The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Hal continued his conversation with Dean. “Not until tonight, Dr. Hayes. Would you like me to have him call you or would you prefer he come to see you?”

  “I’d prefer to talk to him but he’s not going to come to Beginnings to speak to me. I know him.”

  “I do too. I believe there are some things in Beginnings he needs to take care of, especially with this serial mutilator. I’ll send him into town.”

  “I’d appreciate it.”

  “Dr. Hayes, is there …” Hal pulled the phone away from his ear and stared.

  “Sir?” Joshua asked.

  Hal raised his eyebrows, muttering, “Goodbye to you too.” He hung up.

  “Is everything all right?”

  Something was not right about the call. Dean sounded odd, edgy. Though Dean gave no indication that it was a medical related call, a fear stirred in Hal that it was. Even though it could have been a personal matter regarding Ellen and Dean’s behavior could be chalked up to the fact that he recently acquired an, ‘I hate every Slagel’ attitude, something didn’t sit right with Hal. He was left bewildered and concerned. The day would be shrouded in mystery until he found out from Elliott the reason for Dean’s call.

  “Captain?” Joshua called him again. “Is everything okay?”

  Still staring at the phone, Hal wanted to responded, ‘I hope’, but instead he raised his eyes with a smile to Joshua and only nodded.

  ***

  In two hours Joe was going to meet with Frank. He debated on which of the lesser of the two evils he should save for last. He figured not only would Frank produce a migraine, but evil two may be useful at the meeting as well. Joe went for the lesser evil.

  Ellen.

  She was in Containment or at least she was supposed to be. Not only did Joe want to speak to her before the meeting, he wanted to speak to her before she started her ridiculous afternoon activities. As he entered Containment, he prayed that she was finished with whatever morning routine she did with the residents.

  It was quiet.

  No odd music played. No voices. Quiet.

  Joe walked down the hall toward her office. The door was partially closed and that told him Ellen was inside.

  He knocked. “Ellen.”

  “Come in,” she called out.

  Joe opened the door. “Do you have … Holy Christ, what the hell did you do to your hair?”

  Ellen smiled. Every strand, every bit of her hair stood out and up as if she stuck her finger in an electric socket. She touched her hair. It didn’t bounce. “I went to Bentley this morning …”

  “Oh my God. Find someone to fix it.”

  She laughed. “No, I went this morning. He trimmed and highlighted me. I’m gonna be on TV tonight.”

  “I hope not like that.”

  “Can I finish?” Ellen asked. “Anyhow, he gave me some Hair Hold that he and Danny invented. It’s better than our other stuff. This morning, we played beautician in Occupational Therapy. Go check out the residents. We all look like.”

  “Will you be able to get that out?”

  Ellen nodded. “I already did. But you know Chester. He does everything twice so I let it stay. I feel alive.”

  “You look ridiculous.” Joe shut the door. “I don’t know if I can speak to you seriously.”

  “This is a serious visit?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did I do something?’

  “No.”

  “Oh.” Ellen perked with excitement. “So it’s official.”

  Joe cringed. “Yes. So, move from behind that desk, Missy Jane.”

  Ellen hurriedly scooted out and allowed Joe to have her seat. “It’s not often that I get an official visit.”

  “It’s not often I come to you for help.”

  After slipping out an excited shriek, Ellen sat down. “You need my help?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “Joe, this is so great.”

  Joe grumbled. “Anyhow, it deals with this serial mutilator we have.”

  “I’m helping with an investigation?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  Ellen grinned. “Shoot. I’m ready.”

  “Three individuals in this community know people well, Robbie, Danny Hoi, and … and you, mainly because you’re like our town psychologist. I’m asking each of you to think about this case and the weird shit the perpetrator is doing. I want you to …”

  “Come up with suspects?”

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “Create me a profile of the attacker.”

  “A profile?”

  “You know what a profile is, right?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Ellen said. “How in-depth do you want?”

  “Just a rough outline. You know, nothing major.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Give me an idea of what to look for. Include daily habits you think this person may partake in, maybe bigotries and so forth.”

  “You want them listed, I suppose.”

  “List, it don’t matter. I need enough to give me ideas. If you draw that out for me, I’d appreciate it.” He handed her a tablet. “Here I even got you paper.” He stood up and walked around the desk. “The sooner you get that back to me, the better.”

  “I’ll get on it right away.”

  “Thanks.” Joe kissed her on the cheek.

  “No, Joe, thank you. This means a lot that you came to me for this.”

  “Like I said, you know people. You have a talent.”

  Ellen lowered her head with a blush. “Thanks.”

  “Well, I’ll let you be.” He laid his hand on her back and walked to the door. “Oh, if by chance you finish all or any of that, I’d like you to bring it to me office in about two hours. If not, that’s fine.”

  “I’ll have something for you Joe.”

  Joe gave a thumbs up and walked out.

  Ellen stared at the blank paper. “A profile.” She picked up a pen. “A profile.” Slowly, she eased into her chair as she sank into immediate thought.

  ***

  Andrea took in the smell of it first as she did paperwork at her desk. It was close to her nose. She was so engrossed she didn’t hear him enter. The scent caused a smile and she lifted her eyes. “Frank,” she breathed out. “For me?” she asked of the rose.

  “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Frank handed it to her then leaned across the desk and kissed her on the cheek. “I’d say be mine, but aren’t you already?” He smiled. “I was going to give that to you later but I was here checking on Robbie, plus I had to see you for something else so I thought I’d brighten your day.”

  “It did.” Andrea released an airy laugh and brought her hand to her mouth. “I … I am touched. You boys.” She shook her head and extended the rose to a vase where two others already were perched.

  Frank looked curiously, “Who got you those?”

  “Robbie before he went under the knife and Jimmy.”

  “In your opinion, how is Robbie? He was sleeping when I popped in.”

  “Excellent. Dean said the surgery was quick. Danny was in and out in a few minutes. In fact, Dean said it took longer to stitch Robbie back up. He’ll be out in an hour or two.”

  “When the sedative wears off?”

  “Sweet Jesus, he wasn’t even given a sedative. He’s napping.”

  Frank laughed. “Just like Robbie. So Andrea, do you have a minute.”

  “For you?” She stood up. “Always. What’s up?”

  “In a couple hours we’re meeting to discuss investigation strategy on this serial mutilator.”

  Andrea gasped. “It frightens me.”

  Seriously, Frank nodded once. “We’ll get him.”

  “I have faith in you, Francis.”

  “Thanks. Anyhow, we’re gonna toss out some theories and look at evidence. You know, determine which way to go. Right now I’m collecting some stuff, and you can help me.”

  “Sure. How?”

  “Each victim was unconscious during the attack. You guys are runn
ing blood work to determine if they were drugged, right?”

  “Joe asked me that earlier. Yes, we are. We did it right away before anything could work its way out.”

  “Is it possible you can tell me what tests you’re running, what you’re looking for, and what you’ve done?”

  “Sure. I wasn’t aware that you understood all that.”

  “I really don’t,” Frank said, “But if you give me a quick lesson, I can sound impressive.”

  “Well, then, absolutely.” She walked to her door. “Let’s go down to the lab. We’ll get Dean to pull up Hap’s results since he was most recent and I’ll explain what each item is. We’ll even print up all three victims results.”

  “Excellent.” Frank followed Andrea out of the office, down the hall, and to Dean’s lab.

  Andrea knocked on the archway. “Dean?” she called out and stepped in. “Dean?”

  No answer.

  She shrugged. “He’s not here.”

  “Want me to come back?”

  “Nonsense, it’s just a result. I’ll pull it off the computer. I do it all the time.” She walked over to the computer. “In fact.” She leaned down to the mouse. “It should be one of the last files viewed. I can’t recall turning in any more blood work.”

  “Unless Dean was behind.”

  Andrea snickered. “Which is possible.” She reached for the keyboard and typed in the letter ‘H’ and ‘A’ then hit enter. A line of files came up and she clicked on the first one. “Here we go.”

  Frank leaned over her shoulder.

  She glanced at Frank. “This is a typical work up sheet with results. Hap is …”

  “Pregnant.”

  “Huh?” Andrea quickly looked at the screen. “Oh.” She giggled. “Silly me. This isn’t Hap.” She reached to close the file.

  “Good thing. I was gonna start to worry about what Dean was up to.”

  Andrea’s voice softened in almost a shock. “You still should.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Take a look.” She pointed to the screen. “Positive pregnancy results, all right.” Her finger moved across the screen. “Only, look at the name.”

  “Shit.” Frank shook his head. “Margaret Hadley.”

  ***

  It was the newest rage.

  Everyone was doing it.

  Finally, pizzazz has come to Beginnings.

  To those comments and many more, all Joe could say was, “Jesus Christ, they’re all idiots.” He wanted to shout at each of them, “If your friend jumped off the bridge, would you?”

  Probably.

  Ellen. Joe wanted to say she ought to have her head examined but that was the problem. She did by any resident in Beginnings who had hair long enough to stand on end.

  “What do you think, Joe?” Jenny Matoose asked. “I love it.” She touched her hair that, like Ellen’s, stood straight up and out, “Containment opened up a new rage in hair styles. Bentley cuts, they style. I feel free, like I lived in the eighties!”

  Joe just stared.

  Jenny, Gemma, Josephine, Trish, and Dan from Security were all wearing the hair the same way.

  Joe just needed the peace and solace of his office. There was nothing like a little oddball crime solving to lighten the mood.

  Basically, Joe wanted three people on the case, Frank, Hal, and Robbie. Jimmy would be good for an outside opinion but for the time being it was just going to be those three sons. Aside from the fact that they were smart and Joe trusted them, they, along with Joe and Ellen, were the absolutely only ones who weren’t even remotely suspects. They weren’t in town.

  Joe had twenty-minutes of alone time in his office before his boys arrived. He knew how meetings went with the three of them and that extra time would prepare him slightly for the chaos that always entailed when he and his sons got together.

  They would discuss the case, talk to Hap, and route out a plan of attack.

  Alone.

  Joe cupped his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. “Christ,” he mumbled when there was a knock at his door. “Yeah.”

  The door opened and Frank walked in. “Hey Dad,” he said in less than his normal ‘up’ attitude.

  “Frank?” Joe asked as if in shock. “I didn’t know that was you.”

  “Did I change?”

  “No, I mean when you knocked.”

  “How would you unless you got psychic powers?”

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “You usually pound once and walk in. Plus, you’re not late.”

  “Not today.” He set a file on the desk and pulled up a chair. “Want me to get the other chairs?”

  “Please.”

  Frank pulled up two chairs. “Just Robbie and Hal, right?”

  “Yes. Frank, what’s wrong?’

  Frank shook his head and sat in the chair. “I got some news. I found something out by accident. I’m not sure on how to handle it.”

  “Did you want to talk about it?”

  “Can I?”

  “Absolutely.” Joe leaned forward.

  “I went to Andrea to get some information on blood tests run on our victims.”

  “I asked her about that,” Joe said. “She said the toxicology was coming up negative.”

  “Yeah, that’s true but I wanted to know what they were running plus any other drugs that could be used that may not show up. Anyhow…” Frank exhaled. “She was pulling up Hap’s results to show me what they were doing when I read the screen.” He paused and rubbed his eyes. “It was clear as day. A positive result.”

  Joe blinked. “What drug?”

  “It wasn’t a drug.” Again, Frank exhaled. “It was a pregnancy test.”

  Joe just started then calmly stated. “Pregnant.”

  “Yes.” Frank nodded.

  “The results read pregnant.”

  “You can ask Andrea. She was right there.”

  “There has to be a mistake. How in Christ’s name can the results say pregnant?”

  “I thought the same thing,” Frank said. “I even thought it was ridiculous. I mean age would have to hinder that, right?”

  “At the least.”

  Frank continued, “But Andrea said age was a factor, but not that much. She was shocked. The first thing that came to her mind was what was Dean up to.”

  “You’re serious about this?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Frank.” Joe calmly folded his hands. “You think maybe the pregnancy result was a mask for something else? I mean, maybe Dean typed in pregnancy just in case if someone looked, they wouldn’t know.”

  Frank shook his head. “It’s a check point. It had these HCG levels listed and everything.”

  Joe blinked. “HCG?”

  “Hormone levels. That’s the hormone that they test for when they look for pregnancy. If the level is elevated, you are a pregnant. Those levels were reading at least four to five weeks. Andrea explained it.”

  “No. No.” Joe shook his head. “As much as I think Dean is a mad scientist, he cannot pull this one off. No way. So don’t worry about it. For what it’s worth, I can see how this threw you.”

  “Dad, I’m telling you that’s what it said.”

  “I believe that’s what it said, but I don’t believe there’s a pregnancy.”

  “Dad …”

  “Frank.” Joe was stern. “Enough, okay? It is ridiculous that this even crossed your mind. In fact, I can’t believe I’m sitting here trying to convince you that what you saw was a smoke screen.”

  “Why aren’t you believing this?” Frank asked.

  “Why are you?” Joe came back. “I’m telling you, elevated HCG results or not, there is no goddamn way, no way that an eighty year old man can be pregnant.”

  “I wouldn’t think so.”

  “So why are you now?”

  “Why am I now what?” Frank asked.

  “Frank, you’re sitting here upset over a pregnancy result, one you say Dean is responsible for.”
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  “We think he is.”

  “You said Andrea went to show you Hap’s results and when you looked at the screen it said pregnant.”

  “Yes.” Frank nodded.

  “Then Hap is pregnant.”

  “Dad.” Frank chuckled. “I don’t think Hap is pregnant.”

  “Christ.” Joe tossed up his hands. “I’m lost. Did Hap’s results say he was pregnant?”

  “No.” Frank shook his head. “The screen did. Andrea pulled up the wrong results by accident.”

  Joe closed his eyes for a second. “Okay, I understand but I still don’t know why this has you upset.”

  “Okay, you have to keep this a secret.”

  “All right. You have my word.’ Joe leaned into the desk, his eyes on Frank. “Shoot.”

  “It’s Margaret Hadley.”

  “Margaret Hadley?” Joe questioned. “Oh my God.”

  Frank nodded. “See what I mean.”

  “Absolutely. This is a tricky situation.” Joe’s hand covered his eyes. “Especially if we find out Dean is responsible for Margaret Hadley’s pregnancy.”

  “Good …. God,” Hal said dramatically as he stood in the open doorway. “I did not just hear that.”

  Joe’s hand slid from his face. “Shit.”

  “Great.” Frank shook his head. “Now, Hal knows Dean got Margaret Hadley pregnant.”

  “Me too.” Robbie stood behind Hal. When they all looked at him, he flashed a grin.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The mapping out and listing portion for the profile was proving to be the more tedious of tasks. It was oddly warm for February so Ellen took advantage of the ‘Joe Park’ reflection wall. She sat there and hoped a great investigative mind like Joe’s might inspire her. The wind blew a little but it didn’t even budge her hair.

  With her eyes closed and a pencil in mouth, Ellen thought. “Oh,” she whispered out, “Good one.” Then she began to write on her pad. A shadow cast over her and she lifted her eyes and smiled. “Elliott.”

  “May I join you?” he asked. “If you’re busy …”

  “No. No.” Ellen scooted over. “I’m just working on something for Joe but I’m thinking so hard that I’m getting a headache.”

  “Maybe your newest hair style has caused it.”

  Ellen snickered. “We were playing in Containment today.”