It made sense. But like his father’s prints on the bomb, what didn’t make sense was the fact that there were two place settings.
If indeed the clone was hiding in the trailer, then the clone was not alone.
Yet, another mystery for Robbie to work on.
<><><><>
“Come on,” Ellen spoke in a high pitched voice. “There you go. Good boy.” She bent over, peering into the tiny cage in the cryo lab. “I think we need a Barbie bed.”
“I don’t think he’s going to be that size for very long,” Dean said. “We should get him a blanket. Try at least to domesticate him from this moment.”
“Watch him with the beef jerky.” Ellen extended a little piece though the cage. Harry not only snatched it up, he was like a tree shredder. She laughed.
Dean shook his head. “Kind of reminds me of Frank when he eats a carrot.”
“Yeah, it does.” Ellen stood up straight. “Wow, look at the time.”
“It’s only eight. You just got here,” Dean said.
“Well I stopped by to see what you were working on. Josh is watching the kids. I’m hitting the Hall for karaoke and darts with George.”
Dean was holding a set of tweezers and they dropped to the counter. “George?”
“Yes.”
“Ellen … you two hate each other.”
“No, we mended fences.”
“How do you mend fences with a man whose daughter you shot in the head?”
Ellen hand slammed down to the counter. “Thank you very much for that, Dean.”
Dean shrugged. “Sorry. Just calling it like I see it.”
“That sucks. For your information, we are putting things behind us. And … you know, before he went evil …”
Dean snickered.
“What?” Ellen asked, “What’s so funny.”
“Before he went evil. Like he was possessed. George is bad.”
“He wasn’t always.”
“Yeah, he just hid it well.”
“Dean, I used to like George … a lot. I voted for him.”
“Twice.”
“Yes, twice. I had a full size cardboard cutout of him in my bedroom closet so I could see him in the morning when I got dressed. I had … a George mug, air freshener, shot glass, tee shirt…”
“Yes, Ellen, I am well aware of all the George fan stuff you had. But this is … am I the only one who finds this a little hard to swallow.”
“What?”
“This … putting things behind us shit.”
“Dean it has to be done, in the name of the country.”
“Fine. Fine.”
“And I’m helping him to get Margaret back.”
“How?” Dean asked.
“Check this out.” Ellen stepped to Dean. “She is really jealous. Actually, she started it getting it in her mind that I was going after George in some sort of deep-seated payback for you.”
“Ah …” Dean nodded. “Now, it’s making sense.”
“What is?’
“Why Margaret did what she did?” He shrugged it off.
“Excuse me? What did she do?”
“Nothing.”
“Dean.”
“Nothing.”
“Dean!” Ellen shouted. “What did she do?”
“She hit on me.”
“When?”
“Today.” Dean shrugged again.
“Explain hit on you. Maybe you read it wrong.”
“No, she hit on me.”
“What did she do?”
“Ellen …”
“Dean.” Ellen put her hand on her hip.
“She asked if I wasn’t busy tonight if I wanted to go get a drink and relieve some physical loneliness.”
“In those words?”
“Um, not, she was a bit more direct.”
“Bitch.” Ellen heaved out.
“Ellen …”
“No, Dean, what a fucking bitch. I can’t believe she did that.”
“Stop.”
“What did you say?” Ellen asked.
“What does it matter? You’re going out with George.”
“As a tactic. Hello.” Ellen shook her head. “You said yes.”
“No, I did not,” Dean said. “Besides, what does it matter? You’re married to Frank.”
“But I thought you and Frank had an understanding with me.”
“No one knows anything about having an understanding with you El. One month it’s me, the next month it’s Ryder …”
Ellen gasped.
“Although it’s Frank’s call. Last we spoke, which was a while ago; we had that no kiss and tell rule.”
“Hmm.” Ellen tapped her finger to her lip. “I have to check on that.”
“Why?” Dean asked. “You want to have that understanding with me?”
“I want to have sex with my husband.”
Dean winced. “I don’t want to hear this.”
“But he won’t put out.”
“Maybe I do want to hear this. What do you mean?”
“Since we got married. Nothing. I got to bed, he comes in late. I get up. He’s gone. I just don’t see him.”
“He’s the leader now.”
“Yeah, I know,” Ellen said. “And I’m taking that into consideration.”
“Have you talked to him?”
Ellen shook her head. “He doesn’t need any more pressure.”
“But you need some affection.”
“Yeah.”
Dean smiled.
Ellen playfully smacked him in the chest. “And I got to go. I have that karaoke date with George.”
“Uh!” Frank grunted when he walked in., “I’m replaced.”
“Never.” Ellen walked to him and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m helping him out with something.”
“Oh,OK. Are you leaving now?”
“Yeah.”
“Have a good time.”
Ellen walked to the door. “Will you be at home tonight, Frank?”
“Um, I’ll try.”
Ellen nodded and walked out.
“Have a good time?” Dean asked.
“Yeah.” Frank replied.
“Have a good time?”
“Yes, Dean, fuck! Do you want me to tell her to have a bad time?”
“No time at all Frank. God!”
“What?”
Dean shook his head. “You have to spend some time with your wife, Frank.”
“I know, but it’s been busy.”
“New job, new worries?”
Frank nodded. “Lots of shit.”
“I understand. Speaking of understanding… do uh, we still have the understanding?”
“Why are you asking?”
“Because I am.”
“Why?”
“Because I am.”
“Dean.”
“Frank.”
“Why?”
“Fine,” Dean huffed. “Because El is running around with George. She’s been spending time with Hal and Ryder. Frank, seriously, the whole understanding thing isn’t about sex. It’s about sharing. And giving someone time with your wife. If you can’t spend that time, you should dictate who gets that time.”
“You’re right,” Frank said. “And the only one I will let have the understanding is you, Dean.”
“Thank you, Frank. Then it’s still on. We’re still having the understanding?”
“Oh, my God,” Ellen wisped out as she returned to the lab. “Are you guys agreeing on this?”
“Why are you back?” Frank asked.
“My purse.” Ellen pointed, walked to the counter and grabbed it. “Although I think I should have some say so in who the understanding is with.”
“First.” Frank said. “It’s not about sex. It’s about time together. Do you not want to have that understanding with Dean?”
Ellen looked at Dean. “Actually, Frank, yeah I do.”
“Settled.” Frank raised his hand. “But … it has to be a clean understan
ding.”
“Squeaky,” Ellen smiled. “See ya.”
After she left, Dean said. “First thing is I’m gonna argue about the time she spends with George.”
“Just like you did about everything the last time.”
“Yep. If you won’t, I will.” Dean paused. “Same rules as before.”
“Yep.”
Dean nodded.
“OK, so ...” Frank clapped his hand together, walked to the door, and locked it.
“What’s up?”
“You were saying you needed time to work on the new thing.”
“The fetus and nesting. Yes,” Dean replied. “But unfortunately I have so much other shit to do.”
“A little isolation and seclusion maybe is what you need.”
“Yeah, but … but ….” Dean closed one eye and looked at Frank. “What’s going on?”
“We need to talk.”
“Obviously, you locked the door.”
“Sit down, Dean.”
“What’s going on?”
“Just … sit.” Frank pulled out a stool for Dean, and then one for himself.
“Talk.”
“I know you love Beginnings.”
“I do.” Dean awkwardly smiled. “What?”
“You also loved my father as much as we did. He was like a father to you. I know you felt his loss.”
Dean nodded.
“How badly do you want his killer caught?”
“As much as anyone, Frank. Where is this going?”
“We have a lead. A print. The prints belonged to one person and they were found on the explosive device and the timer.”
“The killer.”
“Or one of them. We think there is more than one person involved. But … we think we know at least one of those people. We think. Let me show you.” From his utility pocket, Frank pulled out the camera. He set it on the table, powered it up, and hovered his finger over the play button. “Watch. Watch carefully.”
“Ok.” Dean peered at the screen.
Frank narrated. “There was a school tour that day my dad died.”
Dean jolted. The explosion rang out.
“It was caught on video. Now watch as I rewind and play in slow motion.”
Dean watched.
Frank paused it.
“Oh my God.”
“Who is that, Dean?”
“Oh my God. Frank, that isn’t me. That can’t be me. I swear to you. I swear on my life, my kids, my everything, I swear to you I wasn’t there. Plus, I … I would never wear a mullet.”
Frank did a quick look. “Dean, I know you weren’t there. I know this. We track you. When this tape was brought to my attention that was the first thing I did. I didn’t believe this was you. The mullet wasn’t the giveaway … you were. I know you. So I backed it up and got proof for those who saw this tape.”
“Who saw it?” Dean asked.
“Five of us, and it will remain that way. Hal, Robbie, Ryder, and John Matoose. John Matoose actually found this tape.”
Dean ran his hand over his mouth.
“When Fort came through the time machine, he claimed he was looking for a clone. A clone created from this time, and made in the future. You told my father you destroyed all the clones.”
“I … I told your father which clones I destroyed. I never lied to your father.”
“So you cloned yourself?”
“Yes, and I didn’t put it on the list, because I didn’t destroy it. But this whole situation can be remedied.”
“How?”
“Frank, I’ll destroy the clone now. If I destroy the embryo, then the clone never existed to come back and kill Joe.” Dean rushed, stood, and raced into the other room.
“But would that stop the murder.”
“Obviously, the clone was there.”
“But the clone’s prints weren’t on the explosive. Your prints weren’t there.”
Dean peeked out the back room. “The reason you think there’s one other person.” He slipped in the room.
“Yep.”
Fuck!” Dean came out of the back room. “The case is gone. The one with my clone.”
“I figured as much. The clone probably hid it somewhere.”
“I have a clone of me running around? Oh my God.”
“Yeah, imagine my feelings.”
“I need to sit back down.” Dean pulled the stool forward.
“I believe that the clone knows exactly what happened to my father. Exactly who was involved?”
“And he would know the reasons.”
“Yes,” Frank nodded.
“So what are you going to do?”
“We want to get to know the clone. Get his trust. Make him come forth as the clone and give the information. Out of curiosity, if let’s say he claimed to be you. Is there a way to scientifically check to see if he was a clone?”
“Sure. Aside from not having the same memories or emotions, there’d be a genetic marker.”
“What do you mean?”
“To make a clone, in a nutshell, you need a woman’s egg. You shell it out, and follow the procedures to make an embryo. Her egg is part of the process. Though minute, it would bear the marker of it. In the case of the clone, I used Melissa’s egg. But you’re more apt to get your answer by securing one question and one answer with me right now. Something only you and I would know.”
Frank nodded. “Let me work on that for a bit. OK? I don’t think it’s needed. I think I’d know you. It’s more for proof to someone else.”
“Marker and memories. He’s not going to have the same memories or manner of speaking. Especially if he’s from the future.”
“I understand. We just have to move on this.”
“How?” Dean asked.
“Drawing him out.”
“Makes sense. Get him in the open.”
“Yep. In the open, talking to us, totally unaware that five of us know who he is.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“This is where you come in. Sacrifice.”
Dean tilted his head in question.
“Dean.” Fran laid his hand on the camera. “We need you to do something.”
“Anything.”
“Good.” Frank exhaled, and then proceeded to tell Dean the remainder of the plan.
<><><><>
Danny was apprehensive about issuing the jeep. Frank passed on command to Danny, and all orders and recs were his baby.
If Ellen was with anyone else, Danny wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But she was with George.
There was just something unsettling about it.
So he went.
And he drove.
“Just try not to act too surprised,” Danny explained. “They tend to take you aback when you first see them.”
“Who?” George asked.
“The Creedvillians,” Danny said.
“I’m at a loss. Why?”
Ellen explained. Right after the plague, they took refuge but they took it in a nuclear power plant. There was a leak. They suffered terribly from radiation sickness and poisoning. They are extremely light sensitive.”
“Is that why we’re going at night?” George asked.
Danny nodded. ‘The town comes alive at night.”
“Like they’re vampires.”
“Yeah, only friendly ones. Here we go …” Danny approached the gate. “Don’t act surprised.”
“Got it.”
The guard stepped forward. “Evening Mr. Hoi. Dr. Slagel.”
“Evening,” Danny said.
“Are you going to be staying overnight?”
“No, just visiting for an hour.”
“Ah …” He nodded. “Karaoke is tonight.”
“We won’t be staying that long.”
“Enjoy your visit.” The guard stepped back.
Danny looked at George. “Well.”
“Frightening. Kind of reminds me of the people in Omega Man.”
“Yeah,
” Danny grinned. “Beginnings’ favorite movie.”
“Do we know where Johnny is?” George asked.
Ellen answered. “According to Tigger he is bartending tonight.”
“Tigger?” George grinned. “Tigger is in this town. I really like that little man.”
Danny bobbed his head. “It’s a matter of taste in personalities. He tends to work my nerves. Then again, for as patient as I am, I don’t have patience with teenagers. And despite how mature he tried to act. He’s a kid.”
George nodded. “Maybe you know, someone needs to raise him as a kid.”
“Maybe you need to take him back with you,” Danny suggested.
“Danny.” Ellen snapped.
“No, seriously, El,” Danny said as he pulled over. “Who does he have? Johnny? Where’s his father? With George. Who’s gonna make the biggest impact on Mike?”
George agreed. “I think you’re right, Danny. I’ll make mention of it. He may want to come with me for several reasons. One of which is Bertha.”
Danny winced. “That freaks me out.”
“Me, too.”
Ellen added. “Love has no boundaries.”
“Yeah, well,” Danny said, “In this instance love should especially when there’s a four foot height difference.” Danny opened the door. “Ready?”
They disembarked from the jeep, with Ellen leading the way.
“Wow, listen,” Ellen said. “Whip it.”
Danny opened the door for them both. Upon entering, the crowded establishment, Johnny was clearly tending bar.
Ellen walked over.
The second Johnny saw them he dropped the glass he held.
Ellen leaned over the bar and kissed Johnny on the cheek. “Things are different now. Can you take a break?”
Johnny nodded.
They retreated to the back room of the bar, and Johnny reached blindly for a seat. “I can’t believe this.”
Danny folded his arms. “I guess like El, you missed the meeting.”
Johnny nodded.
George laid his hand on his shoulder. “Johnny I’ve always loved you. Loved you like a son. I want nothing more than for us to work things out. For you and I to be friends again.”
Ellen laid her hand on his knee. “And you need this”
Johnny puckered his lips. “This sucks.”
His words took them all aback.
Johnny shook his head. “No, don’t get me wrong. It think it’s great that differences are being set aside. That the past is being buried and that this country is uniting. But it sucks that everything so big can be forgotten. That you and my dad and George can be talking. But my own father, can’t even look me in the eye.”
Consigning Fate: Beginnings Series Book 23 Page 18