The Horse Soldier: Beginnings Series Book 10

by Jacqueline Druga

  “You think or you know?” Dean asked.

  “Pretty sure.” Ellen brought the red object held by tweezers closer to her nostril and sniffed. “I can smell the stomach acid on it. You?”

  Dean brought his nose closer. “Yeah I can. I think you’re right. Check it out under the scope and note it.”

  “Planned on it.”

  “I find that interesting. Why were some parts ingested and others weren’t.”

  “And others tossed back out,” Ellen said. “On purpose or do you think whatever did this involuntarily rejected it?”

  “Hard to say. We still don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

  Ellen stopped in her look to the microscope. “Dean.”

  “El.” He held up his hand. “We don’t know.”

  “We think.”

  “We aren’t sure.” Dean nodded then pointed. “Keep it that way until we are conclusive. Understand?”

  “Is it right?”

  “It’s wrong if we let it out before we know. Trust me. Remember, people can be cruel.”

  Ellen agreed with a trace of sadness.

  “And, El, whenever I leave, if the results are not finished, you have to work hard to prove, without a doubt, what it was that got Marv. O.K.?”

  Ellen nodded slowly.

  “Good. I know you have enough work as it is. I’m positive with Jeremy in containment and your UWA guy heading back home today, once I’m gone, Henry will move you full time to research. I know you don’t want that but it has to be that way.”

  “I know.” Ellen’s hand touched the microscope, hesitating to do her work. “And I know it won’t be long before you come back.”

  “Let’s hope.” Dean kissed her again. “But . . . .deal with everything as if I am not. Got it. You follow the priority list. Which is?”

  “Are you testing me?” Ellen asked.

  “Yep. Go over it one more time.”

  “O.K.,.” Ellen took a breath and faced Dean. “As of this date, if you leave . . .” Another breath. “Freezer case in the special lab is always top priority. Bi -hourly checks.” She watched Dean nod. “In between, two hours a day, Marv stuff. Two hours clinic lab work. An hour patient work, unless there’s an emergency, the rest biological, genetic and viral work, including meds.”

  “Good.” Dean kissed her. “I made a complete daily schedule for you. It can help you get into a routine.”

  “You didn’t include bathroom breaks, did you?”

  Dean paused,. “Um . . . no, El.”

  “You did.” She laughed. “So anal.” She turned to go back to the microscope.

  Dean grabbed her arm. “I’m just preparing. That’s all. We work too hard. You know what you can give Johnny to help on and you know what you can’t.”

  “I know.” Ellen leaned into him, kissing him softly, “But can we just not talk about this anymore? Please. I just don’t want to talk about you leaving.”

  “All right.” Dean spoke softly and stood side by side with her. “Hey, maybe Frank escaped and that’s why we haven’t heard from George.”

  “Maybe.” Ellen smiled at that thought. “And then all this planning will be obsolete.” She held up crossed fingers. “Let’s hope.”

  Dean gripped those fingers, squeezed gently then lowered them, holding on. He stared at her making deep eye contact. “Let’s hope. As for now . . .” He released her fingers and placed them on the microscope. “Let’s work on regurgitated brains. Shall we?”

  Ellen giggled, shifted her eyes to Dean and then they both--not less the sarcastic intelligent jokes--began to work on Marv’s brain.

  ^^^^

  It was just Henry and Joe in Joe’s office. Or Henry’s office now. But Joe sat in his usual behind the desk position and Henry sat across, a chair pulled close to the desk as they reviewed things together.

  Joe only raised his eyes from his reading. “Henry.” He spoke his name in a scolding but soft manner.

  “O.K., O.K.” Henry held up his hand. “But Joe you have to admit.”

  “Admit what? Henry, it is not be a ‘GQ’ leader. It’s be a good leader.”

  “My hair looks good then, huh?’

  “Henry.”

  “Joe, shouldn’t I be sitting in that seat.”

  “Henry.”

  “O.K.” Henry tapped his fingers and lifted a sheet of paper. “How often will I get a John Matoose report to review?”

  “Once or twice a week,” Joe answered.

  “Who will give them to me?”

  “I will.”

  “So you follow John?”

  Joe made a snarling face. “When in Christ’s name do I have time to followed John?”

  “Now, you’re retired.”

  ‘But the reports have been coming in for some time. No. It’s not me,” Joe said, annoyed.

  “Robbie?”

  “No.”

  “Ellen.”

  “No.”

  “Dean.”

  “Henry!” Joe slammed his hand. “I will not divulge my secret spies. Got that?”

  “But, Joe, I’m leader and I should . . .” Henry saw Joe was not amused. “I should not know who they are. Definitely.”

  “Henry.” Joe flipped a page of the computer printout he reviewed. “I’m looking and I don’t see it.”

  “See what?”

  “Any history past the time when the Regressionator safeguard was placed in.”

  “Joe, it was safeguarded.”

  “Still.” Joe reviewed. “Just in case, it should be here.”

  “Nothing’s there.” Henry shook his head. “Dean and I reviewed and figured why waste the paper. If anything happened, it happened prior to the safeguard.”

  Joe nodded. “I see. And gut instincts on Jason?”

  “He’s weird, Joe.”

  “No,” Joe huffed. “That’s not what I meant. You heard him speak. You were there. What are your gut instincts about him?”

  “I told you, I think . . .”

  “Henry.” Joe held up his hand. “If you say he’s weird, I’m gonna reach across the goddamn table and hit you. I’m talking about him being a suspect.”

  “Oh.” Henry let out a breath. “Well, you know what he said when he slipped up to me and Dean.”

  Joe shook his head. “You can’t say it’s a slip up. How do we know he doesn’t know about John and he may have been referring to Rev. Thomas too.” Joe picked up a pen and closed the Regressionator history. “I’ll review this later.”

  “Did you say anything to Andrea about those letters she mailed?”

  “No, not yet. I will. Before I do, I want to set it up that I have the house alone and do a complete search of her things.”

  “Oh good idea. Robbie is searching Rev. Bob. You’re searching Andrea. Hey . . .” Henry scratched his head. “What am I gonna do?”

  Joe slid a paper to him. “You’ll file this John Matoose report. You’ll need the silver key, Henry. That drawer is locked.”

  “O.K.” Henry grabbed the report and walked to the two filing cabinets by the door. He moved to the second and bent down to the last drawer. As he unlocked it, there was a knock at the office door.

  Instinctively Joe called out as he was standing. “Come in.”

  The door opened slowly and Maura walked in. “Mr. Slagel, are you alone?”

  Joe shifted his eyes to Henry. “Um yeah, Maura, what can I do for you?”

  Henry, without shutting the cabinet, moved to the side of it and slouched down, staying concealed.

  Maura seemed nervous, wringing her hands and peering outside to her mother who waited.

  “Did you want to shut the door?” Joe asked.

  “Oh, no, mother said she needs to see me.”

  Joe flashed a fake smile to Gemma while grumbling then smiled at Maura. “What’s up?”

  “I’ve been, I’ve been thinking about what you said. You know about Rev. Bob.”

  “And?”

  “And he trusts me Mr. Slagel. Bu
t . . . but . . .” She sort of stomped her foot. “I could not find that passage anywhere in Proverbs.”

  “Oh.” Joe nodded. “That’s because I’m Catholic and it’s in our Bible. I’ll show you.”

  Maura innocently held up her hand. “No need. I thought about it and figured I’ll tell you what I can, but you have to promise me you won’t tell him I told you.”

  “O.K.,” Joe said.

  “Promise me, Mr. Slagel. My mother said you’re a man of your word. Promise me.”

  “Yeah, yeah. You didn’t tell your mom, did you?”

  “Oh no. That would be awful. I just told her it had to do with the Neville competition.”

  “Good.” Joe waved his hand to her to hurry Maura. “You were saying?”

  “Rev. Bob had one last name for a really long time. His whole life. Then a family member, a cousin I think, dragged him into something years and years before the plague. He didn’t know he was being drug in and he fought with his cousin.” Maura explained with passion. “He said he felt shame being associated with the name and he changed it a few years before the plague. I saw the legal document.”

  “Did he tell you who his cousin was?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “But he showed me the document.”

  “Did he tell you why he kept the document?”

  “Yes. In case anyone needed to see it. I didn’t tell him you wanted to know. He’s playing fair and square, Mr. Slagel.”

  “Yes he is,” Joe said, pacifying. “Thank you, Maura. I appreciate this.”

  “Whew.” She looked relived. “You’re welcome. I just didn’t want to burn in hell like that Catholic passage said I would. O.K., that’s it. Bye .” She hurried out of Joe’s office ,pulling the door closed quickly.

  Moaning in pain, Henry emerged from behind the file cabinet. “Ow, my knees.” He walked sort of hunched, his knees were still bent.

  Joe flicked a wave to Henry with a grunt. He lifted the history stack. “Well, I’m out of here. I’ve things to do at distribution. Henry, get back to me about those runs.” Joe walked to the office door.

  “Joe.” Henry moved slowly like a crippled old man. “Wait.”

  “Christ, Henry.” Tucking the stack under his arm, Joe moved behind Henry and straightened him up quickly. Henry screamed. Joe laughed and swatted him on the back. “See ya.”

  “Joe. Did you really tell that little girl she would burn in hell if she didn’t tell you the truth?”

  Joe chuckled as he opened the door. “Nah Henry.”

  Henry let out a long relief sigh. “Thank God.”

  “No.” Joe stepped out, pulled the door closed, opened it and popped his head back in with a grin. “I believe my exact words to her were, ‘burn in eternal damnation’.” Flashing another grin, Joe waved, and left.

  Henry’s hand met his forehead with a slap at the same time the door closed. He firmly ran his hand down across the bridge of his nose then his mouth, and eventually dragging his bottom lip a little. Oddly, Henry pulled his hand away and stared at his palm. “I just ran my hand down my face. Joe does that all the time. I don’t think I’ve ever done that.” Again, he looked at his hand only this time looking a bit horrified. “The first official day as leader. . . . Oh my God. I’m turning into Joe.”

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  “Leonard has had a stroke.” Dr. Morris spoke to Frank and Richie as they stood at Leonard’s bedside.

  “My God,” Frank gasped dramatically while he covered his mouth and stared at a still Leonard who laid on his back, arms to his side, eyes wide open and shifting. “A man so young. So virile, so . . .emf.” Frank felt the nudge of Richie. “Poor thing.”

  “Yes.” Dr. Morris swayed his head. “Only forty-two.”

  “He is forty?” Frank whistled. “Wouldn’t know it.”

  “No. I’m surprised he survive this stroke.”

  “His stress level must have been high,” Richie suggested.

  “Oh yes.” Dr. Morris said. “A man in his leadership position has very high stress.”

  Frank closed his mouth tightly and shook his head. “Well, I’ll have to do everything I can to help out now. I . . .” Frank’s voice cracked. “Excuse me. I’m . . .” Frank grabbed hold of his own throat. “I’m a bit choked up. We were getting rather close.”

  “I see.” Dr. Morris said. “I’ll leave you to visit. Make sure you talk to him and encourage him to fight his way out of this.”

  “Oh, I will. Thank you.” Frank watched Dr. Morris leave. He smiled at Richie then moved closer to the bed, leaning down to Leonard and surprising even Richie by is singing--pretty good too--a Bruce Springsteen Song. “Cause I’m Trapped. Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah. Trapped! Ooh yeah, yeah-ah.!” Frank grinned.

  “Colonel Slagel,” Leonard spoke his name with a jolting edge bringing Frank out of the day dream he had slipped into during their meeting. “Colonel Slagel.”

  Frank snapped forward in his chair. The huge grin was still plastered across his face. “Huh?”

  “Why are you smiling at me?”

  “I’m smiling?”

  “Yes and staring.”

  “I’m staring too?”

  “Yes!”

  “I was uh . . . .” Frank folded his hands and leaned into his desk. He cleared his throat loudly and drew up a serious expression. “Has anyone ever told you how attractive of a man you are.” Frank raised one eyebrow.

  “Ex . . . . excuse me?” Shocked and taken aback was written all over Leonard’s face.

  “That’s why I was smiling. I’m taken by you.” Frank stated. “Very taken by your . . .” He watched Leonard stand up. “Hey, where you going?”

  “I think I should be leaving.” Leonard spoke nervously as he hurried to the door. “I uh . . . I have things and preparations to uh do. Good day, Colonel.”

  “Yeah but I’m not done complimenting . . . .” Frank’s door shut and Frank leaned back in his chair, smiling. He cupped his hands behind his head and rocked back and forth in confidence. He knew now if the Salicain plan didn’t pan out, he knew of another way to get Leonard to stay away from him.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  “I bet you’re more than ready to go home,” Ellen stated to the UWA soldier who was sitting on his hospital bed.

  “Yes.” The soldier smiled and looked at Dean and Rev. Bob who was also in the room. “Not that you don’t treat me well.”

  “You must finish the final wave of medication,” Ellen instructed. “I’m informing Blue that I gave it to Hal.”

  “Yes, Doctor.”

  Rev. Bob spoke up. “And you’ll tell the preacher in your community that I look forward to our meeting up with him?”

  “Fr. Bryce. Yes.” The soldier nodded. “He’s a Catholic priest. I’m sure he’ll love to meet you as well.”

  Dean snickered. “Wait until Joe hears.” He looked at his watch. “I let you guys finish up. El, I’m uh heading to see the kids for a lunch. O.K.?”

  Ellen looked up from the chart. “Kiss them for me.”

  “Bye.” Dean walked to the door.

  “Oh Dean?” Ellen called him.

  “Yes.” He slid to a stop in the doorway.

  “Tell Andrea I think she needed you to do something, I’m not sure. She had said something earlier.”

  “Got it.” With another hurried wave, Dean walked away from the room and down the hall. He turned the bend to the main entrance hall and approached his lab. The door was open and Andrea, Jason, and Johnny were seated inside. “Andrea? Did you need me for anything.”

  Andrea looked up from what appeared to be a fun conversation instead of business. She smiled. “Not anymore, Dean. Thanks.”

  “O.K., I’ll be back. I’m heading to the school to have lunch with the kids.” He waved to Andrea, Jason, and Johnny and moved down the hall to the main door. Again, Dean waved, but this time to Henry as he pushed open the glass door. “Hey Henry, I thought you were the big l
eader now.” Dean looked down at the tool box. “Why are you fixing this hinge again?”

  “I feel useless not fixing something so I thought I’d tighten this up again. Robbie seems to have taken Frank’s place. Where you headed?”

  “Having lunch my kids. I promised Alexandra I would. I’ve been so busy.”

  “Have fun.”

  Dean nearly trotted in an upbeat manner to the school. He didn’t know why his spirits were up, but if Dean realized his good day was close to going sour, he would have basked in the good mood he carried to the school with him.

  ^^^^

  Bowman, ND

  “Waverley and Brimson?” Sgt. Ryder asked Blue.

  “Yes.” Blue reviewed his notes and nodded.

  “I understand what Waverley did, but Brimson?”

  “The horse incident,” Blue explained. “Hawk was tossed. His foot got caught and Brimson ran in, stopping the horse and freeing Hawk. He also broke his pinky finger.”

  “O.K.” Sgt. Ryder signed the paper. “The witnesses attested to that? Brimson tends to exaggerate.”

  ‘They attested.”

  “All right. Give this to Gr . . . Gr . . .”

  “Grace.”

  “Yes and then we’ll ship them up to Beginnings next run up.”

  “Got it.” As Blue gathered his Neville documents and stood up, the door to Hal’s office opened and a private rushed in. Blue turned his head to Sgt. Ryder. “Elliot, you can certainly tell they know Captain Slagel is away.”

  Sgt, Ryder stood up. “Private, is this an emergency?”

  “Yes sir.” The private was out of breath. “The . . . the Nebraska scouts have returned.”

  “Already?” Sgt. Ryder questioned as he walked around the desk. “They aren’t due back till next week. What’s wrong?”

  “No sir.” The private smiled. “You should ask what’s right. They brought with them three of our five missing soldiers from the Anderson farm.”

  The private’s words were barely finished and Sgt. Ryder rushed by him and Blue and was out the door.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Alexandra giggled as she played with her father’s bangs, sitting on his lap at the park. “Daddy, you need a haircut.” She held them back off his forehead and kissed Dean.