The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  It was the thought of how much trouble Dean got himself into inadvertently that made Roy think of protecting Dean.

  With the knowledge that he was going to be around or there when Joe died, Roy realized there was a chance someone could see him, and seeing him meant someone saw Dean. Dean at the site of a murder wasn’t good.

  Especially since Dean had a history of bad coincidental luck.

  Roy had to come up with a way to make Beginnings want to track Dean.

  At first he thought about making it look as if Dean were going to go to the Society. Then he came up with the idea of committing an inane crime.

  So he knocked out Forest and stole his toenails. With Dean working on getting Christopher Columbus to look normal, the strange body part would make sense. Roy thought for sure, Ellen or someone would have found the toenails in the lab.

  But they didn’t.

  So Roy kept doing inane acts. Becoming the serial mutilator. He actually left so many clues; he got frustrated, that he had to outright set up Dean. He did that by knocking out Henry and Dean and using Henry’s nails to scratch Dean.

  There.

  That did it.

  Roy stopped. He had no reason to perform the mutilations. Admittedly, he did have some fun with it. But from that moment on they tracked him. Just like Roy did.

  Thinking about Dean, line dancing, Roy picked up the tracker. Dean was still at the clinic. Still in the lab. He was getting longer and longer in one place.

  Just as he was about to set down the tracker, he though once again about the mutilations. With them having stopped, did it bode well for Dean? Evidence was mounted against him. Even though the crimes were silly, they were still crimes.

  He wondered if the serial mutilation case was buried, if they even thought about it. With all that happened, Joe’s death, the impending war, the serial mutilations were probably a thing of the past. No longer to be pursued. Dean was in the clear.

  <><><><>

  Did Frank do it on purpose? It wasn’t there a few hours earlier. Then again, the trailer slash temporary office was new.

  In fact, Henry couldn’t recall ever seeing a sign like it on Frank's office before. Of course Henry never wore a hat, so if it was there, it was never a bother.

  But the sign glared at him. The new sign.

  It read: Out of respect, please remove all headgear before entering.

  Henry debated between knocking and inviting Frank outside or removing his baseball cap.

  Why? Why was it there?

  In the pre plague world days it was customary to remove headgear, especially with the military.

  Thinking about it, Henry never recalled seeing anyone indoors, that was in Security or UWA wearing a hat.

  Hal removed his bandana. So did Elliott.

  Henry reasoned at that moment he was being neurotic. Frank didn’t hang the sign on purpose, he was reminding everyone.

  After a deep exhale, he knocked.

  “Yeah,” Frank responded.

  Henry removed his hat, ran his fingers through his growing hair, and stepped inside. “Hey, Frank.”

  Frank was seated at the table, looking over reports. “Did you bring reports from our towns?”

  “Yeah, got them right here.” Henry stepped forward.

  “Good. This will give me …” Frank looked up.

  “What?” Henry asked.

  It started. At first Frank’s mouth dropped open, then the corner of his mouth rose.

  “What, Frank? What?”

  “Oh my God.”

  Henry growled.

  “Your hair.”

  “I knew it. I knew it.” Henry complained.

  “What did you know?”

  “You hung that sign on the door on purpose so I would have to walk around with my hair like this.”

  “No, Henry, I hung it so people would remember to remove their fucking hats. You did. Good job.”

  “I think there should be an exception to the rule. I’m training my hair, Frank. It’s wiry.”

  “I see that.”

  “Bentley said another month.”

  “Good. At least when I look at you I don’t see... victim.”

  “Ha, ha, ha.” Henry put the reports on the table.

  “Verbal?” Frank took them and sifted through.

  “Everyone is fine with the news about Hadley. Doyle is strained. But that’s to be expected. But, the news isn’t a big shock. So we’re good.”

  “How are you with this?”

  “I don’t know.” Henry stood there.

  Frank looked up. “Is there something else you wanted?”

  “Can we talk?”

  “For a minute. I’m trying to get things done before Hadley gets here and Ryder is on his way.”

  “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 Capta
in.”

  “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?”

  “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 ha
ll 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.

  <><><><>