The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Enough.”

  “He’s not growing fur, is he?”

  Ellen laughed. “No but he loves carrots. He craves them and eats a ton of them.”

  Tigger nodded at Mike. “Another similarity.”

  Ellen added, “He runs about . . . sixty miles an hour.”

  “You’re out, Dad,” Tigger said. “Sorry. You’re lucky you can run about the block.”

  Mike had enough. “Tigger, one more word out of you and I swear you’re out of here. I mean it.” He took a second to think. “Ellen? Is this all true?”

  “Very much.” Ellen nodded. “There are no physical changes to his body although he’s become a lot more nimble.”

  “That’s . . . that’s . . .”Mike shook his head “Unbelievable.”

  “Yes, it is, but it doesn’t do that to everyone,” Ellen explained. “In smaller quantities, such as was used on Robbie for his surgery, there are no changes. You can say Frank was the trial and error, first human experiment. We learned not to give quite so much.”

  Mike still couldn’t believe it. “This is unreal. You guys have a healing agent and this Frank, he got too much, lived, but was slightly mutated with rabbit DNA and now eats carrots all the time?”

  “Yep.” Ellen nodded.

  Tigger lifted his finger. “Don’t forget he runs sixty miles an hour and is nimble too. Hmm. Hey Dad, imagine what this guy can do in bed.” He whistled. “For sure you’re out.”

  Immediately Mike’s face turned beet red and his mouth closed tight. He stood, gave a nod to Ellen that said he would be back and without hesitation , he walked over to Tigger, lifted him by the back of the pants, tucked him under his arm, and carried him out.

  ^^^^

  One phone call. One simple, two minute phone call and it seemed to Joe as if he were asking for time alone to contemplate the universe. All he wanted was a moment alone, with no interruptions, to call Robbie, make sure he was fine, and bitch.

  But alone time was out of the question. It was like the weight of the world dropped on everyone’s shoulders for stupid reasons and they, in turn, dropped in on Joe. Of course, Joe could have held his hand up to the person or persons that came into his office, tell them to wait, and complete his call. However, he wanted privacy. It was his son he was talking to. The last thing he wanted was for someone to pick up the fact that Robbie was in Lodi and the shit would hit the fan. It seemed the second he sat down. lifted the phone and turned it on, someone walked in. First it was Jason. He wanted to Joe to cover for him so he could work in the Quantum lab. No problem, Joe advised. He didn’t mind the ten second interruption from Dean for a Jeep to go do doctor rounds. Even Danny Hoi barely irritated Joe. Danny had a new idea. Hoi studios, a television studio in a sense that would produce and tape shows to be shown via video upon the wide screen television they used for the drive in. Only they’d utilize the Social Hall during cold weather. Mass TV, as Danny referred. It had merit, like his drive in idea. It was a means to occupy the limbo mind that happened upon Beginnings during the evenings and winter. After all, Joe never had a problem with providing entertainment stimulus to the people of Beginnings. He did however draw a line when he himself was to be a part. Politely, Joe respectfully declined to be the first guest on the Hoi Hour talk show, but added he’d give it some thought.

  They were non intrusive visitors then came the ones that killed him.

  No more into four digits dialed and the second wave hit. Jenny stopped in to gripe that Ben and Todd failed to produce enough thermal socks for winter. Ben and Todd stopped in to gripe that they were out of pink fabric and Andrea was the final straw when she stopped by to ask Joe if he took his fiber pill, then proceeded to preach to him about regularity.

  The phone call planned to occur at 12:45 was tuning into a two p.m. call.

  Silence.

  Breathe out.

  Phone in hand, Joe dialed. “Goddamn, son of a bitch!” Joe snapped when there was a knock at the door. “What!”

  First the door opened then Dan from Security poked his head through. “Can I come in?”

  “Why not?” Joe set down the phone.

  “You seem grumpy, Joe.” Dan shut the door.

  “I am.”

  “Did you take your fiber pill? Because you know Andrea say, as we get older, regularity is the key to . . .”

  “I know what my wife says. What’s up?”

  “God is getting antsy.”

  Joe spread the fingers that covered his eyes. “Excuse me?”

  “God. He’s getting antsy.”

  “Have you been talking to my wife again?”

  “About God?”

  “Yes.”

  “No,” Dan answered. “Why would I talk to Andrea about God?”

  “She’s the big church lady in town.”

  “Oh.” Dan nodded. “Yeah. But no. Not that God. The other God.”

  “There’s more than one God?”

  “Under our province.”

  “I’m lost.” Joe tossed up his hands.

  “God. Not the God of love and understanding. The God of California.”

  “Creed.”

  “That’s him. He calls himself God, you know.”

  “I’m well aware. What about him?”

  “He’s getting antsy. He says he has crews all pumped up to start this railroad thing and crews ready to establish a secondary home base for Beginnings. What does that mean, Joe? Is Beginnings moving to California?”

  Joe closed his eyes. “No. That’s a precautionary measure should we get in a bad predicament if we go to war with the Society.”

  “I see, anyway . . .” Dan continued, “He needs man power and to speak to you. He called the main Security phone. He said he’s been trying to reach you but every time he calls, your line is busy.”

  “All right. Get a hold of him. Tell Creed I have some business to attend to and I’ll get back to him ASAP when I’m done.”

  “Got it. Thanks, Joe.” Dan walked to the door. As he reached for it, it opened.

  Joe whined. “What now?”

  Sgt. Tim Doyle walked in. “Mr. Slagel, sir, we have a situation. I’d like to bring to your attention.”

  “What’s wrong?” Joe asked with concern.

  “Nothing major, but I think you should know about it.”

  “Go on,” Joe said then noticed Dan still standing at the door. “Dan, I thought you were leaving?”

  “I want to hear this.”

  “Out.”

  “Fine.” Dan stepped from the office.

  “Okay, Tim, what’s up?”

  “Well, sir, I was making my normal sweep through Texas Town and a young woman approached me. She wants out.”

  “Of Texas town?” Joe asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Where does she want to go?”

  “New Bowman.” He cleared his throat. “She heard they have a coffee shop and she thinks she’d be perfect to work there because she was a coffee barista before the world ended.”

  “Christ almighty. How is this a problem? Let her go.”

  “I told her to go.” Tim lifted hand. “She insisted she can’t. She said . . . Texas Town is holding her prisoner.” The look on Joe’s face alerted Tim that Joe was confused. “I of course thought it was an absurd suggestion so, half heartedly, I went to the leader, Mr. Pickles.”

  “Biggles.”

  “Sorry. Yes. I went to him. He said she couldn’t go. She was a resident there and had to stay there.”

  “What!” Joe blasted. “What the hell is the matter with him? You get on the horn or go see him and tell him that young woman is allowed to change residences. You tell him I run a goddamn free Society unless it’s after midnight, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Other than that, people are allowed to come and go as they please. Got that? If he has a problem, he’ll deal with me.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.” Tim nodded and turned.

  “Oh,. Tim? You busy for a minute?”

  Tim paused at the door
. “Not really, why?”

  “Could you hang outside my office door for five minutes? I can’t be disturbed. I have an urgent call.”

  “No problem.”

  “Thanks.” Joe waited until Tim left then picked up the phone and dialed. He released an excited ‘yes’ when he made it all the way through the number. It rang twice and when the other line was answered, Joe leaned back in his chair. “Robert.”

  ^^^^

  “Got it. wait.” Robbie, phone wedged between his shoulder and ear, leaned over the counter and wrote. “Back it up. Okay, again.” There was a slight pause and Robbie wrote again. “I think I have it. Yeah. Yeah. Um . . . Yep, that too. Whew.’ He shook his head. “That’s a lot of . . . wait. No, I didn’t get that.” He lifted the pencil to the paper. “Go ahead. Uh-huh. U-huh. Got it.” He dotted his period hard and laid it down. “I will. I will.” He lifted his eyes when he saw Ellen walk in. He flashed a smile. “Yep. Love ya, too. Bye.” He ended the phone call with a beep.

  “Who were you talking to?” Ellen asked.

  “Dad.”

  “Joe? Why didn’t you let me talk?”

  “Um . . .” Robbie shrugged. “I don’t know. Are you alone?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “I have a message for you.”

  “From?’

  “Dad.”

  Ellen gasped out. “Robbie, if he has a message, why didn’t you let me talk?”

  “I wanted to deliver it.”

  “You’re being mysterious.”

  In such Robbie fashion, he flashed a grin. “Yeah. Wanna hear?”

  “Sure.” Ellen stepped closer.

  Robbie lifted the paper.

  “You had to write it down?” she asked.

  Again, only with arrogance and a slightly open mouth, Robbie smiled. “Yeah. Ok.” Robbie cleared his throat. “I don’t do my father as well as Hal, so bear with me.”

  Ellen rolled her eyes.

  Robbie began and he read more than imitated, “Ellen. Not me. Ellen. What in God’s name is wrong with you?”

  Ellen’s mouth opened.

  “It is now three hours and no phone call? Christ Almighty. You think you could let me know you were Okay. Mind you, I gave rules. One of my sons . . . Robbie. That’s me . . .” Robbie smiled. “Is supposed to watch you so why are you running off and having lunch without him?”

  “He said that?”

  “No, I added that.” Robbie winked and read some more. “I don’t give a rat’s ass who this goddamn Mike is, he is not Robbie. Believe you me, Missy Jane . . .” Robbie snickered. “He called you Missy Jane. “ He shook his head. “You goddamn better stay close to my son or else. Got that?”

  “Or else what?”

  Robbie shrugged and set down the note. “He just said or else.”

  “Did you tattle on me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  “You took off.”

  “You could have come.”

  “Um, no.” Robbie shook his head. “But in all seriousness, El.” He stepped closer to her. “I want you by me. I want you staying where I stay.”

  “I want you staying where I stay.”

  “El, I came here with you. Give me that.”

  “I want to be by Johnny.”

  “You can see him but at night, you’re with me.”

  “Robbie, Mike has a great house. Mike said that . . .”

  “Whoa. Stop.” Robbie held up his hand. “I don’t know Mike.”

  “Get to know him.”

  “That’s not the point.”

  “He wants to protect me, Robbie.”

  Robbie shook his head with a laugh.

  “What? What?”

  “You’re a woman, El, the only one in town. Of course he wants to protect you. Every man in town will want to protect you. They aren’t me. That’s my job.”

  “You’re a little obsessive.”

  “Why are you arguing? You know my dad’s rules,” Robbie said.

  “But Mike . . .”

  “Mike is on an ego trip.”

  “What?” Ellen laughed in shock. “How can you make a statement like that?”

  “Lars.”

  “Lars? What about Lars?”

  “Lars told me.”

  “Lars told you Mike was on an ego trip?”

  Robbie nodded. “Lars said, ‘Mike is always on an ego trip’. He also said he’s unstable, mentally, and that Mike is obsessive, compulsive, will not let you out of his sight, and . . . and . . Lars warned me of a threat that he may try to kidnap you.”

  “You think maybe Lars is lying?”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “I don’t know.” Ellen tossed her hands up. “I met Mike. Mike doesn’t seem like that. He’s very sweet. He’s really shy.”

  “He wants to kidnap you, El and keep you from ever going back to Beginnings. Lars said. Lars is pretty cool.”

  “Why . . .” Ellen found the notion of that absurd. “Why in the world would Mike want to kidnap me?”

  “Because you look like his dead wife.”

  “What?” Ellen asked in shock.

  “Lars said you look exactly like her. He also indicated that it might get physical between me and Mike to get you away from him.”

  Ellen roared a single laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “That notion. Not that you aren’t Slagel tough, but you haven’t met Mike. Can you reserve your opinion until you do? Please? I think Lars is instigating.”

  “See, you ask how I can make a statement about Mike, but how can you make a statement about Lars?”

  “I rode in a car with him. The man is a prime candidate for being a Beginnings resident. He’d fit right in.” Ellen found amusement in the conversation. “Give me the benefit of the doubt.”

  “El, can you give me the benefit of doubt. This Mike is . . . is . . . is . . .” Robbie raised his head, his eyes shifted upward. “Is . . .tall.”

  Ellen saw Robbie looking elsewhere and she turned around. “Oh hey, Mike.”

  “Ellen,” Mike nodded.

  “Mike, this is my brother-in-law, Robbie.”

  “Robbie.” Mike extended his hand.

  The corner of Robbie’s mouth rose in a smile. He shook hands with Mike but kept his views on Ellen. “What is it with you and big guys?”

  “I’ve heard a lot about you,” Mike said. “It’s a pleasure.”

  “Robbie’s heard a lot about you too,” Ellen added.

  “Really?” Mike asked.

  “Yep. “She nodded. “It seems Lars has indicated that Robbie may have to get in a physical confrontation with you because you’re obsessive, compulsive, mentally unstable, and have no intention of letting me go back to Beginnings because I look exactly like your wife.”

  Mike blinked several times, shifted his eyes from Robbie to Ellen, then without saying anything with a strong look of embarrassment on his face, Mike walked out.

  ^^^^

  As if he were reading Arabic, Jimmy just stared down to the mess of papers spread before him, shaking his head. “This is pathetic, Jess.”

  “Forget that. Do you understand what I need to do?”

  “This . . .” Jimmy lifted a sheet of paper. “This is pathetic.”

  “Jim . . .”

  “Good thing for you I didn’t look at this mess or I’d really be wondering why you were here.”

  Quickly Jess lifted the stack of papers. He collated them. “Barring my bad note taking, I had to write something down, what if you didn’t turn out to be who you were. I’m down here for a reason.”

  “And you want to use this reason as a means to our deaths.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why don’t we just set the explosion, make it look like we died, and take off?”

  Jess just stared.

  “What?”

  “I can’t believe you’re a Slagel and you wouldn’t make a comment like that.”

  “I want to get back to my
family.” Jimmy stood up.

  “I want you back there, too, but I’d like the trip home to be without Society soldiers shooting at us.”

  Jimmy tilted his head in contemplation.

  “I know that sounds enticing to you,” Jess said sarcastically, “but be realistic.”

  “How long?”

  “A couple days,” Jess answered, “if we lay it out right with a trail of clues. I’ve been here long enough that it’s time I discovered something, anyhow.”

  “Hadley will buy it?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Answer me this. Why can’t we just say the kid is dead?” Jimmy asked.

  “He’ll want the body.”

  “Christ.” Jimmy tossed up his hands.

  “Jim, if we set this up correctly and pull this off, we have a free trip home.”

  Jimmy nodded.

  “Plus,” Jess added, “he needs to believe that John is alive so he doesn’t think he lost both aces in the hole.”

  “But we don’t know that he’s alive.”

  “Sure we do. He’s in Ohio, last I heard from Joe.”

  Jimmy blinked. “Why does my father care about Hadley’s so called adopted son? Is he another Beginnings spy?”

  Jess laughed. “You’re funny.”

  “What? What’s funny?”

  “That’s question.”

  “It’s a valid question. If you know where this kid is, why don’t you just tell Hadley?”

  “Aside from the fact that Lodi is not Society territory and we need to keep them protected, you’re talking like you can care less about him.”

  “Why should I care?”

  “Come on, Jim, I know he did something’s but he’s still your nephew. You don’t want him . . .”

  “Whoa!” Jimmy halted Jess with a held up hand. “My nephew? Who’s my nephew?”

  “John. The kid Hadley’s looking for.”

  “John who?”

  “Johnny. Johnny Slagel?” Jess shook his head .”Frank’s kid.”

  “What!” Jimmy blasted. “Johnny lived?”

  “I told you this.”

  “No, you did not.”

  “Yeah, I did.”

  “Uh, Jess, I would remember this. No, you didn’t tell me Frank’s son was alive.”

  “Whoops.”

  Jimmy glared. “Anything else you want to remember to tell me?”