CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
May 29th
Waiting in Dean’s lab, Joe brought his cup of coffee to his lips at the same time his eyes daggered through the steam at Henry. “Make the implication one more time Henry, and I’m kicking your skinny ass.”
“I’m not implying, Joe.” Henry defended.
Joe shifted his eyes to George who sat in a chair arms folded, eyes closed. “George?”
George snapped awake. “Implying.”
Henry waved his hand at George. “You’re sleeping, what do you know. Joe, I just want to make you aware that’s all.”
“I’m aware.” Joe sipped his coffee.
“The talk.” Henry continued. “This is what people are saying.”
“Screw what people are saying,” Joe replied.
“You can’t take that attitude, Joe.” Henry said. “How’s it going to look? Robbie is your son.”
George’s loud yawn interrupted the conversation. With a stretch, he stood up. “Henry. Joe’s son or not, doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter if you have people in the social hall who saw the confrontation. I have one child and three men in containment who know Robbie was there all night. I also have a guard who never saw him leave until five this morning . . . after Larry’s body was found.”
“Escape hatch.” Henry stated.
Laughing, Georg shook his head “Now you’re reaching.”
Henry rolled his eyes. “It’s not reaching, George. You know the maintenance tunnels run under the entire community. And one of the seven entrances is the hatch in containment.”
“Why are you so hell bent on condemning my son?” Joe asked.
“I’m not, Joe. I just want you to be ready for questions that’s all. We have a man who died at his post for no reason.”
The dropping of a folder caught all of their attention, and Dean stood before the folder by the counter. “Not for no reason Henry. Rephrase that last statement.” Dean said. “You had a very drunk man who died on a rocky perimeter. Drunk.” He flipped open the folder. “Point two six alcohol level. End of story. No visible marks of trauma or struggle. He couldn’t have been tackled; whoever would have tackled him would have gone right into that beam as well.”
Joe tossed up his hands. “End of story. Let’s go George. Thanks, Dean.”
Dean nodded as Joe and George left, then raised his eyes to Henry who still stood there baffled. “Henry?”
“Doesn’t make sense.” Henry swayed his head slowly. “It just doesn’t.”
“What doesn’t make sense Henry, is why you insist on thinking Robbie is so bad. No one else sees it.” Dean tried to reason. “He’s quiet, that’s all. He didn’t start that fight at the social hall, everyone said Larry did. As your friend, well, sort of friend, rather, invention partner. As that, I have to tell you to get over this. All right? You are gonna end up severing ties with people you don’t want to.”
Henry didn’t respond. He shifted his views to Dean, then with the same lost look on his face, walked quietly out of the lab.
***
Undeniably it was one of two things that awoke Ellen from her deep sleep on her sofa. The overwhelming smell of fresh brewed coffee or the cough. But one thing was for sure, the deep cough was the thing that caused her to sit straight up and jump from the couch in total confusion.
“Morning.” Frank spoke, walking from her kitchen.
Ellen blinked and rubbed her eyes. “What . . . what are you . . . doing here?”
“It’s almost nine. I saw Jenny and she was worried because the twins didn’t make it to school and . . .” Frank spun as Ellen ran past him to the kitchen. “Don’t worry I made coffee. I know how you are.” He scratched his head and walked to the kitchen. He heard water running. “El, about yesterday and the past . . .” He stopped in the kitchen doorway when he saw her splashing her face with water as she leaned over the sink. “Are you sick?”
Ellen shook her head. “I got up too fast.” Face wet, eyes closed she reached for a towel. “What were you saying?”
“Well, today’s V-Day. It’s always been . . . our day. I wanted to talk to you . . . about . . .” Frank watched her slide the towel down her face and saw, as she did, the ring on her finger. Frank instinctively reached out and grabbed her left hand. “What’s this?”
Ellen looked. “Oh. Dean gave it to me when he proposed and I can’t . . .”
Frank harshly dropped her hand. “Sorry I even tried to talk to you.” He turned and walked away. “Have a nice fuckin life with Dean.”
Ellen still wasn’t awake. She heard him heavily leave and slam the front door closed. After a moment of trying to figure out what had just transpired, Ellen took advantage of the fresh coffee before she woke her children for school.
***
Henry stood outside the social hall. He could hear the sounds of guitar strumming and singing coming from within. It was the last place he thought to look for Robbie. He had looked everywhere and struck out. Trying to keep himself calm, he walked inside. Robbie and Paul both sat in chairs, holding their guitars while Miguel sat across from them, smiling, nodding and writing things down.
“Robbie.” Henry called to him. “Robbie.”
Robbie didn’t answer, he just sat with his back to Henry.
“Robbie.”
Paul stopped playing his guitar. He looked at Robbie, and motioned his head to Henry who was standing there.
Miguel stood up, his brawny body seemed to tower over the table as he held a hint of embarrassment. “Henry, hey. Mr. Slagel said it would be fine to use the hall. I’m writing a song for Andrea. Would you like to hear?”
Henry shook his head and walked in further. “Some other time. I’m not here because the hall is open. I’m looking for Robbie.”
Robbie turned once to look at Henry, then faced Paul again. “I’m taking a break.”
“You can take a break later.” Henry told him. “Those wires on the generator door need put back. You left them hanging out.” There was a tone to Henry’s voice that conveyed his attempt to stay in control.
Robbie picked his guitar slowly. “I had to walk away from it, John was breathing down my neck. Right now I’m working on Miguel’s song..”
“Work on your work first.” Henry began to walk to him. “You have to work, it’s your job. This is the second time this week you walked away because someone was watching you do something. Tough Robbie, handle it.”
Robbie, taking Henry, Paul and Miguel by surprise, jumped from his chair, tossed it to the side, and stood toe to toe with Henry. “What is your problem with me?”
Henry stared him down, looking into Robbie’s eyes. “I don’t have the problem. You do, with authority. Things run a certain way here. You can’t seem to grasp that.”
“I grasp it. You just won’t cut me a goddamn break.” Robbie stormed past, brushing him in the shoulder only to be grabbed by the arm and snatched back by Henry.
Miguel sprang forward using his body to stop the two men who both squared off at the same time, fists raised to each other with a deadlock stare. “No.” His deep accented voice resonated. “You hear me . . .” He looked at both men and shoved them back. “No.”
Henry released Robbie and stepped back. “You both seen him. Is it me?” He threw his hands up and waited for a response. He received only stares. “Is it?”
Paul’s head lowered as his hands touched upon his strings. Miguel sat back down and Robbie walked out.
Henry dropped his hands.
***
“I’m touched.” Dean said sarcastically as his thumb brushed over the diamond of Ellen’s ring. “You’re still wearing it.”
“Ha-ha-ha.” Ellen pulled on it. “It won’t come off.”
“Quit trying.” Dean laid her hands on the lab counter. “Why are your fingers so swollen anyhow?”
“They aren’t. You made the wrong size ring.”
“No.” Dean shook his head. “I went into your memorabilia box and stole your graduation ring
.”
Ellen grunted. “There you have it. That was multitudes of children ago, Dean.” She tried to take it off. “You’re a scientist. Can’t you remove it.”
“What are you kidding me?” Dean scoffed. “Right. What’s your answer?”
“Dean.” Ellen’s demeanor switched to a serious one. “If . . . if . . . I wanted to say yes.” She watched Dean smile as he bit his bottom lip. “I couldn’t.” She shook her head. “Not until we talk about something that could change your . . .”
“Help me.” A voice called out from the hallway of the clinic, followed by a thump. Both Ellen and Dean looked at each other and sprang from their seats. Bolting into the hall, they spotted a woman at the end. She was lying on the floor in a tight fetal position, a small pool of blood forming underneath her.
“Dina.” Ellen said in shock when she saw it was Johnny’s girlfriend.
“Shit.” Dean rushed to Dina first, kneeling down to the whimpering and crying woman. “Ellen help me get her to the examining room.”
Helping Dean lift her to her feet, they noticed the steady trickling of blood coming from between her legs. Too big for them to carry, they practically dragged her to the examining room.
“Get her on the table, Dean. I’ll find Andrea.” Ellen hurried out.
Struggling some, Dean helped Dina to the table and immediately began to undress her.
Ellen came sliding in. “Andrea’s on her way.” She stood at the side of the young woman and brushed the hair from her eyes. “I think she’s miscarrying. I’ve never seen one this bad.”
“Me either.” Dean finished undressing and covering Dina while Ellen calmed her.
“Hey.” Ellen wiped her forehead. “Want me to get Johnny?”
Dina shook her head. “He doesn’t want the . . .”
“What’s going on?” Andrea asked as she bolted in the room, immediately grabbing gloves, and placing them on.
“Miscarrying.” Dean answered.
Andrea pulled the stirrups from the ends of the table. “We’ll try to help you.” She grabbed Dina’s legs and placed them in the stirrups. “There’s so much blood.” She lifted the sheet to examine her. “Ellen, start an IV. Dean get that synthetic hormone you’ve been working on, we’ll need it for the hemorrhaging.” She threw the sheet over Dina’s knees. The adrenaline of the moment disappeared. The urgent care Andrea fought to give, dissipated, when all the years in the medical field, snapped forefront the knowledge that she needed. “Stop!” She dropped the sheet. In the quiet of the room, Andrea angrily took off her gloves and tossed them to the floor. With cold eyes she walked to the head of the examining table. “Did you do this alone?”
Dina’s eyes weld with tears.
“Answer me.” Andrea demanded.
Shocked, Dean and Ellen paused in what they were doing and looked at each other.
“Answer me!” Andrea demanded again.
“Yes.” Dina cried harder.
Andrea stepped back. “You can die for all I care.” With more anger than she had ever shown, Andrea began to leave the room.
“Wait!” Dean stopped her. “What the hell are you doing?”
Andrea shook her head. “I’m walking away from her Doctor, and I suggest you do the same. With the need for life that we have around here, she decided to kill the one that was given to her. I’ve seen it hundreds of times. Butcher jobs, coat hangers or knitting needles. Whatever, however, she gave herself an abortion.”
Ellen dropped the IV, the glass bottle crashed to the floor. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. She just admitted it.” Andrea folded her arms, turned and left the room.
“No.” Dean called out. “Andrea don’t.”
Ellen looked one more time at Dina and began to follow Andrea’s footsteps.
“Ellen, no.” Dean ran to her and grabbed her arm with his bloody hand. “Help me. I can’t do this alone.”
“Sorry, Dean.” Ellen pulled his hand away.
“You’re a nurse. You can’t walk away too.”
“The fight for life in this community is too great.”
“Then why are you walking away from her life?”
“Murder is against the rules here. She’s as good as gone, whether she lives or not. I’m sorry, I can’t.” Ellen turned and left the room also.
Dean panicked. He was alone. Dina laid on the table, legs spread, feet in stirrups, and a pool of blood on the floor. He had wasted enough time arguing for her life. He couldn’t chase down Ellen or Andrea, there was no time. He had to do something. He just didn’t know what. As he stood there center of the room, his shirt and pants covered with blood, and the room looking like it was the scene of a massacre, he wanted to scream. he wanted to cry. Dean pulled himself together and worked within the realms of the best of his knowledge and common sense to help her anyway he could. He had to try, whether she was right or wrong in what she did. It wasn’t for Dean to judge her, it was for Dean to save her.
***
George shook his head as he paced around the hanger office. He’d stop, look at Henry, then pace some more. “Henry, I’m telling you.”
“No George, I’m telling you.” Henry leaned with his arm against the file cabinet. “We were so close to going at it. Have you spoke to Miguel?”
“Yes I did. He confirmed you and Robbie were almost going at it . . .”
“See.”
“No. Not ‘See’, Henry. Miguel also confirmed you searched Robbie out. Robbie was taking a break. The man worked containment all night for us, or did you forget that?”
“I didn’t forget, George. He can always sleep later.”
George grunted loudly through frustration as he sat down behind his desk. “You’re an asshole.” He pointed his finger at him.
“George . . . Henry!” Joe’s voice carried through the hanger. “George, Henry.” His voice came closer, and by the sound of the footsteps he was not alone. “Hey.” He walked into the office with Ellen. “Gentlemen we have a situation on our hands.”
Henry, whose hand rested on his forehead, turned slowly to them. As he did, his eyes widened when he saw the blood all over Ellen. “Oh my God, Ellen. What happened?” He raced to her.
“I’m all right. It’s not me.” She assured him.
George rose from behind his desk slowly. he knew by the look on Joe’s face, something was seriously wrong. “Joe, what’s the situation?”
“A bad one. I need you guys to come with me to take care of it.”
George looked around the office, as if searching. “I’ll get my radio, we’ll get Frank and we’ll head . . .”
“No.” Joe stopped him. “It’s under wraps from Frank for the time being.”
“Under wraps from Frank?” George was surprised. “What kind of situation is this?”
“A new one.” Joe answered. “One we never had. It’s an abortion. A woman here was pregnant and aborted her own baby. She botched it, that’s how we found out.”
Henry slowly lifted the bottom of Ellen’s shirt. “Oh man, that’s why we’re keeping it from Frank. It was his baby, wasn’t it?”
“No!” Ellen smacked his hand off of her clothing. “It wasn’t Frank’s baby.”
Henry looked puzzled. “Whose?”
Joe took a deep breath. “Johnny’s. Now before we go to the clinic there’s some things we need to discuss. A decision needs to be made.”
***
Dean sat quietly in the examining room with Dina. Her heart monitor beeped slowly. He had cleaned himself up, and sat with his arms bent over his knees. He knew as heard the sounds of footsteps that something was up. He peered through the door. Andrea and Joe walked down the hall. Ellen, Henry, and George were behind them. Dean turned from them, he knew what was coming.
Joe stood in the doorway, with his sternest voice he spoke. “How is she?”
“I’ve almost got her stabilized.” Dean answered.
“Well let me knew when she is and she’s gone.” Joe turned and began
to walk away.
“What?!” Dean sprang up and chased them into the hall. “You’re not serious are you? If we send her out before she’s well, she will die out there.”
Joe stared at him, his eyes glared. “She should have thought of that before she did this to herself.”
“No.” Dean grabbed a hold of Joe. “I cannot believe you are going to oust her.”
Andrea stepped in, removing Dean’s hand. “I can’t believe you are taking her side on this. Let alone the fact that you saved her.”
“And you, Andrea.” Dean ran his fingers through his hair. “You are supposed to dedicate your life to helping people. You walked away from her. You stand here ready to condemn her for taking a life that hasn’t even been born, when you did that? Why?”
“Because of what I’ve seen.” Andrea showed passion. “Before the plague I would never have walked away from her. But I’ve seen the slaughter of the innocents, so have you. I watched children die. Children who didn’t have a choice in the matter. Dina had a choice and she chose to kill the gift of life. Life Dean. Don’t you remember what that is? Life now should be treated as special. Not disregarded. If we are given the opportunity to bring a new life into this world, then we have to grasp it, we have to cherish it, not kill it.”
“Then by what you’re saying, we have to cherish her life too. By ousting her, by letting her die, that’s not cherishing life. You contradict yourself, Andrea.” Dean argued as she glared right past him. “You talk about what we have seen. She’s seen it too. Let’s try to understand why she did this.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 55
