“Frank?” Joe asked.
“No. You’re supposed to be on shift this afternoon.”
“I’ll come back.” Robbie gave innocent eyes.
The door to Tracking opened and Elliott walked in. His face was flushed and his breathing a little heavy. “Morning.”
“Again?” Joe questioned.
“Just . . . you . . . know.” Elliott took a breath. “Making my rounds.”
Frank peered down to his watch and nodded. “Impressive It’s six-thirty-two. Your right on schedule.”
Elliot smiled. “I’m trying.”
Joe asked, “Why are you out of breath?”
“I ran so I can be on schedule,” Elliott answered “Where’s Mark.”
“Here.” Mark walked in. “Morning Robbie. Joe. Frank. Elliott.” Setting down his coffee, Mark pulled out his chair.
“Six thirty-three,” Frank announced. “You’re late.”
Mark checked out his own watch. “No, I’m early.”
“You’re supposed to be here at six-thirty.”
“Yeah, but I’m always later than this. I come in about six-forty.”
“No, you’re don’t.”
“Yeah I do,” Mark chuckled. “You just don’t know about it.”
Joe looked at Frank. “Why is that, Frank? Wouldn’t you know this? I mean if you’re here every day at six thirty-two, surely you would know that this man comes in at six-forty.”
“I do.” Frank sniffed. “I always leave before he gets here and . . . I was covering his ass . . . .” Frank reached out and gave a light smack to Mark’s head. “So you wouldn’t yell at him, Dad. Way to go, Mark.”
Joe grumble a ‘hmm’. “All right, let’s go. There’s a few more stops then a long ride out to industrial. Boys.” Joe walked out.
A few steps into following, Frank turned around. “I’ll probably see you out there, Ryder.”
Puzzled, Elliott looked at his slip. “Shit. I have to still do . . . and that will only leave . . .”
“Yep.” Frank nodded.
“But, how in the world do you do this so fast?”
Frank smiled. “I’m Frank.” After hearing his father comment loudly, ‘you’re also an asshole,’ Frank darted out.
Hector kept his back to Joe and Frank as he dug through the file cabinet. “I had it all ready,” Hector said. “I knew today was the day.”
A closed moth smile graced Joe’s face. “See, Frank? Everyone but you.”
“No.” Frank lifted a finger. “We didn't get to my office yet. So there.”
Hector turned round. “You’ll find it in order. I had to keep changing and updating because Hal switches the UWA field workers so . . .”
“Holy Christ!” Joe exclaimed as he took the paper. “What happened to your eye?”
“Oh.” Nonchalantly, Hector reached up to the bruised and abraded cut on the corner of his left eye. “I bumped it.”
Frank snickered. “Yeah, right. Who nailed you?”
“Huh?” Hector asked. “No one. I bumped it last night. I was . . . was at the Hall. I drank too much.”
Frank snickered again.
“What?” Hector asked.
“Yeah, I’d like to know that to.” Joe added.
“When?” Frank questioned. “When last night?”
Hector shrugged. “I don’t know. It was after the show.”
Joe looked at Frank who was shaking his head. “Why are you disagreeing with the man?”
“Because he was at the show, then he saying he went to the Social Hall and got drunk enough to bang his fukin eye. No. The Social Hall had a water break last night. It closed.” Frank shook his head. “He’s covering. Did one of my men hit you?’
Hector laughed a nervous laugh. “Frank, no Why would I cover for one of your men?.”
“Frank!” Joe snapped. “Why is this important?”
“If it’s important enough to cover or lie about, then it’s a situation that we look into. The question is, why is Hector covering up that someone hit him?” Frank nodded. “If I got nailed, I wouldn’t cover it up, so I figure one of two reasons. Either he did something bad that he doesn’t want to admit that’s why he got hit . . .”
“No,” Hector disagreed. “I don’t do anything, Frank. I mind my business and do my job. I go out occasionally, but spend a lot of time at home."
“Exactly.” Frank nodded. “So it’s the other reason. You’re embarrassed about it, or . . . scared.”
Joe watched. He was a reaction observer. At first he thought Frank’s line of questioning and disbelief was ridiculous until he saw where Frank was going. Someone hit Hector for no reason, and Hectors flinches, his slight shift of eyes and turn away confirmed that. “Hector.” Joe spoke softly. “If something happened, if you want to talk about it . . .”
“Joe.” Hector laughed. “Please. I bumped myself. That’s all.”
Joe exhaled. “All right. Frank?”
Frank stared at Hector for as second then with an exhale as well, nodded. “Okay. Just let us . . . oh!” Frank snapped his fingers. “Oh.”
Joe, puzzled, tossed his hands up. “What? What?”
“Wait.” Frank looked at his watch. “Three . . . two . . .one . . .” He pointed at the door.
It opened and with a rush, an out of breath Elliott flew in. “Frank. Joe . . . W . . . wow . . . what a surprise.” He tried with diligence to keep a strong front.
Frank tucked his clipboard under his arm and winked. “Way to go, Ryder. Way to stick to the time table.” He gave a swat to Elliott’s back as he walked to the door. “Let’s see if you keep it going.”
Joe started to follow Frank out, in fact he did, but he had to see it because he knew it. He quickly cracked open the Agriculture office door to catch a glimpse of Elliott Ryder plopping in exhaustion into a chair. Murmuring to himself, ‘if he’s asinine enough to buy that agenda, he deserves it,’ Joe chuckled and closed the door.
“There’s a word for that,” Frank said as he drove to the industrial section of Beginnings.
“A word?”
“Yes, a word,” Frank answered. “Domestic violence.
‘That’s two words.”
“Same difference.”
“Christ, Frank.” Joe rubbed his eyes. “Do you really think that this is a concern?”
“Domestic violence is a concern, but we don’t think of domestic violence when we think of two men, do we?”
“No, you’re right.”
“But in any relationship, there is a strong and a weak.”
“I don’t know.” Joe shook his head. “I just don’t see Hector being weak. Maybe they argued and it got physical.”
“I saw Henry.” Frank shrugged, shifted gears, hit the turn signal, and then turned. “Henry didn’t have a mark.”
“So maybe it wasn’t Henry.”
“Maybe it wasn’t but we will pretty much see every man in this community. If Hector got in a fight, we’ll see it on the other man.”
“That is if Hector hit him back,” Joe commented. “Whoever hit Hector could have very well cold cocked him.”
“And then picked him up and carried him home?” Frank stated with disbelief.
“No, why would you say that?”
“Because that would have to be the only scenario. There’s no way someone hit Hector, knocked him out, and left him there. Henry would have been pissed and whined to you.”
“True.”
“And if Henry was there, Henry would have steeped in.”
“True.”
“Henry hit him. That’s what I think. If it’s the first time, it won’t be the last. It’s a power thing.”
“So what can we do? Nothing?”
“No, I disagree. We have to watch the situation. It can get out of hand.”
A slight snicker escaped Joe. “Sorry, but I just don’t see Hector running around as the abused spouse.”
“No, neither do I, but I don’t see Henry running around at all if he does again
.”
“You’re right.”
“I know I am.” Frank parked the Jeep. “You remember the last time we had a situation like this?”
“Do I ever. Ben ended up striking back and both him and Todd were in the clinic for three days.”
“Exactly.”
Joe exhaled. “Speaking of Ben and Todd.”
Frank whined when he looked at the big pink sign above the door, ‘Fabrics’. “Fuck.”
“Let’s go.” Joe stepped from the Jeep.
As if he needed some sort of macho entrance, Frank, with his palm flush, pushed open the Fabrics door with a bang. “Gentlemen,” he announced.
Ben rolled his eyes. “The beast has arrived.” He exhaled and turned to Todd. “Hurry and get the bi-annual before he touches anything.”
Finally Joe walked in. “Boys.” He looked at the two. “You know why we’re here.”
Dramatically Ben exhaled, “You couldn’t have come at a worse time. We are busy. Busy. Busy. Busy. We’re making mittens, you know and since you took our staff, we’re short-handed. No pun intended.”
“Well, as you are well aware,” Joe said, “punishment had to be handed out. Before I forget.” Joe winked. “Love that plaid shirt with those corduroys.”
Ben huffed in offense and mouthed the word ‘beast’ at Frank.
“What?” Frank laughed. “I only picked out your clothes. You don’t have to wear them. Wait.” Frank laughed loud. “You do.”
Joe rolled his eyes. “All right. All right.” He took the bi-annual from Todd who seemed to be snubbing them. “We’ll head on out and leave you to your . . . mittens.”
“Thank you,” Ben breathed out.
“Frank.” Joe turned to the door.
“Wait.”
“Why?”
“That.” Frank pointed.
Elliott burst in through the door.
“Christ,” Joe mumbled.
Like a kid, Frank snickered.
“Am I . . .” Elliott huffs out his exhausted breaths. “Am I . . . in . . . in . . . in . . .”
Frank raised an eyebrow. “Interrupting.”
Outwardly breathing, Elliot answered, “Yes.”
“No,” Frank replied.
“Oh my goodness.” Ben rushed over. “You poor man. You poor, poor man.” He took Elliott’s arm. “Let me get you a seat. Todd, get him a seat and some water.”
“No, I’m . . .” Elliott lifted his hand.
“You must sit.” Ben tried to lead him. “Todd! I said . . .”
“I heard!” Todd blasted and folded his arms.
Hovering over a sitting Elliott, Ben gasped out. “Why are you yelling?”
“Why are you pining over that man?” Todd stepped closer. “Is he what you want?”
“Are you insane with jealousy?” Ben asked. “I am merely expressing my concern.”
“You are pining.”
“Expressing.”
“Pining.”
‘Expressing.”
Joe looked at Frank. “Happy?”
Frank smiled. “Very.”
“Oh, yeah.” Frank’s arm flung out and stopped Joe before they went into the Bakery building. “Can you smell that? Baking.”
“Yeah, Frank, it’s a bakery.”
“No. Today is Security Appreciation Day. Come on.” Frank opened the door.
“What is Security Appreciation Day?” Joe asked.
“Once a month, they bake something special for us guy in Security. When we stop in, we get a treat. Hello!”
Josephine’s crass voice called out. “Christ Almighty. We smell you. We don’t need to hear you.”
Frank grumbled, “I hate her.”
“I heard that.” Josephine came out. “Hey ya, Joey.” She walked up to Joe and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I knew it was biannual day. Baked you some of them orange muffins you like.”
“Oh, yeah?” Joe smiled. “Thank you.”
“I’ll go get one. They're still warm. How about a cup of coffee to tote around?” Josephine asked.
“That would be nice.”
“I’ll get your biannual as well.” Josephine turned.
“Hey!” Frank called out. “What about me?”
“What about you?” Josephine asked.
“Aren’t you gonna ask me if I want a muffin and coffee?”
“No,” Josephine snipped. “That’s for Joey.”
“But it’s Security Appreciation Day. Don’t I get a muffin?”
“Did I just say that you don’t?” Josephine barked. "No, you get the Security treat, goddamn goofball.” Shaking her head, Josephine walked into the back.
“Drunk,” Frank mumbled.
‘I heard that!” Josephine yelled then returned. “Here ya go.” She handed Joe the muffin and coffee then from under her arm, she gave Frank the sheet.
With two fingers and a cringe, he took it.
“Asshole,” she whispered.
Frank snarled. “Where’s my treat?”
“Maybe if you roll over and give me a paw.”
“Hey!” Frank blasted. “This is abuse.”
“Frank,” Joe halted him. “Be nice.”
“He ain’t got a clue on how to be nice. I can’t believe he’s your son.” Josephine walked behind the counter. “I’m gonna be nice. I’ve got coffee brownies . . .”
“Oh, yeah.” Frank smiled. “I like those.”
“Those are for the night shift boys.” Josephine winked. “They’ll keep them alert. I have oatmeal cookies for regular Security guys and a good old-fashion chocolate pie for head of Security.”
“Even better.” Frank smiled.
“Wow.” Joe gave a switch of his head. “You went all out.” He checked out his muffin.
“Sure did,” Josephine answered. “We had a lot of stuff we needed to finish off.” She handed Frank a cookie. “Here, Frankie.”
“Hey. What’s this? Where the chocolate pie?’
“Are you head of Security today?” Josephine asked.
“No, Ryder is.”
“Then the pie belongs to Ryder.” Josephine smiled that old smile. “Eat you goddamn oatmeal cookie.”
“Fine." Frank took a violent bite. “I’ll wait for Ryder. He’ll give me some of his pie anyhow.”
“Wait for Ryder where?” Josephine asked.
“Here. Where do you think?” Frank rebutted.
“Why?”
“Because he’ll come in to do his rounds, that’s why.”
“Hey!” Josephine snapped. “Don’t you get all smart ass with me. I just asked a question.”
“Well if you paid attention you wouldn’t have to ask.”
“I asked you, asshole, because he was already here. Why would he come back?”
“You lie. Ryder wasn’t here,” Frank said.
“Was too.”
“Impossible.” Frank looked at his watch. “When?”
“A little bit ago.”
“Impossible.”
“Frank!” Joe intervened. “She said he was here.”
“But Dad, if he’s following the agenda, he couldn’t have been here. That would be way too fast.”
“Josephine said he was here.”
“Impossible.” Frank looked at a smug Josephine. “How did he come in?”
“Through the door.”
“No, I mean how did he look? Happy, sad? What?” Frank quizzed.
Smirking, Josephine gave a snobbish look. “Out of breath.”
“Fuck.” Frank, shaking his head in disgust, cookie in hand, hurried to the door. “Come on, Dad. We have to get a move on. I can’t have him getting ahead of us on that agenda.” After giving a snarling look to Josephine and taking a hard tug bite from his cookie, Frank walked out.
Joe hesitated before leaving. He heard Josephine snickering. Frank’s yelling from outside, annoyed him and he paused by the door. “Between you and me, was Ryder here already?”
“Nah. He called so I covered. I wanted to aggravate F
rank.”
The honk of the Jeep’s horn made Joe sneer but only briefly. He gave a grateful smile to Josephine and lifted his muffin and coffee. “Thanks.”
The horn honked again. “Dad! Come on!”
“Do me a favor.” Joe reached for the door.
“What’s that?”
“Next time, poison his goddamn cookie for me, will ya?” Shaking his head, Joe walked out yelling, ‘I hear you, asshole. Knock it off!”
“I don’t understand this roundabout way,” Frank stated. “I mean, first we’re in the Industrial section, then we’re in town, then we go to Jason at the mobile, then we go back to Industry. Now, we’re back in town.” Frank parked the Jeep.
Joe stepped out. “Because, Frank, Plastics doesn’t start operations until after eight. What good would it do us to go to Plastics when no one is there?”
“Why don’t we just go out at eight?”
“Because Glass doesn’t start until ten and Metal doesn’t start until eleven That’s why we went out there at eleven.”
“Why don’t we go out there at eleven for all divisions?”
“Because Ben and Todd are done by then.”
“Fuck.” Frank shook his head. “Why do they start that late?”
“Because they run later and most of them men work Agriculture in the morning.”
“We got more men for Agriculture Why don’t we just . . .”
“Frank.” Joe stopped him. “No.”
“But, Dad . . .”
“I’m used to the running around. I like it. Let it go. I don’t like change.”
“No one does.”
Joe grumbled as he started to walk. “Can we just drop it?”
“You started it.”
“How do you figure?”
“You have me running all over the fuckin place when all you have to do is just put them all in order.”
“I do them in order. I try to do them in the order in which they start operations. That way they aren’t in the middle of a full swing work day.”
“If that’s the case, why are we going to Containment now? They‘re open twenty-four hours.’
“Frank.”
“It’s just a lot of running around and . . .”
“Frank!’ Joe spun to him. “You want the truth. I never do it like this. I’m doing it like this to aggravate you.”
“I knew it.”
The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20 Page 374