“I understand this will only take a moment.”
“Go on.”
Henry pulled out a chair and sat down. “I don’t know if you know this but at the Wellness Center, Lars has Thursday night victim night.”
Frank raised his eyes. “Victim night?”
“The few of us attacked by the serial mutilator.”
“It’s over.”
“Yeah, for some reason. They stopped. But …. That doesn’t mean the rest of us aren’t scarred.”
“True.”
“Where do we stand on it?” Henry asked.
“Looks like the attacks stopped happening.”
“Do you think it’s because the mutilator knew he was going to get caught?”
“Possibly,” Frank said.
“Again, I ask, where do we stand on it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Stand.”
“Like what?”
“Like where do you stand on it?”
“Am I against it or for it, what?”
“No.” Henry barked. “Do you have a suspect?”
“Several.”
“Good. Is the investigation ongoing?”
Frank leaned back. “Henry, the mutilations ….”
“Were crimes, Frank? I lost my hair.”
“Yes, I see and it’s growing back nicely.”
“Still crimes. I want whoever did this to me caught and for them to pay for it.”
“It’s low priority, Henry, right now.”
“Only because it wasn’t you who was tattooed or shaved bald.”
Frank snickered. “Henry, like I’d fucking care being bald or tattooed.”
Henry growled and stood up. “Frank, I’m serious. I was a victim. So was Forrest, Josephine, Hap. We want justice. Will you promise me you’ll make sure this doesn’t get swept under the rug?”
Frank nodded. “I’ll get someone on this.”
“Thank you Frank.”
Henry nodded, pulled his cap from his back pocket and walked out.
Frank rubbed his chin. The mutilator attacks to him were low priority, but to others they were not. He also knew if he opened back up there was a chance that Dean would take the fall. Frank couldn’t have that. He knew damn well Dean wasn’t responsible, more than likely, the clone was. What he needed was to throw off whoever he put on the investigation. He needed another mutilator attack with Dean nowhere around.
With that thought, Frank smiled and picked up the phone.
<><><><>
It was a sight he never thought he’d see again, at least not peacefully. But there as it was the vision of Beginnings as they pulled through the tunnel.
“I literally, just lost my breath,” George said.
Elliott glanced over George’s way, “I can imagine.”
“This was my home.”
“Yes, sir.”
“It feels good to be back.”
“Yes, sir, I imagine it does.”
“Are you always so goddamn polite?”
Elliott choked out a chuckle. “I try to be. As you will see, all of the UWA soldiers are respectful.”
“Then Hal Slagel must be one of a kind.”
“There’s nobody quite like the Captain.”
“I’d be interested in learning more about the UWA, son.”
“I will make mention of that to the Captain, I am sure he will oblige, as we are opening our gates to you on every front … sir.”
“Do you know who I’m anxious to meet?”
“Who would that be, sir, other than you wife?”
“She’s someone I want to see. Meet. I want to meet …”
“Danny Hoi.” Elliott blurted out.
George looked at him.
“I apologize for cutting you off.”
“No, no. That just amazed me that you guessed that.”
Elliot shrugged as he drove. “If I were new, and I had received the technology of the chip that Danny sent you via email that he reinstituted, I’d want to meet him as well. Of course, we live in a Danny world in New Bowman.”
“What do you mean?” George asked.
“Danny was in charge of putting together our town when we moved Bowman from North Dakota to here. Mr. Slagel put him in charge because Danny is such a go getter. It was Danny’s baby. He had carte blanc. He was in charge of his own resources, which he acquired, and the man power. He designed the new town, rebuilding on what was there, and created what he thought would be the perfect town. Mr. Slagel wanted to keep the originality and integrity of Beginnings, so he balked at a lot of things Danny wanted to do, but allowed him to do so in New Bowman.”
“Really? What kind of things has he done?”
“Danny.” Elliott whistled. “He instituted the Danny Card which earns every worker one Danny Dollar card for every hour they work. All done like a debit. No paper money. But it is used for bonus items. Things that aren’t necessities.”
“Yeah, but Beginnings only runs on basics.”
“Beginnings, yes. Except now, the coffee shop, but that’s another thing. Bowman however, does not. It is the place where shops are set up and things are sold that aren’t necessities. It makes people feel good. Danny set it up that way. Danny Dollars, Danny Bucks is the espresso shop. The move theater is the Dan-O-Plex, the bowling is the Dan-a-Rama. Restaurants are Hoi-Hoi on the Range.”
George laughed. “Holy shit. He named everything after himself.”
“Yes, and let’s not forget the reemergence of Raman noodles.”
“Wait. Let me guess this one. Oodles of Hoi Noodles.”
“Close, Oodles of Dan Noodles,” Elliott said.
“Along with Hoi mail. I really have to meet this guy now.”
“Soon. Very soon.”
George smiled.
They wound their way around into center town, parking in front of the clinic.
“Good lord,” George lifted from the jeep. “Joe Park? What happened to the bakery? Everything looks very small town like. Danny again?”
“No.” Elliott stopped the jeep. “Actually, sort of. Danny is contiguous.” He stepped from the jeep. “I heard that Margaret is in the library. She doesn’t know you want to see her, shall I get her first or will you …”
“I’ll wait here,” George said and stepped from the jeep. “I want to take this in.”
“I’ll be right back.” Elliott nodded and walked away, leaving George standing there alone.
<><><><>
Ellen had just hung up the phone. She locked into a moment of staring with Dean. Just staring as she bit her bottom lip.
“You’re not seriously thinking about doing this, are you?” Dean asked.
“Frank asked.”
“El.” Dean whispered. “He’s asking you to commit a crime.”
“No he is not,” Ellen waved out her hand. “He’s asking me to clear you.”
“Yeah, but El. I’m not established as the mutilator.”
“Your DNA Dean.”
“But that means shit.”
“OK. OK. But at least the attack will give you an alibi. They’re tracking you.”
“So you do this. They track me. I’m nowhere near the site. What about you.”
“You’re my alibi.” She said in a so there manner. “I’m supposed to dress in all black.”
“You’ll get busted.”
“No, I won’t. Frank won’t let me.” Ellen tapped her finger to her lip. “I’m thinking about gluing some feathers on someone. Something minor, not harmful or permanent.”
Dean exhaled. “It’s still a crime, El. No matter how ridiculous, it’s a crime.”
“And your point?”
“You’re not a criminal.”
Ellen chuckled. “Dean, as I recall it wasn’t that long again that I was ousted for shooting Bev Hadley in the head.” She nodded. “I need a latte, you want one.”
“Yes, please.”
Ellen held out her hand.
“What?”
&nbs
p; “Danny Dollar card.”
After a grunt, Dean reached in his pocket and pulled it out, handing her his card. “And get me one of those cheese biscuits they make.”
“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll see if I can … steal one.” She snickered as she approached the door. “But in all seriousness, I should do this. It’s a mild crime, for a good cause. I’m a criminal, Dean. I’m actually a murderer. Unintentional as it was. As much as it was an accident, I did it.” She shuddered. “I still have nightmares about that.”
“Really? I’m sorry. You dream about shooting Bev?”
“Not really about shooting Bev as much as I dream about George.” Ellen opened the door. “Same dream. He sees me. Says I killed his daughter and he pulls out a gun, putting it to my head. I call for Frank … too late.”
“Wow.” Dean raised his eyebrows. “Well, at least you know the odds of you running into George are slim to none.”
“Thank God for that.”
“Thank God for that,” Dean reiterated. “Go get out lattes.”
“Be right back.” Ellen walked out the door, and at a quick happy pace moved down the hall. She was thinking about getting a cream cheese muffin to go with her coffee. Hands reaching for the double glass doors, Ellen froze. Her hands retracted as her eyes focused. As soon as she visually confirmed what she saw, or rather who she saw standing on the street outside the clinic, Ellen turned on her heals, and ran as fast as she could back to the lab, screaming, “Dean!” all the way.
<><><><>
George leaned against the jeep; he stared at his fingernails, thinking of what he’d say to Margaret. Her reaction to him. They were married a long time; surely, she would want to see him.
“Mr. Hadley,” Elliott approached.
George’s heart sunk to his stomach when he lifted his head and saw Elliott alone.
“I can’t find her. She was at the library, but they told me they believe she went to Fabrics.”
“Oh, OK.” George nodded. “What now?”
“I’ve placed a call to Ben from Fabrics. She hasn’t arrived, but he passed on the message to send her to Frank’s office.”
“Then we’ll head there.”
Elliott nodded once, and walked around to the driver’s side of the jeep.
George stepped back inside and hopeful that he’d see Margaret soon, drove off with Elliott.
<><><><>
“Calm down!” Dean ordered. “God!”
Ellen caught her breath. “Something’s happened, Dean. Something has happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“George.” The word graveled out of her. “He’s here.”
“In Beginnings?”
“Yes.”
“El,” Dean chuckled her name.
“Dean, I saw him. Standing right outside the clinic.”
“Ellen, why would George be in Beginnings?”
She shook her head. “Snuck in maybe. Take over. I don’t know. Kill me.”
Dean laughed. “He isn’t in Beginnings. Surely, we’d know.”
“Just come.” She tugged on his arm.
“El.”
“Dean, please.”
“Fine.” Reluctantly he followed her. Out of the lab, down the hall and to the doors.
“See, Dean he’s right …” Ellen paused.
“I don’t see George. I see Hap.”
“He was there. I swear.”
“Maybe you saw Hap. He looks a little like him.”
“I’m not crazy,” Ellen said.
From behind, as they stood at the doors, Lars approached. “The meeting is well over. If you hoping to catch a time machine instant replay, I’m sorry, Dr. Godrichson hasn’t developed that yet. But, Danny recorded it; you can catch it tonight at the library.”
Dean turned around and with a sarcastic smile said, “Thanks.”
“Ellen you look pale.”
“I am. I just …”
“She’s fine,” Dean interrupted. “Fine.”
Lars shifted his eyes. “Did he just cut you off? That was very rude. Ellen, what is it?”
Dean gave her a scolding glance.
Ellen blurted. “I just saw George.”
“George?” Lars asked.
“El.” Dean graveled.
“George Hadley.” Ellen said.
“George as in former president, head of the Society, Hadley?” Lars asked.
Ellen nodded.
Dean winced.
“Hmm.” Lars rubbed his chin. “Maybe you’re just stressed. Perhaps you may want to come to my stress reduction class tomorrow afternoon. Mid-day, fifteen minutes, relieve stress.”
“That’s sounds great.” Ellen said.
Dean rolled his eyes.
“Good.” Lars smiled. “I’ll see you later.” He walked by them, exiting through the doors.
Dean lightly back handed her in the arm.
“Ow.” Ellen grabbed her forearm.
“Why did you tell him?”
“Why did you hit me?”
“You told him.”
“I saw George.”
“Uh, yeah, El, but you can’t be running around telling people. Especially him. God. He’s so arrogant; he probably wants to diagnose you as delusional.”
“Sorry.”
Dean nodded “Let’s go back to work. It was the sun with Hap. Don’t worry about it.”
Ellen nodded. “Thanks.”
“Fuckin stress reduction. What the fuck?” After shaking his head, Dean grabbed Ellen’s hand and walked her back to the lab.
<><><><>
“Wow, did you get gray,” George said as his greeting upon shaking hands with Frank.
“So did you when you turned president,” Frank said.
“Yeah, but you’ve only been president a week or so.”
“Fuckin woke up like this one day.” Frank sat down.
“No shit.” George shook his head. “I’m sorry Frank about your dad. Joe was a good man. Things that were said, things that were done, were done in the name of war, not personally.”
“Absolutely, I know.”
“I just want to clear the air on everything, including that Salicain thing.”
“Cleared.” Frank smoothed his hand against the air. “Just like when I hit you with that fucked up virus Dean made.”
“Yeah, that was tortuous.”
“Really?” Frank asked. “It failed, right?”
“It failed in killing me. But it was a payback for the Salicain. I couldn’t move, couldn’t walk, I could talk, but I sure as shit couldn’t keep my head up.”
Frank swiped away the snicker.
“No, it’s OK, laugh. I had this contraption on my head to hold me up.”
“You had a halo?” Frank asked.
George nodded.
Frank laughed.
“I have a picture; I’ll share, my way of showing my good intentions.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
George sat back and looked at Frank. “You’re different. Too different.”
“Everyone is saying that,” Frank said. “But, it’s ... this is an adjustment. I’ll get back to being more me when I adjust.”
George facially agreed. “Every leader goes through this.”
“So I’ve heard. OK, enough idle … let’s get down to business first.”
“First thing, as I said. I’d like to clear the air on a lot of things.”
Elliott stepped forward, “If I may?”
Frank shifted his eyes. “I don’t think he has any problems with you, Ryder.”
“No, Frank that’s not what I …”
“Do you?” Frank asked George. “Unless you hold him responsible for slaying your camps. Which he did. Some. I think. Right?’
“I guess, but I don’t have a problem with him. He seems polite,” George said.
“Too fuckin polite,” Frank added.
Elliott held up his hand. “No. I’m not talking about me personally.”
; “So you don’t think there’s anything anyone could have against you?” Frank asked.
“No, I …”
“Because Ryder, I can name a few things.”
“Frank.” Elliott interrupted. “I’m talking about a situation... I want to go secure things for Mr. Hadley, but you were talking about clearing the air. I have a situation that I hope gets addressed.”
“What is it?”
Elliott hesitated. “Ellen.” He cleared his throat. “Frank, Mrs. Hadley has forgiven Ellen over the Bev ordeal. I think Mr. Hadley has to also find it I his heart to show forgiveness. I know for a fact that Ellen deals with this every day. This is a turmoil and burden she will carry with her forever. I believe it will help matters if Mr. Hadley and her talk. Actually, if they show the community that they can mend fences, we as a province and as a country can unite as well.”
“Wow,” Frank said. “You think El is the key to unity?”
Elliot chuckled. “I think it’s symbolic. The town knows their history. They see those two together. It will show good faith on the part of both sides.
George agreed with a nod. “I will make that step. Maybe you can arrange a meeting Frank?”
“Absolutely. We can do that. Also, you ever think about line dancing?”
Elliott snickered.
“Line dancing. As in Country line dancing.”
“Yes, not the electric slide.” Frank said.
“I used to be quite good. I am from Texas,” George said. “Why do you ask?”
A knock at the door drew their attention.
“Come in,” Frank said.
Margaret opened the door and stepped inside. “You wanted to see me …” her eyes shifted to George. “Frank?”
George stood up. “Margaret.”
Frank said. “Actually, he wanted to see you.”
“How are you Margaret,” George said stepping to her. “You look beautiful.”
With a dramatic ‘Bastard’ and an open hand slap to his face, Margaret spun on her heals and stormed out of the office.
Frank sat down. Sarcastically, he mumbled. “That went well.”
George held his hand to his cheek.
Frank saw it. The smile. George was smiling. “George?”
“Actually … that went very well,” George grinned. “She still loves me.”
<><><><>
Consigning Fate: Beginnings Series Book 23 Page 10