“I’ll pick him up in a few minutes.”
“Great. Thanks.” Ellen looked around Hector at Henry. “See you later, Henry.” Getting only a wave, Ellen gave a smile to Hector and walked out. Elliott was waiting in the hall. “Waiting for me?” she asked him.
“Actually, yes,” Elliott spoke. “I need to know if you got my note.”
“Yes,” Ellen responded, “and I have told everyone that’s conscious.”
“Good,” Elliott said as he walked with her, “because I know it may have been pushing any authority I have in Beginnings, but Mr. Slagel has a lot on his mind, all of you do. There’s no one to make the call. I just thought the only ones who knew it was deliberate were those of us in that warehouse. Until Joe decides what to do, keeping it under wraps is best.”
“No one will say anything. We don’t want a panic. That’s the last thing Joe needs.”
“Elliott?”
“Yes.”
“Stop.” Ellen held up her hand. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Why?”
“Um, you were in that explosion perhaps? You’re not hurt?”
“No.” Elliott shook his head. “Actually, I feel fine.”
“Good.” Ellen picked her pace again.
“Are you going to take care of the Captain?”
“No, Johnny is. He’s with Hal now.”
Elliott stopped walking.
Ellen noticed she walked alone. She paused and peered behind her. “Elliott? Is something wrong?”
“Is that wise?” Elliott caught up to her. “I mean, the Captains leg is broken. What if it isn’t set properly?”
“Elliott,” she chuckled. “Johnny isn’t going to set his leg wrong. God, do you think he wants to ruin Hal forever?”
“Yes.”
“What?” Ellen asked.
“I mean, I mean, Johnny’s young. He wouldn’t do it on purpose.”
“Hal will be fine. Because he knows how physically active Hal is, I believe Johnny will take extra special precaution. And . . .” Ellen winked. “I bet you he even hooks him up with a killer pain medication.”
A peep of a shriek escaped Elliott.
“Elliott?” Ellen laughed. “What is wrong with you?”
“Could you do it? Could you? You or Blue, one of you. Please?”
Ellen let out a slight huff. “All right. You’re being a mother hen. Can I just check on . . .” She pointed to a room down the hall.
“Now. Please?”
Tossing her hands up, she changed her direction. “Only because I like you.”
Elliott didn’t let the sigh of relief show. Perhaps he was overreacting, but it was better to be safe than sorry. When it came to Johnny and Hal, Elliott didn’t trust anything that transpired between them.
^^^^
“Uncle Hal.” Johnny smiled snidely as he walked into the examining room.
Hal plopped backwards. “Christ.”
“You don’t look happy to see me.” Johnny shut the door. “I hear we have to set that leg.” He walked to the table. “Does it hurt much?” He laid his hand on it and squeezed.
Hal clenched his jaw as he sat back up. “I’m fine.”
“I thought so but just in case . . .” Johnny pulled a syringe from his pocket. He tapped it. “I have some pain medication . . .”
“No,” Hal told him. “In fact, I don’t need my leg set. I’d rather have Frank set my leg. I stand more of a chance of it being done correctly.”
“Do you doubt my ability?”
“I doubt you, Johnny.”
Johnny stared at Hal. “You look pretty pathetic trying to come off tough Uncle Hal,” Johnny snickered. “Broken leg. Messed up shoulder. You can’t pull of those idle threats so easily now, can you?”
“I don’t make idle threats, Johnny. What I said to you, I meant.”
With his hands on the table, Johnny leaned into Hal. “You better think real long about those threats. You never know what someone has on you.”
Hal gave Johnny a look to show him it didn’t bother him at all. “Back away. Now.”
With a smug smile and shivering, ‘oh’, Johnny laughed and moved back. “It’s a shame about Uncle Robbie, isn’t it?”
Hal just looked at him.
“I hear he’s going to be fine though.” Johnny reached for the tray and pulled it closer. “Well, as fine can be. Such a shame.” Johnny shrugged. “Oh well, we all can’t be perfect Slagels, now can we?”
The speed of Hal’s arm moving made a noise as it cut through the air and his hand landed hard on Johnny’s throat. Lunging with everything he had, Hal leaped from the table and at full speed, he charged across the examining room, slamming Johnny into the wall. His face close to Johnny’s, Hal’s voice graveled, “I warned you . . .”
“Get your hands off of me.” Johnny’s hands reached for the choke grip Hal had on him. “I said . . .” Johnny started to lose air and he felt Hal’s fingers press harder into his neck.
Hal’s eyes glazed over as they pierced a stare into Johnny. “If it is your intention to start a war, little boy, you just started one with the wrong person.” The ‘warning knock’ on the examining room door caused Hal to release Johnny and step back just as the door opened.
“Hal.” Ellen smiled. “You really shouldn’t be on that leg. On the table.” She pointed then saw Johnny facing the wall. “Johnny? Are you all right?”
Hal answered a little snidely. “He’s upset about Uncle Robbie.”
“Aw.” Ellen walked to him and ran her hand down his back. “He’ll be fine. Why don’t you go see him? I’ll take care of Hal.”
Without looking at Ellen, Johnny nodded and walked to the door. In his leaving, he turned and saw Ellen’s back was to him so he gave one glare to Hal before walking out.
“So.” Hal hopped up on the table. “You’re going to set my leg.”
“Yep and it’s a good thing too. Johnny’s was going to use white.”
“Good Lord, Ellen, isn’t white the color of a cast?”
Ellen giggled. “Hal, please, you deserve a better-looking color. Pick one.”
“Why don’t you.” Hal smiled at her.
“Really? Any color?”
“Yes, Ellen.”
“Thanks. I needed an ‘up’ right now.”
“Glad I could help.” Hal swung his legs up to lie down. His eyes widened when he saw Ellen pick up the syringe Johnny had laid there. “What are you doing?”
“Pain killer.”
“No.” Hal held up his hand. “No, thank you.”
“Are you sure? I don’t know what Johnny put in here, but I’m sure it’s something strong.”
“I am sure as well, but . . .no.” Hal shook his head. “No pain medication.”
“Aren’t you brave?” Ellen set down the syringe. “No drugs and I get to pick your cast color.”
With a grumble of worry, Hal closed his eyes and lay down completely, preparing for the worst.
^^^^
If given a choice, what would Jason Godrichson had chosen? That thought ran through Frank’s mind so much as he muddled his way in the after-destruction up by Warehouses Six, Seven, and Eight. Would Jason, with all that he had done for Beginnings, had wanted that time machine powered back up for a single warning to himself? Knowing Jason, Frank figured he probably would.
The thought of all that went down not a few hours earlier right where he stood was heartbreaking, even for Frank. He was grateful to Elliott for thinking, because surely he himself was not. If the explosion was a product of foul play, all those hands volunteering to dig through and help out weren’t going to help the mass hysteria that hit Beginnings with the thought that someone in their home had gone bad.
Details of the explosion had to be kept under wraps. Frank was certain the explosion was intentional but what bothered him the most was the explosion almost took the lives of every single suspect in the Bev Hadley murder investigation. He didn’t need to be a budding Einstein to se
e through that act. The only reason to eliminate Bev’s killer would be revenge or retaliation for the Society. If the person or persons went so far as to cause a massive explosion, in Frank’s mind, they probably wouldn’t think twice about trying something else. The more the murderer was revealed, the more a target they became. That bred fear in Frank because he knew exactly who killed Bev.
He was certain whoever did it would be found out because he would find them himself. After he received news that Robbie had made it into a safety zone, Frank knew he would have a clear enough mind to forge ahead in the investigation of the explosion. The investigation zoomed in priority, even above the Bev murder. Jason was dead. In Frank’s heart and mind, and he was certain in everyone in Beginnings, Jason ranked higher then Bev Hadley ever could.
Frank walked carefully through the debris. He’d sift through it himself, with a select group of men, the next day. There would be no cleaning up of the area, not yet. Jason’s entire body had yet to be found.
Perhaps that was why Frank was there alone looking on his own. He hoped to find the remains for, in a sense, it gave Jason a little dignity in his passing. But the evening hours that darkened the sky made Frank’s search difficult. The only thing he found was that ‘reminder flask’. He picked it up from where Dean had thrown it.
In a squatting position, Frank looked at that flask. Tiny and all Dean’s idea, it was a palm size flask always filled with moonshine, always available for Frank to drink. But before he did, he would have to look at the small pictures pasted all over the flask. They were of everyone Frank loved, Ellen, the kids, his father, Robbie, and even Hal.
Frank chuckled at the label Dean had made and used eight or nine strips of tape to secure it. The simple words, ‘look who your drinking effects’, screamed at him every time he pulled out that flask. Frank put it in his back pocket as he stood up. He needed to keep that flask, not so much for sentimental reasons, but for the straight simple fact that, at that moment, Frank needed a drink. Having that on him was the best deterrent.
It was time to move on. Frank had spent enough time up there alone. The sight and smell of the area made him sick. He knew what he had to do, go back home and hug his kids in gratefulness that he had them. Then he’d go to the hospital and look upon his brother with gratefulness that, after all that transpired, Robbie was still alive.
CHAPTER THREE
The mug of stew wasn’t bad and Joe was glad that Gemma thought enough to drop it off at the clinic for him. He actually didn’t realize how hungry he was until he started eating. He clanked the spoon down into the empty ceramic mug and set it on the nightstand by Robbie’s bed.
Pulling his chair closer, Joe rested his hand on Robbie’s leg and just watched his youngest son sleep. He felt helpless and, at that moment, Joe really wanted Andrea to help him through the hard time he was facing.
What he wouldn’t give to have her by his side, holding his hand and holding Robbie’s. Her confident way of always conveying the ‘Good Lord’ would do this or that was so desperately need at that moment by Joe.
Not that Joe didn’t trust Dean, but there was nothing, in all the years in Beginnings, like Andrea’s medical opinion. Most of the time her opinion was medically founded, but there were those times when Andrea discarded what the textbooks said and diagnosed her own thoughts by gut instincts. Didn’t matter which route she chose to inform, no one ever doubted her. She was Andrea.
“Dad,” Hal called his name softly.
Wishful thinking made Joe look at Robbie first then he looked at the door where Hal was walking in with crutches. “Hey. How are you?” Joe asked him.
“I’m ready to kill Ellen,” Hal said. “She set my leg.”
“Well, Hal, a broken leg has to be set or . . . or . . .” Joe’s eyes widened. “Christ Almighty! Why do you have a hot pink cast?”
“Ellen,” Hal grumbled and leaned his crutches against the wall. He grabbed a chair and pulled it near Joe. “I figure I’ll kill her.”
“She did this for Frank, you know,” Joe said keeping his voice soft. “Maybe not intentionally but . . . yeah, scratch that. She did it on purpose. I can’t blame her though.”
“Can’t blame her?” Hal asked in a whisper. “How in God’s name can’t you blame her?”
“It’s funny. We all needed some sort of smile right now.”
“At my expense. Thank you,” Hal exhaled. “How is he?”
“He’s still sedated. Dean said he’s got him under good. We probably could bring Frank in here to yell and Robbie wouldn’t wake up.”
“Then maybe you should go home and get some rest.”
“No.” Joe shook his head. “No, no. I don’t want to take a chance of him opening his eyes, being alone and facing the fact that he lost his arm. I want to be here. I will. I’ll tell ya, Hal” Joe blew slowly from his mouth. “I just feel so . . . so powerless. I don’t have Andrea. I just lost my best friend. And my youngest son, though alive, is far from out of the woods.”
“I’m sorry.” Hal reached out and laid his hand on Joe’s. “Is there anything I can do?”
“You already are.” Joe brought his hand over Hal’s. “You know what this night reminds me of?” Joe looked back to Robbie. “When Robbie had rheumatic fever.”
Hal nodded in remembrance.
“They told me that night if Robbie’s fever didn’t break, chances were he wouldn’t make it through the night. He was nine years old he. I stayed by his bed and I swear I prayed more that night than any night in my entire life. I pestered the hell out of God. And Robbie pulled through. I have no doubt he’ll pull through now. But it’s Robbie. There’s something about Robbie that’s different.”
“If I were Frank . . .” Hal winced. “I probably would say you always liked him more.”
“If you were Frank,” Joe smiled as he watched Hal wince again. “I would tell you, you were probably right.” He smiled. “But . . .” With an exhale and a stretch, Joe sat back in his chair. “We know the truth. I always loved you boys all the same and I liked each one of you more than the other for different reasons. Does that make sense?”
“No.” Hal shook his head.
“See. There was a reason that each one of you boys shined in my eyes in your own way. Jimmy was so smart. You Hal, you are just like me. But more than that, you’re determined. You have the determination to do whatever you want to do. Frank . . . Frank always made me laugh because he was so goddamn dumb. He still is. But Robbie . . .” Folding his hands, Joe leaned into the bed. “He always was innocent. Christ, even now. Even when he gets himself in trouble, all I see is that ten year old kid with messed up hair and that cute little grin.”
“That’s because he’s a thirty-something man with messed up hair and a cute grin.” Hal nodded. “And he’s still innocent. He has the best heart.”
“No.” Joe shook his head. “You’re all equals on that one. You all have good hearts.” He took a deep breath. “I need a cigarette.”
“Why don’t you go get one?”
“Maybe I will.” Joe stood up and walked to the door. “When you heading back to New Bowman?”
“As soon as Elliott finishes up for Frank. He’s shifting the security schedules around or something. Why?”
“Well, when I’m getting that cigarette, I thought I’d walk by and get the other son I need. Do you mind hanging out with your family for a little bit?”
“Not at all.”
“Good.” Joe moved to the door and stopped again. “Oh Hal, before Frank gets here, you might want to cover up that cute pink cast.”
“Shit.” Hal hunched with the reminder of why he was aggravated when he entered the room. Standing up, Hal hurried to find a blanket or something. He knew it eventually wouldn’t work. Frank would discover the cast and sadly, Robbie would miss a ‘Frank ridiculing Hal’ moment he would had basked in.
^^^^
Pouring Dean another cup of coffee, Ellen’s mind took off as she glanced around the room she and Dean d
iscovered at the clinic. In the room there were three round tables were set up, all with reading materials set about them, along with a coffee pot, toaster over, and mini fridge. “Dean?”
“Hmm?” Dean reviewed one of the many charts he had on one table.
“How many nurses and workers do we have at the clinic?”
After a blink, Dean looked up. “Registered workers or ‘on average’ daily workers?”
“Stop being so anal. About how many?”
“Not including us, six. It’s hard to say. Right now, we need more. Why?”
“Because this room reminds me of the Joe park.”
Dean laughed as she set down his coffee. “Why is that?”
“It’s inane. A lunch room or lounge for this clinic?”
“Well, with New Bowman and all those digestive problems with the men Frank brought, we’ve been busy. We’ve had more staff.” Dean shrugged.
“You don’t suppose we didn’t know about it because no one wanted us in here, do you?”
“No, it has to be new.”
Before sitting down to join Dean, Ellen leaned over and kissed him. “You look tired.”
“So do you.”
“I am.” She sat down.
“So am I.” Dean gathered the charts. “Do you want to go home?”
“No. I can’t. I promised John I’d be ‘ready available’ for when Jenny wakes up and then I want to be there with Robbie.”
A sudden ‘squeak’ in the room caused them both to look up with surprise at the late night intrusion.
Frank, who skid to a halt, looked just as shocked to see them. “Hey.”
“Frank?” Ellen smiled. “I thought you left the clinic awhile ago.”
“I did. I’m back. I couldn’t sleep.” He went over to the coffee pot. “What are you guys doing in here?”
“Working,” Ellen answered. “When we found it tonight, we thought it be a lot more comfortable than the lab.”
The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20 Page 188