Stella returned in just a few moments with two more robes. I refused to think about the state of the previous owner of mine, though Stella quickly filled us in.

"Found an unlocked door and two more stragglers," she said. "Now the door is locked."

I suppose I should have been far more grateful than I was for the fact I was in such company. But despite knowing it was likely I would never have gotten this close to Jack without her assistance, I found myself flinching from ...