Robbie nodded. “That’s a great plan, you have any suggestions where?”
“Yeah, actually,” Frank said. “What about the old tube lab next to the quantum lab. You can use that. It’s empty and there’s room.”
“That’s a great idea. I think I’ll pack everything up and go there.”
Frank winked. “See, two minds are better than one.”
Robbie dazed off with Frank’s words. Two minds were better than one. Maybe it was time for Robbie to get help in the matter. Two minds thinking about the same thing.
“Robbie?”
“Huh?”
“Can you?”
“Can I what?”
“Be there in ten minutes?” Frank asked. “You weren’t listening, were you?”
“No. Sorry.”
“Hal’s on his way in. I want to have a quick meeting, me, you, Ryder, Matoose.”
“About?”
“The clone and Dean. Won’t take long.”
Robbie nodded. “I’ll be there. After, though, I’m gonna move the investigation stuff to the lab.”
“Sounds good. See you in my office.”
When the door shut, Robbie lifted the tape player again. He decided against it, knowing full well if he dove into it, he wouldn’t want to come out of it in time to meet in Frank’s office.
So for the ten minutes he had to wait, he decided to prepare all the evidence to go.
<><><><>
Despite the fact that they were all different in their own ways, the Slagel men had one major thing in common. They were all hardheaded.
George learned that while dealing with Jimmy.
He never met anyone so analytical. The satellite and scan system book was his baby.
George stopped by to see if he could help, to watch, Jimmy accepted, but then anything George suggested, Jimmy denied. He had his own way of doing things.
Page by page. Line by line.
Telling George, “When this works, it will work with us knowing all the how’s and whys, and knowing it inside and out because I learned every page.”
Two hours with Jimmy was break inducing, especially with Jenny Matoose calling every ten minutes.
Frank had a lot on his plate and scheduled the first war strategy meeting for the next morning. Which gave George another day in Beginnings.
He checked in with Stewart, learning that Callahan was making major progress, that was good.
He didn’t expect to return to Quantico soon, but also didn’t expect to be gone long.
He made a mental note to speak to Frank about Mike, as well.
But while he was in Beginnings, there were a few things he was welcome to do to stay busy. He could work in Containment or help out Jimmy. Jimmy and the satellite was the most appealing, until he actually spent time with him.
Containment would be next.
But until then, he was going to relax. George also had a strange desire to go to Bowman and see that town during the day. Really take it in. When he was there, it was night, and only got to see Hoi-Hoi on the Range.
His curiosity about the town was piqued when he stopped at the bakery, grabbed a latte, and engaged in some ‘catch up;’ conversation with Gemma.
She told him all about Bowman, or as she called it, Hoi Town. She even told him the early show at the Dan-a-Plex was showing El Dorado with John Wayne.
The Dan-Tram left in an hour to go to Bowman, George planned to be on it.
After the coffee shop, he went to the Joe Park.
He chuckled at the mid-day walkers, he strolled the maze like, and small path as if it were a massive trail.
He paused to look at the Joe board and the updates there. Nothing new. Just as he looked at the wall center of the park, he saw Ellen enter the park.
She set a coffee cup on the wall that surrounded the flag and then she sat down.
He walked over to her. “Afternoon, Ellen.”
“Oh, hey, George.”
“Taking lunch?”
She lifted a sandwich and showed him. “Want half?”
“Um … you know what? Do you mind?”
“Not at all. I wouldn’t offer.”
He sat down next to her, and accepted the sandwich. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I heard you were helping out Jimmy.”
“Trying.”
“You won’t get very far. Once a Slagel is set in his ways and knows what he wants to do, there’s no changing his mind.”
“I figured that one out,” George said. “I thought Jimmy would be different.”
“He is. But not that much.”
“Thank you for a great time last night,” George said.
“You are the cool dancer.” Ellen smiled. “It was nice. Topped off with Andrea and Margaret being arrested.”
“Have you spoken to Andrea?” George asked.
“Briefly,” she replied. “She’s not angry about it. She’s Ok. She even said she tried to talk to Margaret. Says Margaret is ….” Ellen winked. “Jealous of everyone.”
“Really?” George whistled. “That surprises me. She doesn’t act it. There’s nothing more that I want than to make amends with her. I want things good before I head back.”
“I can understand that. You still love her.”
“Very much,” George said. “We had a lifetime together. That has to mean something. She has to feel something besides contempt.”
“She does.”
“I just don’t know what to do.”
“If I can help, let me know.”
George nodded.
“So, did you speak to her at all?” Ellen asked.
“I went to the jail, as Hal suggested. Even put on that I was the one who bailed her out.”
“She didn’t buy it.”
George shook his head. “Nope. Stormed right by me, even hit me in the gut.”
“That’s love.”
“Third grade love.”
Ellen snickered, then her smile dropped. “Speaking of love.”
George looked up mid bite. Margaret was at the Joe Board.
Ellen whispered. “She’s watching you.”
George leaned into Ellen. “I know.”
Ellen laughed.
Margaret folded her arms, tapped her foot, looked over her shoulder, and then walked to them.
Ellen nudged George. “Here she comes.”
Margaret stood before them. Seemingly holding a stance of authority a she blocked out the sun, becoming a partial shadow.
“Margaret,” George said. “You look lovely.”
“Fuck off George.”
Ellen giggled.
“And you.” Margaret pointed.
“Me?” Ellen asked. “What?”
“Oh, don’t give me the sweet and innocent thing. I know your reputation. I found out. And I thought we were friends. Ha! All of it an act for the day you could pay me back about Dean. Thank you, Ellen, thank you very much.” With that said, Margaret spun and stormed off.
Ellen was puzzled. After a pondering moment, she shrugged and bit her sandwich. “That was weird.”
“I can’t believe it,” George murmured.
“Excuse me?”
He turned to face her. “You said if there was anything you could do to help me get her back, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Ellen, there is. There is something you can do. If you don’t want to help me, you don’t have to. But it may just work.”
“I don’t know what I can do now. She’s not liking me much at this moment.”
“Exactly.”
“Huh?”
George smiled. “She think you’re trying to get me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Margaret is jealous all right, of you. Of you and me.”
“I’m sorry, George. I know that doesn’t help.”
“Quite the contrary, Ellen. I know Margaret. I know here well.” George grinned. “And now I have a plan.”
<><><><>
“Did you get everything you needed?” Frank asked Hal as he and Elliott entered his office.
“The list was long,” Hal stated. ‘But I know there is going to be hell to pay.” He took a seat.
“Over what?” Frank asked.
“Over the fact that the last pair of size nine Ben-Tastic shoes are gone.”
“Ask Henry.”
“Ask Henry?”
Frank nodded. “He was wearing them. Long story.”
The door opened and Robbie along with John Matoose walked in.
“Gentlemen.” Frank held out his hand. “Have a seat. Please. I won’t keep you long.”
John closed the door and was the last to join the table.
Frank stood, walking around the table as he spoke. “Now us five are the only ones who know there is a clone in Beginnings. A clone of Dean.”
“What about Danny?” Elliott asked. “I thought he knew.”
Frank shook his head. “No, he has no idea. And I want it to be kept that way. Just us five. We’re gonna draw him out. And I think tomorrow is as good a day as any.”
John asked. “Once we draw him out, then what?”
“We know he was there at the time of the explosion,” Frank said. “We also know his fingerprints weren’t anywhere on the device. An unidentified set of prints. I think drawing out the clone is the best bet. Get on his good side; get to know what he knows. Because he is well aware of the circumstances of my father’s death.”
“So do we treat him like the clone?” John asked.
“Nope.” Frank shook his head. “Treat him like Dean. Make him think we think he’s Dean. He’ll eventually slip up. And we’ll be able to get some answers regarding my father’s death, who was responsible and why.”
Elliott stated, “It’s obvious why.”
Everyone looked at him.
Elliott continued. “It wasn’t against Joe. It had something to do with the future. Joe couldn’t be in that future. The reason is obvious. Dean lived. Dean was supposed to die in that warehouse. What did Dean do? He cured Joe. Had Dean died, not only wouldn’t we have the clone, but Joe would have passed away from his illness. So … therefore, Joe was not supposed to be in the future. Just my theory.”
“That …” Robbie said. “Is a really good theory. It is.”
Elliott shrugged. “There’s no other reason to kill Joe. Unless our killer ends up having something against him.”
“Which …” Frank said. “Can be answered by the clone. The only way to draw the clone out is to get rid of Dean. Obviously, the clone watches Dean. So when he realizes Dean is gone, the second he makes an appearance, we nab him as Dean.”
“You think he’s tracking him?” Hal asked.
“He’s found a way, yeah. I think,” Frank said. “That’s the only way to avoid the run ins. He’s tracking Dean like we track him. Hal did you secure that?”
Hal nodded. “The house is located six miles north of Bowman. Very secure. Over the next several days, we may have to take Dean the times he needs. But we’ll be the only ones who know he’s there. But how are you going to get Dean to agree to go.”
“Aside from telling him the truth. He wants the time. We have a problem in the Killer Toddler region. Actually two problems. He wants to work on them full time, but told me he doesn’t know how he’s going to get the time. This will give it to him.”
“Problems?” Robbie asked. “What problems?”
“One.” Frank sighed and sat down. “A nest. Not to alarm anyone, and I told Dean I wouldn’t say anything, but it’s possible it’s alien.”
Hal tilted his head. “Alien as in unknown.”
“Yes,” Frank said.
“Oh.” Hal exhaled. “I thought you were saying it was alien as in outer space.”
“Yes.”
Hal looked up quickly and spoke almost nonbelieving. “We have aliens in Beginnings.”
“We don’t know. It looks like an alien nest.”
“Frank please.” Hal chuckled. “Aliens as in outer space. Please.”
“Hal, I’m telling you. Dean said.”
“Dean bites,” Hal snapped. “They can’t be aliens Frank.”
“Well, they could be like Predator. Not sure. We’ll see.”
“They can’t be aliens, Frank.”
“How do you know?”
“Because they just can’t be.”
“Did you put the nest there?” Frank asked.
“No.”
“Then you don’t know for sure.”
“You’re retarded.” Hal waved out his hand.
Robbie snickered. “Ok, so, we have aliens in Beginnings. Possibly.”
“We have a nest,” Frank said. “Yes.”
“What’s the other problem?” Robbie asked.
Hal answered. “Barney the dinosaur is running around up there?”
“No,” Frank said. “The Killer Toddlers are reproducing.”
“Good God.” Hal put his hand to his eyes.
“No. We know for a fact. That sperm you found Robbie, it was some sort of amniotic fluid,” Frank said. “We got video. And... We have the offspring.”
Hal looked up. “You’re serious.”
“Caught one. But they aren’t babies. They’re Fetuses. Killer Fetuses.”
Hal blinked. “We have Killer Fetuses in Beginnings now, as well.”
“Is this fucked up or what?” Frank asked. “Killer Babies, Killer Toddlers, aliens, an impending war, and now Killer Fetuses.”
“Fetuses?” Hal asked in disbelief.
“Yeah, you have to stop and see one. About four inches. Kind of cute. Look what they did to my boot.” Frank ejected his leg on the table. “Tore through.” He put his leg down. “Dean said they aren’t fully developed, still have a tail and shit. Fetuses.”
“Wait. Wait.” Hal held up his hand. “Robbie finds embryonic fluid of sorts.”
“Me, too.” Frank said.
Hal nodded. “He finds this. You find this. You find a nest. You also find a …” he cleared his throat. “Killer Baby offspring.”
“Fetus.”
Hal winced. “Killer Fetus. And you don’t see the correlation between the nest and the fetus?”
Frank looked at Hal. “Are you saying the Killer Fetuses are aliens?”
“No, Frank I’m …”
“Fuck what if they’re inbred.”
Robbie corrected. “Hybrid.”
“Fuck.”
“Stop!” Hal shouted and stood. “I am not saying that the Killer … Fetuses are part alien. I am saying that the nest belongs to the offspring and the nest is not alien. Good God!” Hal exhaled. “I’m leaving. I have the house to finish for Dean. Tell him. Let me know when he’s coming. I have to find pink shoes, excuse me.” He walked to the door. “Sgt. Ryder.”
Elliott stood and followed.
Frank said. “Hope you find your pink shoes, Hal. I’m sure you’ll look great.”
With a smug look, ignoring the Robbie and Frank snickers, Hal flipped him off and walked out with Elliott.
He sighed as he placed on his bandana. “Killer Fetuses and aliens.”
“Captain, you wanted your brother back.”
“Yes, Elliott I did.” Hal huffed and walked to the jeep. “But not at the risk of a stroke. And never remind me again that I wanted that.”
“Yes, Captain.”
With a shake of his head, and disgusted murmur of ‘Fetuses’, Hal got in the jeep with Elliott and took off.
<><><><>
Admittedly, Danny ignored the calls. There were several. The first came early, stating that she needed to speak to him.
Danny didn’t mind his job taking concerns and acting as Chief of Staff, but he was pretty clear about the rules. He’d take email complaints and questions during a certain time of day and then he’d take walk ins.
Take them.
Not make house calls.
But Trish insisted her job was far too important to leave and Danny would have t
o come to her.
Matter of importance she labeled it.
Urgent.
He went about his business, taking care of things, and then finally as afternoon settled, he went and saw Trish in History.
Ding-ding, the bell rang.
Trish looked up from her desk. “It’s about time. I’ve been calling you all day.”
“I know, but I’ve been busy,” Danny said.
“And I haven’t?” Trish held out her hands. “It can be a madhouse around here.”
Danny looked around at the empty office. “I see that.”
“Are you being sarcastic?”
“Yes.”
“You could have taken my complaint over the phone instead of telling me you’d get back to me.”
“Trish, you’re a great gal,” Danny said. “But I’m really busy. What is it?”
“Fine.” Trish huffed out. “I have a complaint.”
“Obviously.”
“Look. You need to handle this.”
“I’ll try. Just tell me what it is.”
“He is abusing the system. I know he used to be the leader.”
“OK.” Danny nodded.
“And I respect that he used to be the leader. But since he’s not the leader anymore, doesn’t that mean that Frank has say so.”
“Yes.” Danny nodded. “What the problem.”
“He’s coming in here, looking at history and he doesn’t have an appointment. He’s coming in when he wants, and looking. I can’t determine whether he added things. But I don’t know.”
“That’s weird. Do you know what he’s looking at?”
“Events around the time of the explosion.”
“Wow. OK.” Danny rubbed his chin. “When is he coming in here?”
“When no one is here. Last night after we closed.”
Danny whistled. “Really.”
“Really.”
“OK, I don’t know why, but I’ll speak to Frank and he and I will speak to George. Thanks.” Danny turned.
“Why are you talking to George?”
“Because he was coming in here.”
“When?”
“You said last night.”
“No.” Trish shook her head. “I didn’t say George came in here last night.”
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