The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  Frank looked at Ellen and took a deep breath. “You’re level headed, and you’re an original. I’m gonna run something by you and you give me your best and most honest opinion.”

  “Wow, sounds serious.” Dean folded his arms. “Shoot.”

  “Now, don’t laugh until you hear me out.” Frank held up his hands. “I was thinking perhaps George had a lot to do with the attack today on Beginnings. Think about it. The way he just took right over when my dad got sick. The way he let everything just go to shit and he stopped every . . .”

  “I absolutely agree.” Dean stated in his interruption.

  “You do?” Frank asked surprised.

  “You do?” Ellen asked also.

  “I do. And . . . I think that has a lot to do with why he wants you out of the way. You’re a threat to his plan. That’s why I kept telling you to bide your time. Don’t give him what he wants.”

  Frank breathed outward in relief. “So it’s been crossing your mind also.”

  “For a while.”

  Ellen’s loud ‘Hey’ grabbed both of their attention. “Why didn’t you tell me this, Dean?”

  “Because you have a big mouth.” Dean answered. “And you, Ellen, keep telling George shit.”

  Frank held his hand up. “Wait a second. You have suspected George for a while and you haven’t said anything to me? Why?”

  “Because Frank, without proof, you would go after him and you’d be thrown out. We need you. And . . . I have to show you something.” He walked to the table and grabbed the basin. He handed it to Frank. “Take a look. Recognize these?”

  Frank reached into the basin. His forefinger and thumb gripped a shell casing. “E.G., Initials, yeah these are Edward’s shells he makes. Beginnings shells. Where did you get them, from a SUT?”

  “Nope.” Dean shook his head. “Two of them came from Henry. One came from you. You were hit with friendly fire, Frank. Any chance you guys got caught in a cross fire?”

  “No way.” Frank looked at the casing. “These are revolver shells. There are eight issued revolvers. My dad, Henry, myself, Greg, Dan, Cole and . . . Fuck.”

  “George?”

  Frank clanked the shell in the basin. “Son of a bitch. Fuckin George is a dead man. I’m gonna kill him.”

  The stern, monotone sound of John Matoose in the room startled everyone. “Haven’t you done enough already Frank?”

  Frank turned around. “Excuse me?”

  “Haven’t you done enough already?” John walked into the room. “I just brought George into the clinic. He’s been beat up. Says you did it? Any idea why he’d say that?”

  “He’s fuckin over the edge. That’s why he’d say that.”

  “No, Frank.” John walked closer to him, speaking gruffer. “You . . .” He pointed to him. “Are over the edge. Why would you do it?”

  “I didn’t do it.” Frank gave a blow off attitude.

  “Then where have you been? I’ve asked around. You just got here a half hour ago. Where were you? Account.”

  “No. I will not account for my whereabouts to you. You work for me, remember?”

  “Not anymore.” John stated. “Give me your gun. I need your gun, keys and headset.”

  “John, this is ridiculous . . .”

  “No! I’ll tell you what’s ridiculous!” He shouted at Frank. “You went after an old man. An old man, Frank. And you stand here and deny it. Everyone heard you do nothing but threaten him lately. I just heard you now! Now hand over you equipment because you’re coming with me.” John held out his hand. “Now Frank. Don’t make me call the men to have you dragged from here.”

  With a frustration breath, Frank took off his head set. He handed that, his keys and his revolver to John. “I’ll go with you. But you tell me where.”

  “Where do you think?” John spoke coldly. “We have rules in Beginnings Frank. Rules. And breaking those rules means one thing.” He grabbed for Frank’s arm. “George has moved for your immediate ousting.”

  “No!” Ellen, knees buckling, reached and in a desperate pull for Frank. “John there’s a mistake!”

  John stuck his face forward to her. “Let him go, Ellen!” He shouted.

  “John!” Frank snapped back. “Don’t. Leave her alone. I’m going with you. . . El. It’ll be all right.” He started to walk with John.

  Dean moved forward. “Wait. John, can I have one minute with Frank? One minute?”

  John hesitated, seemingly aggravated. “One minute.” He stepped from the room.

  Dean immediately closed the door. “Frank . . .”

  “I didn’t do this, Dean. I did not do this.” Frank grabbed hold of Ellen who clung to him.

  “I know it. You don’t have to tell me that.” Dean assured. “Look, they won’t be able to oust you, not yet. Henry’s down. No way will Andrea vote for it. Rules say three days until it can be put to community vote.”

  “I know.” Frank rubbed his own eyes. “But what do we do?”

  “Put your faith in me and Ellen. We’ll get you out of this. We’ll get the proof. I promise.”

  Frank swallowed harshly. “I’ll hold you to that.”

  The door opened up. “Time.” John immediately pulled Frank from Ellen.

  “Frank.” Ellen ran to him. “Frank.”

  “El.” His hand slid across her face as he was pulled further and further away. “I love you. It’ll be all right.”

  Ellen’s body shook and her breathing went out of synch. She shuffled around in total confusion, watching Frank disappear down the hall. “What’s happening? Oh, God they took him.”

  “Shh.” Dean walked up behind her and wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding her still, trying to calm her down. “We’ll help him. We’ll get him out of this.”

  ^^^^

  Andrea placed the final bandage to George’s forehead. “Nothing major, just a scratch.”

  “I thought I was a dead man the way he raged after me.”

  Andrea shook her head. “I’m going to apologize right here and now. But, I’m having a hard time believing this.”

  “Are you saying I’m lying?” George asked.

  “No.” Andrea shook her head. “Perhaps you’re upset and things seem worse than they actually were.”

  “I do not exaggerate. Take a look at my office . . .”

  “Joe’s office.” Andrea corrected him. “And, I know Frank. I just don’t think he’d do this without reason. Maybe you should just sit back and think of why.”

  “Why are you defending him? He nearly killed me.”

  “I thought you don’t exaggerate?” Andrea tilted her head. “O.K., tension is high. We sustained an attack. His wife was shot. Henry was shot. And didn’t you, George, hold off a lot of his strategies?”

  “Well, yes . . .”

  “Then let this go.” Andrea took her tray of supplies and walked it over to the counter.

  “I will not.” George slid off the table. “He is a time bomb. A threat and I want him gone.”

  “He is an original and you will not get my support!” Andrea shouted.

  “I won’t need it.” George, in a huff, walked from the room.

  Slamming her hand on the counter, Andrea flipped over her supply tray and its contents spilled to the floor. “Damn it!” She bent down to pick them up. “Damn it, Frank. What did you do?”

  ^^^^

  John Matoose unlocked the thick metal door and opened it wide. “In here.”

  Frank shook his head in disgust. “You’re putting me in holding like some sort of survivor gone bad?”

  “No, like an original gone bad.”

  “I didn’t do this, John. Come on, it’s me. If I did it I’d own up to it.”

  “I heard you just say George is a dead man and that you were going to kill him.”

  “Because George is the cause of all this. All of this. He let the SUTs in.”

  “Listen to you, Frank. Do you know how stupid that sounds?”

  “No.” Frank s
hook his head. “Just think about it, John. The scientists want this land. We weren’t allowed to take out the rest of the scientists. We haven’t been allowed to do anything tactical when it comes to dealing with the SUTs. George wouldn’t allow it.”

  “I’m not going to listen.” John pushed him back and shut the door.

  “John!” Frank called from the other side. “He used us to start his project until the scientists awoke. Now he wants to put his plan in motion and we’re making it hard.”

  “Stop it. What proof do you have? How can you say this?” John locked the door.

  “It makes perfect sense. He had to know the whole time. Come on John, he was the president. He sought out people to work this. You know this, you were . . .” Frank stopped talking. He slid his hands down the steel door. He turned his back and leaned against it, speaking softly to himself. “You were there. You were with him.” Frank closed his eyes. “Son of a bitch.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Ellen’s eyes were starting to cross from sitting at the computer, continuously striking out. She even went backwards into the dictionary, picking up the little words--words she skipped because they seemed too simple--and she tried them.

  Needing to get air, Ellen made her way to the line of utility buildings. Her foot tapped a few times as she stood before Frank’s office door. She was a bit nervous, anxious was more like it. She needed to see Frank. She needed to know how he was. If only just to ease her mind so she could go back to work.

  Hating to knock on an office door that at that moment no longer belonged to her husband, Ellen swallowed her pride and banged.

  “Come in.” John yelled from the other side.

  Ellen rolled her eyes in disgust, opened the door, and smiled. “Hi John.”

  “Ellen.” He lifted his eyes from his paper work. “What can I do for you?”

  In a breath-type whisper, Ellen spoke. “I would like to see Frank.”

  “Nope.” John kept writing.

  “He didn’t do anything, John.”

  “Right, Ellen. Have you seen George?”

  “George banged his own self on the head. Just like he told everyone I blew . . .”

  “Listen to you. You sound as crazy as your husband. Leave.” John tried to work.

  Ellen nodded her head. She told herself she wouldn’t get anywhere if she got upset. “I want to see him. Take me to holding and let me speak to him.”

  “No.” John spoke firm. “Rules are rules.”

  “Break the goddamn rules.”

  “Ellen!” John rose up from his seat. “Breaking rules is what got Frank into this mess. Now leave.”

  “I need to see my husband.”

  “You need to leave.” John glared at her with full eyes.

  “Why are you being such a dick? Are you enjoying taking my husband’s job?” Ellen marched to the desk. “The desperate flunky finally has a shot at the big time and he doesn’t want to give it up?”

  “Leave before I throw you out.”

  She thought of a different approach. “Come on John!” Ellen pleaded. “Please. Please let me see him. This is Frank.” Ellen’s hand came down, but she bit her lip. “I got angry. I insulted you. Be human and let me see him.”

  “I won’t.” John sat back down. “Maybe Ellen, maybe if you didn’t carry yourself with such a bad attitude, I may have let you see him. Now see . . .” John shook his head. “Frank can’t see his wife, because his wife is an aggressive, obnoxious, loud mouth, who doesn’t know when to quit.”

  “And you know what John? Your wife is a fuckin nosey, conceited, whale of a bitch, but if that was you in there, Frank would let her in.” Ellen moved to the door. “That’s because my husband is a much better man than you.” She opened the door. “Enjoy sitting in that chair John. It won’t be for long.” She slammed the door loudly, pausing in her walk to look to the entrance of the holding center. A guard stood out front. She took a deep breath knowing asking him would be in vain, and she headed back to town. She pulled her jean jacket closer to her, walking backwards, continuously watching the holding center. She knew as she walked, she may have swung and missed, but she hadn’t struck out--not yet.

  ^^^^

  Joe knew as soon as he saw Ellen walk into the room something was wrong. It could have been the square bandage on her head, but more so it was her expression.

  “Hey, Joe.” Ellen knelt down next to him. “It’s been a bad day.” She grabbed his hand. “I’ve been walking around for over an hour trying to figure out how to tell you this.” She pressed her lips to his hand. “The SUTs attacked Beginnings this morning. They came from everywhere. We beat them, but not without problems.” She shrugged while tracing tiny circles with her finger on the back of his hand. “Henry got shot up pretty bad. Frank got shot in the arm. And look.” Ellen pointed to her bandage. “I got shot in the head. Do you believe that?”

  Joe wanted to smile for her. He wanted to make her feel better. But he knew by the tone of her voice she was saving the worst for last.

  “Joe. Frank and Dean think George is behind this all. I believe them. George said Frank beat him up. They’ve . . . they’ve put him in holding, Joe. They want to oust him.”

  They can’t do that Ellen, Joe told her through his mind, wishing she could hear. They can’t. But if they do, I’ll be out of this soon. My arm moves now. It moves. I just can’t take a chance of anyone finding out. I have to let it come back. And when it does, if my son is gone, we will bring him back.

  “I have to help him, Joe. I have to help him.”

  “We will, El.” Dean stepped in the room. “Don’t worry. We’ll break that password soon and we’ll have the proof we need.”

  “Yeah.” Ellen nodded slowly and stood up. “In fact, I want to get back to that. Go with me?”

  “Sure.” Dean gave a nod and laid his hand on Ellen’s back. “How far are you?”

  “Halfway through the letter ‘L’.”

  “Then let’s get cracking.” Dean told her.

  Joe listened to them with fear. No Dean, forget the password. I’ll be better soon. I will. Don’t do that. Joe felt as if he would die when he watched them leave the room. Please dear God Stop them.

  ^^^^

  George had to admit to himself, that he was starting to get really good thoughts when Ellen failed to emerge from the tunnel at a decent interval. But she failed him. She came top side. He stood far back, lurking like a stalker in the shadows, watching Ellen move toward the clinic. Her head hung low, an air of sadness about her. How much time she had spent in the cryo-lab? How much further could she be? Though the thought of her not finding the truth and dying right away annoyed George, he took stock in the fact that it wouldn’t be much longer. And that made George smile.

  ^^^^

  The sound of walking awakened Henry. He heard the faint footsteps drawing nearer. His sleep wasn’t that heavy, anything usually would wake him, but this evening it was worse. Henry hated the fact that he kept dozing off. Sleep was not something he preferred to waste his time on. He opened his eyes and turned his head to the door when he heard the feet stop so close to his room. Henry looked up and saw the figure which was a shadow from the hall light that cast behind it “El?”

  “You’re awake.” Ellen stepped into the room. “I’ve been trying to see you.” She pulled up a chair. “But every time I peek in the room you’re sleeping.” She grabbed his hand. “How are you, Henry? How are you feeling?”

  “Sore, but fine. I heard you got shot too.”

  “Look.” Ellen pointed. “I got shot in the head. Quite the accomplishment. Not many people who are walking around can say they got shot in the head. But . . .” She lifted his hand. “ . . . I came to talk to you. Did they tell you? Did they tell you about Frank?”

  “What about Frank?”

  “He’s in holding. They want to oust him.”

  Henry closed his eyes. “El, they can’t do that. I’ll vote against it, Andrea will too. And if it goes to the co
mmunity, it will never pass. The men are too dedicated to him.”

  Ellen shook her head. “I don’t believe that. I don’t think it will make a difference what everyone decides. If George can set him up to be ousted. George can have him ousted.”

  “What do you know about George?”

  “That you and Dean have been trying to prove his part in the whole plague thing.”

  “We haven’t had any luck.”

  “Not for long. In fact . . .” Ellen stood up. “I have to go down to the lab and work some more. Get well, Henry.” Ellen leaned over to him and kissed him. “I need you. Frank needs you.”

  “I’ll be better soon, I promise.” Henry closed his mouth and smiled a reassuring smile at her. He watched her leave and rested his head back. Then against what he wanted and strived for, he fell back asleep.

  ^^^^

  Ellen was surprised as she opened the door and the light was still on, more so surprised at the fact that Dean was reading something on the couch. “You’re still up?”

  Dean turned his head back to her. “Yeah. I was waiting for you.” He set his book on the coffee table.

  “Kids asleep?” Ellen took off her jacket, sluggishly moved to the couch. and sat down next to Dean.

  “Yep. Tucked in. No luck?”

  She shook her head and sat back. “They still won’t let me see Frank.”

  “El? You didn’t try again after they sent me to come and get you?”

  “Twice.”

  “Oh, El.” Dean covered his face. “Did you get out of control again?”

  “No . . . not really.”

  “You’re not helping your cause. You’ve screwed it with John. Besides, what did I tell you about him? There is a very good chance he’s in on it all.”

  “That would be par for the course.” Ellen leaned into Dean. “Do you think it’s possible that if John’s a part of it, so is Jenny? Then we can oust them both if and when we get the proof.”

  “You would love that.” Dean smiled. “I’ll let you think that way too because it makes you happy. Listen . . . go to bed. We have another long day ahead of us. We have to help Frank out.”