Freedom Fight: Beginnings Series Book 9

by Jacqueline Druga

  “No.”

  “Tough.”

  Dean grunted and moved about the lab with his work.

  “Two things.” She followed him. “No wait three. Stop your little ass right now and face me. I deserve more respect than to speak to your back.”

  Dean stopped and looked at her.

  “Thank you.” Andrea smiled again. “First, Joe needs you at his office for a meeting about something. He said it would take an hour. Second. Joe spoke to Frank again. Day after tomorrow, first light, he’s bringing Ellen home. Joe said to tell you he spoke to Ellen and she agreed to one more day. So . . .” Andrea pulled up a stool and sat down. “Are we feeling better now?”

  “No,” Dean said, “I’m still killing him.” Dean walked back over to his freezer case.

  “Oh Dean, I know how upset you are but I really don’t think you’re killing Frank. He’s not worth your soul burning for all eternity in hell. Keep in mind, as a Christian man, you know as well as I do that the thought is as bad as the act, so let’s wipe that . . .” Andrea stopped rambling when Jason laid a clipboard in front of her.

  Jason cleared his throat and raised his eyebrows as Andrea read it.

  Andrea quickly looked at Dean then back at the clipboard. “Oh my.” She handed the clipboard back to Jason. She whispered, “Perhaps we should start praying for Dean’s soul now.”

  ^^^^

  Bowman, North Dakota

  The Captain stared at the radio in the old police station, listening to Beginnings’ transmissions. He smoked a cigarette, listened to the meshing voices, his face serious. Occasionally he would crack a smile at the antics of a civilization that seemed to have it all together. He tapped a pencil from eraser to tip as he rocked back and forth in the chair, paying attention to every single word as if he were listening for something specific.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Dean was the last to enter Joe’s office that afternoon. Joe was in his usual spot, behind his desk. Robbie and Henry sat before it. An empty chair was waiting for Dean. He walked heavily and plopped down hard in his seat.

  Henry scooted his chair over some.

  “What?” Dean snapped at Henry, “do I smell?”

  Henry leaned into him and sniffed. “Not that I can tell. Are you still mad, Dean?”

  Dean only stared at him.

  “You know, if you would have just listened to me the other night, you could have been past this pissed off phase and we . . .”

  “Henry,” Dean said his name strongly, “don’t.”

  “O.K.” Henry held his hands up, hesitated then leaned to Dean again. “Just merely making an observation. You do know Dean, you had me thinking you were gonna . . .”

  “Henry.”

  “Not another word.” Again Henry held his hand up and looked at Joe; after a few seconds he leaned to Dean again. “Just so you know., for a little guy you can get pretty frightening when you want to be.”

  Dean snarled at Henry and gave a glaring look to Robbie who snickered. “Joe, can we just start this, please.”

  “You have to calm yourself,” Joe told him.

  “I’m calm. I’m calm.” Dean pulled out his notes.

  “O.K.” Joe said, “Before we begin, I just need to know from you, Dean, what is this list of ways to kill Frank that Andrea saw in your lab?”

  “Exactly what it said,” Dean spoke nonchalantly, looking at his notes. “I’m killing Frank.”

  Joe’s head bobbed back and forth. “You plan on doing this . . . how?”

  “Very carefully.”

  “O.K.” Joe sat back and grabbed his notes. “Now that we have that out of the way, we can proceed.”

  Henry’s eyes shifted. “A list of ways to kill Frank? Dean, you do know that’s against the rules here. You could get ousted.”

  Dean’s hand slammed down hard on his notes.

  Joe intervened, “Henry, if you don’t leave the man alone, I’m going to give him permission to make a up a list of ways to kill you. Now be quiet so we can continue.”

  “Oh Joe, I can’t believe you’re condoning this. Frank’s your son. Dean is . . .”

  “Henry!” Joe yelled then saw Robbie raising his hand. “What!”

  “I think we should let Henry ramble. I personally would like to see Dean kill him instead of Frank.”

  Joe just looked at Robbie in silence. “You done being a smart ass?”

  “Um . . . yeah.” Robbie answered.

  “Good.” Joe pulled out a cigarette. “Let’s start.” Joe gazed down at the paper. “Now before I begin, I’d like to clarify why Dean is invited to participate. He’s not council, nor is he security, but . . . Dean is the only person who is one hundred percent, without a doubt, not a suspect. I think we can all agree on that.” Joe noticed Henry’s disapproval. “We can’t? Why can’t we all agree on that, Henry?”

  “I’m not saying Dean can’t be off the suspect list. I agree to that. I mean he was the one who cured the plague. If he worked . . .”

  “Henry, stop. What are you disagreeing about?”

  “Me. I’m off the suspect list one hundred percent.”

  “How can you say that?” Joe asked.

  “Oh my God, Joe, do you think I’m working with George?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Joe argued. “But what makes you think you’re in the clear?”

  “He tried to blow me up.”

  Everyone moaned.

  Robbie shook his head. “Henry, weren’t you the one who proved that to be an accident?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then he didn’t blow you up,” Robbie stated. “Henry stays on the list.”

  “So do you,” Henry told him.

  “What?” Robbie laughed. “He sent his SUTs after me.”

  “True.” Henry held up a finger. “But he also sent what he thought was a cure, so how do we know, he wasn’t trying to save you because you worked for him?” He saw a speechless look on Robbie’s face. “See, huh? Didn’t think of that, did you? No, I did. You were top on my list of suspects.”

  “Fuck you, Henry.”

  “Joe,” Henry tattled.

  Joe held up his hand. “Robbie, you stay on the suspect list until we go through your scenario and clear you. I stay too for that matter. Right now, we’ll go through these people we all listed one at a time and just for starters, let’s go with Ellen . . . What now, Henry!” Joe’s hand slammed down.

  “I didn’t list her, Joe. You said people we all listed. I didn’t list you either.”

  “No, you didn’t, Henry. We can’t even count your list because you only had two suspects, Robbie and Jason. Now let’s move on to Ellen. Start with means. Does she have the means?”

  Dean nodded. “Yes. The means was the reason I put her on my suspect list, especially with this new plague. Jenny was intentionally given this plague. Ellen had complete access to it at any time. And . . . and the tubes of blood being messed up, I distinctively remember Ellen in the lab directly before I went in to test Jenny’s blood.”

  “Stop.” Henry held up his hand. “Do you realize how many people were taking blood that day, let alone who was in the clinic and had access to the blood? You, me, Robbie, Johnny, and Jason were still working. John Matoose brought Joe into the clinic. Melissa was one of the last ones to get sick. Then there’s Patrick. I remember a lot of them going in and out of that lab.”

  “True.” Dean held up a pencil. “But did any of them have means to the virus?”

  Joe answered, “We can’t specifically say Ellen, or whoever, used the virus we had here. Whoever was working for George could have easily had that virus in their possession, but we did establish means for Ellen. Now motive.”

  Henry shook his head. “She has none.”

  “Not entirely,” Joe said. “If this post plague world could have a rich bitch that would be Ellen. Ellen was the most materialistic person I knew in the old world. If she had a chance to be involved with someone that would rule the wo
rld, she would. Hell, I remember her telling me she’d sleep with Ronald Reagan if it meant living in the White House.”

  Robbie, Dean, and Henry cringed loudly and audibly.

  Joe nodded. “See.”

  Henry disagreed again, “Not a good enough motive, not with all that happened to her in Colorado.”

  Robbie nodded. “I agree with Henry. Your motive isn’t good enough, Dad and she did go through a lot of shit. So . . . with that in mind, I gave it some thought and it turned out perfect. Ellen’s motive is revenge.”

  All three of them said at the same time “Revenge?”

  “Yep.” Robbie said. “Using what happened to his advantage, George moved in for the kill at the right time in Ellen’s life. She was trying to get over what happened to her. Frank was being a dick because she did Dean. George knew that and played on it. Listen to this . . .” Robbie proceeded to give his scenario. “It was late. It was during the time that Ellen was homeless and living from one place to another hoping to get back with Frank. She was not speaking to Dean and working all night in the lab. In comes George . . .”

  “Burning the late night oil again, Ellen?” George asked as he walked in the cryo lab.

  “Yeah.” Ellen said tiredly. “Dean has me trying to get to these passwords.”

  “You look wore out.”

  “I am.”

  “I’m sorry for all that’s happening with you and Frank. He should just grow up and move on about it.”

  “I was wrong, George.”

  “Ellen.” George sat next to her. He turned her stool to face him. “You were going through a very difficult time. Frank denied it, but Dean didn’t.”

  “But still George, it was wrong. I lost my husband, my family.”

  “You went through a very tragic time. Frank of all people should have understood. After all, he did send you down to Colorado knowing full well it could be dangerous.”

  “What?” Ellen looked at him in shock. “What are you talking about?”

  “You didn’t know? Ellen, the only reason you went to Colorado with the scientists was because you were the most unlikely spy. Everyone knew.”

  “I didn’t. That can’t be right. Joanna asked me to . . .”

  “Joanna asked you to go because Joe told her to take you. Yes, I’m sorry to be the one to break this to you, but after you left there were meetings to determine how long to leave you there and whether to bring you back if you found out enough information or not. We discussed it. If it was all that safe, then you tell me why we sent a body guard like Miguel with you.”

  Robbie nodded. “She fell for it. He then began pumping her mind with how happened to her was all Joe’s fault, how Beginnings caused her grief. As far as putting my Dad under the Salicain, Ellen knew it wouldn’t really harm him, just inhibit him while George gained power. She had total access to the computers in the cryo-lab. She could have loaded the destruct programs.”

  Henry made a loud buzzing sound. “There’s where your story goes off. Ellen got caught in that explosion.”

  Joe quickly looked at Henry. “What explosion?”

  “The one that killed Dean.” Henry’s speech slowed. “In the time frame that . . . we erased when we . . . went back and saved Dean. Sorry.”

  Dean interjected, “But going on Henry’s story. Even without the explosion, Ellen did one thing. She gave us the antidote that brought Joe out of the Salicain. She said her future self told her to.”

  “Of course she did,” Joe said, “but George could have easily let her know which one was the antidote.”

  “But why do it?” Dean questioned. “Robbie was in holding. Frank was on his way out. You were under the Salicain and Henry was clueless. Why did Ellen give up the antidote?”

  Robbie had the answer. “Guilt.”

  Joe snapped his views to Robbie. “Ellen?”

  All four of them shook their heads.

  “O.K.” Joe tossed his hands up. “Someone give me a good reason to remove her.”

  “A-ha!” Henry held his hand up. “I got it! Ellen was the one who came up with the cure that beat the original strain of the virus.”

  Joe quickly looked at Dean. “I thought you said you did that.”

  “Ellen insisted everyone think I did. Henry knew. That’s it.”

  “See Joe,” Henry said excitedly. “You took Dean off the suspect list because of the cure thing so Ellen has to be off too.”

  “Ellen’s off.” Joe scratched her off happily.

  “Does uh . . . does this mean Dean’s back on?” Henry questioned.

  “No, Dean’s not back on,” Joe answered.

  “Why, Joe? He didn’t find the cure,” Henry argued.

  “But it was Dean’s bionic eye that saw the mouse that carried the virus. So . . . he’s still off.” Joe looked at his watch. “This meeting has gone on too long. We’ll meet tomorrow at the same time. Let’s give some deep thought to scenarios like Robbie did. And let’s do it for um . . .” Joe skimmed the list. “The next two that are easy to eliminate would be Frank and Andrea.”

  Dean grinned big time because he knew the rest of his day wasn’t going to be all that bad. He was just given permission to think of another way to eliminate Frank.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Beginnings, Montana

  That evening, Dean stood before a cabinet, shuffling through papers and tossing them in a box laid on the dining room table. He thought he heard Nick crying and looked up towards the ceiling then looked at Henry, who looked at everything Dean tossed into the box. “Henry, did you hear Nick?”

  “No. Why, you need me to get him for you.”

  “Um . . . no. It’s probably my imagination.”

  “Dad,” Billy, Dean’s six year old son, called as he sat at the dining room table, “I found a problem.”

  Dean stopped packing and looked over Billy’s shoulder as he read off a clipboard. “What is it?”

  “Is the insulin strong enough to cause a deadly heart attack in Uncle Frank?”

  “In large quantities, yes.”

  “He’s big,” Billy said. “You can’t inject him one time. You’d have to get him lots. How are you gonna hold him down?”

  “Good point. Make a note of that, neatly please.” Dean returned to his box and noticed Henry staring. “What?”

  “He’s six?” Henry pointed. “Boy, I hope Nick ends up that smart.”

  “He will, Henry. Want to know why? Frank won’t be around to raise him. I’ll be raising him with Ellen. Between your mechanical inclinations and my teaching, that kid can be another Einstein.”

  “Oh yeah?” Henry smiled. “Cool . . . he does have the hair for it.”

  Dean shook his head. His mood wasn’t the greatest. Little did he know, when he went to answer the knock at his door, his evening would only get worse. He opened it, huffed some, and laid his hand on the back of his neck. “Yes Bev.”

  Bev slipped in, despite the fact that Dean didn’t open the door wider for her. She waved her hand to Henry who looked the other way. “I was wondering if perhaps you’d like to go down to the social hall for a drink with me.”

  “No.” Dean opened the door for her to get his hint but she didn’t.

  “I heard you were upset with everyone today. I know you’re tense. I thought maybe I could help.”

  “Bev,” Dean said her name with annoyance, “no, I’m not interested in hanging around with you. Your offer is noted and rejected. I don’t know why all of the sudden you’re putting this interest in me and frankly, I don’t care. Be forewarned, if starting trouble is what this is about, you have picked the wrong day to do it. Bye.”

  “I’m not starting trouble, Dean,” Bev said softly. “Just to prove it, I’ll leave. But know this.” She stepped to him and whispered near his ear, “You’ll change your mind, Ellen or no Ellen, I can be that special friend. I can be . . .” Her words were breathy against his ear. Dean’s expression didn’t change. He still stared coldly forward. “…everything you ne
ed.” She smiled, stepped back, trailed her fingers down his chest, and walked out.

  Dean shut the door, shook his head, and turned around. His daughter Alexandra stood before him with her little arms folded.

  “Daddy. what was she doing here?”

  Dean looked down to her clueless.

  Henry saw Dean’s lost expression and decided to help out. “Alex, Bev is going to be your father’s special friend.”

  Alexandra shrieked at the same time Dean gasped. She swiftly swung out her leg, kicking Dean hard in the shin. “You jerk. I’m telling Mommy!” She raced up the stairs.

  Dean grabbed his shin, reached for the railing and spun to Henry. “Why . . . Why would you say that?”

  “That’s what Bev said. You know Dean, it’s welcome relief to see her dig her venomous claws into someone else.” Henry made a claw with his hand then hissed.

  “Henry,” Dean said his name through a painful grunt. He then huffed loudly, limping for the steps. “You are so lucky right now that my focus is on Frank. God! What is wrong with everyone today?” Dean charged up the steps.

  Henry chuckled as he watched Dean stagger up still grabbing his shin. Henry looked down when he felt the tug to his pants.

  Billy looked up at him. “You’re not funny.” He shook his head and moved to the steps to follow his father.

  Henry still laughed. He didn’t care. “Such a Dean.” He shook his head and returned to the box Dean was packing. He was certain there was something in there he forgot to look at.

  ^^^^

  Joe looked perturbed as he made his way to his dining room. He kept looking at Robbie, who stood by the front door, his hands folded in front of him. He could hear Andrea whistling in the kitchen. “Robert, do you mind telling me . . .”

  “Excuse me,” Andrea sang her words as she came from the kitchen holding a long, covered baking sheet and carried it to Robbie. “Now you be careful. It’s hot. I don’t want you burning those guitar fingers of yours.”

  Robbie took a whiff and grabbed the pan using the towel Andrea provided. “Thanks Andrea, you are turning out to be a really cool mom.”