“I can handle it.” Dean reached for the baby.
“Thanks, Dean.” He placed him gently in Dean’s arms. “Take care of my kids. All of them.”
“I will.”
“I have to go.” Frank glanced down at his watch.
“Good luck.” Dean extended his hand. “Be careful.”
Frank, without hesitation, shook it, then stepped back.
“Do your thing, Frank. I’m counting on you. Your family is counting on you.”
“I will . . . oh . . . one more thing. Look down at your watch. Because at noon, you can breathe a sigh of relief. I’ll have her.”
“I’ll do that.” Dean knew as he watched Frank walk out his door. That Frank would do everything in his power, do whatever it took, to ensure at noon, he did have Ellen.
They began their journey to Colorado earlier than they had wanted. It wasn’t even five a.m. and already they were trudging the extremely dark roadways. Frank sat in the back of the truck for the trip. The pick-up truck had the larger cab, he could have sat inside with the others. But Frank wanted to sit in the back. He wanted to be alone, gather his thoughts, clear his mind. It was a long enough trip as it was. But the anxiety of getting there made it longer.
^^^^
“You’re awake.” Miguel handed Ellen a glass of water as he watched her sit up. “How are you feeling?”
“Sore. But better. My fingers hurt the most.” She looked at her open hand, closed it, then opened it again. “And I’m weak, I definitely don’t have the energy I had yesterday. Of course I have more than last night. Last night I thought I was dying.” She slowly sipped her water. “Can I add one more complaint?” she tried to smile as she grabbed her stomach. “I’m hungry.”
“Rice cake?” Miguel chuckled. “I hated them when Henry made them in Beginnings.”
“Yeah, but they taste gourmet now.” She pointed to her bag. “Want to get our rations.”
“Sure.” Miguel stood up. “It was a good thing you brought them, and those sunflower seeds.” He opened the bag. “Let’s just hope that Joe can get . . .”
“What’s wrong?” Ellen asked as she saw him just stare into the bag. “Please don’t tell me they took them.”
“No.” Miguel faced her. “What’s this?” He held up the pendant Henry had given her.
Ellen sighed heavily. “Oh my God, I can’t believe I forgot about that.” She stood up and grabbed it. “He gave this to me to press if I’m in trouble. He said it would work.” Her finger went to press it, but Miguel stopped her. “What?”
“Wait. You have to do a pattern or else they may think it was set off by accident. We want them to know we need help.” Miguel took it back. “You eat your rice cake. I’ll send the message.”
^^^^
Henry chuckled a bit as he walked with John Matoose along the line of utility buildings. He read the list of things to do, left for him by Joe. “Do you really think Joe would be mad if I didn’t go to the social hall every day after work?”
“Nah. When will you have the time, Henry? You’ll always be working. Same here too.” John checked out his clip board. “Frank’s duties, my duties. Jenny’s starting to bitch and they just left.”
“Let’s just hope they aren’t gone . . .”
“Henry!” Jeff, a security personnel who worked in the monitoring room, came out of the security building. “Henry!” He looked confused and somewhat frazzled.
“What’s wrong?” Henry asked.
Jeff looked at him, then at John. “There is this beeping coming from somewhere. Hal and I thought it was a malfunction, but now we think it’s a perimeter and we can’t locate which one.”
John and Henry raced behind Jeff to the monitoring room, as soon as they walked in, the high pitch beeping was heard.
Henry knew exactly what it was as soon as he set foot in the door. “When did this start?”
“Ten minutes ago. Why?” Jeff said.
Henry gulped and turned to John. “I gave Ellen a transmitter to press if she’s in trouble. She’s pressing it. That’s what the signal is.”
John’s heart dropped to his stomach, then he tried to muster up a rational thought. “Before we go and get upset with this. Maybe something is pressed against it. Maybe she’s . . .”
Hal, the other security monitor, shook his head. “I would agree but it’s a pattern.” He turned up the volume which he had previously lowered. “Listen to it. I have.” He held up the small note book with slashes on it. “Steady. The same. Repeating. Almost as if she’s sending a message.”
John threw his head back. “She is. She’s sending an SOS”
“Shit.” Henry rubbed his face. “Joe and them are on their way down. What if there’s trouble. They aren’t ready for that.”
“We have to warn them.” John set down his clipboard. “Find Johnny. Tell him to get to the hanger. Him and I will fly out.. They have a . . .” He looked at his watch. “Two hour head start. We’ll have to hurry.”
“I’ll go get him now. Give me your jeep keys.” He caught the keys that were tossed to him. “We’ll meet you at the hanger.” He raced out and to the jeep. He knew where to find Johnny.
^^^^
“You sure you don’t want any breakfast, John?” Dean called as he walked from the kitchen. “Puffed rice, Beginning’s cereal of the month.”
“Nah.” Johnny stood from the couch with Brian. “I just came to check on my little brother. But he won’t wake up. Man is he crashed.” Johnny took him over to the cradle and laid him down.
“I’m beginning to wonder what your dad fed him before he brought him over.”
With a single knock, Henry flew open Dean’s door and barged in with a frenzy. “Johnny, thank God you’re here. I need you over at the hanger. Now. You have to fly out with John and find your dad.”
Johnny was shocked. “Why, what’s wrong?”
“Ellen and Miguel are in trouble. I gave her a transmitter to press just in case.” He looked at Dean. “She’s been pressing it for twenty minutes now. A steady pattern.”
Johnny, without hesitation bolted from the living room. “I’m on my way.”
In the instance that the door slammed Dean knew. All of his fears at that moment were now confirmed. He sat down on the couch next to Henry who looked as if he were diligently trying to make heads or tails out of this situation.
They weren’t sitting on the couch for more than ten minutes when the call from John Matoose came over the radio to Henry. John was calm, he usually was. Even though the situation dictated total pandemonium, he very calmly called to Henry telling him he was needed at the hanger. Henry left Dean wondering why Johnny and John weren’t in the air. It couldn’t be a fuel situation. The helicopters hadn’t been flown in a while. Trying to figure out all the way there what the holdup was, he commenced to building a theory list in his mind. Nowhere on that mind list was the true reason for their lack of departure. Though the will was with John and Johnny, the way to do it certainly wasn’t. They couldn’t take the choppers. Someone, and everyone knew who, had taken it upon themselves to sabotage the engines of the helicopters.
Henry, always known as the fix-it man, wasn’t quite sure he could fix it. He stared at what had been done. He stared at the wired and disassembled mess that once were helicopter engines, and he just didn’t know where to begin.
^^^^
The journey seemed as if it took forever. And as they fast approached the last mile, the rocky terrain they took seemed to make the trip slow down. They had found the spot that Dean had mentioned. The balding area, used as a car turnaround or rest area on the narrow road, was heavily overgrown. Frank took his supplies and placed them under the once green picnic table that set off toward the edge of the thicker woods. While there, he hooked a hunting knife to his belt along with an extra clip of ammunition. He left everything else and walked quickly back to the truck. He watched the area disappear as they made it down the hill. He watched the road way before him, studying the
area surrounding it, photographing it in his mind.
So as not to arouse suspicion, Joe dropped Frank and George off just on the edge of the road that led to the installation. Wanting to appear as if they were expecting nothing out of the ordinary, Joe said a heart strained, worry-filled, goodbye to his son and left with Greg.
After watching the dust from the truck wheels settle, Frank moved to George and they began to walk the quarter of a mile hike to the gate that set before the entrance of the mountain tunnel. Frank took every detail of the area in as he walked. He kept his mind going the whole time.
It was as if someone yelled ‘halt’. The steady stride of Frank and George both slowed to an almost stop when the vision of the gate came into focus. Frank saw him. The guard. He looked at George and without any words, he knew George was thinking the same thing. Why was there a guard? Where did he come from? Was he armed? . . . He was.
Standing stern and blanking staring forward, the guard asked their names when they approached. He let them in when Frank and George told him who they were. The guard returned to staring outward, never watching Frank or George as they walked to the tunnel that led to the installation.
The feeling that something was amiss grew stronger in Frank as they entered the first floor of the installation. They were stopped, by yet another guard. Two? Frank thought, then assessed the situation. Two guards, each with one single fire arm. What were they protecting and where did the guards come from? The guard informed George and Frank to wait there. He stood with them. They stood in silence.
Frank kept his stare down the long hallway before him. He checked his watch and began to keep time. If in five minutes he didn’t see his wife, guard or no guard he was going to find her.
^^^^
Joanna was the first to enter Ellen and Miguel’s room, she brought with her an armed soldier. Jeffrey Barnett stood in the hall. Joanna was not smiling, she had a certain look of nervousness as she spoke. “Miguel, come with me.” She motioned her head to the guard to step in the room.
Miguel stood up. “I’m not leaving Ellen.”
Another motion of her head to the guard and he lifted his weapon and pointed it at Ellen. “Now Miguel, you will come with me, and you will do exactly as I say. It appears your people are here early.”
Ellen stood up suddenly with a burst of energy and relief, the guard shoved her back down.
Miguel turned away from Joanna. “I’m staying here.”
“No you won’t.” Joanna insisted. “You will come with me. You will tell them that you and Ellen have decided to stay here longer. You will do this, Miguel. Or she . . .” Joanna pointed to Ellen. “Will die. We’ve had enough of her. What will it be?”
Miguel took a deep breath and stared to Ellen. He gave her a look that told her he was going to take care of it. With his head high, he walked with Joanna. She shut the door, leaving the guard inside, alone with Ellen.
Miguel’s heart beat faster in the elevator with every floor they passed. How was he going to relay to Joe that things were wrong. The moment he stepped from the elevator and turned the bend, Miguel knew it was over. The instant he saw Frank standing tall, arms folded, and expression stern, Miguel knew not much would need to be said. Frank came down for a reason.
Where was Ellen? Frank’s eyes shifted. Miguel, Joanna, Barnett . . . another Guard? He breathed heavier, and checked out the guard once more that stood two feet angled from him to his right. He watched Miguel walk between Joanna and Jeffrey Barnett. Then the guard with them, off to their right. A single fire arm, not drawn.
“Mr. Slagel.” Joanna smiled. “President Hadly. Imagine our surprise that you are early.”
Frank kept his arms tightly folded to him. He stared only at Miguel. “Where’s Ellen?”
Miguel didn’t answer, he didn’t smile, if Frank had any mind reading powers in him, Miguel was wishing them forward.
Joanna answered for him. “It seems your wife is very busy. In fact.” She tighten her lips before she spoke. “I hate to be the one to tell you this. But Ellen has decided to stay on with us a bit longer. She said you two were having some problems and she’d rather not go home. So, hating to be the rude hostess. We’ve only made arrangements for President Hadly. I’m afraid Mr. Slagel, you’ll have to leave.”
Frank expected to hear something like that. He still stared into Miguel’s eyes. “Sure I’ll leave.” He inched his way closer. “But I have to ask Miguel something. This Ellen wanting to stay thing. Is it the same situation as when Dean took a break from her and went with . . . Robbie?”
Miguel released his shoulders. “Yes, yes it is. It’s the same situation.”
“Thanks, Miguel. That’s all I needed to know.” It happened so fast, no one even expected it was coming. In one swift single motion, Frank pulled his revolver with his right hand, extended his left and grabbed hold of Joanna by her hair. As he jerked her into him, he aimed his gun, clicked back the hammer and fired one single shot directly into the forehead of the armed guard who stood by Jeffrey. The force of the bullet shattered his skull instantly, blood flew everywhere. “Back off!” Frank heard the clicking of a gun. He pinned Joanna to him with his arm. His fingers clasped tightly to her head, tilting it away from him. “Back off now!” He pointed his gun at the other guard. “I break her fuckin neck or I shoot her. Your choice.”
The guard stepped back but still held aim at Frank.
“I’m not kidding!” Frank’s face was red as he dug the gun deep into Joanna’s temple. He could feel his anger growing in his throat, tightening, roughening his bellowing voice. “Put down your gun! To the floor!” He waited for the guard to become unarmed, placing his gun down, holding his hands up. As the guard stood straight up, Frank removed the gun from Joanna and aimed it at him. “Never drop your weapon.” Frank fired once, one deadly shot. Another guard down. “Miguel grab his weapon. Grab Barnett. George watch my back.”
George who had his own weapon pulled it and stood behind Frank.
Frank placed his lips close to Joanna’s ear. “I should break your fuckin' neck right now, but I need you to get out of here. Where is my wife?”
Joanna struggled. “You’re choking me.”
“Good.” Frank tugged her head again, then put the gun back to it. “Miguel, how many guards are we looking at?”
“There’s another one down with Ellen. Maybe one or two.” He held Jeffrey at gun point.
“Take me to Ellen.” Frank, with George backed up behind him, held tightly to Joanna, her feet slid more than moved on their own, as he raced after Miguel to the elevator. He plotted his escape the whole way down. In his mind he thought Ellen was fine. Miguel was, why wouldn’t she be. They’d be able to use Joanna to get to the front gate. They would off the guard and flee to the hill.
“She’s in here, Frank.” Miguel spoke softly outside the door so as not to alert the guard inside. “But it’s locked.”
Frank gave a hard pull to Joanna’s neck. “The key.”
“I don’t have it.” She choked as her face grew red. “The guard you shot upstairs does.”
“Fuck.” Frustrated, Frank threw her into George. “Hold the gun on her.” He instructed, as he stepped back, raised his gun, cocked back the hammer and barreled forth.
Like a blast of electricity through her body, Ellen felt the charge of life surge into her as the door to her room burst open and she saw Frank. The guard that held her at gun point stood not one chance. Frank fired a single shot, eliminating him as a threat.
Lifting herself from the bed and ignoring the pain, Ellen used the exhilaration of hope that Frank had just given her, to charge forth to her husband.
Frank reached her before she reached him. He took her tightly it his strong arms, clutching her against his chest. He could feel her gasp-of-emotions the moment he held her. “We have to hurry. Can you make it out?”
Ellen nodded to him with a sad smile.
Frank saw her face, the bruises. “My God, what did they do to you?” He
placed her behind his back and held out his gun. “Hold on to me.” He walked from the room filled with outrage. “George, Miguel come on.”
George, his hand trembling just a bit as he placed the gun tight to Joanna’s temple, shook his head. “No Frank, take her and go. We’ll meet you there. If we hold these two here. You’ll be able to get her out. Now go! Get her out of here!” George motioned his head.
Frank clutched Ellen’s hand. “Miguel?”
“Go Frank. We’ll meet you. If not. Send for us.”
Frank hadn’t the time, he pulled Ellen to run. “Come on.”
Ellen reached her hand out to Miguel as Frank pulled at her, it slid down his arm across his fingers. She gave a thank you smile, yet her face showed so much worry. “Hurry to us, Miguel.” Ellen moved slow, her legs too sore, too injured to keep up with Frank, even a little.
Realizing that Ellen, physically couldn’t do it. Frank swept her up and carried her the rest of the way. In his arms, she collapsed, her head fell to his chest.
Once safely inside the elevator, Frank dropped to one knee. He placed his hand on her face, gently shaking it. “El, Come on. Wake up. I need you up just a little more. Come on. I need you awake enough to hold on to me. Can you do that?”
Ellen opened her eyes. “I can walk.”
“Right.” Frank looked up, they were reaching their floor. He kissed her softly. “I love you.” He stood up and helped Ellen to stand. “Don’t move until I check this floor.” When the doors opened he stood ready, gun held high, and positioned. No one was around. “It’s clear.” He took hold of Ellen again and raced from the installation with her. At the edge of the tunnel he saw his last obstacle. Frank smiled, it was easy enough. The not-too-bright, unsuspecting watch guard at the front gate. He still stood, rifle in arms staring forward. Setting down Ellen to lean against the wall of the tunnel, Frank got down on one knee. The guard was twenty-five feet away. Frank had one shot, that’s all he could take before the guard fired back. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Frank aimed with a steady hand, and fired.
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 111
