The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “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.”

  “Maybe, Johnny,” George squeezed his shoulder. “I can help that.”

  “That’s all I want. I want to make amends.” His head lowered. “Just to make amends.”

  <><><><>

  Dean always considered Beginnings to be quiet. Until he arrived at the house.

  It was small, not far from Bowman. Quiet. Too quiet.

  Crickets chirped and every animal could be heard.

  Frank carried in another box, setting it on the dining room table. “Hal, double locked the doors. Someone will be by every single day, Dean. You won’t be alone. Or lonely.”

  “I know. I’m not scared. Just a little sad.” Dean sighed. “I’ll miss my kids. You know.”

  “I’ll make it so you can see them. I’ll figure out a way.”

  “You know I’m going to need duplicates of all my lab stuff.”

  “Yeah.” Frank exhaled. “I feel really bad about all this.”

  “No, don’t. This needs to be done and this gives me a chance to work on the Killer Fetuses. Any uh … any idea how you’re gonna pull the clone out?”

  “I figured he’s tracking you somehow. So just about now he knows you aren’t in Beginnings. Robbie thinks he figured out where he was staying. Which makes sense. The trailer.”

  “The old trailer?”

  Frank nodded. “Tomorrow, I think I’m gonna go there looking for Robbie. Sneak in. Grab the clone and bring him back to Beginnings.”

  “Should be interesting. You’ll let me know how it goes. To me that first moment would be really funny.”

  Frank grinned. “I got an idea.”

  “What?” Dean asked.

  “I …” Frank waved a finger. “I got an idea. I’ll be back. Get settled. Do you need anything?” he walked to the door.

  “I don’t need anything. Where are you going? Frank. It’s twelve-thirty in the morning?”

  “I know. I’ll be back.”

  “What about Ellen?”

  “She’s fine. I’ll be back.”

  Dean, arms folded watched the door close. He shook his head with a smile. “What is he up to?”

  <><><><>

  “Not having a good time?” Ellen whispered in Hal’s ear as he sat at the bar in the Social Hall.

  “Actually, Ellen, I’d prefer to be in bed.”

  “So why are you here?”

  “I am filling in for our brothers in Security. In case of a problem.”

  “Who’s filling in at Bowman?”

  “Who do you think?”

  Ellen snickered, and poured a drink. “Have you heard from Frank?”

  “Yes.” Hal nodded. “That’s why I’m here.”

  “Is he going to be late?”

  “He’s still working on something.”

  Ellen nodded. “Are you gonna sing?”

  “Not on your life.” Hal smiled. “I will be watching you.”

  “Sing? Me? No, I’m not singing.”

  “Not singing, Ellen. Watching. Watching you and your little George game.”

  “Margaret is stewing.”

  “Hmm.”

/>   “She hit on Dean today.”

  “And this concerns you how?” Hal asked.

  “It doesn’t. Are you staying at my house tonight, or Robbie’s?”

  “I will be staying at your house, Ellen; I am your escort home.”

  “I have George.”

  “As I said, I am your escort home.”

  Ellen giggled and stepped backwards. “You’re funny.” Another step back and she bumped into Henry. She turned. “I’m sorry, Henry.” She said with a laugh, walking by him.

  “Are you laughing at me, El?” he asked.

  Ellen stopped. “No, Henry, I’m laughing at myself.”

  Laced with spite, Henry said. “Glad you can be in a good mood.”

  “What is your problem Henry?”

  Henry huffed.

  “What?” Ellen asked.

  “Like you don’t know.”

  “I don’t. You’ve been pissy with me all day.”

  “Because this is all your fault!”

  Ellen chuckled. “Henry, what? Your mutilator attack is my fault? First its Dean’s now it’s mine.”

  “It was done to clear Dean’s name, I’m not stupid, El.”

  Ellen shook her head. “I don’t where you’re going with all this. Let it go.”

  “What? You want me to let the attacks go?”

  “Henry …”

  “Look at me, El. Are you happy? Are you laughing?”

  “What the hell is your problem?”

  “You did this.”

  “What?” Ellen laughed the word. “I did not.”

  “Yes, El, you did. I heard you.”

  Ellen blinked. “What ... what are you talking about?”

  “Oh, yeah, get nervous now. But I was fixing the vent in the lab, I heard. I heard you tell Dean that you were going to do a mutilator attack to clear his name. I heard, El. Then what happens twelve hours later?”

  “I was in Bowman Henry. I didn’t have anything to do with it.”

  “Bullshit.”

  Hector approached. “Henry.” He grabbed Henry’s arm, speaking soothing. “Let’s go. Don’t make a scene. You’ve been drinking.”

  “Don’t make a scene!” Henry whipped his arm from Hector. “She thinks it’s fucking funny Hector. I heard her say she was going to do it. She calls herself my friend and she does this to me! She calls herself Margaret’s friend, look what she’s doing to Margaret.” Henry laughed a ‘huff’. “I know all your secrets, El. And I swear if you ever fucking talk to me or look at me again I’ll …”

  Choke.

  Henry couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t finish his sentence when Hal’s hand pummeled down, gripping him by the throat.

  “You’ll what, Henry?” Hal asked in a soft gravelly voice. “How about this? If I ever hear you speak to her like that again, I’ll break your neck.”

  Henry hit hard down onto Hal’s wrist.

  Hal released him. “Go home.”

  After another swat to Hal, then one to Hector, Henry stormed out.

  Ellen let out a ‘whew’. And grabbed her chest.

  “Are you all right?” Hal asked.

  “Fine. Fine. Thanks. I’m gonna go back” She pointed to the dartboard.

  Hal nodded, and just as she turned, he took hold of her arm. “Ellen,” Hal whispered. “Was that true?”

  “What, Hal?”

  “Did Henry hear you saying that?”

  Ellen bit her lip, didn’t respond, and then turned and walked away.

  Hal closed his eyes, bringing his hand to his face with a slap.

  CHAPTER TEN

  March 29th

  If Roy had any more nails to bite, they’d be gone. He nibbled away on his nails all night and started when his tracking alarm went off.

  First, it sounded that Dean left Beginnings.

  Which didn’t bother Roy too much, perhaps Dean went to that Cowboy place. Then when Dean went off the radar, Roy grew concerned.

  Where was he?

  Was he experimenting?

  Hours went by. Roy kept waking to check the tracker.

  No Dean.

  Was he dead?

  He bleeped off the screen and then he was gone.

  The worst part was, as the sun came up, Dean hadn’t returned.

  “Don’t worry about it,” his friend told him. “Maybe Dean is just getting things to work on.”

  “That’s what I think. That’s what I hope. But what if he is gone for a very long time. Then what?”

  His friend didn’t have an answer. Just a shrug.

  Roy worried.

  The last thing he wanted to do was be stuck in the trailer. He already had to be quiet when Robbie was working in the next building.

  How long could he get away with staying there? With Dean gone, and if everyone knew he was gone, then Roy couldn’t walk around.

  Every day it grew increasingly difficult.

  He was tired of jam sandwiches. He was tired of staying put.

  Roy just wanted to leave. He talked with his friend about the possibility of going to Creedville. A town where people cover their faces during the day. How perfect that would be for Roy.

  He just had to get there.

  But for the time being. He just watched the tracking device. And prayed for Dean’s return.

  <><><><>

  Dean undid all the locks on the door, which was a pain for him. He saw Robbie through the peep hole and was pretty surprised at the early morning visit.

  “Sleep well, Dean?” Robbie asked.

  “Not really. Not at all. Come in.” Dean opened the door wider.

  “Got you biscuit from the bakery.” Robbie handed him a plate.

  “Cheese?”

  “Yep.”

  “Excellent.” Dean took them. “Thank you. Are you my visitor for today?”

  “You can say that. I think we’ll all stop by. All of us feel guilty for you being here.”

  “Why?” Dean asked.

  Robbie shrugged. “You’re alone. We’ll do our best to make it work. In fact …” He scratched the bridge of his nose, and ended his sentence when he saw it. “What ... what is that?” he pointed to the monitor.

  “Oh, check this out.” Dean brought Robbie into the dining room and closer. “Frank brought this last night.”

  “For?”

  “For the head cam,” Dean said. “I asked him to fill me in on when he confronts my clone for the first time and he brought this.”

  “Does it pick up the signal?”

  “Yeah,” Dean said. “We put a dish on the roof last night. Tested it last night.”

  “So is that why he never came home?”

  “Is El mad?”

  “No.” Robbie shook his head. “Not really. When’s he confronting the clone?”

  “He said …” Dean stopped when his phone rang. “Bet that’s him.”

  “New phone?” Robbie asked.

  Dean nodded as he answered. “Hey, Frank. Yeah. Are you? Excellent. Thanks.” He hung up.

  “He’s doing it?” Robbie asked.

  “He’s there.” Dean said. “Wanna watch?”

  “Oh you better believe it.”

  Dean turned on the monitor.

  <><><><>

  Small bag. Small bag, Roy thought. Just a small bag. He could sneak though the tracking, get out of Beginnings, and walk to Creedville. It wasn’t that far, or that long.

  Roy had packed a small black bag and set it on the bed.

  He looked at himself in the mirror.

  His hair looked good and to top it all off, he found that nice blue plaid shirt. He ran his hand down the buttons. He couldn’t believe someone was throwing it out. How ‘Richie Cunningham’ it looked. And mixed with the Fonz jacket, Roy surely would be the all around type of guy, smart and cool.

  He reached for his brown leather jacket and placed it on.

  It was early. He was pretty far away from town.

  He could make it.

  He was ready to go.

&
nbsp; <><><><>

  “Oh, yeah,” Frank graveled. “I hope you can hear me. Subject was spotted in the window. Let it be known he does not have a mullet anymore. Repeat. He does not have a mullet.”

  “What’s he doing now?” Dean asked over the phone. “I can’t see him.”

  “He is leaving the bedroom.” Frank stood from his belly down position. “I’m going in.”

  “Be careful, Frank.”

  “Roger that, Dean.” Snapping the phone closed, Frank hooked it on his belt, and walked, Camera on his head to the trailer.

  He wasn’t going to knock.

  He wasn’t giving the clone a chance to run or hide.

  According to his estimates, and movements, Frank figured the clone was in the living room.

  After a deep breath, he grabbed the handle to the door.

  It opened.

  Roy screamed.

  Frank jumped back.

  “I ... I … I …” Roy stuttered.

  “Dean!” Frank said loud. “Oh my God! I was worried sick about you.”

  “You were?” Roy asked.

  “Yes. Wow. I am so glad I found you. Someone said they saw you up here. I was hoping that was true.”

  “It is.”

  Frank cased him. “Nice coat.”

  “It is. I like it. I feel … cool.” Roy grinned.

  ‘You are.”

  “I am.”

  “That’s my line.”

  “I apologize.”

  “So what caused it?” Frank asked.

  “What?”

  “What made you leave? I was really worried. When you told me you were running away from Beginnings and never coming back, I got concerned. I mean fuck, you were gone all night.”

  “Yes.”

  “But you’re here. You’re not really running away, are you Dean.”

  “No. no.” Roy shook his head with a nervous laugh.

  “Why the bag?”

  “Excuse me?”

  Frank pointed to the black bag. “Was that your overnight stuff for here?”

  “Yes, Frank. It is. I need to always be prepared. That’s me.”

  “You aren’t kidding. Well, glad I found you. Time to go.” Frank reached for his arm.

  “Wait. Wait. Where?” Roy asked.

  “You’re needed at the clinic.”

  “Oh, alright. I will be right there.” Roy reached for the door.

  “How?” Frank asked.