And Then ... Farewell (Beginnings Series Book 22)

by Jacqueline Druga

  He shut down the radio and took a moment to just sit there.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  In a silent world, not complicated with the industrial noises, a world filled with the sadness of mourning, it seems a whisper could be heard.

  There weren’t many churches in the provinces of Beginnings. Only three were functional, yet, at 1:30 PM, even the churches not used for worship utilized their bells, and for one half hour straight, in memory of Joe, the bells tolled.

  They could be heard in the distance, and inside Beginnings. Frank just wanted them to stop. They were eerie, but he knew the meaning.

  He stood with a clipboard, at the explosion site, his reading glasses perched on his nose, cigarette in mouth, Frank looked around.

  He’d look, lift a sheet, mark.

  “Frank?” Danny got called his name.

  Frank turned around.

  “What are you doing?” Danny asked. “I thought you’d be home right now, with Ellen.”

  “I was, I’m back. I have to keep busy. What are you doing here? Aren’t you working on the uplink?”

  Danny shook his head. “I can’t concentrate. I don’t …”

  “Danny, you have to do this.”

  “I know but …”

  “I’ll give you today and tomorrow. I want you back on this ASAP.”

  Danny nodded. “What are you up to?”

  Frank looked at his watch. “I thought Robbie would be here. I am cross referencing the inventory of the office to what remains. Most of which is intact.”

  “What do you need Robbie for?”

  “I want him investigating this explosion. What was the cause, try to piece together the events.”

  “Frank, maybe Robbie right now isn’t the best one ...”

  “Robbie, is the best one. He needs this. Trust me.”

  “Okay. Don’t get me wrong.” Danny held up his hand. “But what if you guys take a few days. Just a few.”

  “And what?” Frank asked. “I can’t stop, Danny. I don’t want to stop. And If I start now, here at the beginning and stop, I won’t get moving in a few days.”

  “I understand. Can I help?”

  “Yeah, but be careful where you step. Everything is evidence right now. In fact …”

  “Frank!” Dan called out. “We found him.”

  Frank handed Danny the clipboard, took off his glasses, and turned. “You found him?”

  “Yeah. We found him,” Dan said. “He’s alive. Breathing, but unconscious.”

  “Excellent.” Frank clapped. “That’s one piece of good news.” Frank saw the confusion on Danny’s face. “Darrel. We had him in the suit watching my dad.”

  Danny blinked in surprise. “Wow, I forgot about that.”

  “We all did,” Frank said then turned back to Dan. “Get him to the clinic. I’ll meet you there.”

  “Who should I call?” Dan asked.

  “Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it. Get Melissa to get him situated, everyone is too occupied. I’ll meet you there.” Frank returned to Danny. “Can you finish that up?”

  “Absolutely.” Danny raised the clipboard.

  “Thanks.” Frank gave a swat to his arm, spun, and talked as he walked backwards. “Dan. Clinic.” He then turned once more and took off.

  Danny pulled a pen from his pocket. He watched as Dan returned to the men, who in the distance were talking and encircling Darrel. He then looked at Frank who was moving from sight. He shook his head as he focused on the clipboard. The words were a blur, his mind was a blur. Inventory? Such a small task to accomplish, yet Danny felt as if it were a mountain to climb. He didn’t know how Frank was doing it. His entire being felt at such a loss. He stood there alone amidst it all, Joe wasn’t even his father and he wondered if he’d ever function normally, and upbeat again without him.

  ****

  Just inside the confines of the community square, Frank spotted Lars Rayburn stepping from his wellness center. After a short whistle, and an up lift of his chin, Frank called Lars’ name.

  Lars stopped. Frank in view, he walked his way and immediately extended his hand to Frank. “My condolences on the loss of your father and it is a great loss.”

  “Thank you.” Frank responded with a firm shake. “Hey, I have a favor.”

  “Shoot.”

  “I had a man on my father. He was wearing an invisi suit, so my dad wasn’t aware. He survived the explosion and is at the clinic now. I want you to cut Andrea off at the pass, deal with him, get him stabilized, do whatever doctor shit you can for him, and check back with me. I don’t want Andrea or Dean, or even Jason to worry about this now. Okay?”

  “Absolutely, Frank,” Lars said. “I’m on my way, consider it done.”

  “Thanks.”

  “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m still in shock.” Frank shrugged. “It hasn’t hit me yet. It will when things slow down.”

  “And you’re going to do everything in your power not to let them slow down.”

  “You got it.”

  Lars nodded. “And you’re going to be where, so I know when I need to reach you?”

  “I’m heading back to …” Frank’s eyes shifted. “Actually, there’s my brother, Robbie, he’s who I need to speak to. Keep me posted on my guy.”

  “You got it.”

  Frank slipped by Lars with a nod of thanks, and moved to Robbie.

  Little in life made Frank stop to take in what he saw, but looking at Robbie did. Hands in pockets, Robbie didn’t walk tall, his eyes dark, lips pouty, face drawn.

  “Hey, little brother.” Frank gave an embrace to Robbie. “How are you?”

  Robbie softly chuckled in his sadness. “How do you think?”

  “Are you headed up to Dad’s office?”

  “No, I’m heading to the clinic; I want to walk Andrea home.”

  Frank nodded. “Then the office?”

  “No, Frank why would I go there?”

  “I told you Robbie, I have you leading the investigation.”

  “We know what happened.”

  “Robbie, we need to know how. We need ….”

  “We need to take time to think about our father. He just died Frank. A couple hours ago. What the fuck?”

  Frank closed his mouth tightly. “You’re right. I’ll put someone else on it.”

  “Why don’t you put someone else on putting people on jobs?”

  “What do you mean?” Frank asked.

  “Again, Frank, our dad just died. Tell someone else to handle things.”

  “And then I do what?” Frank asked. “Go home? Cry? Mope?”

  “Yeah.”

  “No.” Frank shook his head. “Dad would not want that. He would expect one of us to keep things moving.”

  “Yeah, in a few days.”

  “No, now. I’m delegating, Robbie. I can’t leave things go. We are on the brink of war and Dad’s death is the first sign. You think Dad is gonna rest easy if we let this go. He’d be fuckin pissed. You do what you need to do; I’ll get Jess Boyens on this, or John Matoose.”

  “What are you looking for up there, Frank?”

  “The type of explosion and how they pulled it off will tell me a lot about the person that set it. You know that. I want to know as much as I can what happened in that room.”

  “I was on the phone with him. He never saw it coming.”

  “Well, that’s good. But I want to know. We still have to rule it a homicide and not an accident.”

  “It’s not an accident.”

  “Internally, you and I know that. I want proof. I wanted you on it; because this is so close to you I don’t think anyone would do a more thorough job. But, I’ll get Jess or John.”

  “I’ll help them tomorrow or the next day.”

  “Little brother, don’t worry about it. I’m sorry for expecting you to do this. I’m heading to the house to check on things. See you there?”

  Robbie nodded.

  Frank began to walk away
.

  “Frank.”

  Frank stopped.

  “Don’t get Jess or John. I’ll do it. I’ll... do it. It might help to keep my mind occupied.”

  Frank smiled. “Thank you.”

  Robbie didn’t return the smile; he flashed a saddened look, turned and kept walking.

  Frank headed toward the living section.

  ****

  “Will there be a memorial service?” Jess asked. “And where? I hate to bring this up, but usually in Beginnings we move on things pretty fast.”

  He spoke to Henry on the phone and Henry replied. “As far as I know it’ll be tomorrow afternoon, or Monday. I’m with Andrea now and she’s thinking about that already. This is our leader, Jess, our father and our leader; this has to be more than the typical service.”

  “I know.”

  “She’s very adamant about getting this done. Her focus is there.”

  “So she’s holding up?”

  “Like Frank, she’s staying busy and concentrating on the memorial, is one thing.”

  “It just happened. I mean, you’d think they’d be unable to function.”

  “I know the whole community is paralyzed now. Numb,” Henry said. “They just want to keep moving. Things will hit them soon enough.”

  “True. Okay, thanks Henry, let me know.” Jess hung up the phone and stood. He looked at his watch. The residents were all gathered in the social room. And knowing how much the residents loved Joe, Jess felt he had to inform them.

  They were watching old Andy Griffith shows when he walked in. He shut of the TV and faced them.

  “Hey, Hey,” Said Chester-Chester. “We were watching that.”

  “I know.”

  “We were watching that.”

  “I know.” Jess repeated and stood there. “But there’s something very important I need to say. If I can have your attention. All of you.”

  He waited for the silence, and for Fort and Bob to stop conversing.

  “I just wanted to let you guys know, because you loved him. Things are gonna be different. Miss Ellen will be different for a while. There was an accident today, and Joe was killed.”

  They gasped, released moans, and sounds of shock.

  Jess sadly nodded. “This is a really sad time for all of us. I’m going to see if I can get you guys to attend the funeral. Okay. If you have any questions, find me.”

  The mood in the room had dropped, no more needed to be said. Jess turned.

  “I have one,” Fort stood up. “You gonna tell them about Frank? Or are you leaving that detail out?”

  Jess just stopped. He looked over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow.

  Fort gave a smug look. “Thought so. It would be too much to handle knowing about both of them dying.”

  The room erupted. The residents went insane. One even shouted it was the apocalypse.

  Fort kept that smug look and sat down.

  Jess stared at him. He opened his mouth to counteract the news of Frank dying, and calm the residents, but he didn’t. “Are you happy you got them like this?”

  Fort didn’t answer.

  “Because you’re stuck with them now.”

  Jess walked out and closed the door, locking it behind him. He stood there thinking. Was it a ruse to get a rise out of the residents by a disgruntled Fort, or did the tight lipped Fort screw up and slip?

  There was one way to find out.

  Hating to do so, Jess headed off to call Frank.

  ****

  When Dean woke up in room 23 of the clinic, he noticed the time and ran. He still had a half an hour before he had to get to Frank and Ellen’s, but not a minute to spare in getting ready.

  He raced from the clinic to his house.

  His clothes were laid out, or at least he hoped so. He wanted to grab them, and hop in the shower.

  He responded, ‘After my shower,’ to Ritchie’s “Dean, I need to talk to you.” And flew into the bathroom.

  The shower was quick, his hair was wet and he had his clothes laid out.

  “Dean.” Richie stood in the doorway of the bedroom.

  “What’s up, Richie?” Dean asked “I can’t find my tie. Have you seen it?”

  “You don’t have a clue do you?” Richie asked.

  “About what?”

  “Where have you been, Dean? Everyone’s been calling you. Looking for you.”

  “I went to sleep in the clinic,” Dean said. “I crashed hard. But, I have to get ready.” He looked at his watch. “I have fifteen minutes to get to Frank and Ellen’s.”

  “Dean, there’s no wedding.”

  Slowly, Dean faced him. ‘What? Why?”

  “Joe …” Richie said. “Joe died.”

  ****

  “You’re leaving again?” Jimmy peered up from feeding Nick in the high chair. Frank was hugging Ellen.

  “I have to,” Frank said then looked down to Ellen. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I envy you, right now." Ellen pepped out. “To be able to keep moving. To have things that keep you moving. Yeah, I’m sure. Go.”

  Hal asked. “What’s going on?”

  Frank sighed out. “Jess thinks Fort slipped up at Containment today. Released a bit of information that he wasn’t supposed to release. Assumed history went one way.”

  “Really?”

  Frank nodded. “Did you want to come?”

  “I’d like to, thanks. El? Do you mind?” Hal asked.

  “No.” Ellen said. “Jimmy is here and …”

  At that second the door to the house burst open and Dean rushed in. He looked frazzled, out of breath, pale. “I’m sorry.” He announced looking around at everyone. “I was sleeping. I didn’t know. Oh my God, I am sorry.” He went immediately to Ellen and took her in his arms. “I’m sorry.”

  Ellen just started to cry.

  From the embrace, Dean raised his eyes to Frank. “What can I do?”

  Frank laid his hand on Dean’s back “Stay here with her. I’ll be back.”

  Dean nodded.

  With a motion of his head to the door, Frank led Hal out of the house.

  Dean was at a loss. Holding Ellen, looking at his children, to Jimmy, the devastation was evident. He still didn’t know what happened, or how, all he knew was in the middle of his family’s worst nightmare.

  ****

  Despite Lars’ assurance that he had it covered with Darrell, Andrea waited. Perhaps a part of her wanted to hear from Darrell about what happened in the office. What was going on with Joe?

  But Darrell was out. Unconscious and was showing no signs of waking.

  She had a list. A memorial service for Joe would be in two days. The church portion of it would be held at Fr. O’Brien’s church, but after speaking to the priest, and to Elliott Ryder, Andrea realized this wasn’t just her loss. Or the loss of their sons, it was a nation’s loss and it would have to be dealt with as such.

  It wasn’t just Joe it was … Joe.

  It would be open for the people to pay their respects to Joe all day before the late afternoon service and burial.

  Elliot was setting up the place to do so.

  But Andrea wanted to discuss everything and finalize everything with the boys.

  She was ready to go home. Although she was supposed to call Robbie to walk with her, Andrea decided to take the walk alone. Gather her thoughts, think of Joe.

  She stepped from the clinic. The air wasn’t cool, but it carried a smell of ‘burning’ that chilled her body.

  Wearing a newly knitted sweater, Andrea tightened the garment and began her stroll home.

  It was going to be a walk through center town, and Andrea knew if she ran into anyone, it was going to be tough. She didn’t plan on stopping, until she got to the bakery.

  Through the window she saw Gemma boxing cakes. Andrea paused by the window watching. The layers were obviously, Frank and Ellen’s wedding cake.

  Did Gemma sense her there? The woman raised her eyes mid boxing and looked
at Andrea. She waved to her, and then waved her in.

  Thinking, ‘I am not up for this,” Andrea went inside.

  Gemma said nothing; she walked around the counter and embraced Andrea. Pulling from the hug, Gemma gripped her arms. “You have a lot to carry. You’re a strong woman, Andrea. But if you need anything you let us know.”

  “I will thank you.”

  “I hate to … I hate to bother you with this. I really do …”

  “No, go on. What is it?”

  “I saw Frank. I asked him what he wanted me to do with the wedding cake. A cake that serves three hundred and he said …” Gemma closed her eyes. “He said to serve it at Joe’s funeral.”

  Andrea coughed. It wasn’t what she expected to hear.

  Gemma continued, “Something not right about that.”

  “Was he being serious?”

  “Yes. Yes he was.” Gemma said. “He said all the food. Save it for the funeral. Don’t seem right, Andrea. But if that’s your wish.”

  “Hmm.” Andrea paused. “Not so sure about the cake. But I can understand Frank’s thinking. Maybe as weird as it sounds, it’s what we should do.”