Josephine lifted her flask, took a swig, gasped, then shuddered. “In love with that foreign girl, Misha.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Oh, he is not,” Henry scoffed. “You’re lying.”
“I swear.” Josephine raised her hand. “I am not lying.”
“Then you’re drunk.”
“Ok.” She hiccuped. “I’ll give you that. But, he’s in love with her. He told me to tell everyone and I am. I thought I’d start with you two queers first since you to had some weird thing going.” She took another swig. “Now . . . if you’ll excuse me, like Skippy said, I should shout it from the highest building top. I’m going there now.” In her turn to leave, she bumped into Henry then kept walking. I wasn’t straight, but it was walking.
“Should . . .” Hector pointed. “Should she be doing that?”
“Forget her.” Henry waved his hand out in thought.
“Henry she said she’s going to the highest building . . .”
“Hector, please, do you really think she will shout it? And if she does, what the big deal about her shouting that?”
“I’m not speaking about her shouting, I’m talking about her going to the highest roof top.”
“We’re in Beginnings. How high can she go?” Henry shrugged. “Anyhow . . . what do you make of this?”
“Dean in love with Misha?”
“Yeah. It has to be a Josephine tale.”
“Does she tell tales?” Hector asked.
“She exaggerates.”
“One way to find out.” Hector gave a motion of his head to the clinic. “Let’s go to the source.”
“Sounds good.” Henry started walking with Hector. “You do know, it would make sense if it was and this whole thing was a set up to get her.”
“I would be apt to believe that he was the one that told her about us.”
“Dean can be an asshole sometimes. You know he wants to take on Hal.”
Hector paused, but only to laugh. With a shake of his head, he continued walking.
Both men kept striding directly toward the clinic. There was some commotion when they entered and that was to be expected, especially with the injured from Iowa arriving shortly. They spotted Misha at the far end of the hall and as they made their way to the clinic, Dean was walking out.
“Dean,” Henry called.
Dean turned and looked down the other end of the corridor, then approached Henry and Hector. “Hey, have you two seen Misha?”
Henry glanced at Hector then back to Dean. “No. I . . .”
“Shit.” Dean shook his head.
“What?” Henry asked.
“I miss her.”
“What!” Hector blasted. “What the fuck, Dean? So it’s true?”
“Is what true?” Dean asked.
Right then and there, distant but clear, Josephine’s voice rang out from outside. “Dean’s in love with Misha.
“That,” Hector said.
Dean inhaled. “Is it my imagination, or is Josephine’s voice extra soothing today?”
Henry gave a quirky look. “You’re fucked up.”
“Dean’s in love with Misha!”
Dean smiled. “Isn’t that nice of her?”
“Dean’s in love with Misha!”
Hector began to get angry. “How long? How long have you . . . . been in love with her?”
“It happened suddenly.” Dean shrugged.
“Dean’s in love . . .”
Silence.
It was weird the way the sentence just ended and no sooner did Henry, Hector, and Dean cast a glance to the front main doors, Mark from Security burst in.
“Dean.” Mark rushed to him. “I’m glad you’re here. We need some help. Josephine fell off the bakery building. She’s OK, but no one wants to touch her.”
Understanding that, Henry and Hector hesitated. However Dean didn’t waste a second. He flew from the clinic.
^^^^^
There was a certain cloud of silence that hung over Johnny’s head everywhere he went from the moment he arrived back in Lodi. Was it his imagination or were the men purposely not saying anything to him? Something was definitely different. Johnny could feel it. He was viewed differently and that had to all stem from the confrontation with John Matoose.
Why did it have to be John Matoose, of all people? Where was his father? Robbie? Anyone else. In fact, Johnny was hoping when he heard that it was Beginnings, he would see his Uncle Robbie, although Johnny wasn’t all that certain Robbie would want to see him.
Michael was unbelievable about everything. Johnny fully expected Michael to pull him aside when they returned and say, ‘OK, spill it. What all did you do?', but Michael didn’t. He didn’t act any differently, nor did he say anything about the Beginnings confrontation. He did give Johnny one small piece of advice and it was pretty simple.
“Sometimes starting over is actually moving forward. You just gotta see it.”
Johnny was starting over. He didn’t view it as a move ahead. More so, he looked upon the alias in Lodi as a step back and it was. Getting away from the Society in any way, shape, or form was a giant step in the right direction. The only question on Johnny’s mind was if he could keep moving forward in the right direction all the way back home. Not only to Beginnings, but to his family . . . his father.
^^^^^
‘Forgive me, Dad.’
Frank’s head snapped upward suddenly from viewing the map.
“Frank?” Joe questioned. “What is it?”
Frank shook his head. “I heard something. It was nothing.” He rolled up the map. “I guess we’re done for the night.”
“So we want to stick with Elliott’s calculation?” Joe questioned.
“Yeah, that will work. I just want to get going.”
“Well, we’re stopped for a few hours. Why don’t you get some sleep?” Joe asked.
“I will. I want to sit by the fire, have a cigarette, wind down, and bug Hal.”
Joe shrugged. “Sounds good.” He gave a pat to Frank’s back as they walked to the fire.
Frank paused and slowed down to look at Billy all curled up in the cartoon sleeping bag. He bent down and kissed him.
“Don’t wake him,” Hal whispered. “Please.”
“Why don’t you like him?” Frank asked as he stood then made his way to sit around the fire.
“Oh, I love him. He just . . . he just drives me a bit insane at times,” Hal stated. “His intelligence baffles me.”
“That’s because he’s so smart.” Frank nodded. “It baffles me too.”
“Yes. Hmm.” Hal spoke snidely, “A lot does.”
“What’s that suppose to mean?” Frank asked.
“What do you think?”
“I asked you first.”
“Boys,” Joe silenced them. “Let’s just relax. Tomorrow’s a big day.”
“You’re right,” Frank agreed. “I get Ellen and Robbie away from God.”
“You?” Hal laughed. “Why does it have to be you?”
“Why not?”
“What about me? Elliott.”
Frank laughed.
“Go on, make fun, but you make it out to sound as if you’ll be solely responsible for their rescue.”
“I will.”
“You will not.”
“Bet me.”
“You’re on.” Hal extended his hand. “To be determined later.”
“Can we just . . . please.” Joe lifted his hand. He glanced at Elliott who just seemed so laid back. “Elliott, how do you do it? How do you just not let them rattle you?”
“Oh, Frank does,” Elliott said, “but not right now. I have a very keen ability to block things out. You can call it a family trait.”
“How do you know?” Frank questioned him.
“Excuse me?” Elliott was confused.
“How do you know it is a family trait?” Frank furthered the question.
“My father had the same ability.”
�
�You know your father?”
Elliott laughed. “Of course I know my father. Why wouldn’t I?”
Frank shrugged. “Dean said you’re adopted.”
“Frank,” Joe warned.
“Dean said.”
Hal mocked, “Dean said. Dean’s a moron. Why in God’s name would he say Elliott’s adopted, when clearly Elliott says he’s not.”
Frank shrugged. “Maybe because his genes say he’s Hispanic, but Elliott says he’s German and Irish.”
“I am,” Elliott said.
“But look at you.” Frank pointed.
“Frank.” Elliott stayed calm. “Even if I were adopted, what difference would it make? I wouldn’t love my parents any less. I wouldn’t be angry.”
“I would,” Frank said. “I mean, to find out you weren’t your parent’s kid after all those years of thinking you were. I mean, that’s a hell of a lie to tell your kid. Not telling them when they are young, I can see, but when they get old enough to understand, then you tell them.”
Elliott looked curiously at Frank. “Why are you thinking so deeply about his?”
Hal answered, “Joey. You know Joey is Frank’s son. Joey doesn’t know that.”
Elliott chuckled. “I don’t think Joey will have any doubt as soon as he gets old enough to look in the mirror and question.”
“Did you?” Frank asked.
“No. Why would I?” Elliott answered. “I know I looked different, but that didn’t mean anything. Did you?”
“Me?” Frank asked.
Joe looked up.
“Why would I question?” Frank laughed.
“Because you don’t look like your father or your brothers.”
“I got my mother’s genes.”
“Why didn’t your brothers?”
“All right,” Joe interceded. “Enough of this. Can we just move on to something else? Hal start a new conversation.”
“Can I talk about myself?” Hal asked. “Praise myself and boast?”
“Yes.” Joe nodded, then rubbed his hands together. “Boast away.”
Frank whined. “Aw, man.” His head flung back. “Why do we have to . . .” Frank froze. In a snap of a motion, all ‘funny’ expression dropped from Frank’s face and was replaced with a cold look when he flung a hard stare at Joe.
Quiet took over.
“What?” Joe asked confused. “What’s wrong?”
Hal noticed the stare Frank gave their father and it made him uncomfortable. “Frank, what is it?”
Elliott shook his head. “Am I missing something?”
Frank answered. “No.” Still looking at his father, he stood up. “Let’s just hope that was some sort of joke. Good night.” With his demeanor changed, and saying no more, Frank moved from the fire.
“Dad?” Hal questioned. “Do you know what that’s all about?”
Joe released a slow breath. “I hope not.”
“Again,” Elliott interjected. “What did I miss? Unless, Frank was doing his mind reading thing again.”
Hal saw his father immediately glance up. “Dad? Is that the case? Did Frank read your mind. What were you thinking?”
“Let’s just say . . .” Joe looked over his shoulder at Frank who was settling next to Billy. “Let’s just say I was thinking something I shouldn’t have been.”
^^^^^
It didn’t take much to distract the wild dogs that blocked the one entrance to the ramp that led to the underground garage. Actually, the dogs were trained more to get anyone going out so Robbie was able to sneak in with ease. About midway down, the pack charged around the bend. Robbie had no choice but to grab the first Drune he saw and toss him the dogs’ way.
They enjoyed the quick snack, but Robbie didn’t make it too far before he saw another line of guards headed his way. This pack wore gloves similar to the one that Creed wore and the second Robbie saw the first blue ball of electricity fly his way, he dove, watched it hit the wall, then gained his footing and headed back out of the tunnel.
That particular entrance was the only one that Robbie knew from the outside. He even tried to get into the former hotel where Ellen was kept, but it seemed that every entrance was barricaded shut. Concrete walls, old cars, made it impossible for Robbie to use a door.
He hoped that the nightfall was his reason for drawing a blank on getting in and that the rise of the next day’s sun would give him the answer he sought. Possibly Creed was waiting for Robbie to try something at night and would be more lax in the morning.
Whatever the case, Robbie would try several other buildings. If no luck was had there, he would try and try again. It was only a building he had to topple. Though Robbie was only one person, so was Ellen, and his only concern was freeing her from there. Robbie would. It was just a matter of how long it would take.
^^^^^
In front of the window, Ellen felt more alone than she had ever felt. It was there in that room the realization had hit her how far away from her home and family she was and how long it had been since she had seen them. Each hour alone seemed like a eternity, but a part of Ellen felt as if the end was nearing. She parted the curtains only slightly since Creed had told her he had special forces outside the building. Ellen only hoped that Robbie’s Slagel instinct had kicked in so he knew he had to be careful.
There was no way for Ellen to know exactly where Robbie was, but she knew he was close. There was a sense that gave her solace and an instinctual feeling that it all would be over soon. Robbie being out there wasn’t what gave Ellen the most relief. Something else did. She didn’t know what the source of the feeling was or what brought it on, but it was there. It cascaded over her like a tidal wave, all of the sudden and out of the blue, a feeling of ‘good’ and ‘safety’ that could only come from one place. Knowing the feelings she experienced, Ellen took comfort in the fact that it could only mean one thing. Not only was he on his way, but Frank . . . was near.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
January 28th
Johnny was still sound asleep on Michael’s couch when he left first thing in the morning. The cause of the deep sleep was exhaustion, depression, and alcohol. Michael couldn’t help it. No matter how hard he tried to view Johnny as a scientist, a traitor, or anything that dictated an adult status, all Michael saw was a child, a mere child and he didn’t know why.
A small and silent uproar had begun in Lodi over Johnny. Everyone knew Michael’s rules and observed them, but it didn’t stop stop gossip and the aftermath from happening.
Only a few days into his residency at Lodi and already Johnny was becoming an outcast. He had done nothing to warrant it on Lodi soil, but the outburst of the Beginnings man was a wild fire message that spread to Michael’s men and by the end of the day, no one wanted anything to do with Johnny.
They didn’t say why and to Michael they were cowards for not being honest. Michael guessed their reasoning was that they knew he would let them have it if they openly admitted the reason for shunning Johnny had to do with what he supposedly did in Beginnings.
In Michael’s book, it didn’t count and Michael would let them have it, especially Richter who used ‘needing some space and alone time’ as his excuse for no longer wanting Johnny to be his roommate. More than anything, Michael wanted to remind Richter that yes, he was a upstanding Lodi citizen, but prior to that, he was running around in a loin cloth, eating flesh and killing for no reason. Richter was a rehabilitated Savage. He of all people had no room to judge.
So Johnny stayed with Michael. Johnny knew and felt what was happening but didn’t say much. Michael’s advice was to hold on, wait it out, and they’d come around. The last thing Michael wanted was for Johnny to leave Lodi. Not only would it be tragic, but it would be a waste of the valuable asset Lodi could have in him.
Michael spoke to Johnny of his own son, Tigger, who would soon return from a fuel run. Tigger was young, still a teenager, but a big value in fuel and supply runs because of his keen ability to get into places no one else coul
d. Johnny would soon find out why that was and Michael encouraged Johnny to stay at his home because he would be the only person in Lodi remotely close to Tigger’s age. Perhaps the youth in Tigger would spark the youth long lost in Johnny and that, in return, would spark an innocence Beginnings needed to see.
Why Michael felt bad and drawn to Johnny he didn’t know. He had more reasons to ignore him than to lure him into his fatherly protection. An inner part of Michael screamed out to help Johnny, that something was missing, and that the guilt and regrets Johnny felt were too sincere and too overwhelming to be projected by someone so callous.
Something was amiss about the whole situation and, in time, Michael was sure he’d find out what it was.
^^^^^
Finally, a moment alone. Joe heard Frank waking before everyone else and wanted to seize the opportunity to speak with him. He poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot Frank had brewed over the fire, then walked the short distance to where Frank sat on a fallen tree, enjoying the morning solitude.
“You’re up kind of early.” Joe said.
“I went to sleep early.” Frank scooted over to make room for Joe.
“Just a couple more hours, Frank, and we’ll be there.”
“And this will be over. I’ll have Ellen back, my life, everything.”
“You certainly are pretty sure that Dean is giving Ellen to you.”
“Oh I’m positive. In fact . . .” Frank put his cigarette in his mouth and reached into his chest pocket. “This doesn’t leave me, not for one second. Call it . . .” He winked as he handed the paper to Joe. “Incentive.”
“Incentive, huh?” Joe unfolded the paper. “I’ll be goddamned.” He read the note. “When Frank gets home with Ellen safe and sound, I will relinquish my primary relationship position to Frank. And he signed it.” Joe handed the note back.
“Oh, yeah. I wasn’t taking a chance he was changing his mind.”
“What about Ellen?”
“What about her? I will make one point very clear to her.”
“What’s that?” Joe asked.
The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20 Page 316