The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  They shifted their eyes to one another in unison. It was like no one wanted to make a comment about that so Joe moved the subject on.

  “Can we see him?” Joe asked.

  “No,” Andrea answered. “He’s heavily sedated, but . . . it’s early yet. Why don’t you go home, get some food, do whatever, and come back later this evening. He should be awake by then.” She got an agreement from everyone and as they stepped back, she reached for Joe. “Joseph. How are you?”

  “I’ve been better.” Joe placed his hands in his pockets. “I shot my kid, Andrea. My own flesh and blood.”

  Andrea reached a soothing hand to his face. “You know it wasn’t your fault. Even though it was you who pulled the trigger and the bullet came from the gun, you . . .”

  “Andrea,” Joe stopped her. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, you’re sucking at it right now.”

  “Oh.” Andrea retracted her hand. “I’m just . . .”

  “I know.” Joe moved back a step. “I . . . I’m going home.”

  Cleaned up and in a pretty ‘O.K.’ mood, Johnny strolled at an upbeat pace down the hall. He stopped when he saw his grandfather, with his head lowered, walking from the Clinic. Johnny stared at him. Any urge to whistle had left him and when Joe had gone, Johnny returned to walking, but little less upbeat and a little less arrogant.

  ^^^^

  With his hand blocking out the wind, Robbie hovered the lighter and lit his cigarette. He took a long inhale, blew out the smoke, and then opened the door to Frank’s office. His head was still spinning from the conversation he had with Henry and Danny. They didn’t realize that where one of them left off in talking, the other finished. They complained about not being on the investigative team and how it wasn’t nice not to share information. Robbie finally gave in because his head was pounding. He just wanted to get things ready for Elliott and head to Ellen’s for food.

  Robbie would do better in the morning trying to explain things a little more clearly to Elliott, but his primary goal was to get out schedules and reports and let Dan give him a run down on what he had to do. Elliott would spend his night in Tracking, learning it and how it worked, or at least the basics while he filled in for Frank.

  Mid getting his reports laid out, the phone rang. Reaching across the desk, Robbie answered it. “Yeah.” He quickly looked at his watch. “I’ll be right down. Can you hold it for five minutes, El? Thanks.” He reached over again to hang up.

  “Knowing . . .” Jess spoke snidely, “that your mood is better and Frank is fine, I’m gonna be crude. I love that position.”

  “You’re sick.” Robbie shook his head. “Of course.” He turned around. “If I were gay, I’d find my rear-end irresistible as well. What’s up?”

  Jess carried a box. “It’s all bagged.” He set it on the desk. “You want me to start fingerprinting?”

  “Nah.” Robbie reached into the box and lifted the covered clip that was in the gun when Joe fired it.

  “Here.” Jess reached into his back pocket and pulled out a glove. “Examine it.”

  Robbie took the glove and placed it on. “I’m taking you already did.”

  “Oh, yeah, before you touch that clip. Feel this.” Jess handed Robbie an identical clip. “Feel the weight of the two.”

  Like a scale Robbie felt them, each in one hand. “Not much difference.”

  “No. Not so much that your father would notice when he lifted it. The reason why is Henry’s blood mixture is thick so it splatters with the force of the minuscule gun powder used. Now, check out that clip.”

  Robbie set down the one Jess had just given to him and looked at the other.

  “Check out the last shell.”

  Shock hit Robbie’s face as he peered in the end.

  “I only saw that. I’m guessing . . .”

  A single tap and the bullets rolled out. They weren’t pellets at all. Not a single one. “Shit.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” Jess stepped to him. “It wasn’t just a single bullet. Someone didn’t steal the clip and take a pellet out and add a real one to the end. Someone switched the entire clip.”

  Robbie glanced up from the bullets that lay in his palm. “That someone wasn’t fuckin around. They wanted my brother dead.”

  ^^^^

  Johnny just wanted to slam his hand into something, but he was afraid his outrage would be heard through the thin walls of his home.

  Bev held back her cringe as she waited for Johnny to explode.

  “I can’t . . .” Johnny held back screaming, “believe he’s not dead. God! And I had to help save him. You don’t know how bad I wanted to give him the wrong blood, but that was easily traced. And then my other attempt failed.”

  “Your other attempt?”

  “Yeah.” Johnny shook his head in disgust.

  “Dr. Dean, we’re low up here in the Clinic.” Johnny brought a unit of blood into the operating room.

  Dean’s hands worked with Andrea’s on Frank. “No we’re not. We needed the lab freezer space for the more immediate. We moved it to the morgue. It’s in the second freezer next to the old specimen storage.”

  “So why didn’t you?” Bev asked.

  Johnny drew up another look of disgust and thought back.

  The bag of blood Johnny held in his hand was thick and deep red His eyes moved to the huge standup specimen fridge. A gleam of delight hit him as he peered at the large bio-hazard sticker on the door and he opened it. On the second shelf was an eight inch steel box covered in a warning label. The words ‘human immunodeficiency virus’ screamed at him and he reached for the case.

  “Fuckin Melissa.” Johnny twitched his head. “She came in for some plasma for the killer baby they’re trying to save.”

  “I’m sorry,” Bev tried to be comforting.

  “Imagine how great that would have been. It would have been better if I hadn’t seen that look on my grandfather’s face. I feel really bad about that.” He looked up when he heard Bev snicker. “What!”

  “You feel bad?”

  “Yes, about my grandfather.”

  “Right.”

  “Bev, shut the fuck up.”

  “Don’t talk to me like that. You’ll upset Dean’s baby.”

  Johnny rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.”

  “Speaking of Dean’s baby . . .”

  “Bev!” Johnny shouted. “I’m depressed here. I want to keep the conversation about me.”

  “I just want to know what happened to the amnio fluid that was taken from me.”

  Johnny looked at her so perturbed. “It’s gone, all right? Gone. All that’s left is the frozen specimen that’s been tested a million times. It’s Dean’s baby. Now can we not be so selfish and stop thinking about you. Everything is always about you.”

  “Sorry, but I am telling my father about the way you speak to me.”

  Cutting his hand through the air, Johnny lost it. “There it is again. You. I. Me. Fuck, Bev!”

  Bev closed her eyes. “I don’t want to fight. You’re stressed.” She watched Johnny pace with huffs of breath. “Tell me how I can help.”

  Johnny stopped pacing and, with an irritated look, walked to the sofa and plopped down. “Fine. A blow job will work.” He tapped his hand on the arm of the couch. “Bev, I’m waiting.’

  Bev scurried to him.

  ^^^^

  “Andrea says a week.” Ellen sat on the floor of her living room. Her mouth opened as she held the spoon to Nick, hoping he would eat the rice she tried to give him.

  Hal sat on the couch with his dinner. “I guess I’ll have to spare him for a week.”

  “You have no choice,” Robbie stated.

  Ellen immediately looked up, waiting for the tension to happen. She cleared her throat. “So, how does Elliott feel about . . . filling in?”

  Robbie shrugged. “He hasn’t said much. I think he’s worried about being overwhelmed, but I’ll be handling as much as I can in between getting my guys ready to go out.�
��

  Hal lifted his fork as he questioned, “Will that interfere with your work in Containment as well?”

  Robbie shook his head. “No. El does that well enough. We have others that fill in now. Basically, the survivors go in and out. The residents are . . .”

  “Robbie,” Ellen said his name with warning.

  A chuckle escaped Hal. “I’ve been in Containment. It seems like the post-apocalyptic world equivalent to a . . .”

  “Mental hospital,” Robbie finished. “Yes. They aren’t functioning enough to survive out there. They aren’t harmful and we’ve warmed up some enough to let them stay.”

  “They hold value,” Ellen said as she fed Nick. She saw the glances she got. “Um, human life value.”

  Hal nodded with agreement despite Robbie’s rolling eyes. He looked at Nick whose thick, black hair stood straight up. “Shave that child’s head, Ellen.”

  Ellen giggled. “I want to, but Henry would have a fit.”

  “Henry does not raise that child,” Hal stated. “My brother does. Speaking of my brother.” Hal paused to take another bite of his food. “I hear you agreed to the date.”

  Robbie immediately looked up. “I bet Elliott was speechless.” He started to laugh. “Man, does he get nervous.”

  Ellen looked oddly at Robbie. “Why would Elliott be speechless?”

  “Because you agreed to go out with him,” Robbie answered.

  “I never said I was going out with Elliott,” Ellen stated. “He never asked.”

  Robbie tilted his head. “He didn’t? He was supposed to.”

  “Really?” Ellen smiled. “I bet that’s what he was getting ready to do when Frank . . .” She grunted. “Frank.” She shoved the spoon in Nick’s mouth. The food came right back out but Ellen paid no mind. “I’ll have to get Elliott even more nervous and bring it up to him.”

  Sadistically, Robbie snickered. “Fluster him.”

  Hal interjected, “You won’t go out with him, will you?”

  “Sure. Why not?” Ellen answered. “Elliott is a very nice man. He’s handsome and a gentleman.”

  “But you can’t,” Hal stated. “He’s . . .”

  “Why can’t she go out with him?” Robbie asked. “Do you know something we don’t?”

  “It’s just that . . .”

  “Hal, my brother, he’s your right hand man. I would think you would be rooting for him.” Robbie instigated. “What’s wrong? Tell us. Come on. He’s a psycho, isn’t he?”

  “Robbie.” Ellen shook her head. “Nothing is wrong with Elliott. I bet he’s always been that sweet.” She looked at Hal. “Oh! You knew him before the plague. What was he like?”

  “Elliott?” Hal answered. “Elliott was pretty much the same . . .” He paused. “Kind of . . . an asshole,” Hal grinned. “Like my brother can be when he’s at his worst.”

  Ellen was shocked. “Elliott?”

  “He was a dog,” Hal stated assuredly. “A complete dog to women, children, everyone. And . . .”

  “A drunk?” Robbie guessed a suggestion Hal’s way.

  “Exactly.” Hal pointed his fork.

  “Man.” Robbie dramatically acted shocked. “I’ll bet he even was sent to the brig.”

  “Dozens of times,” Hals stated. “He should have been a captain, but . . . he kept screwing up. He never could keep a woman, had dozens of them. And I couldn’t tell you how many times he . . .”

  “Was checked for venereal disease?” Robbie asked.

  “Yes, absolutely.” Hal nodded.

  Ellen was suspended in a limbo of belief and disbelief. “Really? You’re serious?”

  “Absolutely,” Hal stated. “So you see, you shouldn’t get involved with him.”

  Robbie took his turn. “Once they snap back to the way they are, they’re worse.”

  “Absolutely,” Hal continued. “And in all that, did I mention he was a cross dresser?”

  Robbie gasped, “And I thought it was my imagination when I saw him in a dress.”

  Ellen stood up and walked from the room.

  ^^^^

  They bombarded the outside of Frank’s room. Andrea held the door closed as if she was his very own sentry guard. She looked at the clan, the entire Slagel brood. Jess and Dean joined and Andrea supposed Henry and Danny were there more to gawk than show concern.

  “Now,” Andrea spoke softly, “just go in. Don’t stay long. Smile, and tell him you’re glad he’s fine. He’s worn out and we all know Frank. He won’t own up to it. Five minutes.” She turned the knob and opened the door.

  They all fought to go inside.

  Frank actually almost looked fearful because of the way they rushed him like a stage.

  Ellen made her way in first and flew to the bed. “Frank. Oh God, I was so worried about you.” She kissed him.

  Frank smiled.

  “Dad,” Johnny said, “I’m glad . . .”

  “Even me, Frank,” Dean added. “I was . . .”

  “Frank,” Joe tried to talk, “we were really . . .”

  “Frank,” gasped Robbie, “we thought you were a . . .”

  “Man, did you bleed,” Danny stated. “The scream that . . .”

  “I almost died,” Hal interjected. “You had me really worried big . . .”

  “He looks sick,” Henry commented.

  “Henry!” Joe snapped. “He’s been shot, for crying out loud. How do you expect the man to look?”

  “Don’t yell at me, Joe,” Henry defended. “You shot him.”

  “Henry, get out.” Joe pointed.

  “No.”

  “Everyone!” Ellen yelled out. She held Frank’s hand and watched him shift his eyes to everyone like he was watching a tennis match. “We’re here to see Frank. Frank.” She kissed his hand. “We were all so worried. How are you?”

  Frank opened his mouth.

  ‘Squeak.’

  Silence hit the room and everyone looked around.

  Again Frank tried to talk. He opened his mouth. “Squeak.” Confused, he closed it and tried again. “Squeak.”

  After nudging a snickering Robbie, Joe clapped his hands together. “And who says there’s never a bright side to someone getting shot.”

  Tired, exhausted, and determined, Frank inhaled, opened his mouth, and . . . “Squeak.”

  MOTIVE WARS

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Beginnings, Montana

  October 19

  Debate and deep thought crossed Joe’s face as he stared at the clip on his desk. He looked up at Robbie who stood with Jess. “When are you checking fingerprints?’

  “Today,” Robbie answered. “The kit is really out of date . . .”

  Joe glanced up. “Everything’s out of date.”

  “No.” Robbie shook his head with a smile. “I meant old fashion. I may need your help. I’m not real good with matching them. That’s your field.”

  “I’ll do what I can.” Joe looked at Jess. “So, you don’t think someone stole one of the clips?”

  “No,” Jess answered. “Every single one of those clips was accounted for when me and Henry prepped them.”

  “With the exception of the one Henry gave Dean,” Robbie interjected.

  “True,” Jess said, holding up a finger. “But we found that in the throw away pile and it was still filled. We’ll check that for prints as well. I’m staying with the theory that it happened during the intermission.”

  Joe nodded. “I have to agree. Todd was being such the neat freak. He kept swooping up the empties and stuffing them in that box under the counter. With all the excitement, someone could have stolen a clip, filled it, and laid it in the pile.”

  “Right on the bottom,” Robbie added. “Frank was last.”

  “Speaking of Frank.” Joe stood up. “I’m heading down to see him. I think I’ll save the Elliott-replacement-thing until he can really verbally bitch, whenever that is.” Joe slightly snickered. “I’ll check back in a bit. I have to do a walkthrough of my own wit
h Elliott.” Joe moved to the door and stopped. “Since we’re doing ‘speaking ofs’, Robert, perhaps you can enlighten me on why Ellen has expressed her concerns over Elliott’s cross dressing and history of venereal disease?”

  Jess laughed and turned his back.

  Robbie fluttered in his answer. “She, uh . . . Why?” Robbie scratched his head. “She, um, needs to show concern.”

  “Really?” Joe asked. “Funny. I would think if you and Hal are gonna try to scare her away from him, you would come up with something less creative.” Joe started to leave. “I set her straight.” He walked out but before he closed the door, he peeked back at Robbie. “One more -thing, a little pay back.” Joe reached into his back pocket and pulled out a rolled-up paper. He showed Robbie.

  “What’s that?” Robbie asked.

  “Chapter five of the Helen and Bobby story. Yep.” Joe put them back in his pocket. “It’s a little present from Danny to Frank. You know, something for him to enjoy while he’s recuperating. I hear, now don’t take my word for it, but I hear this Helen person actually mentions this so-called-brother of Bobby’s by name. See ya.” Joe closed the door.

  Robbie’s mouth dropped open. “Fuck.”

  ^^^^

  The needle slipped into Elliott’s arm with ease and Ellen smiled as she did it. She inserted the first tube and allowed it to fill. “How are you feeling? Tired at all?”