Adding to the complication factor was the fact that she had to do all that while outside the window, cult members were making the kind of noises they make when the ship containing their Messiah, or whatever, had landed, and they were currently being told to keep back from it by a couple of very freaked-out prison guards with AR-15 assault rifles.
And then there was Diller, sitting in the front seat of the Winnebago, which was distracting in a whole different way.
“OK,” said Zoya. “Dionne, I’m taking control.”
“All yours,” said Dionne. “Good luck.”
Zoya tried to ignore how nervous Dionne sounded. It all came down to her. “Bunny, can you hear me?”
“I can.”
Zoya’s fingers flew across the keyboard. She locked access through all doors to the corridor outside the infirmary and then opened that door. “OK, you are ready to go. Thank you for flying Air Zoya. Please pay complete and total attention to your pilot unless you enjoyed your visit to Longhurst correctional facility and would like to stay.”
“Understood,” said Bunny.
“Good.” Zoya cracked her knuckles. “Then let’s rock ’n’ roll.”
Bunny sat in his wheelchair and relayed the directions to Breida. He didn’t much enjoy being a passenger in a car, and this was way worse. He’d got in here to break Breida out, and now his role in proceedings had been reduced to being a piece of luggage.
“OK, Carlos, head down this way.”
The big fella diligently pushed the wheelchair down the corridor, giggling excitedly, like it was all a game.
“Turn right.”
Breida paused.
Bunny pointed to the corridor on his right and his chauffeur duly obliged.
“Say that again?” said Bunny. “… Oh crap.”
He turned and grabbed Breida’s hand and spoke in a whisper. “Stop!”
He did.
The pair froze there in silence as they heard someone trying to get through a door to their left. Bunny held his fingers to his lips and Breida did the same back to him. Not for the first time, Bunny wondered what on earth this man was doing in prison. Even if he had committed a crime, any copper could see he didn’t have the mental capacity to be tried as an adult. This whole thing stank to high heaven.
They heard a shout from behind the door. “Goddamn it, is the door system on the fritz again?”
Whoever it was seemed to give up.
Zoya spoke in Bunny’s ear. “Hang tight. The door at the end of the corridor – I need you to go through it, but there’s a guard in there at the moment. It’s their cafeteria. The place is in chaos and this guy is having his lunch. Very Zen. I’m afraid the only way to move him is going to be uncomfortable.”
“What do you mean un—”
Before Bunny could finish his thought, the sprinkler system turned on.
“… I had to ask.”
The water was lukewarm. Given that Bunny had managed only one trip to the showers since he’d been there, it was probably needed.
“It is raining,” said Breida.
“’Tis indeed. Very unusual for this time of year.”
“Wait for it …” said Zoya. “OK. Go now.”
Bunny pointed forward and Breida pushed on, the carpet squelching under the chair’s wheels. Thankfully, as they reached the end of the corridor, the sprinklers stopped and the door in front of them made a clicking noise. Bunny reached forward and pushed it open.
The canteen was a similarly sodden mess, but crucially it was a deserted one. “Right, Carlos, forward. There’s a good lad.”
“Just give me a second to clear the next bit,” said Zoya.
They passed a table where it looked as if the guard had been enjoying his lunch a few moments before.
“Hang on a mo.” Bunny reached across and grabbed the half-eaten sandwich. He took a large bite and then held it up. “What the feck is this?” he said as he chewed.
“That’s a PB and J,” said Breida.
“A what, what and what now?”
“Peanut butter and jelly.”
Bunny swallowed. “’Tis not bad, to be fair. I’ve been starving since I got here. Thanks for the Snickers bars by the way, Carlos.”
“You are welcome.”
He reached up the hand containing the sandwich. “Would you like a bite?”
“No, thank you.”
“Suit yourself,” said Bunny.
Zoya said something that Bunny didn’t quite catch.
“What?” He pressed his finger into his ear. “Say again, Zoya?”
He was greeted by static.
He raised his voice. “I think the water might have damaged the earpiece.”
Bunny could hear Zoya shouting again, but it kept breaking up. “… back … access … override … you need to …”
“Zoya,” repeated Bunny, “I can’t hear you.”
“… out … override … is coming … is coming!”
“Just calm down, you’re breaking up. Who is coming?”
In answer, the door they had just come through slammed open.
“That would be me.”
Dionne and Arthur watched the feed on the big screen, horrified.
Breida turned the wheelchair around so that Bunny could see Commander Blake standing in the doorway, grinning at him.
“I don’t understand,” said Dionne.
“He’s got an override,” said Arthur. “He and the warden have cards that can go through any door. We didn’t plan for it because he wasn’t supposed to be here.”
Dionne held her head in her hands. “Oh no. Oh God, no.”
Bunny nodded at the new arrival. “Commander Blake, didn’t expect to see you.”
Blake laughed. “No, I’m guessing you didn’t. I have no idea what is going on, but well done on getting this far. That is one hell of a distraction outside.”
“I’ll be honest with ye,” said Bunny, “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Really? Well, in that case, maybe ET really has landed outside the gates.”
“You’ve lost me,” said Bunny.
“No,” smirked Blake, closing the door behind him firmly. “I definitely
