The Horse Soldier: Beginnings Series Book 10

by Jacqueline Druga

  “It’s not that easy lifting yourself over a ten foot wall.”

  Frank laughed with a toss of his head.

  “Colonel, if it’s so easy, you do it.”

  The smile left Frank’s face. “You don’t think I can take that wall? What are you? Fuckin stupid? I’m six foot three.”

  “Not with ease.” Lt. Merrick spoke with edge.

  “You don’t think. Let me tell you something, little man. I can take the wall with ease. It’s nothing. And when I show you that, you’ll pay.” Frank walked by the arrogant lieutenant and to the group of men trying at the wall. “Back it up. All of you!” Frank waited until the cleared. He stepped back from the wall, not nearly as far as the others did. He looked at it, shook his head in a scoff, and took a two step run. On his third step, he leaped. His hands gripped to the edge and his boot connected center to the wall. Frank lifted himself up without a struggle and hurled himself over the top, landing on his feet on the other side.

  “That is how that’s done.” Frank told the officers then looked so perturbed as he walked back to Lt. Merrick. “Now, what is your problem with that wall?” Frank lowered his face close to his. So red, his words so strong.

  “Nothing.”

  “Good. Now for being an asshole, drop down and give me fifty.”

  “Fifty what?”

  “Push -ups.”

  Lt. Merrick looked at Frank as if Frank were ridiculous. “What, are you nuts? I can’t do fifty push -ups.”

  “Then you will stay out here until you learn. And you will do a hundred.”

  “You said fifty.”

  “I changed my mind. Do it!” Frank pointed and back up. “Now!” He turned his back and walked to the other officers, smiling as he did so.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Johnny sat on one side of the clinic lab while Dean sat on the other. Johnny was engrossed with the microscope, Dean with papers yet they spoke as they worked.

  “Johnny you have to get a move on with this Bev thing. If you can’t do it, let us know.”

  “Patience, Dean. Patience. Man, you and my Pap. If you want things to turn out right you have to do them right. I’m doing it the right way. But, if you must know, it isn’t gonna make a difference right now. She wants your little body so watch out.”

  Dean reviewed the paper he worked on. “Johnny, what do you know about my appendix scar.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Did you know I have one?’

  “Yes.” Johnny hid his snicker. “And it’s crooked.”

  “Thank you.” Dean began to write . “John . . . ny.”

  “Why are you writing my name down.”

  “If you must know, I’m making a list of everyone that I know who knows about my crooked scar,” Dean answered.

  “Why?”

  “Because Bev said something about it to Ellen.”

  “She . . .” Johnny smiled. “Dean, if you wouldn’t go around dropping your pants in front of Bev, she wouldn’t blab about that scar.”

  “What!” With shock, Dean looked up.

  Johnny started to laugh. “Sorry. El. I had to see his face.”

  Dean turned around on his stool to see Ellen. “God, can he be like Frank.” He stood up. “Hey El.” He brought the paper with him and handed it to her. “Here.”

  “What’s this?” Ellen reviewed it.

  “A list of names of those who know about my crooked scar. See any of these people could have mentioned it.”

  “Why is Josephine on this list? How does she know?”

  “I told her about it when I took her appendix out. Remember? You were there. So, this is for you.”

  “Thanks.” she handed the list back. “You ready?”

  “For what?”

  “Clean up. Remember? Joe said if we don’t clean up that cryo-lab, he’s condemning it. He was there checking our case. He said he was entirely grossed out and to get our asses down there now.”

  “Oh.” Dean nodded. “He was in here bitching about something. I was busy. O.K., we’ll hide the stuff.” He laid his hand on Ellen’s back as he led her out. “Bye, Johnny.”

  “Have fun. And if I see Bev . . .”

  Dean was going to say something, but he let it go. He pulled the lab door closed as he stopped in the hall with Ellen. “Did Joe tell you?”

  “Boy, did he ever. He went off for about ten minutes, especially about Peter and Bugs, the fused bunnies. I thought . . .”

  “No, about why he was really down there.”

  “No.” Ellen paused by the front doors. “Why?”

  “Get this, to reprogram the keypad so it no longer takes a general security code. Someone tried to break into the Zappa case.”

  “Oh my God, Dean. Who?”

  “They think whoever it is that’s working for George.”

  “Reverend Bob had that wound.”

  “Yeah I know. I told Joe.”

  “Will he check it out?”

  “One of us.” Dean opened the door for Ellen. “We have to watch that case, El. That’s all our special work.”

  “I know. No one can know what’s in there. Dean, if they did . . .”

  “I don’t want to think about it. Let’s just get down there and clean up.” Shuddering at the thought, Dean placed his hand in Ellen’s and they quickly headed to the cryo-lab.

  ^^^^

  It fascinated Hal. Sitting on the hood of the Jeep, he watched Frank’s men train in the security training area. With his feet rested on the bumper, Hal placed his elbows on his knees and ran his cupped hands under his chin as he watched. They did some sort of technique Hal wasn’t quite familiar with but he knew he’d find out soon when the clipboard appeared under his nose. Hal looked up to Dan who presented it.

  “Thought you’d like to see our schedule.”

  “I would.” Hal smiled and took it. “Thanks. So you’re running training?”

  “For Robbie. This is just practice.”

  “What exactly are they . . .” Hal’s speech slowed down. “. . . practicing.” He checked out the schedule. “Neck snapping technique 12?”

  “Yes.” Dan explained. “It’s where you have your enemy on the ground and you use your foot to turn the chin at just the right angle. It has to be done quickly or it only causes a severe sprain.”

  “Technique 12?”

  “One of Frank’s favorites.”

  “So Frank came up with this? If this is technique 12, exactly how many neck breaking techniques did my brother come up with?”

  “I believe twenty-seven.”

  Hal mouthed the words, ‘twenty-seven’ and turned his head to the side in shock.

  “So how long are you watching?” Dan asked.

  “Well I was going to stay, but I think I’ll come back up for this one here.” Hal pointed as he handed the schedule back to Dan. “It surprises me that Frank trains that.”

  “Oh that’s a Robbie addition. He thought that would be . . . how did he put it? Neat?”

  “So my little brother came up with the name.”

  “Oh no.” Dan shook his head. “The name ‘learn with Mr. Kung Fu’ says it all. That’s a Danny Hoi thing. He teaches it. Hal, you picked a fun day to watch training. Frank always designated Thursdays as free for all days where the training is different.”

  “Fun days,” Hal stated. He thought about the activity training for the day. Neck breaking. Kung Fu. Killing with an assault weapon without using a bullet. Disemboweled in one easy movement. When he reviewed the list in his mind, it was pretty clear to him. From what he learned of Frank lately, yes, his big brother would designate these things as ‘fun’.

  ^^^^

  “Sorry I’m late.” Dean barreled into Joe’s office, stopping cold when he saw Henry behind Joe’s desk. “Henry, what are you doing there?”

  “Joe said to sit here,” Henry answered.

  Dean looked at Joe who sat in Henry’s spot. “Joe, doesn’t that bother you?”
/>   “Yes, but sit down so we can do this thing. Did you clean up that pigsty?”

  “You mean the lab?” Dean sat down. “Yeah, spic and span.”

  Henry let out a long sigh. “Thanks for making him do that, Joe. Did you see that jar?”

  “Yes, Henry, I saw it.”

  Robbie snickered. “What jar? What’s in the jar?”

  Henry looked so disgusted. “Those Siamese twin rabbits.”

  “I thought they died,” Robbie said.

  “They did,” Henry commented. “Dean has them in formaldehyde.”

  “Cool.” Robbie nodded his head. “Can I see them Dean?”

  “Sure,” with a shrug, Dean answered.

  Joe felt less in control than when he sat behind the desk, but he didn’t sound it. “Can we please just do this? Thank you. Now, Reverend Bob is why we’re here. Henry, you spoke to Danny?”

  “Yes, Joe.” Henry nodded. “He did give Rev. Bob a relic box and it was locked. However Danny couldn’t confirm where he had it.”

  “Good.” Joe jotted down on his paper. “We have to find that box and check it out. If he struggled with the lock, there has to be signs of it.”

  Robbie had a look of disagreement. “Yeah, but if he’s guilty, wouldn’t he cover his ass? I mean, I would.”

  “You would,” Henry interjected.

  “Shut up, Henry.” Robbie continued. “Anyhow, it’s not concrete enough to eliminate him as the one going after Dean’s things.”

  “Here’s the question on my mind,” Henry stated. “Why is he going after Dean’s case? What can be so important in there that he would go after it?”

  Joe knew the answer to that question. It was simple and he couldn’t share it with Henry. If it was George’s person going after the case, then George’s person was going after the virus that Dean threatened him with. “Embryos.” Joe spoke up. “No one but Dean knows where those damn embryos are. After speaking to Hal and finding out how George farms his population, I’m gonna say it’s the embryos.”

  “Joe.” Henry looked astonished. “Oh my God, that is really good thinking.”

  “I’m smart, Henry.” Joe grumbled. “Blood. Dean?”

  “Huh . . .” Dean was still stuck on Joe’s last sarcastic comment. “Sorry. No blood at the lab. El and I checked. If Reverend Bob injured his hand at the lab we thought there would be some blood. It was bleeding pretty bad. But . . . nothing. Floor’s clean.”

  “When?” Joe asked sarcastically. “When is that floor clean?”

  “Joe, please,” Dean scoffed.

  “No, Dean, I’m dead serious here. I’m terrified of what you two are doing in that lab. Files, our files are brought down there. Blood samples. You only let people in there when you need them to do something normal for you. And it smells Dean. What in Christ’s name is that smell down there?”

  “Smell?” Dean was confused. “What smell is down there?”

  “Rotten. Sulfur. Dean, you name it, it stinks.” Joe rambled.

  “Oh.” Dean shrugged. “Sorry. I must be used to it. Can we get back to Reverend Bob?”

  Joe grunted slightly. “All right. This recent incident has only told me we need to move. So we will. Henry, you have to lay low while this transition thing is happening but the rest of us don’t. I divided up our five suspects between the three of us. Bev, now we have Johnny working on her. I’ll keep working on Johnny and the little trailing reports I get on a daily basis will keep her on check for the investigation.” Joe saw Henry raise his hand. “Yes, Henry?”

  “Who’s trailing her?”

  “I’d rather not reveal that to anyone. I have three little spies around here. They help out. Cole, now, I can handle Cole and even though Henry is laying low, he can help. Henry, you need to befriend him especially since you’ll now be working closely to him.

  “Aw Joe,” Henry whined. “He is such a pervert. I really don’t like him.”

  “Tough. Be his pal. I’m definitely going to take Andrea. I’ll pay more attention to what she says, keep my eyes out. Talk to her, probe her . . . . Robert.” Joe scolded at Robbie’s snickering. “. . . and see what I can find out. Dean, you have Jason. Medically you have reasons to be around him. If you don’t, find them.”

  “Got it,” Dean agreed. “I have a feeling if he has anything, it’s in his lab.”

  “I have to say you’re right,” Joe stated. “So maybe some interest in the time machine may not be a bad idea . . . Robbie, Reverend Bob is your man. You concentrate on him, check him out.”

  “Dad? Um, I can do that, but uh, what is my reason for getting close to him? All of you have reasons.”

  Joe grinned. “You my boy, are thinking of turning a new leaf. A Christian leaf.”

  “I’m what?” Robbie was nearly shocked from his chair. “How am I supposed to explain that?”

  “You’re a bright boy. You’ll figure it out. And speaking of bright boys.” Joe stood up and laid the tablet on the desk. “You boys can finish up. I have to seek out my other son and save him from the clutches of the people in this community.” He moved to the door. “With him wandering around here, it’s actually frightening to think who can corner him.” Joe shuddered as he left.

  ^^^^

  “Oh History can be fun and exciting,” Trish told Hal so upbeat. “This is where it all begins you know.”

  “You don’t say.”

  “I did say.”

  “Tell me how do you stop people from deleting things or adding things that aren’t true?”

  “It’s password protected and write protected. We change it daily, Joe and I. I, myself, place every single entry into the computer.”

  “Is it just for records then?” Hal asked.

  “No, we have a viewing computer too, where you can view history. Sometimes I’ll print it up. We have a book at the library.”

  “Could I see the system?”

  “Oh sure.”

  “Thanks.” Hal grinned and waited. He watched Trish sit back down behind her desk. “What are you doing?”

  “Setting you up an appointment.” She pulled out her purple appointment book. “When’s good for you?”

  Hal was speechless. “I can’t see it now?”

  “Oh, no. Everyone must have an appointment.” Trish flipped open the book. “How’s tomorrow at ten sound?”

  “Um . . . good.” Hal watched her write his name down. “Efficient how you run this.”

  “People get so perturbed with me because I make them schedule time.”

  “I don’t understand why.” Hal was serious. “This is one place you can’t let get out of control. It could if it gets too crowded with people viewing history.”

  “Oh thank you. Tell that to the next person that complains.” Trish looked up when the history door reopened. “And speaking of that person, you’re late Danny Hoi. I’m going to have to reschedule.”

  Danny laughed at her. “Hey, Hal. Trish, what else do you have to do today?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Then you’ll meet with me.”

  “You are so bossy.” Trish tsked. “Hal, Danny is starting the Beginnings’ Times.”

  “No to be confused with dinosaurs,” Danny added. “A newspaper. Trish has to be involved because she is history. It’s a new way to keep track. Hey!” Danny snapped his finger. “Robbie gave me some of your short stories you wrote years ago. Would you be interested in being the Bowman Correspondent for our paper?”

  “Really?” Hal was honored.

  “Yeah,” Danny answered. “You’ll have to write something every day and you can radio it in to me or Trish. She’s my secretary.”

  Trish shook her head. “Don’t ask me how I got roped into that. As if I’m not busy enough all day around here.”

  Danny looked at the empty room and at Trish’s desk. The half eaten lunch, the cookies, and the books she was reading were all signs of how busy she was. He flipped open the history appointment book. “Gosh, you make me feel guilty for doing this t
o you, Trish. Anyway, Hal? Will you?”

  “Yes, I’d love that. Not much exciting happens in Bowman.”

  “Make it up,” Danny told him. “We won’t know.”

  Hal snickered. “How about I just see what I can do.”

  “Sounds good.” Danny shrugged. Trish sighed in disgust when the history door opened.

  “God, can people stop coming in here?”

  Joe gave a stern look to her then to his son. “Hal, can I steal you? There’s a few things I want to talk to you about.”

  “Sure Dad.” Hal lifted his hand, waved to Danny and Trish, and left the office with Joe.

  “Sorry you were in there with Trish for so long.”

  “Trish?” Hal was surprised. “She’s a delightful woman, Dad. Really, you need to come to Bowman and see our women then you’ll truly appreciate what you have here.”

  “You don’t say. Well, I don’t think you want me to meet these women of yours.”

  “Why is that?” Hal asked.

  “Because.” Joe explained. “If they’re like you describe, I won’t be as nice as you.”

  On his father’s comment, Hal smiled.

  ^^^^

  “So you see Reverend Bob.” Robbie spoke as he and the Reverend walked around the tiny park center town, no bigger than the first floor of a home. Yet they strolled on the small path like many others did, like it was a huge park. “With my new mom so religious. I wanna make a good impression.”

  “I must say, Robbie, this surprises me. I’ve seen you at service twice.”

  “Really?” Robbie was shocked. “I’m sure I was there more. You may not have seen me.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “Anyhow, I’ll be attend . . . attending service regularly. Maybe I can be your grown up altar boy.”

  “This is non-denominational Robbie.”

  “Oh.” Robbie paused to think. “Assistant.”

  Reverend Bob stopped walking. “If you are really serious about this, stop by tonight and we’ll set up Bible meeting times.”

  “For what?” Robbie asked.

  “To get you to learn the Bible.”

  “Oh I know the Bible well,” Robbie lied, “so we can skip over that.”

  “No we can’t. No one can read or learn the Bible too much. You agree with that, don’t you?”