"Undoubtedly, he considered that," Jack said. "I also know Lock could have [i]very easily[/i] taken her and run in the commotion, and he [i]didn't[/i]. He didn't even try to bargain for a lesser punishment. He just asked me to listen."

He frowned at the doctor's use of "hooligans". Had he even been listening?

"I know the tricksters better than anyone else in town," Jack said, "and I know that when there's an opportunity to cause trouble or run from it, and they [i]don't[/i] take it, more often than not, they're genuine about whatever follows."

Jack uncrossed his arms and gracefully put them behind his back again.

"I would implore you to reconsider trying to keep her locked up for, and I quote, 'the rest of the century'," he said, his tone going dark and gravely serious, "because I imagine the next time she escapes to the tree house, she'll [i]stay there[/i], with those who consider her as her own monster and look after her wellbeing. And I can't help but think that might be the [i]better[/i] arrangement."