The Inner Struggle: Beginnings Series Book 7

by Jacqueline Druga

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  With a single click on the keyboard of the computer in the mobile lab, the monitor before Johnny switched pictures. What looked like a sea creature of some sorts filled with multiple colors flashed before him, Dean, and Ellen. He grabbed his sandwich which was next to him. “Same.” He took a bite and clicked again. “Same.” Another click as he spoke monotone. “Same.”

  “Wait.” Ellen grabbed his hand as she leaned over his shoulder. “Go back two.”

  “They’re the same, El.”

  “No, they aren’t. Go back.” She glanced closer when Johnny pulled it back. “Look.” Her finger touched the screen. “Look Dean, the tail of the virus. It’s different. It curves slightly at the bottom and to the right, and look at the follicles.” Her fingers traced. “Zoom in John.”

  Dean adjusted his glasses. “El, you’re right. More of them.”

  “We’ve seen this one before.” Ellen snapped her fingers and moved to the next monitor. Her fingers worked the keyboard. “Come on.” She beckoned the computer. “I know where we’ve seen it or something similar.”

  Johnny looked over at her. “What are you pulling up?”

  “Slides of the future samples we took.”

  “Weren’t all those samples the same?” Johnny asked.

  “Not all.” Ellen stepped back with folded arms. “I knew it. The first wave, the small wave, that’s the same strain Robbie’s men have, but look at Jenny Matoose’s sample. Look closely. It’s so different than both of them.”

  Dean rushed over. “Whoa.” He looked in awe. “And here we thought she just contracted it at a different time.” He ran over to the files. “I remember distinctively talking about this, El. Jenny, Jenny. Got her.” He grabbed the file and went back to the counter with it. “Remember we discussed this? She came down with the symptoms at a totally different time than when the other plague waves hit.”

  Ellen nodded. “And we thought that may have been the reason for it being slightly different.”

  “Which tells me . . .” Dean viewed both samples, “we’re not looking at a mutated form. We’re looking at a totally different strain of our virus.”

  Ellen agreed. “Same virus, different strain. That explains the different stages of symptoms that are hitting Robbie’s men and the longer incubation period. If I recall, wasn’t Jenny’s remission shorter?”

  “Yes,” Dean said. “Instead of dying four days after coming out of remission, Jenny died in two.” He closed the folder. “Here I was blaming it in my records or the fact that she had run herself down helping out with the plague. She couldn’t fight it.”

  Johnny’s ‘uh-oh’ captured both Dean and Ellen’s attention.

  “Uh-oh what?” Dean asked. “Uh-oh isn’t science here, Johnny.”

  “And neither is what I’m saying uh-oh about.” Johnny spun his stool to face them. “What we actually have is three strains of the virus in the future. If everyone in the future plague has, let’s call it Strains ‘A’ and ‘B’. Jenny has Strain ‘C’ Robbie’s men in the present have strain ‘B’. Then how in the world did Jenny Matoose seem to be the only one who got a totally different strain in the future and from the present? One person, out of a hundred and some, doesn’t get a totally different strain of a virus. That’s not typically plague, Dr. Dean, and you know it. That’s . . .”

  “Murder.” Dean spoke softly.

  “Exactly.” Johnny grabbed his sandwich and took another bite. “It’s some pretty cool stuff if you think about it. Like, who would give Jenny the virus deliberately?”

  Dean’s eyes shifted to Ellen. “John Matoose?”

  Johnny nodded. “Possibly, if he is working for George like Ellen has been saying. If he is on the inside, then he would have been able to get access to the strain if say, Jenny wasn’t getting exposed.”

  “Good thinking, John,” Dean said. “But John Matoose loves Jenny. There’s no doubt about that. Why would he give her the virus, unless someone else is on the inside for George as well?”

  “Not exactly,” Ellen interjected. “John’s a weasel. If Jenny found out about him, to protect his ass, he’d get rid of her in a heartbeat. You know Jenny. If she did find out, she would go to Joe or Frank. Watching her community die and knowing that John was responsible, she wouldn’t hesitate to turn him in. She’s too self-righteous. Which means . . .” Ellen smiled and spoke softly to herself. “Jenny does know a lot about John and Joe is right. So maybe . . .” She noticed they were watching her wondering what she rambled on about. “Sorry.” She shrugged. “Unfortunately for Jenny, we can’t worry about this right now. We have to worry about this.” She pointed to the screen. “Our virus or viruses.”

  Johnny returned to his computer. “Strain ‘B’ is getting an even slower reaction to any of our prototypes than virus ‘A’.”

  Dean knew the reason for it. “That’s because Strain ‘B’ is more violent and deadly. Let’s up the ingredients in all twenty-two agents we have. Let’s see if that works now that we realize we’re working with a mightier sword. Sound good?”

  Johnny stood up. “I’ll start mixing the first five.” He looked at his watch. “We should have at least enough time to mix them and see if they work while we’re in here.” He grabbed his sandwich and walked to the other counter.

  Ellen let out a long breath. “Wow, I feel like I’m in a Sherlock Holmes novel or something, piecing all of it together and such. Thinking it’s one way and finding out it’s another. It’s exhilarating.”

  “Really?” Dean asked. “Mysteries are exhilarating to you?”

  “Oh sure. I think.” Ellen looked up. “I guess they are. Why?”

  Dean grabbed her arm and pulled her with him. “I have a mystery for you to solve.”

  “Really Dean? Oh that sounds exciting. I’m a very good detective.”

  “You think.” Dean looked at Johnny as he took her to the other mobile. “We’ll be right back. I have to talk to Ellen.” Getting an acknowledging motion of Johnny’s head, Dean led Ellen out.

  “Must be good,” Ellen said as they walked to the living room.

  “It is. Sit down.” He held his hand out to the couch.

  “Give it to me, Dean.”

  “All right.” Dean clapped his hands together. “Which couple in Beginnings says they are married, and think they are married? They joke around with everyone, but the joke is on them, because they aren’t really married after all.”

  “Geez, Dean, it sounds like a riddle or a joke, not a mystery. Who?”

  “Guess.”

  “Um . . . Jenny and John.”

  “Nope.”

  “Who?”

  “You and Henry.”

  Ellen laughed. “Good one, Dean. But who?”

  “El.” He sat down next to her. “You and Henry aren’t married.”

  “Sure we are, Dean. Reverend Bob married us.”

  “Let’s see how I can say this.” Dean took a moment to think. “I went to history this morning. Which by the way, do you know Trish has a purple appointment book?”

  “Yes I do, It’s pretty.”

  “Why does she have an appointment book, El?” Dean asked.

  “To keep track of who wants to come to history, why else? Plus new history rules state you have to have an appointment to view. Joe approved that one last week.”

  “Don’t you think it’s a little odd?” Dean commented. “I mean, doesn’t Trish seem like she’s stuck in the old world?”

  “Oh sure, but that’s fine. It keeps things very professional in history. She likes to be business like. The only thing I can’t make her understand is that she is never really gonna get a fax on that fax machine Cole brought her back. She keeps waiting and waiting.” Ellen snickered. “I told Cole to get me one so I can fax. . . wait a second, what’s Trish’s fax machine have to do with my marriage to Henry.”

  “Nothing.”

  “Then why are we talking about it?”

  Dean stopped to cringe and catch
his calm. “Because it proves she is a stickler. El, listen to me. I went to history.”

  “You’re not going to go off the subject again are you?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “While I was there I asked to see the understanding rule book. She asked if it was for my understanding with Henry.”

  “Oh she’s perceptive that Trish is. How did she know?”

  “She didn’t. She thinks you and I are back together. I told her I couldn’t be primary because Henry was your husband. At that time, she proceeded to show me that Reverend Bob never filed the paper work or license.”

  “Maybe he forgot.”

  “True.” Dean held up his finger. “Then I ran into Reverend Bob who told me he never married you. It was April Fool’s Day. He thought you were kidding him so he played an April Fool’s joke right back. He said he never really married you. You aren’t married”

  Ellen shrieked and stood up. “Oh my God! I’ve been living in sin?”

  “What?”

  “Just kidding.” She sat back down. “This is funny. Wait, no it’s not. Shit.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Does Henry know? I bet he knows now.”

  “No. Trish isn’t saying anything and neither is Reverend Bob. I thought I’d tell you first so you could figure out how to break it to Henry before Frank finds out.”

  “Frank.” Ellen plopped backwards on the couch. “We have to keep this from Frank for a while. He will have a field day.”

  “Let me tell you something, El. What were the reasons you two didn’t say anything when you thought you got married? You didn’t want to be stopped? Guess what? If Frank finds out, he’ll be watching you like a hawk this time because he will not let it happen again.”

  Ellen took a long breath and sat up looking so calm. “Yes true. But we’re good right? I mean Frank doesn’t know so we’re all right.” She stood up from the couch. “Let’s get back to work. I don’t want to think about this right now.”

  “You have to think about it before we leave here.”

  “I know.” Ellen moved to the other mobile. “Frank doesn’t know right? You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

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  There was a certain silent snicker that crept within Frank as he watched Henry working on the cooling unit in Fabrics. He snickered because Henry swore as he lay on his stomach and reached under the unit for something that rolled there. He snickered because Ben and Todd watched every wiry move Henry made and he snickered, well, because he was about to be the bearer of good news…or bad news to Henry, depending on who looked at it. “Henry.” Frank crouched down beside him.

  “Hey Frank,” Henry grunted. “Almost . . . got…it.”

  “Henry,” Frank lowered his voice to a whisper, “you have an audience watching you wiggle under here.”

  A loud ‘bang’ and then an ‘ow’ came from Henry and he quickly scooted out holding his tool. “Got it.” He rolled over and then quickly stood up, shifting his eyes to Ben and Todd who went their separate ways back to work. “What’s up?”

  Frank snickered.

  “Oh you are sick.” Henry dusted himself off.

  “You’re a very attractive man, Henry. It’s bound to happen.”

  “Frank.” Before Henry bitched, he saw that Frank’s comment had drawn the attention of Ben and Todd. “Uh, look.” Henry motioned his head to them.

  Frank slowly turned his head and received a bright smile from both Ben and Todd. “What? You don’t think he’s attractive?”

  “Frank!” Henry tossed his tool in his bag.

  “Henry, take a walk with me.”

  “Frank.” Henry leaned to him whispering in a cringe. “You know how that’s gonna look after that comment.”

  “Oh so what?” Frank grabbed his arm. “You should be proud to be seen with me. Walk.”

  “Where are we going?” Henry pulled his arm away, grabbed his tool bag, and followed him out.

  “We have to talk.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You’re not going to like this Henry.” Frank turned his head, smiled then looked again at Henry with a serious look. “I’ll try to tell you this as good as I can without shocking you. O.K.?”

  “O.K.”

  “You and Ellen aren’t really legally married. Reverend Bob didn’t perform a legitimate service. He thought it was a joke and guess who’s laughing now.” Frank smiled then wiped it from his face. “Of course, it’s not me.”

  “Where in the world do you come up with these bad jokes, Frank?”

  “It’s not a joke, Henry.”

  “And I’m supposed to believe you?” Henry asked. “Why would you know this anyhow, Frank ?”

  “Because I overheard my Dad and Reverend Bob trying to break the law and legally marry you guys without you two ever knowing that you weren’t legally married.” Frank took a breath. “So there.”

  “Right.” Henry started walking. “This isn’t funny, Frank.”

  “I’m not joking. But . . .” Frank ran up to him. “Reverend Bob was . . . on April Fool’s Day.”

  “Shit.” Henry stopped cold. “This can’t be.”

  “It’s true, Henry.”

  “El and I aren’t married?”

  “Nope, which means . . .” Frank poked him in the chest. “You’ve been living in sin. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”

  “Oh you’re full of shit Frank. I actually believed you for a second.” Henry shook his head.

  “Henry, ask my Dad if you don’t believe me.” Frank pestered behind him.

  “You know what, Frank. I will.”

  “Let’s go.” Frank pointed to his Jeep. “I’ll drive.”

  Reluctantly Henry stepped in and took the short ride to where Joe was fixing something at the bakery. Henry and Frank stepped inside, stopped at the same time to take a deep smell, smile, and then found Joe in the back, under a sink.

  Frank leaned over the sink and peered into the drain. “Hey, Dad. What would happen if I turned the faucet on right now?”

  Joe looked up as he lay on his back. “My foot would go straight up your ass.”

  “Oh.” Frank stepped back. “Henry needs to talk to you.”

  “What is it. Henry? I’m busy helping you.”

  “Joe.” Henry looked down through the drain peering through the hole at Joe. “Frank told me that El . . .”

  “Yes.” Joe answered.

  “I didn’t ask you anything.

  “If you’re asking me if what Frank told you is true. Yes, it’s true.”

  “Joe, you mean to tell me Ellen and I aren’t married?”

  “Nope,” Joe grunted. “Who the hell put these washers on last? Christ, they’re tight.”

  Henry scratched his head and stepped back. “It’s a Slagel thing isn’t it? Both of you are in this together.”

  With a deep echo from yelling back up the drain to them, Joe spoke, “Frank, he needs proof. Go get Reverend Bob and all three of you go to history.”

  Frank faced Henry. “You heard my Dad? Do you want proof?”

  “Yeah, I want proof.” Henry walked ahead of him. “I know you’re joking. But if you’re not… you’re just loving this aren’t you, Frank?”

  “Who me?” Frank laid his hand on his chest happily. He walked behind him so Henry couldn’t see his smile. “I’m torn up that this has happened to my two closest friends.”

  “So you see, Henry,” Reverend Bob spoke with compassion as they hit the door to history, “that is how it went down. I am so sorry.”

  Henry’s head swayed. “I can’t believe this.”

  “Sorry.” Reverend Bob opened the history door. “This should be your final proof.”

  Trish looked up from her book with a wide smile as Frank, Henry, and Reverend Bob walked into her domain. “Afternoon. What brings you to history?”

  Reverend Bob approached the desk. “We need to show Henry the list of marriages filed here.”

  Trish pulled the purple appointme
nt book front of her. She opened it. “You don’t have an appointment. Would you like to make one?”

  All three of them looked at each other.

  Trish flipped another page. “You know the new rules. You can’t view history without an appointment.”

  Reverend Bob tried to reason. “Trish dear, it’ll only take a second. Henry needs to see.”

  “Please Trish?” Henry asked.

  Trish looked like she thought about it then quickly shook her head. “I’m sorry. I need to prepare and if I break the rules for you, everyone who wants to review history will think they don’t have to have an appointment. I’ll have mass confusion in here.”

  Frank threw his hands up. “Who the fuck ever wants to view history?”

  Trish gasped, “I’ll have you know, lots of people find it interesting reading especially the event files.”

  “Well, we have an appointment,” Frank said.

  “Where?” Trish asked.

  “Right there.” Frank pointed and shut her book. “So there.”

  “Hey!” She reopened it. “I’ll make an appointment if you like.”

  “Then make it for now,” Frank tried not to argue.

  “How about . . .” Trish picked up her pen, “tomorrow at two?”

  “How about now?” Frank insisted then he leaned into Reverend Bob and Henry. “We’re going in.” Frank cleared his throat and motioned his head to behind Trish. “Hey, Trish. You uh . . . got a fax.”

  “I do?” She turned her head and quickly turned back when she saw them rushing the back room door. “Stop!” She stood up. “I’ll call security.”

  Frank stepped to her. “I am security!”

  “Then you know rules are rules.” She waved her finger at him. “Why do you want to see the marriages Henry? Just ask Dean. I showed him the whole list this morning.”

  Henry slid in a stop and turned around as she sat calmly back behind her desk. “You showed Dean?”

  “Yeah,” Frank pointed, “why’s that? Did he have an appointment?”

  Henry stopped Frank from saying anymore. “Trish, did you know Ellen and I aren’t really married?”