The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Ellen opened an argumentative mouth then tilted her head. “O.K., you got a point.”

  Jess tossed his head back. “Thanks.”

  “You brought it up.” Ellen walked over and plopped on the couch.

  “Think about it.” Jess walked to the couch and sat next to her. “Dean too. No matter what, no matter who you’re with you always end up with them. Frank especially, your whole life. You needed to get that Frank fix even if you were married. That will never change. So, no matter who you are within Beginnings, eventually, with a little help from those two, it will end up being Frank and Dean. I said it before, whoever gets involved with you has to know this.”

  “Just like who ever got involved with you, should know your secret as well.”

  “Absolutely. Could you see . . .” He grabbed her hand. “Could you see me saying to Denise, hey, I love our understanding time, but a part of me is going to go crazy if I don’t get what I really need. I have to move on because I need to touch or get that feel you can’t give me.”

  “She’d freak,” Ellen said.

  “She’d freak. I’d lose the companionship thing too and that is so important. You on the other hand . . .”

  “Would probably bribe Robbie.”

  Jess laughed a short shriek. “That’s good.” He smiled. “You know what I think? I think you and I should just go with it. I think we should forget what we are and what we need and enjoy what we started. Have fun at least until one or both of us say, ‘hey, look, I’m being pulled to move on’.”

  “I could deal with that.”

  “That’s probably because you’ll be the one to say it first.” Jess leaned into her. “Tell me you’re gonna stop playing homosexual matchmaker with me.”

  “How about I stop, until you need me to and then I’ll help. I promise.”

  “I promise the same. I’ll help you too.” Softly, like the smile on his face, Jess kissed Ellen. “So, do we forget these past couple days and just . . . continue?”

  “I’d really like that.”

  “Good,” Jess said perky, reached down to the floor, and lifted the fallen book. “Then let’s continue.” He sat back and Ellen leaned into him, scooting closer when he put his arm around her. Jess opened the book. “Continuing.”

  ^^^^

  Just as Henry brought the glass to his mouth to take another drink of the hard whiskey he indulged in, a hand took it away. He followed the hand up as he slumped at the Social Hall.

  Hector leaned into the bar. “You asked me once not to let you get out of control.”

  “Yeah, but I feel I need that.” Henry tried to reach again but Hector pulled it away once more.

  “I don’t know who’s worse. You or . . .” He turned and pointed across the hall. “Trish.”

  Henry peered over. Trish was sleeping at the table. “She is.”

  “What is it they say? It’s not over till the fat lady sings.”

  “It went . . .” Henry slurred slightly in his words. “It went so badly today.” His hand dropped to the bar. “I didn’t expect that phone call. None of us did.”

  “I heard. Word gets around fast. Henry.” Hector leaned in to him. “Risking a chance of losing a new friend, maybe all this evidence that fell in your lap, all this bad stuff that points at Andrea is not coincidental like you and the other originals think.”

  “What is everyone else saying?”

  Hector didn’t want to answer. He only tossed up his hands. “Opinions differ, but . . . there’s no point getting down or upset now. When the time comes to celebrate or drink yourself into a stupor then . . .” Hector held up the glass. “I’ll make sure you get home. Until then . . . the old saying?”

  “It’s not over until Grace belts it out.”

  “Ouch.” Hector laughed and laid the darts on the bar. “You’re talking about Jason’s new woman. He may get mad. Let’s play.”

  Nodding but still not in a ‘playing’ mood, Henry was up for anything that would take his mind off his worries. Grateful to Hector for not letting him find that answer in a bottle, Henry swiped up the darts and followed him to the board.

  ^^^^

  Bev stared at the small folded paper. “Now?”

  Johnny threw his head back groaning. “No. Do I have to take that? No,” he warned.

  “But Johnny . . .”

  “Bev, timing is everything, all right?” he argued. “You give that to Jess when the time is right and not before. God . . . I hate leaving you alone. You’re sure no one saw you typing this tonight.”

  A flashback of Josephine glancing over at her in the library as she used the typewriter hit Bev and just as she was about to answer ‘maybe’, she remembered the intoxicated state Josephine was in. “No and I don’t understand what the big deal is. Tonight. Tomorrow. What?”

  “Jumping the gun can be deadly at a time like this. Tension is high. We have a lot to get ready if they find Andrea guilty. We have to leave as well. Your father wants us out.”

  Bev smiled. “Finally, good news. What about the other team members?”

  “That note will secure Jess. He’ll have to secure the others. Definitely.”

  “But I have a few people in mind. Maybe I can use my information against . . .”

  “No.”Johnny stopped her. “No. Bev. Each person as to be thought through. You approach the wrong person and it’s over. I have to go.” He walked across her living room to the door. “Talk to you later.” As soon as he opened it, Johnny froze. “Dad.”

  Frank peered down with his arms folded. “We have to talk.”

  Johnny hoped the second he took to calm himself wasn’t obvious. “O.K.” He stepped out and pulled the door closed. “What uh, what’s up?”

  “What the fuck are you doing in her house? An hour, John. One hour. What’s up with that?”

  “Dad.” Johnny snickered. “Please.”

  “You know she’s starting shit. So you wanna tell me why you’re getting involved?”

  “Exactly.”

  “What.”

  “Exactly. That’s why I’m getting involved.”

  Frank looked confused.

  “Dad.” Johnny pulled him away from Bev’s house and whispered. “I feel bad for Dr. Dean and I know she’s up to something. I just thought, you know, see what I could find out. I didn’t want to tell Dean and get his hopes up.”

  “John, that’s very nice of you.” Frank laid his hand on his back. “Find anything out?”

  “Not yet.” Johnny started to walk with his father. “But I think I’m making progress. She’s starting to trust me.”

  “Excellent. Dean’s gonna be glad to hear he has someone else on his side.” So proud of his son’s willingness to help, Frank slowed down his stride to enjoy his walk with Johnny.

  ^^^^

  The metal lighter shutting close seemed to blare out in the silent bedroom. Joe took a long first hit of his cigarette as he sat in the chair and watched Andrea sleep. She tossed and turned and he had to wonder if maybe she was really sleeping. She hadn’t said anything all night. Perhaps that was her way of keeping in her fears, especially after hearing the jury was not reconvening, which meant they were close to a decision. Andrea’s reactions were hard to tell. Solemn, sad, worried. If Andrea was a book, Joe felt illiterate because he just couldn’t read her.

  Deciding air--even though it was cold--would be good, Joe slipped on his shoes, grabbed his shirt off the bottom of the bed and put it on as he walked from the bedroom. His home was quiet with everyone bedded down for the night. Across the dark living room, lit by only his glowing cigarette, Joe walked to and out his front door. He tried to not let the screen door slam, but it slipped from his fingers and he cringed.

  “It never fails,” Denny’s young voice spoke softly from the porch. “When you try to be quiet, you can’t.”

  Joe looked at the young man sitting on the step. He walked to him and sat next to him. “Well you did a good job. I didn’t know you were up.”

  “I
couldn’t sleep.”

  “Worried?”

  “Yeah.” Denny stared down to his bare feet. “Joe?”

  “What’s up?”

  “I’m gonna be sixteen next week. You and Mom haven’t let me go to the trial at all. I want to be there when they make the decision.”

  “Denny, there’s no need to. The decision will be made, we’ll come home, and Mom will try to put it behind her.”

  “That’s if they don’t find her guilty.”

  “That’s the decision they’ll make.” Joe tossed his cigarette.

  “But . . .”

  “Denny.”

  “No, Joe. She’s my mom. I’m scared. What happens if they find her guilty? What then? What happens to my mom?”

  Joe stared out into the night for a minute before closing his eyes and placing his arm around Denny. He didn’t answer because Joe just didn’t know what to say.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  October 31

  Beginnings, Montana

  Loudly and with a hint of a chuckle, Robbie blurted a ‘burr’ as he walked into Joe’s office just after first light. “Excellent dawn flight.” He shut the door. “It’s clear as a bell out there. I just sailed through. There are eight more tents set up in the new Savage base. They are not going anywhere.” He ripped a sheet from the clipboard and hung the board on the side of the filing cabinet. “So it’s safe for me to plan that trip east with George. But of course I’d like to . . .” Robbie finally looked at his father. “Wait until . . .” His speech slowed as he walked to the desk where his father sat slumped, staring at the phone. “Until the verdict is reached. What’s wrong?”

  “You don’t have to wait long.” Joe looked slowly up. “They jury’s in.”

  ^^^^

  Though Jess really would have liked to stay all night at Ellen’s, he was glad he didn’t or else he wouldn’t have been home in bed when Frank came for him. Jess was needed to fill in. The entire Slagel family was going to New Bowman. Andrea’s fate had been determined.

  He himself felt the pounding of his heart just thinking about it. That combined with Robbie’s decision to leave immediately for Washington D.C. made Jess a nervous wreck but he had to contain it. He had to run Security. That was where his mind had to be.

  Normal routine before starting his shift, Jess stopped at the Security building, signed in on the clipboard, and went to his locker. Unlike a lot of the other Security men, Jess kept his hardware there, radio, shoulder harness, and work coat. Reaching for the door, he saw the whiteness of it poking out of the vent slots on the metal locker door. Curious, Jess reached up and pulled the small folded slip of paper out. His name was typed on the front. He didn’t think much of the note or who it was from. More than likely it was from Frank or Joe telling him something extra he had to do. when Jess read it, his heart dropped. He literally spun in shock and slammed into the locker. His arm fell as he banged his head back. All he kept thinking was he didn’t read what he just read. He didn’t. And then he looked again. It was all true.

  The note was for real. Time was up . . .

  --You know what you were meant to do. You know why you are here. The jury’s reached the verdict. It’s time. Be ready. Be willing. Or be exposed. You can get a hold of us. You have the means to the number. In one week, you call us. If you don’t, we call Joe. You don’t want that. The Eastern Caceres Society.--

  ^^^^

  With the kids off to school, Ellen made her way to town. There was no way she could even try to go to the Clinic and work before hearing the verdict being read. The weird sense of ‘doom’ hit Ellen as she saw the truck parked outside the Clinic. Robbie was by the back with Dean.

  “Please be careful with that,” Dean instructed Robbie. “Please.”

  Ellen slowed in her walk, knowing full well what they had in the truck. She saw the missile secured and the case next to it. Dean had just loaded the deadly tip.

  “I will,” Robbie replied.

  “And you be careful on your trip.” Dean extended his hand and shook Robbie’s.

  Robbie noticed Ellen. “Hey, El, are you riding with me?”

  “Um, no. I told Frank I’d hop a ride with him. I’m meeting him in a couple minutes. Besides, there’s something about riding with you in a moving vehicle equipped with death.”

  Robbie snickered. “Good one.” He let out a breath. “Well, I’m heading out. See you there.” He lifted his hand in a wave goodbye and walked around to the front of the truck.

  Dean looked so nervous to Ellen as she approached him. He watched Robbie drive away.

  “What about this is worrying you?” Ellen asked him.

  Dean sprang from his thought and looked at Ellen. “I’m sorry. What?”

  “Whoa.” Ellen raised her eyebrows. “I’m going to go with just about everything is bothering you.”

  “Stressful day.”

  “Yeah.” Ellen placed her hands in her coat pockets. “So you got the tip ready?”

  “Yep. I’m the only one I want touching the stuff.”

  “It’s kind of a scary thought, with all that’s on your mind, that you held in your hand the single element that could have wiped us all out.”

  “Thanks.” Dean shook his head. “Let’s just hope I didn’t just make our death and hand it over to the enemy to drop on us.”

  “No. You can’t think that way. I trust Joe. He made this call. He wouldn’t if he slightly believed it would be turned on us.”

  “I guess you’re right. But then again, I can’t get reassurance from Joe. He speaks only business to me.”

  “I’m sorry.” Ellen stepped closer.

  “Don’t be. I’m lying in a bed I didn’t make. And . . . I’ll prove it. I found out last night that someone else is helping me out.”

  “Who?”

  “I’d rather not say.” Dean turned to go into the Clinic.

  “Dean.” Ellen grabbed the sleeve to his jacket. “Why aren’t you coming today?”

  “I can’t,” Dean spoke softly. “I really can’t. It’s a family thing and I don’t belong with your family anymore.”

  “Dean.” She moved into him. “Please come. It’s not about me. It’s not about my family. It’s about Andrea and we should be there to cheer when the verdict is not . . .” She saw Dean look away. “You think they’re convicting her.”

  Dean’s eyes shifted to Ellen. “I think George’s phone call could have secured that.”

  “Then you should be there. Because if that happens, she goes straight from the court room into jail until the sentence is handed down. Come with me. Walk with me to Frank’s Jeep. Ride with us.”

  “I can’t.” Dean shook his head. “Because if God forbid they find her guilty, I helped them to reach that verdict. I’ll have to live with that for the rest of my life. I don’t want to live with the memory of Andrea’s face when she hears it.”

  “You are way too down on yourself. You didn’t do anything, you know . . .” Softening her voice, Ellen placed her face close to Dean’s. “If I recall, Danny pretty much left the jury with the impression that you were nothing but a liar, a cheat, and a manipulator.”

  Softly Dean chuckled. “Gee, thanks.”

  “I always know what to say.”

  “Why are you being so nice? It hurts, El.”

  “I’m sorry. But I love you. I always will, no matter what.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Come with me,” Ellen whispered. “Please.”

  “You know . . .” he chuckled.

  “What?”

  Dean laughed a breath in their closeness and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m standing here loving this, wanting to hug you and I know the moment I do this . . .” He reached his arm out and slipped his hand around her waist to the small of her back.

  “Dean!” Bev’s call out carried across the street.

  “That . . .” Dean nodded, “happens and you run away.”

  Ellen smiled. “Not this time.”

&nbs
p; “Dean.” Bev called out again.

  Stepping directly into Dean, seeing the question on his face along with the slight smile, Ellen secured his arm tighter to her and kissed him, never seeing the clenched fist Dean made as he vowed to steal that moment and not let her go.

  ^^^^

  “And you’re sure?” Jess asked Mark, leaning over his shoulder in Tracking.

  “Positive,” Mark answered.

  “History shows nothing at all yesterday or the day before.”

  “A few small animals,” Mark replied.” There’s nothing that could even be close to the size of a human.”

  “Could history have been erased?” Jess asked.

  “Nope. Gate could be shut down and the power off but we would have had that read out. Why, do you suspect someone came in?”

  “No. No.” Jess stood up. “I was out walking around last night and I thought I saw something. I wanted to see if it was my imagination. Next time I won’t uh . . . drink so much. Thanks.” He gave a pat on Mark’s back and walked from Tracking. Outside he looked at the note again. If no one came into Beginnings or near the gate to deliver the message, that meant one thing. The note definitely was created from within.

  ^^^^

  New Bowman, Montana

  “I thought you said it looked good,” Frank whispered leaning into Dean as they sat in the courtroom.

  “I never said that. I said we had a moment.”

  “She’s having one with Elliott now.”

  Dean glanced over to Ellen who sat with Elliott. “Maybe it’s a New Bowman thing. His town, his time.”

  “Fuck that,” Frank said. “I’ll steal his ass and get him in Beginnings. Once he’s on our territory, the man is history.”

  “The man is close to history anyhow Frank. He’s dying. Have some compassion.”

  “Me?” Frank scoffed. “Listen to you.”

  “What?”

  “What you just said,” Frank told him.