The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “It was at Bev’s!” Ellen shouted “Bev had it. Bev gave it to me!”

  “And you believed that!” Dean shook his head. “Didn’t it occur to you that she may have come in here to find what she could? Plant these notes, this medal.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you still believe my daughter disgusts me.”

  “Yes.”

  “How! How can you even believe that? How can you even begin to think . . .”

  A click silenced Dean. “I have this.” Ellen held up a tape player.

  “You’ve got to be kidding.” Dean’s voice held aggravation as it played through the tiny speaker. “Alex again? I swear to God she does this to me on purpose. She enjoys making my skin crawl.”

  Before Ellen could even shut off the tape recorder, Dean raged across the bedroom, snatched the player from her hand and careened it across the room. It smashed against the wall and fell to the floor in pieces. “Now you have nothing, Ellen.” Dean placed his face close to hers “How dare you take a conversation out of context to use it against me! Especially with my daughter. I love her! How dare you suggest any less!”

  “How dare you act like this with me!”

  “What do you expect!” Dean’s voice squealed and cracked with his outrage. His hands flew up and clenched as he stepped away from Ellen. “My life is falling apart right before my eyes and there is nothing . . . nothing I can do. I’m losing everything and you want me to remain calm! I don’t want to lose my life here, El. I won’t!”

  “You have!”

  “No! You’re my wife . . .”

  “Not anymore!” Ellen pulled her wedding ring from her finger and flung it at Dean. It bounced off his chest and fell to the floor. She tried to control her breathing as she watched Dean, so lost, slowly bend down and pick it up. “I want you out, Dean.”

  “I won’t go.”

  “You have no choice.”

  “No, El! You have no choice. This is my house, my family and whether or not you have this on . . .” Dean showed her the ring then tossed it with a slam to the bed. “You are still my wife. I did no wrong! I did nothing and I won’t leave! Not you, not anyone is going to make me give up what I have! Don’t think for one second I will walk away peacefully from it because I am not going down without a fight! You hear me!” Dean knew his face, his neck, and heavy breathing showed how upset he was. His body trembled in his emotions. Ellen was so quiet as they stared at each other. Dean thought he had gotten through. He felt a speck of hope, a break from the trouble . . . until Ellen walked out.

  ^^^^

  “Oh, my God, this is too funny,” Frank laughed.

  “I don’t see the humor.” Robbie tossed up his hands. A knapsack was on the dining room table and Robbie placed the thermos in there.

  “Rev. Robbie.” Frank swiped his hand down his own face.

  “Enough.”

  “Hey, I have us starting at the UD sector and working our way clockwise.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Frank looked over his shoulder to the sounds of footsteps on the stairs, Jess, looking like he just woke up, placed a shirt over his head. “Morning, sleepyhead.”

  Jess gave a quirky smile to Frank.

  “Of course, I got sleep too.” None of the kids are at the house. I think Dean and Ellen have a special evening planned. Remind me to stop and intrude on the way to the UD perimeter.”

  Jess paused to see what Robbie placed in the knapsack. “That’s a big lunch.”

  “It’s for me and Frank. We’re working together all night. We wanted some good things.”

  “Oh!” Frank snapped his finger. “Speaking of good things, Jess the nacho man, it’s been a while. Can you hook me up?”

  The corner of Jess’ mouth rose. “Um, yeah, Frank, sure. I’ll hook you up.”

  Robbie snickered.

  “What?” Frank asked. “I hope you weren’t taking that as a dirty comment. Not you . . . Rev. Robbie.”

  Jess slid to a stop and back tracked. “She did it.”

  “Huh?” Robbie looked.

  “I thought Andrea was going to name you pastor. Did you accept?”

  “Yes,” Robbie proudly replied.

  “Congratulations. You must be honored.” Jess extended his hand to Robbie.

  “Uh!” Frank shrieked out. “Don’t encourage this.”

  “Why?” Jess asked.

  “Because, that’s why.”

  “Can’t win an argument with him.” Jess tilted his head and headed to the kitchen. “I’ll get those tortillas.”

  “Excellent.” Frank commented then watched Robbie place a Bible in the sack. “Whoa-whoa. What are you bringing that for?”

  “To read.”

  “To read?” Frank laughed. “I have those sample chapters of the book.”

  “I think I should stay clear of that if I’m going to be a man of the cloth.”

  “Oh my God.” Frank shook his head. “You don’t have to read the Bible to be a man of the cloth.”

  Robbie quickly looked at Frank. “I also need it to prepare for my sermon Sunday.”

  “Oh my God.” Frank smacked himself in the face. “I give you three weeks.”

  “Three weeks for what?”

  “For three weeks you’ll play the holy ruler then you’ll break.”

  “I’m the new pastor.”

  “Three weeks.” Frank held out his hand.

  “You’re on.” Robbie shook it.

  “You know what this means, don’t you.” Frank watched Robbie place the last thing in the knapsack. “This means you can’t swear, be rude, crude, or obnoxious. You, baby brother, are going to be boring.”

  “Frank, a person doesn’t need to swear, be rude, crude, and obnoxious to be any fun.”

  “True,” Frank nodded. “But you need to swear, be rude, crude, and obnoxious to be Robbie.” Frank grabbed the sack. “Jess! What about my chips?”

  “You’re lucky I like your brother.” Jess came from the kitchen and handed the chips to Frank. “And if you keep hitting me up for these, you’re going to have to come over to make them.”

  “I can do that. Are you going to teach me?” Frank asked and started to walk with Robbie toward the door.

  “Sure,” Jess said.

  “Do I wear an apron?”

  “No.” Jess pretended to be very serious. “If I teach you, you’ll have to make them naked.”

  “Why? Are they messy?” Frank questioned.

  Robbie tugged on Frank’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  “I don’t know if I like this cooking naked thing,” Frank complained on the way out the door. “I’m so manly I may accidently burn parts of me.”

  Jess laughed as the door shut, but only for a second. Robbie stuck his head back in.

  “You’re bad.” He pointed at Jess.

  “I can’t help it. He doesn’t know.” Jess laughed again when the door closed, especially when he heard Robbie yelling in the distance, ‘Frank, fuck, will you shut up about cooking naked. It was a joke.”

  ^^^^

  The second Ellen returned to the house and walked inside, Dean stood up. His eyes fixed upon her. “El.”

  Ellen wouldn’t look at him. She moved toward the bedroom,.

  “El, we have to . . .” In his step to Ellen, Dean saw Joe enter. “What’s going on?”

  Joe closed the front door. “Son . . .” He motioned his hand over to the dining room table. “We have to talk.”

  Dean peered towards where Ellen went, then back to Joe.

  “Have a seat.” Joe pulled out a chair from the table. He saw Dean still staring down the hall. “Dean.”

  Hesitantly, Dean walked over and joined Joe. He sat down with him. “Meaning no disrespect, Joe, but El and I have to work this out. This is our problem.”

  “No, Dean, see. It’s my problem,” Joe spoke softly. “Ellen’s my daughter. She’s hurt. She’s really hurt. When your kid hurts, you hurt.”

  “Joe,” Dean exhaled his name.
“I didn’t do anything. I swear to you. I swear I don’t know how any of this came about.”

  “Be that as it may,” Joe told him. “Right now, there is a twenty-three year old girl running around Beginnings with your baby. Your baby. How in God’s name is my daughter supposed to take that? Easily, with stride. No? Now . . . I’m coming to you right now, not as the leader of this community, but as a father. Ellen wants you out of this house. You will leave this house. Understand me?” A firmness hit Joe’s voice. “If you don’t leave this house tonight, right now, for as long as she wants you out, then . . . as a father, I will take you from this house.”

  No sooner did Joe speak those words and no sooner did Dean lock into the seriousness of Joe’s eyes, the front door opened and Frank walked in.

  “Hey,” Frank said on his entrance.

  “Great.” Dean slammed in his hand down on the table. “What? Is Frank your henchman, Joe?”

  Joe rolled his eyes with a heavy breath and stood facing Frank. “Anyone ever tell you that you have perfect timing?”

  An ornery grin crept up on Frank. “Well, yeah.” He cleared his throat. “El’s told me that on several occasions, but that’s a personal question, Dad, don’t you think?”

  “Geez, Frank,” Joe cringed.

  “Rub it in.” Dean approached Frank. “Go on.”

  “Dean, can I help it you don’t have perfect . . .”

  “Fuck you, Frank!” Dean yelled.

  “Whoa. What?” Frank held up his hand. “Sorry.” He shifted his eyes to his father. “Must be a sensitive subject to some people.”

  “Frank.” Joe clenched his jaws.

  “You know what, Joe?” Dean stepped back. “Don’t bother. He doesn’t need to handle this situation. I’ll go. It’s yours Frank, just like you wanted. Take it all. Take my house! My kids! My wife! Take it!” With a hard spin and heavy footsteps, Dean stormed from the room.

  “Thanks,” Frank said then looked to his father. “Why is Dean giving me everything?”

  “You . . . you don’t know?” Joe asked.

  “Know?”

  “Oh my God.” Joe was shocked. “Ellen didn’t come to you about this?”

  “About . . . um . . . yeah, yeah she did. She came to me.”

  “She did not.”

  “Did too. I know.”

  “What do you know?” Joe asked him.

  “About this situation.”

  “Oh.” Joe waved his hand at Frank. “You don’t know shit.”

  “I know enough to . . . what? Say again.”

  At first Joe looked oddly then realized Frank moved the conversation into his headset. “I hate when you do that. Can’t you hold up a finger or something to let me know?”

  Frank held up a finger. “Go ahead, Robbie. Head up. I’m on my way. Don’t touch it. See ya in a few.” Frank turned and walked to the door.

  “Frank, is there a problem?” Joe questioned.

  “No, a small uh . . . predator is up at the back gate. No problem. I’m going up to handle it.”

  When the door shut, Joe scratched his head. “Small predator?”

  Dean watched through the corner of his eye as Ellen finished a drink. “It doesn’t have to be like this.”

  “Yes it does.” She gasped out from the burning alcohol and poured another.

  “You won’t even look at me.”

  “If you were me, would you want to look at you? Good bye, Dean.” She brought her glass to her lips.

  Dean tossed the straps of his bags over his shoulders. “El . . .”

  “Goodbye, Dean.”

  Dean began to leave and then he stopped. He walked over and stood before her. Reaching to his left hand, he gripped his wedding band. With his fingers tightly on it and ready to pull it off, Dean couldn’t do it. He couldn’t take it off. “No. No. I’m not giving up. This is not the end.”

  “No, Dean. It’s just the beginning.”

  Dean lowered his head. Without saying anymore and after seeing enough of the cold glances of Ellen, he took his bags and left his home.

  ^^^^

  The headlights on Frank’s Jeep shined upon the four men, including Robbie who stood by the perimeter fence just beyond the field. He got out with his spotlight. “What’s going on?” Frank walked to them.

  Robbie turned around. “I was checking the perimeter. It happened right before I called you.” As soon as Robbie stepped to the side, Frank not only saw it, but heard it.

  Its whimpers were high squealing. Its mutated body trembled as the burnt portion of the killer baby stuck to the perimeter fence. The wide left eye was pressed to the fence and it stared helplessly as Frank shined the light on it.

  “Oh man.” Frank cringed at the ‘normal’ baby sounds it made. “It’s really hurt.”

  “We can’t get it off. It’s stuck,” Robbie said.

  Frank crouched down in front of the infant. It opened its mouth, its face adhered to the metal as it seemingly cried for help. “Shit.” He took a long blink

  “We’ve tried to lift its fingers and push on it.” Robbie crouched down next to Frank. “No avail. It’s stuck. It leaped at us and well . . . I can’t shoot it Frank. None of us can.”

  “Get me a stick,” Frank instructed.

  “I tried that.”

  “Get me a stick,” Frank repeated.

  Robbie fetched the long stick they used and brought it to Frank.

  “Thanks.” Frank took it and held the flashlight close to the fence. The baby’s chest was charred, the flesh peeling off. He looked for an open spot and placed the tip of the stick through the fence but didn’t touch the baby. He held it there as he stood up and lowered his radio headset. “Security Room, come in.” He covered the mouth piece and looked at Robbie. “Get me a cloth.”

  Robbie nodded and backed up.

  “This is Monitoring.”

  “Hey, I’m up at the field perimeter.” Frank said. “Here’s what I need you to do. Leave the local beams off and set the perimeter for 220. Hit the perimeter switch on then off, no hesitation and on my call.”

  “Got it.”

  Frank readied the stick. “One . . . two . . . now.”

  A short buzz sounded off and Frank pushed the stick through the fence at the same time a high squeal emanated from the baby. A blue single spark set off as the buzz immediately silenced and the baby flew back ten feet from the fence. With another squeal, he rolled himself then slowly and crippled-like, tried to get away.

  “Keep the fence down,” Frank ordered, bent down, grabbed the blanket Robbie got for him, and headed to the entrance of the fence.

  “Frank.” Robbie hurried to him, “Where are you going? Night is not a good time to go out there.”

  “That thing is hurt. Keep the lights on me. I’ll be right back.” Flashlight and blanket in hand, Frank stepped outside the safety of the secure area.

  ^^^^

  Jess’s lunch was nowhere near as big as the Slagel bother’s lunch. Jess supposed his appetite was nowhere near theirs as well. He had a piece of bread and a pity amount of vegetable soup Robbie left him. That’s all he planned on taking, that and the hope that the container kept the vegetable soup semi-warm. Grabbing his brown, beat up leather jacket, Jess, with his lunch in hand, moved to the door. He heard the crash of thunder and the sound of falling rain. “Great.” In a full stride to move out, Jess opened up the door. Ellen stood there, her hand raised to knock. “El?”

  “Hey.”

  “Whoa.” Jess’s eyes widened. “Have you been drinking?”

  “Very much so, thank you for asking.” Soaking wet and not moving very well, Ellen stumbled into Jess’ house.

  “I’m on my way out.”

  “That’s O.K.” Ellen wiped her hand across her wet face. “I need . . . I need Robbie.”

  “Is everything all right?” Jess shut the door.

  “Nope. I need Robbie.”

  “Robbie . .. Robbie is working.”

  “Where?”

&nbs
p; “All over.”

  “Shit.” Ellen tried to take a step and swayed. “Frank?”

  “With Robbie.”

  “Shit.” She swung out her hand and her whole body spun.

  Jess grabbed her. “Can I help?”

  “I doubt it.” Ellen fluttered her lips. “I need Robbie or Frank.”

  “They aren’t around.”

  “Shit.”

  “So you said.”

  “Fine. Sorry to bother you.” Ellen stammered to the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “You have to work and . . . I need . . . I need to find someone, hopefully with big shoulders, to get me through this night.” She reached and missed the door. “This . . . this is a bad night for me. Really bad.”

  “El, hold on. All right. Don’t walk out there by yourself.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you are in no condition to do so. Let me walk you home.”

  “I’m not going home,” Ellen told him. “I’m finding someone to help . . .”

  “You through the night.” Jess moved to the partially open doorway and closed it. “Let me call Henry.”

  “Oh!” Ellen said surprised. “Henry will work.”

  “I’ll see if he can sit with you tonight. O.K.?”

  “O.K. you call.” Ellen pointed. “I’m gonna go pee.”

  “You do that.”

  “I don’t want to start wiggling around here.”

  Jess smiled and walked to where the phone laid on the coffee table. He saw Ellen before the steps. “You need help?”

  “Nah.” Ellen lifted her leg and brought it back down. She did a sloppy whistle. “There’s a lot of steps. Were there always this many?”

  “No. We just added more yesterday.”

  Ellen chuckled and started to go up the stairs.

  Watching her move up them with the help of her hands, Jess dialed Henry’s cell phone. “Henry.”

  “Hey, Jess. What’s up?”

  “You sound faint.”

  “I’m up by the field perimeter. We had a short. Frank ordered an up and down and that can’t happen.”