“Sorry.” Stewart quickly picked it up. “President Hadley’s office. Oh, just a minute.” He extended the phone to George. “For you.”
George rolled his eyes. “Of course it is. Who is it.”
“Your favorite person.”
George grinned and snatched up the phone. “Hey.” He spoke into the receiver. “How are things going there? Good. Good.” He shooed Stewart away and leaned back. “Not much longer. I was just talking about how you are getting things ready there . . . yes, we’re getting things ready on this end. Alabama is nearly ready for Dean’s arrival.” George shook his head. “Patience. Patience. Timing is everything. Now when is it that the leadership officially switches hands?” George nodded with an even bigger grin and carried on his conversation.
^^^^
With the Ugachuga song stuck in his head, Richie bounced and sang as he walked. Totally oblivious and in his own world, he moved down the housing section of the base. He looked at the clipboard he carried then to the house totally overgrown with weeds. The same house connected to Frank’s well kept one. He shrugged, took a step forward, and nearly shrieked when he felt a hand cover his mouth and his body lifted from the ground. An arm braced him tightly around the waist and carried him at a top speed directly to the back of the house.
He breathed out heavily when he was set down. Richie spun to see. “Frank.”
“Well.”
“I haven’t been in there yet.”
“Can it be done?”
“I don’t know yet, Frank. I just got your orders to make this the new guy’s house.” Richie tossed his hands up. “And . . . these places have firewalls, Frank. What is this peephole shit you want me to make? Is there something about you I don’t know about?”
“Ha, ha, ha. I need to know exactly what he’s up to. If we can’t do the bugging thing with his house . . .”
“You’re gonna watch him shower.”
“Richie!”
Richie laughed. “Sorry. Let me go see what I can do. O.K.?”
“Thanks and leave me a note or something,” Frank told him. “This guy is supposed to be a big deal. If he’s that big, he knows a lot. If he knows it, I wanna know it.”
“Then we’ll try.” Richie held up his hands, “That’s all I can do. But . . . if he’s that big, I guess you can’t easily get rid of him, huh?”
Frank fluttered his lips. “Are you kidding. Accidents happen, Richie. As soon as we find out what he knows, we’ll take him out. No problem.”
Richie didn’t say anything. He just walked to the house, swaying his head at Frank’s stock response of ‘no problem’. It never was a problem to Frank when he easily eliminated someone that knew too much. But in Richie’s mind, how much longer could an outnumbered Frank get away with it?
^^^^
Beginnings, Montana
The last computer to shut down was off and Dean picked up the folders he had ready to take home. He slipped off his lab jacket and carried it to the coat tree.
“Got a second?” Danny Hoi popped his head into Dean’s lab.
“Um sure.” Dean looked at his watch. “Then I’m out of here.”
“Early day?”
“You could say that. I’ll work at home. What’s up?”
Danny grinned and walked over to the counter to meet Dean. “Did you have bills in the old world?”
“Yes. We all did.”
“Good. Then you know how to pay them, right?”
Dean snickered. “Of course I know how to . . . shit.”
“No. No. It’s not that bad.” Danny laid on the table a signed favor slip from Dean. “You signed two of these, both huge if I may add.”
“Unfortunately.” Dean picked it up and saw what Danny wrote. “Danny.” Dean turned serious. “No.” He handed it back. “Anything else but this. No.”
“But Dean . . .”
“Danny, it’s wrong. No.” Dean stayed firm.
“You got it all wrong.” Danny told him and handed the favor slip back.
“You have Ellen’s name written on here. How can I have it all wrong?”
“Because you think I’m asking for sex.”
Dean, who was about to hand the slip back, stopped. “You’re not?”
“No.” Danny shook his head. “Not at all. I’m asking for Ellen.” He snickered. “For a day.”
“A day?”
“Yes. All day. No interruptions from you. Female companionship is what I want. All day.”
“No sex?”
“Only if she wants to put out.” Danny saw that Dean didn’t like his comment. “Kidding, Dean. That’s all I want. I want to watch a movie with her, make and eat dinner with her. Talk. I’m tired of hanging out with men and the women here don’t really go for me. Henry’s ruined them on that.” He leaned to Dean and winked. “Now they think all Asian men are like him. So can I?”
“When?” Dean asked.
“Whenever is good.”
There was a certain amount of relief in Dean’s tone. “I guess. That wouldn’t be a problem. Sure Danny. But . . . really, you have to talk to Ellen. I can’t give her out.”
“O.K.” Danny nodded. “I mentioned it to her already, but I’ll talk again. She thinks it will be fun. Thanks Dean.” Danny moved to the door.
“Danny.” Dean held up the favor slip. “This?”
“Keep it.” Danny waved and moved out.
Dean continued to gather up his things. He smiled, thinking about how he sweated Danny’s ‘huge’ favor. But it dawned on him Danny still had one more. A part of Dean felt like he owed the Mafia money, a part of him feared that return favor.
“Dean.”
Dean looked up as he picked his folders up. Henry stood there. “I’m on my way out.”
“I wanted to talk to you. Can we talk.”
“Henry, no. O.K.” Dean moved to the door.
“Dean this is ridiculous. You know that. We shouldn’t be fighting.”
Dean stopped cold. “You went to Bowman. Early. You went there specifically to be with Ellen. Did you not?”
“I did. But . . .”
“But no buts Henry. That was wrong. She’s my wife. I told you no. So you went another route.”
“See Dean, maybe I did start out going to Bowman for . . .”
“Henry.” Dean silenced him. “Start out. End up. It doesn’t matter. Your intentions to start trouble were there.”
“All right. You’re right.” Henry told him. “That was wrong. I was angry with you. So now can we please just sit down and talk.”
“Sure we can Henry. But not now. I’m busy. And . . .” Dean cleared his throat. “You may want to think twice now about asking for an understanding with me. Things have changed.” Dean handed Henry a slip of paper. “Danny pulled his favor.” With a quick grin, Dean walked out.
Henry’s heart dropped when his eyes moved down to the favor slip and he saw written in the favor slot was the name Ellen. “No.” Henry crumbled the favor slip.
^^^^
Bowman, North Dakota
Hal was getting pretty good at answering his phone quickly and within two rings. “Captain Slagel.” And then there would be nothing. Oddly, he would look at the phone and hang it up., “Sorry Elliott. Where were we?”
“Tower spotted the scouts coming over the hill.” Sgt. Ryder said in Hal’s office.
“Which group?” Hal asked then held up his hand when the phone rang again. “Captain Slagel. Hello? Hello?” Shrugging, he hung up the phone. “Sorry. Which group?”
“We believe . . .”
“Hold that thought.” Hal grabbed the ringing phone. “Captain Slagel speaking . . . hello? Shit.” He placed down the phone. “We should really contact Danny and tell him things are not working.
“Perhaps we should.” Sgt. Ryder hid his snicker. “Now, as I was . . .” He cringed. “Go on.”
Hal picked up the phone. “Captain . . . Craig! You asshole.” Hal slammed down the phone.
“Savage camps.
”
“Excuse me.”
“Just thought I’d get that information out of my mouth before you fly out the door to kill him.”
“Savage camps. That’s the scouts?” Hal asked.
“Yes.”
“Thank you. Be right back.” As predicted by Sgt. Ryder, Hal flew out of his office to search out Craig.
^^^^
Beginnings, Montana
Robbie was grateful that Auto World’s lifetime guarantee brakes didn’t deteriorate like the rest of society. Of course Robbie would be more grateful if Frank was around to replace the brakes on the Jeep. Fixing automobiles was never a chore for Frank; it was a hobby. There were others in Beginnings who could easily do it, but since Frank liked it, he made it part of the responsibility of the head of security. Robbie didn’t quite understand why that was. He guessed Frank saw some demented connection between fixing Jeeps and protecting lives. Robbie could hear Frank’s reasoning. Justifying if the Jeep doesn’t work it could die out on a hill, roll down it uncontrollably and into a tree, therefore taking the life of the driver when he was forcefully ejected from the seat. Whatever the reason Frank gave for the privilege of being Beginnings auto mechanic, Robbie was ready to kill him.
Her voice sang out into the garage. “Robbie!”
Robbie’s hands stopped working on the tire. Sarcastically and mimicking Bev’s tone, he called back. “Bev-ee.”
She giggled and stepped to the Jeep. “Robbie, have you seen Johnny?”
“Nope.” Robbie sniffed, rubbed the back of his hand under his nose and worked. “You’re wearing perfume.” He sneezed. “Shit.”
“Are you allergic?” She asked.
“Bev, every Slagel I know is allergic to perfume.” Robbie sneezed again and held out his hand. “Step back near the door and air out.”
“Johnny too?”
“I uh . . .” Robbie rubbed the tickle in his nose. “I guess. Don’t know.”
“Oh, I’ll wash it off then. Have you seen him?”
“I said no.” Robbie dropped the tool. “Fuck. I hate this shit.” He rolled his eyes when he heard her giggle.
“You’re cute.”
“Yeah I am.”
“I have to find Johnny.”
“Then look for him,” Robbie said.
“I have been.”
“Have you tried the cryo -lab? It’s feeding time.”
“I did. Andrea hadn’t seen him.”
“No.” Robbie grunted as he made an adjustment. “The cryo -lab, not the clinic lab.”
Bev tsked and gave attitude. “I did check there. Andrea said he wasn’t there.”
Robbie stopped working. “At the cryo -lab?”
“Yes.”
“Andrea was in there?”
“Yes.”
“Go uh . . . check again. I’m sure that’s where he is.”
“O.K.” Bev shrugged. “If you see him, you’ll tell him I’m looking for him. Right?”
“Yeah sure.” Robbie swayed his head after Bev’s ‘thank you’ and watch her leave. He hesitated before going back to his work, speaking to himself in wonder. “Andrea in the cryo-lab. Andrea isn’t supposed to be at the cryo-lab.”
^^^^
“Fuckin door.” Johnny punched in his code, shook the cryo -lab door and banged it with his foot. “Shit.” It wouldn’t open. “What is going on?”
“You’re just being delayed in your wait for me.”
Bev’s voice startled him and Johnny jumped a foot in the air and back. “What are you doing down here?”
“Looking for you. Having trouble?”
“It won’t take my code, not that it’s any of your business.”
“Johnny,” Bev laid her hand on his back. “Don’t be this way to me. You’re making me feel really bad . . . and used.”
From the keypad, Johnny shifted his eyes to Bev and raised his eyebrows.
“Johnny.” Bev spoke his name softly and slipped between him and the door. Her hands went flush on his chest. “I was really, really nice to you yesterday.” Her hand ran down his chest and to the front of his jeans. “Feel like returning the favor?” She bit her bottom lip.
“I feel like feeding the rabbits.” He stepped away from her and grabbed his radio, ignoring the disappointing glare Bev gave him. Johnny placed his radio on all call. “Dean. Dean you there. Dean come in. Ellen. Dean, anyone. Hello? Dean. Ellen.”
Bev smiled and touched him again.
“Quit that.” Johnny told her. “Dean?” He released the button. Static. “Shit.”
Andrea’s voice came over. “Johnny, Dean’s home. Ellen’s processing the new guys. Try Dean’s phone. He must not have the radio on.”
“Thanks Andrea.” Johnny turned off the radio.
“Why are you looking for Dean?” Bev giggled. “Wanna bring him in too?”
“Yeah right.” Johnny said. “I need his code or the rabbits don’t get fed. And my phone’s above.”
“If I tell you how you can get a working code in less than ten seconds, will you be with me tonight?”
“You know how to get me a code in ten seconds. One that works?” Johnny asked.
“Yep.”
“You want me to call Danny. That’s it.”
“Nope.”
“Henry?” Johnny guessed at the ones he knew had codes.
“Nope.”
“Not Danny or Henry?” Johnny laughed. “There’s no one else.”
Bev gave him a snide look. “Bet me.”
“Ten seconds?”
“Yep,” Bev spoke seductively.
“You’re on. Ten seconds? I’ll do you if I can get a code in ten seconds,” Johnny said snidely.
“Radio Andrea. Use hers.” Bev said like the Miss Know-it-All she acted like.
“Ha!” Johnny scoffed in a make fun manner. “Andrea doesn’t have a code.” Johnny started to walk away. “Sorry babe.”
“No, Johnny, I’m sorry.” Bev walked by him. “If she doesn’t have a code, how else was she in here this afternoon? See you later.” Bev walked backwards, wiggled her fingers, turned around again, and walked away.
Johnny picked up the radio. There was no way Andrea had a code. No way Dean would give her one for the simple fact that he didn’t want Andrea going in the lab without his knowledge and then lecturing him on the sanctity of life. Johnny kept repeating, in his mind, the phrase ‘no way’. Bev had to be wrong. She had to be. Johnny hoped with all his might she was, mostly because he didn’t want to be faced with the possibility of welching on a bet for the first time in his life.
^^^^
Her pouting mouth was closed tightly as Maura folded her arms and tried not to look at Joe who sat in her living room with her.
“Are you listening to me?” Joe asked.
She nodded.
“Maura, it is . . .” Joe stopped when Gemma set down a cup on the coffee table for him. “Thanks Gemma.”
Gemma took a moment, worry crossed her age -filled face as she watched Joe on the couch with her adopted daughter. “Joe, please don’t badger her.”
“Badger her how, Gemma? Christ.”
“Joe!” Gemma scolded. “Do not use that tone around her. Please.”
“All right. All right. I apologize.” Joe looked back at Maura. He began to speak but stopped when he saw Gemma still standing there “Gemma, do you mind?”
“I would prefer to stay,” Gemma said.
“I would prefer you didn’t,” Joe told her.
“I don’t like you alone with her, Joe.”
“Like I’m gonna molest her. Get the hell in the other room and leave us be. Go.” Joe pointed.
Gemma looked offended, but listened. She guessed there was some safety in Joe. “No badgering.” She pointed and walked out.
“Yeah, yeah.” Joe returned to Maura. “Now, where were we?”
“What is molesting?”
“Um . . . it means uh . . . ask your mother what it means.”
“O.K.” Maura
spoke so timidly. “I will.”
“You do that.” Joe told her. “Now, back to what we were discussing . . .”
“I can’t tell you. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.”
“You can. You can. You can.” Joe insisted. “The game is so important. Please?”
“So is trust.”
“I trusted that you would tell me.”
“Reverend Bob trusted that I would keep his secret.”
“And I’m trusting you will tell me.”
Maura didn’t even look in debate. Joe’s beckoning wasn’t making a dent. “I can’t. The Bible says we should be trustworthy. Those who can be trusted will be given more. Book of Matthew.”
Joe huffed. “The Bible.” He stood up. “Well let me give you something to think about little girl. The Bible also states, ‘Those who harbor secrets that ill effect others shall be those who burn in eternal damnation . . . Proverbs.” Joe moved to the door, opening it. “Ponder on that and then talk to me.” He gave a firm, serious nod and walked out, pulling the door closed with him. Perhaps it wasn’t right to lie to Maura, to give a bogus passage, but he needed his information. And if manipulating her fear in the Bible was the way to do it, then it couldn’t have been all that wrong. Maura was young, she would get over it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Beginnings, Montana
The brotherhood of etiquette was breached in Dean’s mind as he walked into Jason’s lab unannounced and uninvited. But yet Dean did go into Jason’s lab as requested by Joe. The first thing he did was put into motion the plan to cover his ass if Jason came into the lab. With him, he brought the Withers folder tucked with in his lab jacket. He looked around Jason’s lab for the familiar stack of folders that he always saw Jason carry about and Dean slipped that folder right in with the rest.
“There.” Dean let out a breath feeling highly uncomfortable. “Now . . .” He rubbed his hands together. “Where the hell do I begin?”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 419