The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Josh is set. Andrea is around if there’s any problems and Denny will be by in an hour. So all the kids are good. Work as late as you want. How long do you think it will take?”

  “Well I …” In the midst of turning around, Ellen jumped then shuddered with a chuckle.

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “I thought I saw something in the window.”

  “Like what?” Frank asked.

  “Nothing.” Ellen turned fully around.

  “How do you know?”

  “I know because I thought I saw a large eyeball.”

  The tiny muffled, Alex voice spoke up. “She saw her reflection.”

  “See.” Ellen pointed. “And you woke her up.” With a tilt of her head as direction, Ellen walked by Frank, and out of the bedroom.

  Frank followed.

  In the kitchen, Ellen poured coffee. “Everything is set. I would have started it sooner, but I wanted to be sure Dean went to sleep before I start in the cryo lab.”

  “Makes sense,” Frank said. “How long will it take?”

  “Depends.” She shrugged. “I have to extract the DNA, then run it, and break it down. I then have to compare to your DNA mutation to see if he has one.”

  “What if it’s something else?”

  Ellen exhaled. “I’m pretty familiar with the agents we have.”

  “That you know about.”

  “True.” Ellen said. “But if the DNA is affected, or mutated, I’ll know. I may not know with what, but I’ll know.”

  “So you’ll know?”

  Alex yelled from the bedroom. “She’ll know!”

  Frank huffed. “How the fuck is she hearing us?”

  “Who knows?” Ellen giggled. “Anyhow, the exact effect of the mutation will be tough if I can’t figure out what is causing it.”

  “But the mutation should be normal, right.” Frank asked.

  Ellen shook her head.

  “Any mutation could show he’s up to something.”

  “No,” Ellen said. “The only mutation that could incite Dean in the serial mutilator case would be the same mutation you have.”

  “What about what Jason said?” Frank asked. “About Dean not being himself. And I told you what he said.”

  “Who Dean?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You mean about referring to him not remembering things … again.”

  “Exactly.”

  Ellen sighed out. “I have a theory on that and Jason’s comment.”

  “And it is?”

  “I’m not telling yet.”

  “Why?” Frank asked.

  “Because it’s just a theory.”

  “Can you prove it?”

  “Maybe.” She shrugged.

  “Tell me.”

  “No.”

  “Tell me.” Frank inched closer.

  “Fine.” Ellen paused. “The brain is a complicated thing. It controls everything. The way we walk, talk, see, act.” She raised an eyebrow. “Johnny’s whole entire behavior changed, why?”

  “He has a tumor.”

  “Exactly.” Ellen said. “The tumor is affecting his behavior.”

  “Okay.”

  “Dean has a microchip.”

  “Okay. Do you think the chip is bad?”

  Ellen shook her head. “I think the chip went bad so many times that it is possible for there to be damage in that area of the brain.”

  “So why isn’t he blind then?”

  “Because I think when the chip fries out, it saps the surrounding area, and that is all near the frontal lobe, the frontal lobe controls behavior.”

  “And every time it fries, there’s more damage.”

  Ellen nodded. ‘That chip has fried out a lot. If my theory is correct, the more damage the chip does, the worse he can get, until eventually his behavior is so out of control we can’t bring him back. But … I’m not seeing any signs of that.”

  “Can we stop it if we see it heading that way.”

  Ellen shrugged. “We can try. No guarantees.”

  “How?”

  Ellen exhaled. “It’s not good.”

  A slight smile crept on Frank’s face. “We shoot him.”

  “No!” She swipe out her hand. ‘Stop that. No … the brain is complex and at time can heal itself.”

  “So we just need to let the brain heal.”

  “Yep.” Ellen said. “But in order to do so, we have to remove the chip for a while, and removing the chip ... is disabling Dean. Can this community afford that?”

  “Absolutely,” Frank said with a smile. “We have you.”

  ****

  Margaret heard the ‘creak’ and it jolted her from her slumber. She lifted her head from her pillow, groaned with a slight hint of nausea and lifted the clock.

  “Midnight,” She whispered then called out. “Dean? Is that you walking around out there in the hall?”

  After a single knock, the bedroom door opened. The hallway light was bright and shadowed Dean’s small fame. He was a silhouette.

  Margaret squinted. “What are you doing up? I thought you went to bed an hour ago.”

  “I can’t sleep. I think I’ll head down to the lab.”

  “Oh, well, wait …” Turning her body, she reached for the lamp. “I’m not feeling too hot. I’ll take the walk. The air might …” She paused. No one was in the doorway. Dean was gone.

  ****

  Not that Jason was sleeping when the call came, actually he was in the quantum lab working on two things. One, Danny’s time program, and two ways to irritate Frank and Robbie on the trip to the future … which he still had to tell them he was letting them take.

  “No, no not a problem,” Jason had said on the phone. “I asked you on the sly to let me know. Anytime. This is anytime. I’m out in the lab though. I’ll shut down and check it out.” He paused. “No, I won’t say a word. Thanks.”

  It took him just a short time to finish up, close down, the leave. He secured his building for the night.

  He drove through town, instead of around and parked the jeep on the end of the utility buildings. Even from a distance he could hear, laughter coming from tracking. Slagel laughter.

  Tracking. Slagels. Perfect excuse to stop in.

  “Evening,” Jason said in his typical manner as he walked in.

  “Hey, Jason,” Robbie responded brightly.

  Frank, however, was on the phone. “How long. Well that’s good. Okay. Check back, every fifteen. Use the radio if there’s a problem. It’s direct. Love you. Bye.”

  Jason nodded his head at Frank, “I’ll assume and hope that was Ellen.”

  “Yeah,” Robbie kicked his feet up. “She’s in the cryo lab doing a little DNA.”

  Frank laughed. “You mean DNA D-E-N-A.” he chuckled.

  Jason looked him curious. “Who’s Dena?”

  “Who?” Frank asked.

  “You spelled Dena.”

  “No I didn’t. I spelled Dean.”

  “Wrong,” Jason said.

  “Oh, who the fuck cares,” Frank wave out his hand. “Why are you here anyhow?”

  “Is Ellen doing DNA testing on Dean?”

  Robbie brought this finger to his mouth. “Shh. No one is supposed to know. You gave us the idea.”

  “I did, I remember. Is she alone in the cryo lab?”

  Frank fluttered his lips. “Obviously, she’s not gonna do secret DNA testing with anyone.”

  “Do you think that’s safe?” Jason asked. “I mean with the mutilator.”

  Frank nodded. “She’s secure. Locked up.”

  “Besides,” Robbie added. “Henry is the next victim.”

  Jason smirked, “As pleasant of thought as that is, how do we know?”

  Frank laughed. “Robbie bet with Henry that Henry was too afraid to walk in the mutilator region alone.”

  The corner of Jason’s mouth raised “You’ll call me right away if he gets attacked.”

  Robbie gave a thumbs up.

&
nbsp; Jason snickered. “Thank you. So is all quiet tonight.”

  “Yep.” Robbie said, “Not a beep.”

  “Why are you here?” Frank asked.

  “Don’t be an asshole, Frank. I won’t tell you.”

  “Tell me what?”

  “Why I’m here.”

  Robbie interjected. “Let me.” He cleared his throat. “Hey, Dr. Godrichson, what brings you up here this time of night?”

  “Well, Young Officer Slagel …”

  Robbie snickered, “He called me Officer.”

  Jason pulled out a cigarette and lit it. “I am here to let you two know I plan on letting you do the future trip test.”

  Frank jumped up. “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.”

  “Yes!” Frank clenched his fist. “Robbie, we’re going to the future. How far. Five, ten, fifteen years? What?”

  “I haven’t decided.” Jason said. “But I will need a statement from both of you holding me harmless in case you get sucked away.”

  Folding his arms, Frank nodded. “Not a problem. Robbie?”

  “I’m fine with that. When do we go?”

  “When Frank returns from Lodi. Now …” Jason reached behind him and opened the door. “If you two will excuse me, I think I’ll pay Ellen a visit in the lab. See if she needs help.”

  “Hey, Godrichson?” Frank called. “Hush-hush about this, okay, the D E N A testing.”

  Jason winked. “And hush-hush on the future trip.”

  Frank only got a chance to nod his agreement and Jason was gone. “Yes, we’re going to the future.”

  “I hope he sends us far enough that we’re dead.” Robbie said.

  ‘Yeah, but close enough that everyone remembers us.” Frank laughed. “We can fuck with people.”

  “Remember, Frank, it’s hush-hush.”

  “Hush, hush.” Frank said. “We can do hush hush.” In his excitement he grinned ‘Oh, yeah we’re going to the future. Wait until I tell Dad.”

  ***

  “No one is supposed to know,” Ellen giggled into the phone. “But you don’t count.”

  Elliott Ryder returned the chuckle “Thank you for that.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Of course I do. So how is it going?”

  “Good. Good. I was able to extract the DNA that I needed, now it’s separating. I’d really like to get some sort of hold on the testing before morning. Just in case Dean pops by.”

  “Speaking of Dean, I like your theory.”

  “It’s more than a theory, Elliott.” Ellen said. “Okay, well, it is still a theory, but it’s based not only on my speculation. When I was having …” Ellen shrieked in shock when the cryo door buzzed, but didn’t open.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Someone’s trying to get in. But they are pressing the wrong code.”

  Another buzz.

  “Shit.” Ellen jumped from the stool. “You don’t think it’s the mutilator do you?”

  “I highly doubt the mutilator would buzz into the cryo lab. Unless ...”

  “It’s Dean,” Ellen whispered. “Shit. What do I do?”

  “Don’t let them in. Put down the phone, radio Frank.”

  “Okay. They just buzzed again. Hold on,” Ellen set down the phone and walked to the door. “Go away!” She yelled. “I have a gun.”

  “No, you do not.” Jason responded. “And what is wrong with the code?”

  “I changed it.” Ellen said. “Why are you here? You’re not the mutilator are you?”

  “Ellen, would I tell you if I am.”

  “Hold on.” Ellen walked back and picked up the phone. “It’s Jason. Should I let him in?”

  “Why wouldn’t you?”

  “Why is he here?” Ellen asked.

  “Why don’t you ask him?”

  “Okay, I will, but Elliott if I end up tattooed or missing nails, you know who did it.” Ellen hung up and walked to the cryo door, buzzing Jason in.

  “Thank you,” Jason said upon entrance. “Ellen, I came to check to make sure you’re fine and maybe help, not be accused of being the mutilator.”

  “Sorry, and I’m leaving the door open now.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re here, and if anyone lurks in the tunnels, we’ll see who it is.”

  “I appreciate your faith in me keeping you safe.”

  “Um, yeah.” Ellen nodded, then propped the door open only about a foot. “So, you know why I’m here?”

  “Frank told me,” Jason said.

  “Frank is the one running around telling everyone it’s a secret.”

  “I gave them the idea, so it doesn’t count by telling me.” Jason walked to the computer.

  “That’s right. Anyhow, I just extracted it, now I’m it breaking down.”

  “And how are you covering your tracks?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Obviously, you don’t want Dean to fiddle with these results, how are you protecting that?”

  “Password.”

  “Hmm.” Jason rubbed his chin. “And how many results have you run protected by a password?”

  “None.”

  “See,” Jason waved a finger. “Raising suspicions. I would rename the file to someone Dean wouldn’t even think twice about. That is he notices you were here at one in the morning working, he wouldn't flinch.”

  “That would be easy. Elliott Ryder.”

  “Then I suggest you make the changes to reflect it as Elliot’s blood sample.”

  “Good idea.”

  “Mind if I hang out with you, I’m curious about the results.”

  “What do you think?” Ellen asked.

  “I think that Dean has been playing mad scientist on himself.” Jason said factually.

  “Does he know?”

  “That … I can’t tell you.”

  “I think I’ll make coffee, do you want some?”

  “Actually, yes.”

  “Good. I’ll make it.” Ellen turned, as she did, she froze and screamed.

  A slight grunt preceded the closing of the lab door.

  “What!” Jason sprang forward. “What was it?”

  “There. It … it …oh my God. Something was there.”

  “Call Frank.” Jason flew to the cryo door, opened it with a vengeance and raced into the tunnel. Running, thumping footsteps echoed his way. But were so loud a direction couldn’t be determined. He turned right, nothing. As soon as he turned left, he caught glimpse of it. But only briefly, it disappeared around the corner. “Holy God.” He backed up.

  Frank’s top speed beat that of any vehicle, because he had the human agility to dart in and out of places. He entered the cryo tunnels just a mile outside the utility line, and followed Robbie’s dictate.

  “Motions on.” Robbie said. “Hold. Warming up.”

  “Do you have it?”

  “Wait. Shit.”

  “What?”

  “Got it.”

  “Where?”

  “Not far from the cryo, but moving west.”

  “Toward me?” Frank asked.

  “Looks that way.”

  “How fast.”

  “Fast.” Robbie said. “Not as fast as you.”

  Frank grinned. “That’s what I want to hear.” Frank began to run at a jot’s pace. “You got me?”

  “I got you,” Robbie said. “You’re nearing it. Damn it.”

  “What?”

  “It turned.”

  “Fuck. Where.”

  “You’re approaching.” Robbie said.

  “I missed him. Wait.” Frank stopped running. “Okay, got him, I hear him.”

  “Turn.” Robbie instructed.

  Frank did.

  “Frank, these tunnels can be like a maze. He can go round and round.”

  “But eventually he’s heading somewhere.” Frank moved quickly, but stopped running. He wanted to hear as well as follow whatever it was.

  “Right now I’m gonna bet he�
�s headed out taking you on a goose chase.”

  “Never happen. He’s gotta go somewhere.”

  “Coming up, make a right.” Robbie said. “He turned. Hey, Frank do you think he’s running randomly?”

  “Like a mouse in a maze. No.” Frank replied. “Did you radio dad?”

  “On his way to the cryos.”

  “Good.”

  “Turn.” Robbie instructed.

  “I know where he’s headed.” Frank said. “Or trying. You may be right he may just be turning.”

  “Where’s he headed.”

  “Out. He’s trying to get out the hidden entrance.”

  “Want me to turn the beams off?” Robbie asked.

  “Nope,” Frank responded. “He’s cornered. Because if he knows there are tunnels, then he knows for a fact we have the beams. He’ll have no choice but to stop or turn around, and I’m on my way.”

  Frank kept a steady pace. “Oh, yeah. I can smell him.”

  “Really?”

  “Fuck yeah.”

  “That’s cool. Okay,” Robbie said. “He stopped.”

  Frank grinned. “I’m about forty feet away.”

  “He’s not moving ….Fuck!”

  “What!”

  “He’s moving.”

  “This way.”

  “Out.”

  “No,” Frank started to run.

  “Frank. Beam got him.”

  “Fuck! Fuck!” Frank charged. “I wanted to be the one to get him. Fuck” Frank flung off the headset as he saw the end of the tunnel.

  Robbie sat back with a disappointed sigh. He rubbed his eyes, reached up and silenced the alarms.

  Static.

  “Robbie.”

  Robbie leaned forward. “Yeah.”

  “Turn off the beams.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m going out.”

  Curiously Robbie looked at the radio as if the radio understood his expression. “Frank?”

  Frank’s chuckled carried over the waves.

  “Frank?” Robbie questioned again.

  “We have a challenge.” Frank said. “Oh, yeah, the beam got him, but it didn’t kill him.”

  “He’s immune to the beam.”

  “Yep. Looks that way. Seems we have ourselves a Class A official monster.”

  “Indestructible, unstoppable, unbeatable.” Robbie said.

  “But not … Un-Slagelble.”

  Robbie sat back and grinned.