The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  Jason

  Jason looking pale.

  Stop.

  “Back it up,” Joe said.

  Frank did. A few more back.

  “No. No to the one you took of Jason’s face.” Joe watched as it switched. “There. Right there.” Joe stood up. “Look at his face. I know it is hard to see through the suit, but look at him.” He shook his head. “That is the face of a man who’s been sick and struggling. He hasn’t shaved. His eyes are dark. I know the man is attached to his lab, but I never saw him look like that.”

  “I did.”

  “When?” Joe asked.

  “When he was dead. Well, he really didn’t look like much. A piece here, piece there …”

  “Frank.”

  “But you changed time and since I was in a coma, I was immune to that.”

  “I never changed time, Frank. You dreamt it.”

  “Oh. Okay. Onward in the slides.

  Joe held up his hand. “We’ve seen enough, Frank.”

  “But there’s still more.”

  “We’ll watch them over drinks,” Joe retook his seat. “We go forward. We find out what the hell happened. Danny, can you take that picture of Jason and enlarge it and print it for me. If ever there is evidence that Jason has to do this test, it’s that picture.”

  “Not a problem, Joe, just got to get Frank to part with that camera. Because he wouldn’t give it up last night.”

  After a glance to Frank, Joe looked at Danny. “What do you mean? Frank said Jason didn’t ask for the pictures.”

  “He didn’t,” Danny said. “He told Frank to hand over the camera and Frank refused.”

  “I wanted evidence.” Frank said. “Jason would have deleted them.”

  Joe bobbed his head. “After Jason not filing the reports I could see that. How did you get him to give up? Jason is pretty persistent.”

  Hal cleared his throat, obviously hiding the chuckle. “Frank told Jason he could have the camera if he could catch him.”

  “You made Jason chase you?” Joe asked.

  “Yeah,” Frank snickered. “He didn’t stand a chance.”

  “I would think not, Frank. You run fifty five miles an hour,” Joe sighed out. “Okay, we know what we need to do. Let’s move on. Mike called today. Seems he put it to a vote in his town. Lodi moves west, right out here.”

  Danny whined with an almost fake cry.

  “Problem?” Joe asked.

  “I finally am making progress on the Vampire City, now I have to find another town.”

  “Christ Danny, there’s a ton.”

  “You want it within our tracking, right?”

  Joe shook his head. “Mike can handle their own; I’d go south, that way they don’t run the risk of killer babies.”

  “What about the monster?” Frank asked.

  “We’ll get to that.”

  “Yes.” Frank clenched his fist.

  Joe looked at Danny. “Can you start on that?”

  “First thing Monday.” Danny said.

  “What about tomorrow?”

  “It’s Sunday. No one works on Sunday,” Danny replied.

  “Today.”

  Danny shook his head. “You of all people know today is bad. First bingo.”

  Joe grumbled.

  “Hey, Dad?” Robbie spoke up. “I’ll help you.”

  “Thanks, Robbie, I’d like that.” Joe folded his hands on the desk. “Now, another thing with Mike’s town. More mouths to feed, so they’ll need space for farming and greenhouses.”

  “Check,” Danny said. “I have a few locations I’ll check out. Hopefully they won’t need much work. Joe, in all seriousness, all these towns. Bowman, Beginnings, Jordan, Doyle Camp, Vampire and now this one. These towns offer people places to go, but they are gonna have to structure themselves and stand on their own two feet. Our fields are big, but that big?”

  Joe nodded. “That’s why I’d like to expand farming. We’ll schedule a special meeting with Hector to see if he can run that when the towns arrive. Which brings me to another point.”

  “How are they getting here?” Danny asked.

  Joe pointed. “You got it. Creed’s people are taking a train. They should be leaving in a week or two. Not much to pack up. You said the town will be done.”

  “It will be.”

  “I want to move Lodi by train as well. At least the supplies they have.” Joe said. “But unlike Creed, they don’t have the means started.”

  Danny shook his head. ‘Won’t work. Creed and his people used the time to clear the tracks, still are. That’s why the trek here is going to take a week, they have to stop and clear the tracks. Almost a decade Joe, The tracks east are totally overgrown. We’ll never clear them. Then we’ll have to get some trucks and stuff up and running for them. Frank and Ellen go out there for Johnny’s surgery in a few days, Can you go with them. Help Lodi, see what they need and do an assessment on the whole move?”

  “I’ll clear my schedule.” Danny said. “Besides I want to see this Mike guy.”

  Frank rolled his eyes.

  “Dad?” Robbie lifted his hand. “What about Johnny? Moving Lodi here is moving Johnny?”

  Joe lifted the stack of copies. “Mike and I discussed this. Beginnings will vote. I would extend it to the other towns but Beginnings was most affected. These ballots tell of his situation, and give options. No, they don’t let him under the province of Beginnings, or yes with limited access and ability.”

  Hal swiped his hand across his face with a heavy exhale. “I don’t see the point in this voting. Johnny is a criminal, sorry Frank. He hurt us for the Society, left us for the Society; let him go with the Society. I’m not buying the brain tumor bit making him that insane. Sorry. It may have exaggerated it but there had to be some underlying being there.”

  “Robert?” Joe asked. ‘You saw him.”

  “Briefly,” Robbie answered. “Seemed the same, but younger. Can’t explain it.”

  “Well, Frank is going out there, maybe he could see if …” Joe paused when Hal scoffed. “What?”

  “Frank is not a good judge. He is the father.”

  “I’ll be there,” Danny said. “I’ll see what I think. Jess ... Jess didn’t buy it you know, the changed man thing.”

  Joe nodded. “I know. But, we’ve given Beginnings some options. No and yes aren’t the only ones.”

  Hal reached up and took a ballot. “Allow him to live in the New Lodi only?” Hal returned the ballot. “That’s the same as Beginnings. Simple yes or no Father, and that’s all. No gray areas here. You’ve given the people too many choices.”

  Frank huffed. “Hal, you’re an asshole.”

  “What? Why are you calling me an asshole? Because this is your son?”

  “Because of your fuckin’ attitude. Holier than thou …”

  “Frank, your son shot our father. Shot you”

  Robbie interjected. “Twice.”

  “Twice.” Hal squeaked out the word. “There are no rose colored glasses to put on. Johnny is a bad seed. Granted he’s sick, but that’s as far as our help should go. You’ll never be an objective opinion on this.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Nice, very nice,” Hal nodded. “When all else fails, when all argument is lost, you simply say Fuck you.”

  Joe waved out his hand to halt them. “Let’s stop this before it gets ugly. Frank, as much as you hate to hear it, Hal has a point. You’re jaded with the Johnny situation …” he saw Frank’s mouth open. “Now I know …. I know you are aware of what he did. I know you hold anger. But he’s your kid. I know how deeply feelings run for your kids. As far as giving my people too many choices, well, that’s my choice now isn’t it?” he raised an eyebrow to Hal. “Danny? Thanks for coming up. Get working on that town and prepare for the trip.”

  “Will do, Joe.” Danny stood. He noticed the Slagels did not. “You guys aren’t coming.”

  “Um …” Joe stammered. “We’re gonna hang out and chit chat.�
�

  The corner of Danny’s mouth raised “You guys are having another secret meeting.”

  “No, we aren’t.” Joe said. “Just father son bonding.”

  “Joe, I’m second in charge here. You gave me that position. I’m the VP. Don’t make me feel like the old world VP by excluding me from things.”

  All the Slagels muttered out, ‘No-No’ as if Danny were ridiculous.

  Joe shook his head. “Wouldn’t do that do you, Danny. Like I said. Father Son bonding.”

  At that second Ellen rushed through the door, “Sorry I’m late for the meeting Joe but I had to get the data all…” her words slowed down when she saw Danny. “Is he staying?”

  Danny smiled and he sat down. “I am now.”

  Ellen tried, and so did Joe to get Danny to leave, but to no avail he saw right through it.

  After briefing them on the reason for the meeting, Joe handed the floor to Ellen. She changed. She went into a mode that they seldom witnessed, serious.

  “Although the mutilator incidents are minor in the scope of things, it is still a criminal act,” Ellen said. “But my question is, is this a criminal or someone not in the right frame of mind. Frank’s ….” She nodded at him. “Hint to check under Henry’s nails proved correct. Henry did indeed scratch someone. The skin was under Henry’s nails. I was able to retrieve it. I was also able to run DNA and a match …”

  Frank interrupted. “It’s not conclusive.”

  Ellen remained calm. “Granted DNA testing at this point is raw and about 80% but criminals in the old world were convicted on that ratio.”

  Frank shook his head. “Not the DNA testing.”

  Joe asked. “What do you mean then?”

  “The skin under the nails,” Frank said. “It’s not conclusive that Henry scratched the mutilator.”

  Joe sighed out. “Frank, I know you know a bit more than you let on. But Ellen is about to release that information. And there’s more.” He gave a look to Ellen.

  “The DNA under Henry’s nails matched the DNA of …” She hated to say it. “Dean.”

  Hal exhaled with a lowering of his head.

  Robbie closed his eyes.

  Danny released a ‘Yes!”

  Everyone looked at him.

  “I win the betting pool.” Danny shrugged.

  Joe asked. “There’s a betting pool about the mutilator.”

  “Yep.”

  Frank said, “Then I want in, because it’s not Dean.”

  Joe understood, Frank’s reaction, but he had to explain. “Frank. There’s more. When I was down in the lab, I found a lot of evidence. Henry’s hair …”

  “Doesn’t matter. Not conclusive.”

  Hal huffed out. “Dean’s your friend. You aren’t being objective.”

  “I’m the only one here that is being reasonable. Come on, it’s Dean.” Frank pleaded. “Granted, things look bad, but it doesn’t make sense.”

  Ellen nodded. “It makes perfect sense, Frank. We know for a fact that he is giving himself that healing agent to be like you …”

  “What!” Danny blasted. “This is new to me.”

  Joe winced. “Keep it under wraps.”

  Danny pretended to zipper his mouth. “I have to come to more secret meetings, you find out a lot.”

  Ellen continued. “The chip Frank could be affecting his behavior. You yourself said the mutilator was a blur meaning he runs about fifty miles an hour. Dean more than likely has those abilities.”

  Frank kept shaking his head.

  Joe grew frustrated. “Frank, you suspected it.”

  “But now I don’t think it. I think it was a set up. Dean’s mind isn’t working normally. Granted, I’ll give El that. I tried to read it. Usually he is throwing math facts at me, now its colors. I think he’s being set up. Conveniently too. Henry doesn’t recall scratching the mutilator. If he was aware enough to fight then he fought before he was knocked out. Why doesn’t he remember? Dean doesn’t remember how he ended up in the woods …”

  “What!” Everyone blasted.

  “Fuck,” Frank hunched.

  “Dean was naked in the woods?” Joe asked. “When?”

  “Yesterday,” Frank answered.

  “And we know this how?”

  Frank mumbled.

  “What was that Frank, I didn’t hear you?” Joe tugged on his ear.

  “I said, I was the one that found him. It was when we were looking for Henry, I found Dean. “

  Everyone groaned.

  Except Robbie. “In Frank’s defense.”

  Hal lifted a hand. “There it is.”

  “Seriously,” Robbie said. “Dean naked in the woods. Henry could have scratched him during something else. Henry also is a liar, we know this. Not saying that Henry didn’t scratch Dean …”

  “I am.” Frank said.

  Another round of ‘what’s’ blasted out.

  “What if the mutilator got them both and used Henry’s own hand to scratch Dean?”

  Again, another round of groans.

  Joe halted them. “Frank. Again I understand why you don’t want to believe its Dean, but you can forget the fact that he is injected himself with the healing agent. Why would he do that?”

  Ellen raised her hand. “Actually, I can theorize why.” She wanted for the go ahead. “Dean’s been working on a reversal serum, I found this. He’s trying to reverse the effects of the healing agent. He may have given himself the agent or test the reversal serum.”

  “Fuck!” Frank blasted. “I don’t want to be reversed.”

  “Not now,” Ellen said. “But according to his notes, if you get hurt again and they have to use it on you again, he can’t guarantee what would happen.”

  “I’m sorry, Frank,” Joe said. “There’s far too much evidence. Action has to be done and done now.”

  “And what?” Frank barked. “You gonna remove him like a criminal? He’s not.”

  “He is.” Joe argued. “And we can’t leave him in the population to keep causing harm.”

  “You know,” Frank pointed. “All of you are gonna be owing me a big fuckin’ apology when I prove that I’m right.”

  Joe lifted his hands in defeat. “And in the meantime, while you prove how right you are. We’re supposed to let Dean run free? This is the community we’re talking here. Doesn’t matter how ridiculous these crimes are, they are still crimes, and who knows if they’ll get worse. I don’t have a choice. Give me another option. Unfortunately, there is none.”

  Lifting a finger, Danny spoke softly, “Um, Joe that may not be true …”

  Everyone swung a glace his way.

  “I may have another option.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Ellen rattled excitedly as she delivered a round of kisses at the dinner table. “This is so old world.” She giggled. “I remember in the old world, I used to go to Bingo all the time. Run out at dinner time to get a seat.”

  Frank emerged from the kitchen. “You can’t eat?”

  “No. Not time,” Ellen said. “They’ll have food there. Also, Joe and Andrea will be here any second.”

  “I can’t believe you’re going to Bingo,” Frank said.

  “I can’t believe you can’t believe I’m going to Bingo. This is big, Frank. Jackpot is huge and they are giving away, Danny Broadcasting system televisions. He’s announcing the new show at Bingo too. I’m so excited.” Finger to her mouth, Ellen looked around. “Oh, there.”

  “When are you gonna talk to Dean?” Frank asked.

  “After Bingo.”

  “When after Bingo?”

  “After.”

  “Does Dean know you’re talking to him?”

  “Yes.” Ellen lifted a little pink bag. “Isn’t this cute?” Across the front was her name in spackles.

  Frank raised one eyebrow. “What the fuck is that?”

  “My bingo bag. Ben from Fabrics had them on sale today. Latest rage.”

  Frank grunted. “Anyhow, does Dean know w
hat you’re talking to him about?”

  “No, all he knows is I need to talk to him.”

  “And you’ll call me before you do?”

  “I’m talking to him alone.” Ellen insisted.

  “Not the whole time. I want to be the one to test him.”

  “Fine,” Ellen sighed out. “Give me ten minutes alone. Okay?”

  “But you’ll call me.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’re talking to him after Bingo.”

  A tiny hand slammed down on the table, Billy turned around in his seat. “This has got to be the most inane conversation I have ever heard. How many times does she need to say she’s talking to my father after bingo?”

  Frank swirled his hand. “Spin it around little man, we’re talking.”

  Billy rolled his eyes. “Then someone save me. Please.”

  At that moment Joe walked in.

  “Yes,” Billy said. “There is a God.”

  Joe snickered, “I’ve been called many things.”

  Ellen asked, “Where’s Andrea?”

  Joe pointed back. “Finishing dressing. She’ll be here in a minute. Robbie’s meeting us there. Frank, did you talk to her.” Joe motioned his head at Ellen.

  “She’s talking to him after Bingo.” Frank replied.

  “You’ll be there?”

  Ellen sighed. “I want ten minutes alone with him to explain things first, scientifically, if that’s okay?”

  “That’s fine,” Joe said then turned to the knock on the door. “There’s the woman of the hour.” He reached over and opened it. “Holy shit, what the hell are you wearing?”

  Andrea was pink from head to toe. She not only carried her bingo bag, she sported a hat as well. A baseball hat with waving spring that bobbed a bingo ball back and forth.

  “It’s my bingo outfit. We have to be dressed up for the maiden bingo.”

  Ellen shrieked. “I love it. Where did you get the hat?”

  “Ben from fabrics. He made seventy-five. Said he sold out right away.”

  Joe’s hand slapped his own face. “Seventy-five people bought those hats. Christ.”

  “G-49,” Ellen said of the ball on Andrea’s head. “That’s your lucky number.”

  “I know. I feel it. I’m going to win.”

  Joe nodded, with slightly rolled eyes. “That’s nice, let’s go.”