On Borrowed Time: Beginnings Series Book 26

by Jacqueline Druga

  “I think seven,” Robbie replied.

  “Robert.”

  “Seven, see?” Frank held out his hand. “Not an issue.”

  “Good God.” Hal closed his eyes. “Why do we continue on with this? Why don’t we just … move on to the meeting? Pretend he isn’t there.”

  “Think you can pretend he’s not here?” Joe asked. “Do you?”

  “Yes.” Hal replied.

  “Ha!” Frank scoffed. “Hal can’t pretend anything. He has no imagination.”

  Hal bit his lip.

  “He hasn’t changed his hair in years. Because he doesn’t know what to do with it.”

  Hal said nothing.

  “He dresses like a Civil War soldier. You think that takes imagination. And … and … can he write a book? No. I did.”

  Hal folded his hands, crossed his legs, cleared his throat and dusted a piece of fuzz from his leg.

  “I am a two time. Count em ...” Frank held up his hand with three fingers.

  Robbie leaned forward and pushed a finger down.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. Try it again.”

  “Two time bestselling Beginnings author. Oh, yeah, who is the literary and imaginative guy? Who?”

  Joe finally had enough. “Frank. Knock it the hell off, shut up before I cut your other leg off.”

  “Oh my God, that is so wrong. You’re so mean to me when I’m dying in three weeks.”

  “Jesus Christ you aren’t dying.” Joe yelled.

  “Ha! See you admit it.” Frank pointed. “Told you.”

  “I give up.” Joe held up his hands. “And Hal, you deserve a medal.”

  “Thank you, Father. It wasn’t easy,” Hal said.

  In a nasal whining voice, Frank mocked. “Thank you, Father.”

  Everyone looked at Hal.

  “Nope. Ignoring him. Besides,” Hal said. “I want the final days with my brother to be reflected upon as pleasant before he dies.”

  “Hal, I’m not dying. Dad said.”

  Robbie tapped Frank on the shoulder. “But Roy said you were and he went to the future.”

  “Oh, then it’s wrong or it will be. I won’t die.”

  Finally, George spoke up. “I’m curious Frank.”

  “Is it a sexual thing?” Frank asked.

  “What?” George asked surprised.

  Robbie laughed.

  “A sexual thing. You said you were curious.”

  “No, I ….”

  “Because lots of people are. Mainly men, but not me.”

  “Frank, I …”

  “It’s good that you admitted it though.” Frank reached down and gave a swat to George’s arm. “I’ll spread the word to the men who are like Henry now.” Frank dropped his voice to a whisper. “He’s gay.”

  “Henry’s gay now?” George asked.

  “Oh, yeah. Fucking flaming. Sort of. Not flaming like Ben from Fabrics, but gay. Wasn’t always, maybe he was. But it started out he was curious like you and now …he loves it. I assume. Anyhow I’ll spread the word.” Frank pulled out his phone.

  Joe asked. “Frank, what are you doing?”

  “George is curious. I’m letting people know. I’m trying to help out. We’re working with him now.”

  “Oh, ok.” Joe nodded.

  “I would be upset,” George said. “But there is something dementedly endearing about this meeting and I missed it. Ok … Frank, why are you so sure you aren’t going to die?”

  “A ha!” Frank finished and put his phone in his pocket. “I am sure because future history shows I never die.”

  Jason cleared his throat. “Frank, um, that is not true. You did die. Lots of times.”

  “I did?”

  “Yeah, blown up. Heart attack. You died. In fact, oddly enough … the only time you lived is when Joe … when Joe dies.”

  “Oh, easy enough.” Frank shrugged. “We’ll just kill my dad, that way I won’t die.”

  “Not true …” Roy stated. “In the future Fort remembered you and Joe both died and Hal had to make the decision. He made the same one Joe did. They made the humane decision when Frank would make an inhumane decision.”

  “But would George?” Jason asked.

  “I don’t know.” Roy replied.

  “What are the options?” George questioned.

  “We cannot tell you,” Roy said. “I don’t want to influence anything.”

  “Well obviously you did.” George pointed to the board. “Is this how it plays out? No.”

  “Oh my God.” Robbie stood, speaking out with airy revelation. “It just clicked. You have Roy and the other person that came from the future. Roy was going to either convince my Dad to make the right decision or he had to kill him. Because he needed Frank to make the inhumane decision. What if they are connected? What if the person from the future and the person trying to kill Frank are on in the same?”

  George said. “That makes perfect sense. The other person from the future was an assurance. Roy was trying to divert the Great War by putting Frank in charge.”

  Joe finished the sentence. “And the other future wants to make sure Frank doesn’t make that decision. Hence, why this is happening now. Roy succeeded. So it’s time for their assurance. The ships are moving in yet, they are waiting until Frank is dead or … they come up with another plan.”

  “It’s easier to kill Frank,” George said. “Then to suddenly change a well laid out battle strategy.”

  “Hold off the Great War, kill Frank, then proceed,” Joe said. “What do you think Frank?”

  “I think we’re working on theory. Yeah, it could be true. But it also could be something as simple as this person just hopped a ride back to the past because they just wanted to be part of the world without the Great War.” Frank said. “We cannot solely assume, the other time traveler is related to the Great War or my attempted murder. As hard as it is to believe, I may have just pissed someone off.”

  “Or someone snapped?” Hal suggested. “It’s happened.”

  “But how do you explain the ships not moving?” Joe asked.

  “Easy. Him.” Frank pointed to George. “In the other timeline the entire invasion was planned around George being dead. Well he’s not; they may know that and are taking that into account.”

  Jimmy spoke up. “We can toss about theories all day. But one fact remains. Someone is trying to kill Frank and in three weeks, unless we do something, they succeed.”

  “Hating to say it,” Jason said. “Roy has given us insight. We now know. We now will be more diligent. I don’t think Frank will die now. One, because we’re ready and two … hating to say it. It’s Frank.”

  Immediately, everyone single person in the communications room turned and looked at Frank.

  “Go on.” Joe held out his hand. “Say it.”

  Frank grinned widely. “I am.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Joe needed to get Hal and Robbie alone, and while it irked him that Frank and George were getting along so well, he had to laugh, because when he left the communications room, Frank was talking to George about how it was completely natural for him to be curious.

  Joe also figured Jason stayed behind to be amused.

  “Did you give it to him?” Joe asked Robbie as he pulled the door closed to communications.

  “Yeah, I gave him all weapon statistics. Roy said he’ll take the math up to Danny and probably in a day or two, we’ll have our beam.”

  “Beam?” Hal asked as they walked.

  “Yeah,” Robbie replied. “Using the speed of the bullet and weight, Roy is going to figure out how far away it was shot and angle. He’s gonna give that info to Danny who is going to make a laser beam light that will fit in the bullet hole at the Social Hall.”

  “Follow the beam,” Hal said. “See where the shooter stood.”

  “Exactly,” Robbie nodded. “Give us a proximity and then question people to see if they knew who was standing there.”

  “Tr
acking that beam is going to be tough.” Joe stated. “We’re gonna have to do it at night and we’re gonna have to do it when no one is around. Just in case it come from a house.”

  “That’s simple enough,” Hal stated. “Have a meeting. One of your impromptu emergency meetings. But have it in New Bowman or at Warehouse Nine, AKA Danny Broadcasting Station.”

  “What can we have a meeting about?” Joe asked.

  “Really? With this community you can say it’s about zombies and they’ll all show up with questions.”

  Robbie held up a finger. “Frank will have his statement prepared.”

  Hal laughed. “Speaking of Frank. What is the plan? He is very confident he won’t get killed, so how am I getting away with a disability.”

  “I have an idea,” Joe said. “In fact, I just want to confer with Dean to make it believable.”

  “Father, my brother is convinced a dragon is running around Beginnings. A medical condition is a piece of cake to get him to believe. What do you have in mind?”

  “You’ll see. We’re just going to talk to Dean. He’s down here. Andrea sent me a text.”

  Robbie stopped. “The cryo lab?”

  “Yes.” Joe answered. “Problem?”

  “Um, no, we can wait though, can’t we?” Robbie asked. “Right Hal. I mean we don’t want to go to the cryo lab, do we. You know that place that is the future of Beginnings.”

  Hal finally stopped. “Oh, yes. I hate that place. It gives me the creeps.”

  “Tough,” Joe said. “We’re almost there and … what the hell?” Joe stopped walking. “What is going on?”

  Jenny had just flown from the cryo lab. She leaned against the wall, hand on her chest. Her body heaved forward a few times, she coughed and then ran.

  Next out was Ellen. Her hand covered her mouth. “I’m gonna throw up. Hurry, Dean.”

  “Sorry.” Dean flew out and closed the door.

  Both Dean and Ellen, were out of breath and pale.

  “Ok,” Joe said. “This is suspicious.” He walked toward them. “Dean, Ellen, care to tell me …oh good Lord.” Joe stepped back. “What is that smell?”

  Hand covering his mouth, Robbie’s eyes watered. “Oh My god.”

  “I may throw up.” Hal cringed.

  “Jesus Christ.” Joe barked. “Did you two kill something and forget. Is that smell coming from the lab?”

  “Yes,” Dean answered.

  “What the hell is it?” Joe asked.

  “Dean.” Ellen pointed. “He has gas.”

  Dean’s mouth dropped open in disgust.

  “Took us all by surprise. Whew.” Ellen waved her hand in front of her face.

  “Maybe Dean, you may want to talk to Andrea about that.” Joe suggested.

  “He’s fine, Joe,” Ellen said. “He just had too much of Jenny’s Hog’s Head Stew.”

  Joe tilted his head. “Yeah, well, that will do it. Tasty stuff, killer on the stomach.” He inched back. “We’ll just talk to you later when your stomach settles.”

  “Yeah, we’ll stop back Dean when it’s less deadly.” Robbie said. “Better out than in, isn’t that what Frank says.”

  “That would be Shrek,” Hal stated.

  Robbie shrugged. “Same difference.”

  “Boys, let’s go. Leave Dean alone, I’m sure he’s embarrassed enough.” Joe walked on. “I know I would be.”

  Dean waited until the Slagel men had moved farther down the cryo tunnel. “Gas, El?”

  Ellen giggled. “What else was I supposed to say? Gee Joe, Bart went to the bathroom in our lab. But we discovered what human flesh does to the digestive system.”

  “Ok, ok, you have a point. But even though he used the facilities and returned nicely to his cell, we need a solution for him and … not to mention a plunger.”

  “A big plunger.” After saying that, Ellen just started laughing.

  “What?”

  “Ok, can you imagine we put in a req for an overstuffed toilet and Henry came?”

  “That is funny. But for now, we need a bathroom solution. Let’s go.”

  “Where to?”

  “Where all good people go for answers. Mr. Fix it, Mr. Answer, Mr. Resourceful, Danny Hoi.”

  “Before we go, one of us should brave the odor and close the window incase Joe comes back.”

  “I’ll do it.” Dean said. “Then we’ll go see Danny.”

  “You’re not gonna complain about Hoibook are you.”

  “No, I’m over it. I won’t say a word. I promise.” Dean covered his nose and mouth and went back into the cryo lab.

  <><><><>

  “Thank you, Elliott,” Joe spoke on the phone. “That’s about it. Just wanted to give you the heads up.”

  “Does the Captain know his new condition?”

  “Not yet.”

  Elliott laughed.

  “My thoughts exactly, but it’s the only thing I can think of that is nonphysical and Frank would buy. Anyhow, he’s on his way back, just don’t say anything.”

  “I won’t. If you need anything …”

  “I’ll let you know.” Joe hung up his phone, looked down to it. He saw the cartoon Danny face and really contemplated checking out Hoibook. But he was in front of the Social Hall and there was something else he needed to check out.

  Robbie had used tape to cover it. Joe supposed perhaps so the killer didn’t mess with the hole. Then again, the killer used a bear trap. The potential Frank assassin, in Joe’s mind was cocky.

  He removed the tape and examined the hole. Then Joe tried his best to line up with the hole, placing the back of his head against it.

  Crouching down, Joe peered out. He faced the living section, then at the area where the band was playing.

  The question remained how far away was the bullet fired. That tiny indentation held a lot of information.

  Just as he replaced the tape of the indent, Joe noticed the Social Hall door was open. Not that it was supposed to be locked, but rarely was anyone in there at three in the afternoon.

  He opened the door and to his surprise, alone at the bar sat George.

  Joe thought about leaving, but it was the perfect time to face a situation he had been avoiding. A solitary conversation with George.

  He pulled the door closed and walked to the bar. “Is this a private party.”

  “Nope.” Georg nursed a drink. “Just waiting on the tram to return. Have surveillance flights early and a class tonight. Thought I’d have a drink to calm the after effects of Frank.”

  “Yeah, he can be a bit much. Where is he now?”

  “He and Jimmy are off somewhere.”

  “Good. Good. I don’t want him alone.” Joe then noticed the items on the bar. “What is this?”

  “Well apparently. In the twenty minutes since your son posted the ‘George is confused’ comment, I have gotten two slices of Gemma pie and …” He lifted a flower. “This rose.”

  “Andrea will have a fit.”

  “Yes, she will. But you’re welcome to the pie.”

  “I just may. Your phone broke?” Joe asked. “You’re staring at it.”

  “No. Just got off the phone with my number one.” George set down his phone.

  “Problem?” Joe asked as he walked around the bar.

  “You can say that. They’re a little up in arms because my side of the country doesn’t have Hoibook.”

  “Can you goddamn believe that shit?” Joe asked and reached for a bottle. “It’s the apocalypse. We’re supposed to be basic, simple, yet we have gadgets.”

  “In some ways it works.”

  “True.” Joe lifted a glass. “George, look, we used to be friends.”

  “Yes, we did Joe.”

  “Things ... things happened. We both, as leaders have done things. We both took it to personal levels.”

  “Yes we did.” George said. “The list is long.”

  “You dropped a virus on us. You killed thirty of our people.”

  “You wip
ed out ninety percent of every top mind remaining.” George said. “Colorado, remember. Not to mention, how many of my soldiers were killed as opposed to yours.”

  “SUTs.”

  “You’ve gained more than you lost with the SUTS. And don’t bring up the Killer Babies. Frank loves them.”

  “We got an issue in the future with them.”

  “Dean implanted the first one. Remember that.” George pointed. “And … Your daughter killed my daughter.”

  “Yeah, you tried to kill mine. And you didn’t take Henry.”

  George lifted his glass. “I tried.”

  “You took my son hostage.”

  “In my defense, I treated him well,” George said. “He took a lot of my good men.”

  “You wiped out Lodi.”

  “They were warned. If they were set up on your side and weren’t part of Beginnings, you’d not be so nice. Example, the men up north.”

  “How about the Salicain? You tried to kill me.”

  “Your son hit me with a debilitating virus.”

  Joe poured a shot and downed it. “All right, here’s one. You can’t come back on this one. Miguel. That was a good man. You killed him.”

  George lifted his glass. “You got me there. But if I didn’t you wouldn’t be married to Andrea.”

  Joe sighed out. “True. The list goes on.”

  “It does. Leaders before us would never take it to such levels.”

  “No, we wouldn’t but I gotta say, I’m glad you did on one part.”

  “Jimmy?”

  “Yep.” Joe poured another drink. “Whatever your motives were for freezing him, I don’t care. I have my kid.” He leaned on the bar. “East versus West George, we’ve been that was for years. Now we need to unite. You and I have to do so. We have to show a solid front so our people will stand behind the decisions.”

  “I agree.”

  “So for the time being, I’m willing to put things behind us while we focus on a mutual problem.” Joe lifted his glass.

  “I am too, Joe.” George clinked his glass. “And for what it’s worth … I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah … me, too.” After a moment of locked eyes, both men sat down their drinks and each took a piece of pie that sat on the bar.