balled up one hand and looked like she wanted to make a full-fledged fist and show it to the warden.
Draven continued. “The day after their conversation, Kessik submitted a different request.”
“What kind of request?” Madelaine asked.
“He requested permission to wait near Landing Pad Twelve the next time a woman visited here.”
Jack barked out a laugh. “That seems oddly specific, since women don’t ever visit here.”
Draven nodded. “Indeed. And at the time, I didn’t believe it, either.” The warden’s expression darkened. “But then your imminent arrival was announced and I received…let’s call it an anonymous tip. I had to put together a quick plan. This is it. I promise, I’m only trying to help. And it seems like Winslow gave you what he had, but it isn’t all that you need, correct?”
Madelaine looked at the cardboard box Jack had securely tucked under his arm. Then at the warden. He was right. She didn’t have everything. They both knew it, but Jack kept his vigilance high. He moved a step closer to Madelaine.
“You’re saying you enabled this guy’s technical escape because three days before you even knew we were coming, he told you he wanted to meet us? And you got some kind of anonymous tip?”
Draven nodded. “That about sums it up. Varner Kessik is here for a similar reason as Winslow. They each have certain intellectual powers that are not completely understood, and can certainly be considered dangerous, but I believe them.”
Madelaine looked thoughtful. Jack remained wary, but thought it was good of Draven to try and help them. He knew these prisoners better than they did. Jack’s gut told him they were not in danger, which could change on a dime, but for now he didn’t sense Draven was on the wrong side of this.
“Then he’s not running away,” Madelaine clarified.
“No.” Draven shook his head. “Otherwise, I would not have helped him. He was quite passionate about his request to meet you, though he could not tell me the precise reason. I also didn’t believe a woman was coming here. And I know him well enoughto know this must be very important. I hope I’m doing the right thing.”
The warden reached into his coat and removed a small electronic key.
He tossed it toward Jack.
Jack caught it automatically, and didn’t even drop the cardboard box.
“What’s this?”
“This releases the forcefield behind us. You’re free to go, but I’m hoping you will speak to Kessik before you leave.”
Jack looked at the key.
Then at the warden.
“What happens if we don’t speak to him before we leave?”
