The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Andrea …” Dean tried to calm her. “I’ll handle this.”

  “That man. He didn’t ask to be here in Beginnings. No,” she spoke emotionally. “We brought him here. We brought him here to save his life only to have this happen to him.” Her hand moved outward as her head flung to the right. “Sweet Jesus.”

  Dean held back his snicker. “Andrea, the man can be a bit unnerving. Maybe someone just had a bit too much of him.”

  “Dr. Hayes!” she snapped in offense. “A crime has been committed. Are you underplaying this?”

  “No, I …”

  “You call a suffering man unnerving?”

  “Andrea, listen I was just implying…”

  “Implying what?” she asked hard. “Did he deserve this? No. Does anyone deserve this? No!”

  Dean inched his way by Andrea. “I’ll just go into the examining room and see what needs to be done.”

  Andrea nodded then gasped out in relief when she saw Danny. “Daniel. Thank God. Now is the time we need leadership. This community will panic. One of our own has been attacked! Left to die!”

  Engrossed in Andrea, Danny looked up when he heard the squeak of tennis shoes and saw Dean backing up. For sure, Danny was certain the situation was bad. Trying to remain ‘Joe’ reasonable, Danny lifted his hand. “I’ll handle the community’s reaction. First, how is Forrest?”

  “The poor man,” Andrea whimpered. “That poor man. He was left hidden by the agriculture building. Had it not been for Hector hitting him with that watermelon …”

  Dean’s scoff of a laugh interrupted her.

  Andrea shot a scolding glare then continued, “Had it not been for Hector, who knows what would have happened to that great mind. Left. Just left there like a mutated animal.”

  “Oh my God.” Danny ran his hand across his own face. “Will he live?”

  Dean laughed.

  Both Andrea and Danny snapped a look at him.

  “Sorry.” Dean held out his hand. “Forrest will be fine.”

  “What about emotionally?” Andrea asked. “He’ll need therapy.”

  “Andrea, come on,” Dean reasoned. “You’re overeating.”

  Confused, Danny shook his head. “Dean, Forrest was attacked and left to die.”

  “Danny,” Dean said, “he wouldn’t have died.”

  “What happened?” Danny asked. “All I was told was Forrest was attacked and Hector found him hurt.”

  Dean nodded. “He was attacked. I won’t downplay that. However, what do I think? I think he got drunk, pissed someone off, they knocked him out, and … and … they removed all the toenails from his right foot.”

  Danny’s mouth moved but no words emerged.

  Dean continued, “That’s right. They removed his toenails.”

  Andrea gasped and closed her eyes.

  Danny lifted his hand. “Let me get this straight. Someone actually took the time to not only knock him out, but drag him to the field area and proceed to …”

  Dean finished the sentence, “Remove his toenails. Yes.”

  Danny’s head titled left to right. “That’s sounds pretty torturous.”

  “It is,” Dean said. “To me it was a personal thing, but still a crime. I’d get Security to question who he was with at the Hall last night.”

  “I’ll … I’ll get right on it.” Danny spoke rattled. “In fact, let me gather a team to work on this. I have to get to Jordan right now.” He started backing up.

  “Do you think we should call Joe?” Andrea asked.

  “No!” Danny stopped. “No, I’ll handle it. I’ll be gone a couple hours. but I promise I’ll handle this.”

  “A crime has been committed,” Andrea called out.

  “I know this,” Danny said. “Just take care of the victim. I’ll take care of the crime. Okay?” Danny waited until he got agreement then turned to leave the clinic. Andrea was upset, Dean hid back his laughter, and Danny teetered somewhere in the middle. Toenails removed? A man attacked? Even though not a heinous crime, it was a crime nonetheless. Worse than anything, it was something else to add to the ‘Joe List’.

  ***

  Was it that amusing? Joe wondered. All he did was sip his coffee, gasp outward the first taste and Ellen snickered. He watched her shake her head, chuckle, and then return to whatever it was that she was working on.

  After a shrug, Joe brought the coffee again to his mouth and as he did, he saw Ellen watching him. She snickered once more.

  “What the hell is so goddamn funny?” Joe asked.

  “You.” She smiled and shook her head.

  “Christ, Ellen, I’m having my coffee.”

  “You’re so automated,” she said. “That’s all. That’s what I’m telling Elliott. See?” She lifted the notebook. “Joe is automated.”

  Grumbling a ‘Christ’, Joe shook his head and lifted his mug. He slammed it down when Ellen giggled.

  “Sorry.”

  “Do you have something else to do or somewhere else you can tell Elliott about my coffee drinking habits?”

  “Joe, we’re heaving quality morning time together.”

  “No, Ellen, we aren’t.”

  “I’m sad, Joe,” Ellen said.

  “I’m sure.” First Joe felt the breeze of the outside and then he heard the tromping of the boots. “You couldn’t kick the snow off outside?”

  “Yeah,” Frank shut the door. “I did, but some stayed. How’s the coffee?”

  “Strong,” Joe answered.

  “Is breakfast done?” Frank asked.

  “It’s baking.”

  Frank sniffed. “Humble bread?”

  “Breakfast humble bread.”

  Ellen’s head went side to side, “God, that was boring conversation.”

  “Go away,” Joe scolded.

  Frank moved to the stove and poured coffee. “She is after breakfast. It’s triple D.”

  Joe slowly peered at Frank, “Triple D?”

  Frank nodded and joined them at the table. “Dino digging day. El’s coming. Are you?”

  “Of course,” Joe replied. “Do you think I’d miss my four sons and Ellen dig in a big hole, looking for bones? Speaking of my sons.”

  “I’m here.”

  “I know you’re here, Frank. Where are the other three?”

  “You mean Robbie, Hal, and Jimmy?”

  “What the hell other sons do I have?”

  “Well, since you’re the father of the community, technically …”

  “Technically, my ass,” Joe interrupted. “Where are they?’

  “Out making sure there are no signs of Society left.”

  “So why aren’t you out there?” Joe asked.

  “The coffee pot only makes eight cups.”

  Both Ellen and Joe looked at Frank with the utmost confusion.

  “That’s why,” Frank said, assured. “So here I am.”

  Joe held his hand to Ellen to halt her from asking. “What the hell does eight cups of coffee have to do with you coming in here before your brothers?”

  “There are three of them. They didn’t get coffee,” Frank answered. “I had a cup after I made it. I wanted more. Since I figure you and El would have a cup, I wanted to make sure I got more. Of course, someone won’t get coffee.”

  “How do you figure?” Joe asked.

  “Well, Dad. Did you and Ellen have a cup?”

  “Yes, Frank, we’re enjoying our coffee now,” Joe replied.

  “This is my second cup.” Frank held it up.

  “And how many brothers do you have?” Joe asked.

  “Three.”

  “Add.”

  “Add what?”

  “If me and Ellen both had a cup of coffee, that’s two cups. You had two cups so how many total is that.”

  Frank paused.

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “Four. We’ve used four cups. You have three brothers who want coffee.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Frank! Three plus four is seven! Ther
e were eight cups of coffee. Eight minus seven is one. One cup will be left over.”

  “Exactly!” Frank held out his hand. “One cup left. I have three brothers and now two aren’t getting coffee. Fuckin small pot.” Frank shook his head.

  Joe continued to be aggravated. “Frank, if there are …”

  “Joe,” Ellen interrupted. “Let me.” She turned to Frank. “Everyone can have coffee, Frank. We’ll just make another pot.”

  “Good idea,” Frank said, “and simple. My dad didn’t have to yell at me, did he?”

  Hal’s voice interjected as he entered, “Frank, I’m sure our father doesn’t need a reason to yell at you. He probably is backlogged on events he forgot to bitch at you about.”

  Robbie followed Hal in. “All clear. No signs of the Society.”

  Jimmy added, “We stopped by the hole and got the tents erect.”

  Robbie snickered.

  Hal paused on his way to the kitchen area. “Grow up. Ah, coffee.” He headed toward the stove.

  Frank spoke up, “Robbie, hurry. If you want coffee, steal the pot from Hal or you’ll have to wait.”

  Hal lifted the clear peculator pot. “Frank. There’s plenty of coffee.”

  “No, there are three of you and one cup left.”

  “Frank,” Hal snickered. “There’s four cups left.”

  “One. Dad said,” Frank stated.

  “Dad lied.” Hal poured coffee. “Robbie, would you like some?”

  Robbie sat at the table. “Yeah, please. Is that Humble Bread baking?”

  Ellen stood. “Andrea said we just need to heat and serve. I’ll check on it.”

  “I have to see,” Jimmy said. “I tried to reinvent this for my men, but it failed.” He headed to the stove to look as Ellen took it out.

  Frank stood as well. “I want a piece just sliced.”

  Joe watched his sons. “You guys couldn’t wait five extra seconds until it’s on the table.” He shook his head. “At least Robbie is sitting with me.” He smiled at Robbie, but for another reason other than remaining at the table. As he lifted his hand to pick up his cup, Joe’s watch slipped from his wrist. “Shit,” Joe said. “My watch.” He lifted it over his wrist. “Goddamn arthritis.” He tried to latch it. “Robbie could you do this?”

  Robbie stared.

  “Robert?”

  Robbie sneezed.

  “Bless you,” Joe said.

  At that instant, from the stove, Hal, Frank, Jimmy, and Ellen rushed over.

  Slowly, with that ‘top of the eyes’ look only Joe could give, he lifted his head. “Is there a problem?”

  Frank pointed at Robbie. “He sneezed.”

  “Yes, he did,” Joe said.

  “Bless you,” Frank nodded.

  “Bless you,” Hal noted.

  “Bless you,” said Ellen.

  “Bless you,” Jimmy said as well.

  “Thanks,” Robbie replied.

  Joe waited and stared. “Are you all waiting for something?”

  “He sneezed,” Frank said. “He …sneezed. Robbie, you sneezed.”

  “Yes, I did.” Robbie smiled but sounded disappointed. “It interrupted me latching Dad’s watch.”

  Perhaps who would do what should have been preplanned. Had it been, Frank, Hal, Jimmy, and Ellen wouldn’t have all reached at the same time for Joe’s wrist and fought over who would latch it.

  “Hey!” Joe batted them away. “Robbie’s doing it. God!”

  They looked at each other then Hal stood straight. “I wanted to.”

  “Yeah,” Frank heaved out a breath. “You know, you’re always asking Robbie for things.”

  “Why are you guys bitching?” Jimmy asked. “I just got here and Dad won’t let me help him.”

  Joe blinked a few times. “Ellen?”

  “Huh? Oh.” She giggled. “I figured since they were all reaching I’d might as well, but seeing how it’s a watch and I have the smallest hands I should …”

  “It’s a watch!” Joe yelled. “Robbie, can you …”

  “You know what, Dad?” Robbie stood up. “Had I known it would start all this trouble, I would never have said yes. You’re babies, all of you. Fix the watch. Man.” Shaking his head, Robbie stormed off while he hid his smile.

  “Fuck this.” Frank flung out his hand. “I need a cigarette.”

  “I’ll get the bread.” Ellen went to the stove.

  “I’ll help.” Hal joined her.

  “I need coffee.” Jimmy went to the coffee pot.

  Joe sat alone at the table. Not that it was all a bad thing. He knew it would be short lived, but his watch was now off his wrist. His children had quickly banned together for a cause but just as quickly, forgot about it. Groaning out, ‘morons’, Joe fixed his own watch.

  ***

  “I appreciate you coming into town, John.” Elliott sat down behind Hal’s desk, facing John Matoose. He glanced up at the soldier who set down a tray of coffee for them and gave a nod of thank you.

  “Not a problem.” John shook his head. “I had to come in early to check on Bowman tracking.”

  “There’s not a problem is there?” Elliott asked.

  “There was some movement last night but nothing a beam got and it left.”

  “Killer babies?”

  “No,” John replied. “It was too big. Probably an animal and it’s gone now. So … what’s up?”

  “First … What does Beginnings know about Jimmy Slagel?”

  John’s hand halted in fixing his coffee.

  Elliott noticed this. “John?”

  “Don’t get mad.”

  Closing his eyes slightly, Elliott leaned back.

  “Okay. Well, I realize that we wanted Joe to be the first …” John stopped when he saw Elliott’s hand rise. “What?”

  “I know Beginnings well enough. I know they know.”

  John sighed out. “Oh, good. I thought I screwed up. I didn’t want to screw up.”

  “I understand.”

  John continued rattling, “I mean, Hal is going to talk to Joe about me being the Beginnings man on the border scout mission.”

  Elliot nodded. “And he will. Back to Jimmy.”

  “Okay, I told my wife. She knew Jimmy when she was young. She thought it only right to tell Andrea. After all, Andrea is going to be his mom. Andrea and Jenny both promised it would be a secret, but … it’s Beginnings. Andrea is planning a special dinner reception.” John started to laugh. “Josephine says, “Christ, didn’t we have that party?” But, they know.”

  “General attitude?”

  “Happy. Shocked. A few expected it.” John shrugged.

  “Now, for my most important question. How do they think he was found?”

  “On that one, we were smart,” John said. “Danny, Henry, and I devised the story that there was a distress call made. I flew out and it happened to be Jimmy.”

  “Are they buying it?”

  “It’s Beginnings. We have killer babies. Why wouldn’t they buy it?”

  Elliott laughed. “True. Good. Because to Beginnings, Jess Boyens is a spy and has been kicked out.”

  “I know. So what do we do about him?”

  “He wants to come home,” Elliott said. “That’s understandable. He was promised he could return but I’d rather wait for Joe to handle it. Let him deal with the community.”

  John cringed. “You know that means Danny’s gonna have to put the Jess Boyens return on the ‘Joe List’.”

  “I know, but hey … at least it’s minor, right? Nothing major on that list is what we want.”

  “Hold that thought.” John lifted a finger when his phone rang. He brought it to his ear. “John Matoose. Oh, hey Danny ….” With a quick jolt, John sat up.

  Elliott took notice.

  “You’re shitting me. When? What …” John whined and lowered his head, shaking it. “All right, I’ll head it up. I’ll be right there.” He disconnected the call. “Scratch the minor thing on Joe’s list.” John s
tood up. “I have to head back to Beginnings. We have a problem, an attack.”

  Immediately, Elliot rushed to stand. “Savages? Society?”

  “No, it’s more of a personal attack on someone.” John moved to the door. “Forrest Caceres was attacked.”

  “Oh my God.” Elliot gasped out. “Is he alive?”

  “Yeah, he’s fine. But …” John opened the door and rapidly spoke. “The poor guy’s missing his toenails.”

  “Wish him well.”

  “I will. Thanks.” John left.

  Shaking his head, thinking, ‘poor Forrest’ Elliott paused in lowering back to his seat when it dawned on him what John had said. He tilted his head in wonder. “Missing his toenails?”

  ***

  George sought a more relaxed feel, but Mike preferred familiar territory. Lodi or not, Mike had a sanctity in his office. He and George were alone. No body guards. In fact, Mike made Tigger Bertha’s bodyguard, assuring the brawny babe that the President would not be harmed and if something did happen, she could do what she wanted with Tigger. Mike did have to admit he chuckled at her comment of, “Why do I get the feeling that somehow it’s not a fair exchange?”

  “This reminds me of Beginnings,” George stated as he sat with Mike on the lounge furniture in the corner of the office. “I’m taking it you were the Chief of Police in this town prior to the plague?”

  “I was so you can see why I love this place. I lived here all my life.”

  “Nice town.”

  “George.” Mike was firm. “Let’s cut to the chase. You came to Lodi for a reason.”

  “Yes, I did and that reason is not to bicker with you, raise anger, or shout. We are having a meeting of the minds, a discussion with a decision. I also want you to know I don’t want your decision right away.”

  “This is my town. My home.”

  “The way I look at it, Mike, is this is my country. I’m trying to put the thing back together,” George explained. “Now, you aren’t a thorn but you are on my side of the fence. Right now, we’re divided, East and West. Like the North and South. You are like West Virginia was during the Civil War, just there. But like West Virginia, a decision has to be made. Understand?”