“And I’m being very serious. Dean will not raise my kid. He will not live with you while you’re carrying my baby. End of story. Choose to stay with Dean and I will not make it easy.”
“This is blackmail. You want me to just turn everything and everyone’s lives upside down. It isn’t right.”
“Do you think the way we’re being is right? Do you think this will ever stop between us? Do you? It hasn’t yet. We tried. Even recently. This baby is a sign. A sign that it’s time to do things right. Tell Dean, get it out, end it and we can start our lives.”
“It’s not that easy. I need time to ease into it.”
“I’ll give you time.”
“This is going to crush him.”
“Just like it crushed me when I found out he got you pregnant.”
Ellen’s hand waved about . “This is totally different. I asked him to get me pregnant. I’m sneaking around with you.”
“And we won’t have to anymore. Why are you being like this? It’s not like he’s the love of your life.”
“Neither are you, Frank.”
Frank raised a finger and pointed with an angry glare. He moved to the door. “You have two weeks. Either you tell him or I will.” The door slammed.
***
The visibly hand painted sign greeted Robbie as he walked his horse past it. “Egypt” scribbled across the board in red letters. How ironic, that was what Moses would name his town. Then again Moses wasn’t in control of all his faculties. He wanted to lead his people. Robbie’s head hung low, almost as if he was ashamed to be returning to the town.
Moses wasn’t surprised to see him. He had sat there waiting for Robbie, his red beard dripping water from sitting in the rain. He stood up when Robbie handed him back the horse. “Didn’t quite go as you hoped, huh Robbie?”
“No.” Robbie walked past him, then into the library, the place he had grown accustomed to.
“So what now? You are joining us right?”
“I am.” He plopped down to the floor.
Moses sat next to him. “Now the way that I figure it, it will be a while. We need about forty more bodies to take that community. We have to do our own survivor pick-ups to find them.”
“Then what Moses? Are you planning to ravage the community? Burn it down, take control?”
“Yes. Why, what’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing if you want to be right where you are now. If you go in and destroy what they have, you are destroying what you want.”
Moses seemed a little confused. “I’m not getting you. How else are we supposed to get the community if we don’t destroy them first?”
“How are you supposed to survive if you destroy them?”
Moses began to point his finger at Robbie. It trembled as he spoke. “Oh no! You want me to abandon my plan don’t you? You think we’ll get wiped out. I don’t, if we outnumber them . . .”
“Listen to me. I know they won’t just let us in. We are gonna have to force them to open the gate. We can get that by taking something they have, need, and will want back. Once we have it. Then we have bargaining power. That power will get us in. That power will help us overturn them.”
“You have to get in there first before we can take anything out. I’ve seen them perimeters, how in the hell do you expect to break those?”
Robbie smiled brightly at Moses, a cocky, arrogant smile. “Moses my good man, you are lucky you found me. I can get in there without them knowing. I know that for sure. But I need the support of you and your men. Our best weapon will our ability to not appear as a threat. Because your worst enemy is the one you least fear. Are you in?”
Moses agreed. He didn’t know all what he was agreeing about and to, but it sounded good.
***
Joe remained calm. He leaned far back in his chair, one leg crossed over, and he tapped his pencil on his desk from eraser to tip as he stared at his son. “Frank, did you expect this not to happen?”
“Well, Dad . . . yes.” Frank noticed the unaffected faces of his father, George, and Henry. “We dropped him off seventy-five miles away. I didn’t think he’d find his way back, and if he did, not this fast.”
“He’s not the first to come back.”
Frank ran his hand across the top of his hair. “I’m not understanding this. Please explain to me how you cannot see a problem here. This isn’t any survivor we’re talking about. This is Robbie. We all know of his training. We also know that he knows this community. Doesn’t anyone here find this a little threatening? Am I the only one who sees him retaliating against us?”
Henry saw that Frank was upset, he tried to calm him, using his most logical tone of voice. “Frank, look, he’s only one man. What can he do? Do you honestly feel he can bring us down? Better yet do you honestly feel he can break our perimeters? You helped set them up, design them. To be blunt, people have tried to get in, and people have . . . fried.”
George picked up where Henry left off. “Besides, by what you said, he went running. I don’t see a threat unless he comes back again. Then I might worry. Might. But if he gets in, what’s he going to do? Go after you, me, Henry or Joe? Let him. He’ll be taken down.”
Frank wasn’t buying it. His gut instinct told him differently and his body actions conveyed his feelings to the room.
Joe leaned forward and folded his arms on his desk. “I know that look, Frank. What do you need from us to make you feel at ease? Don’t go overboard now.”
Frank felt it was better than nothing, at least he was getting somewhere. “I’ll go through what I feel are our weak spots in the perimeter, see how we can strengthen them. If Robbie’s gonna break in, it won’t be during daylight. It’ll be at night and it will be there. I want Greg taken off of community day watch and put him on community watch at night. I also now want a tower person day and night, not just at night. I’ll settle for this for, but if he returns, even to the gate, I will demand more. Deal?”
Joe nodded in agreement. “Deal. I’ll give that to you now. And if Robbie does come back, we promise to be more attentive to your suggestions.”
“Thank you.” Frank folded his arms and leaned against the filing cabinet. He saw the look on his father’s face, along with the one on Henry’s and George’s. They thought he was over reacting. But Frank knew way too much about his little brother. After what Robbie went through in his search for his family, Frank was certain Robbie wasn’t going to take his rejection in stride, run away and never return, Robbie was coming back and with a vengeance.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
June 13th
“We are not going there to attack.” Robbie told the twenty men he and Moses stood before awaiting their departure for Beginnings. “We have to give a peaceful, non-threatening appearance. Hence why we arrive during the day. They will not let us in, don’t for a second believe they will. They don’t trust us. If they see for a second we are less than sincere in our intentions, they will know we are up to something. For sure they will wipe us out. Here’s what’s going to happen. About a mile before we reach the community, we will be spotted by a tower guard. At that point we will dismount our horses and walk to the back gate. The tower guard will then inform Frank. It will take Frank approximately seven minutes to get his men to the gate, in formation, and waiting, guns in tow for us. That’s when I want us to approach.”
“Wait a second.” Moses interrupted. “We’re not armed. You said nothing about walking us up to a firing squad.”
“They won’t shoot us, Moses, trust me. We come to them in peace. We want them to look like the fools for thinking we’re a threat. We mean them no harm. Believe me, this is step one to the master plan. It will work. We will prevail.”
Moses didn’t want to give the go ahead. A part of him still didn’t trust Robbie completely. What if Robbie was a trap, sent by the community to bring them down. That would mean Moses and some of his men were walking right into it. But what if Robbie was actually on the side of Moses? If the master plan w
orked as Robbie intended, they would be living in Beginnings in one month’s time. The true test of Robbie would come if all went down as he said, when they arrived at the gate. Apprehensively Moses gave the order. “Mount up!”
The fifteen men mounted their horses and began to ascend to Beginnings.
***
“Joe . . . I’m pregnant.” Ellen was ready and she ducked.
Joe kept it in control. The hot coffee that he had just drank made him choke, some even seeped from his lips, but nothing sprayed out. After coughing one more time, he wiped his hand over his mouth and stared across his desk at Ellen. “You did that on purpose. You told me while I was taking a drink. And I suppose this fatherly advice you want has to do with my son?”
“Yes.”
“Forget it.” Joe took another drink. “I’m not dealing with his bad reaction. In fact, you keep having children with Dean, you’ll never be able to leave him.”
“Joe.” Ellen spoke shocked. “I need help dealing with Frank, because this baby is Frank’s.”
Joe nodded. “Have a good day.” He stood up.
“Joe wait.” Ellen followed him. “I need help. Frank’s being impossible. He’s insisting I leave Dean. He says I’m moving in with him. He gave me a time limit on telling Dean before he does. It could get ugly.”
“I see. And you don’t know how to handle him, or how to handle telling Dean.”
“Exactly.”
“Good luck.” Joe walked to his office door.
“Joe.”
“Ellen. If you weren’t screwing around with two goddamn men this wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Joe, please.” Ellen grabbed his arm as he was leaving. “I need Joe advice. Tell me what to do.”
“Fine. Tell Dean, leave Dean, leave Frank, marry Henry. He whines as much as you do and you’ll make a perfect couple.” Joe walked out.
Ellen tensed up in a growl of frustration and fled after him. Joe was going to give her the advice she wanted to hear whether he liked it or not.
***
Andrea had to know. It had been a week since the revelation of Ellen’s pregnancy and she had heard nothing. It was all quiet at the clinic front. Which wasn’t what she expected. Fights, arguments, depression, a little excitement that to Andrea, didn’t involve anyone getting hurt . . . physically. “And . . .” Andrea’s whispering voice sounded sneaky as she spoke with Dean in his lab. “Everything is O.K. on the home front?”
“Yes.” Dean nodded placing a finger to his lips and pointing at Johnny who sat writing in a corner.
“Ellen and you are fine?”
“Quiet. Things have been quiet. Ellen’s been . . . . nice.”
“Nice? Like she’s buttering up perhaps?”
“What?” Dean laughed. “No, she’s working through this problem.”
“What problem?” Andrea dug, she had to find out. Did Dean know?
“Um . . . the Robbie problem? She’s doing . . .” Dean crinkled up his face as he looked around Andrea.
“What’s wrong?”
“Frank.” Dean shook his head.
“Well, Dean, you knew it was bound to happen.”
“What are you talking about?” Dean’s eyes stayed fixed across the room.
“Huh?” Andrea peered over her shoulder to where Dean looked. Frank was looking in the closed lab door, bobbing up and down, waving his arms trying to get Johnny’s attention. “What is wrong with him?”
“He’s mentally unbalanced. Excuse me.” Dean walked across the lab and opened the door, closing it quickly behind him. “What do you want, Frank?”
“I need to speak to Johnny. I need him to pull some security hours tonight.”
“I’ll tell him. He’s taking a test.”
“I’d rather tell him, Dean. I’ll only be a minute.” Frank tried to get to the door.
Dean blocked him. “Frank. He’s taking a test. You can’t go in there.”
“Why? You think I’ll help him cheat?”
“Actually Frank, that would be a concern of mine if we were dealing with the fundamental plot structure of See Spot Run. Unfortunately we’re not. Go.”
“Man.” Frank stepped back.”You have such little-man-attitude. No wonder Ellen’s leaving you.”
Dean nodded slowly as Frank started to walk away. “You know, Frank, I would worry about that last statement if . . . Ellen didn’t tell me she was marrying me.”
It was there, but Frank tried his hardest not to let it be seen. The slowing down of his stride when Dean said that. Frank didn’t turn around, he didn’t give Dean the satisfaction of seeing his reaction. Frank kept walking.
***
Henry’s bare toes wiggled as his foot propped upon Ellen’s desk. “And look at the bruise, El.”
“Oh, my God.” Ellen shook her head at the purple circle under Henry’s big toe. “That’s terrible.”
“I know. Stomped on me. For no good reason. Jenny just walks up to me and says I work John too much and she stomps her foot on mine.”
“Jenny can be so immature. So what did you do?”
“I stomped right back on hers.”
“Good for you.” Ellen nodded.
“El.” Frank strongly called in her office causing both Ellen and Henry to shriek.
“God, Frank.” Ellen grabbed her chest.
“Yeah, Frank.” Henry put on his sock. “You shouldn’t scare her like that. The baby will be born with a shocked expression deformity.”
“You know?” Frank asked. “El, he knows. I thought you weren’t telling anyone yet.”
“Henry doesn’t count.” Ellen answered.
“I don’t count.” Henry said and bent over to put on his shoe.
“Good.” Frank stepped to Ellen’s desk and learned to her. “Then I don’t have to wait until he leaves to say this. I’m telling Dean and I’m telling him right now.” Frank’s hand hit on the desk. The slam caused an ‘ow’ from Henry who was still bent over before him.
“Frank. You promised me. I have another week.” Ellen argued. “If you tell him. I’ll tell him it’s his.”
“You would.” Frank snapped. “Just like you told him you would marry . . . Henry! Why are you staring at my crotch?”
Henry raised his eyes up, still hunched over. “I’m not Frank. I’m staring at your radio. It’s off.”
“Yeah, I know.” Frank placed his hands on his hips. “John’s taking calls for the next fifteen minutes so I can bitch at El in peace.”
Henry brought his finger closer to the radio clipped on Frank’s waist. “Well, they must want you, the pager light is blinking.”
Frank bit his lip and shook his head in disgust. “Shit.” He grabbed the radio and turned it on. “What!”
“Frank . . “ The call of his name came through with static. “This is Dan. Looks like trouble. About a half a mile from the perimeter we have a band of people, men. With horses. Looks like . . fourteen . . . no, twenty. Approaching the back gate.”
“Fuck!” Frank switched the band and spoke loudly into his radio. “Code nine. I repeat code nine. Back gate. On the double.” He hooked his radio to his belt, and backed to the door. “Let’s go Henry. El, stay here. Don’t leave, I mean it. Do not leave this room.”
All argument was gone from Ellen and replaced with concern. She slowly stood up. “Frank.” She waited until he turned around. “Be careful.”
“Always.” Frank smiled and winked then bolted from her office with Henry.
Code Nine. Frank repeated it two more times as he made his way to the back gate. When Code Nine was called from the radio, that was the signal. All twelve men on Frank’s elite security team, on duty or not, were to drop what they were doing, arm themselves, and go to the designated area. There they would take their formation. Code Nine meant trouble.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Twenty feet away from the back gate, Frank had his men. All lined up, straight across, a drill they had practiced numerous times, but that was when it was only
a drill. All twelve of them, hunched down on one knee, rifles in hand, awaiting Frank’s signal. Frank knelt off to their left, watching and peering out to the gate. Watching the figures move in close.
“On my call.” Frank yelled to them. As they came closer, he lifted his M-16. “Take aim.” Frank aimed. “Get ‘em ready.” The synchronized sound of pumping chambers went down the line as Robbie, Mosses and their men came within two feet of the gate. “Wait for my call.” Frank locked in on them with his rifle’s scope. He spotted him. Robbie. Frank stood. Aiming solely upon his brother he placed the target mark smack in the middle of his Robbie’s forehead.
Robbie held his hands high and stepped to the side of the men. “We’re not armed! We come in peace.”
Frank, still aiming, instructed his men. “Hold your position!” He walked closer to the gate, his aim tight on Robbie. “Back away from the gate! Back up!”
Moses smiled and waved his hands. “We come in peace man, chill.”
“Back away from the fuckin’ fence! Now!” Frank demanded.
Robbie knew Frank wouldn’t believe for one second anything they said. There was still a chance at that moment, that Frank would get pissed off enough to yell ‘fire’. Robbie wasn’t taking that chance. “Frank, we are not armed. We came to talk.” Then he spotted salvation, he spotted his father and George walking up from behind the lined up security man wall. “Dad.” Robbie called to Joe. “Dad, we aren’t armed. Tell them to put their weapons down.”
Joe approached cautiously. “I want to see hands. All of them now.” The band of men at the gate reached high. “Turn around, slowly.” Joe and George watched. They saw no weapons. Joe walked closer to the gate. “They aren’t armed.” He yelled to Frank’s men. “Weapons down.”
Frank’s men, lowered their weapons. All except for Frank, his aim was steady, on Robbie.
Robbie watched Frank.“Dad. We just came to talk. I can’t do that with a gun pointed at my head. Please.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 61
