Free The Nexus by J. Kraft Mitchell Page B

first place?”
    “Look, it wasn’t my people who let that girl escape!  Make sure you write that in your story.”
    “Of course.  In your view, Mr. Bollis, who was responsible for her escape?”
    “They sent someone down to move her for questioning.  That’s when she made her getaway.”
    “ Who sent someone down to move her for questioning?”
    “No idea.  Our records just say ‘special branch’—that means we’re not supposed to know.”
    “I understand.  But someone acted on behalf of the special branch to put the prisoner in your care?”
    “Sure, that would be Janice Moeller.”
    “Great.  May I speak with her?”
    The warden was only too happy to transfer the call away.
    More canned music.  Jill held her breath.  It was unlikely that this Janice would still be at work, but there was always a chance...
    “Janice Moeller speaking.”
    “I need to speak with Director Holiday.”
    “I’m...afraid I don’t know who that is.”
    “I’m afraid you do.  Put him on, please.”
    “I’m sorry, I’m not aware of any Holiday.”
    “Maybe this will jar your memory:  He’s the one who had you put me in jail—until I escaped.  I’m guessing he’ll be a little upset when he finds out you hung up on me instead of putting me through to him.”
    Janice cleared her throat.  “Wh-who’s calling, please?”
    “Jill Branch.”
    Silence for a long moment.  “I see.  I’ll find out if Director Holiday is available.”
    “If he’s not on in one minute I’m hanging up.”
    It took only a few seconds.  Holiday didn’t bother with a greeting.  “If you’re calling to rub it in, don’t expect me to be rapt with attention.”
    “I’m calling to say I’ve changed my mind.”
    “Oh?  You’re coming back to jail?”
    “I want to accept your offer.”
    He paused before replying:  “You’re assuming our offer still stands after your little escapade.”
    It wasn’t all that surprising that he was being stand-offish.  “My record wasn’t exactly squeaky-clean before that, but you wanted me then.”
    “And since that time you’ve done nothing whatsoever to indicate that you’re interested in joining us.  Just the opposite, in fact.”
    “Other than calling you right now.”
    “For what purpose?  Who’s to say why you’ve really decided to give us jingle in the middle of the night?”
    “Why else would I risk making a call and being traced?”
    “Don’t pretend you’re not blocking our trace, Jillian.”
    “Trying to, anyway.  But don’t pretend your tracers are not doing everything in their power.”
    “They are, of course.  Unfortunately it will still take a few more minutes.”
    “I’ll take that to mean about thirty seconds.”
    “Take it however you want.  The point is, we would be foolish to extend our offer to you any longer.”
    “You wanted me because I’m good at what I do.  All I did by breaking out of jail was prove it.”
    “I’m afraid that is not all you did by breaking out of jail.”
    “So I missed my chance?”
    Holiday hesitated only a moment.  “All right, Jillian.  You want to join us, tell us face to face.”
    “Where can I meet you?”
    “Right here at our headquarters, of course.”
    What was he playing at?  “How am I supposed to get there?”
    “Oh, I’ve no doubt you’ll find a way.”
    “You’re talking about breaking into a secure section of GoCom.”
    Holiday sniffed.  “You seemed to have no trouble breaking out of it.”
    “I wouldn’t exactly say it was no trouble.”
    “Take it or leave it, Jillian.  If you’d like us to extend our offer one last time, demonstrate your worth one last time.  It’s only reasonable.”
    She couldn’t deny it.
    “Oh, and Jillian?  About the trace—I was a bit conservative in my estimation.  You’ve only got a few more seconds.”
    She’d hung up before he finished saying it.
     
    IN his office overlooking HQ, Giles Holiday smiled to himself as he hung up the phone.
    Corey