The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Because we’re looking for the files with the vial info, remember?” She shook her head. “Those forty files only contain info about the embryos and ovum harnessing.” She shrugged. “Who would of thought? Amniotic, and copulating were passwords.”

  Dean could barely breathe. “Forty files? You opened forty files.”

  “Yes, Dean.” She looked up to the stunned faces. “Very boring stuff. Not important.”

  “El.” Dean grabbed her face and kissed her. “You are so great.”

  Ellen was taken aback. “Dean, did you hear me? It isn’t the vial information. Maybe you’re just tired. And that smell . . .” She sprayed the perfume and flipped through her dictionary. “Where was I? ‘C-R’. That’s it.” She noticed she was being watched. “Do you guys mind? I want to get started on this. It’s very time consuming since the system does shut down on me a lot. Go play with your SUT or something.” She waved her hand at them. “And shut the blinds in there. I don’t want to see.”

  Joe nodded his head backwards to Dean and Henry. “Let’s go. You heard the lady.”

  Dean stared at Ellen. “One second, Joe. I’ll be right there.” He waited until they left. “El.” He put his hand on her back. “Though I hate that you were down here all night, good job.”

  “Thanks.” Ellen keyed in an incorrect password. “Shit.” She typed again. “Shit. Wrong.”

  “And . . . I’m glad you’re coming home with me.”

  Ellen paused and tilted her head to him. “Thanks.” She smiled softly. “It’ll feel nice.”

  “I promise it will be.” He kissed her on the cheek again. “I gotta go. Good luck.” The whole time he walked to the back room, he kept staring back at Ellen. As he reached for the door handle he heard the loudest ‘shit’ yet and he knew she had to boot up again. But Ellen was trying, and Ellen was making progress.

  ^^^^

  “So, Dean.” Joe stood back some from Dean’s way. He occasionally had to bring his hand to his nose, but for the most part, Joe was getting used to the smell. “What do you make of it?”

  Dean stood over Chester’s body which lay prone on the table. He examined the open skin on the back of Chester’s neck with his fingers. “In the cervical region, we have on the left side of the neck a subdural hematoma.” Dean breathed heavily. “C-3, 4, and 5, are crushed, more so to the right. The hematoma extends upward.” He paused when he heard Henry gagging. “What is wrong with you?”

  “I can’t, Dean.” Henry’s muffled words through his hand were heard. “This is really impossible.” He turned his back and peeked out the blinds. “Hey, Ellen’s leaving, can I walk her home?”

  Joe rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but you get your ass back here so you can help us carry this thing.”

  “Body, Joe.” Henry opened the door. “And thanks.” Quickly he shut it.

  “Go on, Dean.”

  “All right. In the lumber region,” Dean indicated, “there is sufficient blood collection, a bruising around L-1 and L-2. So . . .” Dean lifted his head and stepped back. “This tells me the rope didn’t do this. The bruise on his back, the upward bruising of the neck, and the way that the cervical vertebrae are broken tell me Chester was lying on his stomach when his neck was broken.”

  “Like whoever did this had his knee into his back when he broke his neck.”

  “Yes,” Dean said. “Arching. And there was a struggle.” He began to cover up Chester’s body. “Damn it. Why didn’t I check this before?”

  “We didn’t suspect before. It looked like a suicide. We didn’t know George would do this.”

  “Did he?” Dean asked securing the black cloth over Chester.

  “Are you saying you doubt George’s participation?”

  “No not at all. I’m just doubting that George did this. Chester is a big man. It would take a big man to do this. Or strong. Someone, in essence, younger. George is in his sixties. Yes he is in great shape, but in this good of enough shape?”

  “Then who?” Joe asked.

  “Anyone that trains with Frank knows how to break a neck. That’s like Frank’s trademark.” Dean raised his eyebrows. “I just don’t want us to rule out the possibility that maybe someone else is involved.”

  Joe rubbed his head. The pain was starting to come back. “John Matoose?”

  “He’s young, he’s big. He came to Ashtonville with George.”

  “No, Dean. No.” Joe shook his head. “I follow my gut. John was just a soldier. I believe George did this alone. Age has nothing to do with it. George is a strong man.”

  “All right.” Dean raised his hands. “Promise me you won’t rule him out.” He saw Joe agree then press to his temples. “Headache again?”

  “Tension.” Joe shook his head.

  “Why don’t we go up to the clinic so I can give you something.”

  “What about Henry? He’ll be back.”

  “Yeah.” Dean laughed. “And he’ll be alone with Chester. It’ll be fun.”

  To Joe, aside from Ellen breaking two passwords, that was the happiest thought he had all night.

  CHAPTER TEN

  He hated Beginnings Day. Walking around, smiling that George smile. Having a third of the host duties to an event that he thought was the stupidest thing the people of Beginnings ever came up with. It was something they planned for all year. Making one pig extremely fat and roasting it and chickens on an open fire pit that they built especially for the day. The food was about the only thing that George liked. It was a big picnic and George, even as a kid, hated picnics. He thought they were useless before the plague, and he thought worse of them afterward.

  George’s face was starting to hurt from the fake laughing he put on. The tension muscles didn’t want to relieve themselves. There was just so much that irritated him, especially the asinine free games that gave people a chance to win homemade rag dolls, wooden cars, and other things Henry picked up on runs. George knew as soon as he gained control of Beginnings activities like Beginnings Day would be things of the past.

  So close to obtaining the position he believed and felt he was due, he was certain it wouldn’t be long before Joe was history. Walking around, he made himself feel better by figuring out who would be on council. Who would stay, go or die. His mind-list was not complete, but he knew one person aside from Joe wouldn’t be on it… Frank. If Beginnings Day wasn’t bad enough, Frank especially irritated George. Laughing, smiling, playing the ‘big’ father with some other man’s children. Why Dean didn’t just put a stop to that, George never knew. Perhaps it was Dean’s fear of Frank. Everyone feared Frank. And that was a fear that Beginnings would be rid of soon.

  Filling his glass with more apple cider, George sought out Andrea, one of the few people in Beginnings he never minded speaking to.

  ^^^^

  God, what is in this cookie? Ellen wondered as she looked oddly at the orange round thing, bringing it to her nose and smelling it. The aroma of it made her face cringe more. Having to find out what Josephine was trying to accomplish, Ellen snapped apart the cookie. A piece of the hardness flew from her fingers and down to the ground. “Shit.” She crouched down to get it, smiling when she heard her daughter.

  “Mommy!” Alexandra sounded so excited. “Mommy!”

  “What, sweetie?” Ellen stood up turning around. The smile left her when she saw Frank.

  “Look, Mommy.” Alexandra held up a rag doll. “Uncle Frank won me a doll.”

  “Look at that.” Ellen lowered her view from Frank to the doll. She bent down kissing her daughter. “Did you see Daddy? It’s time to go with him.”

  “Can I stay with you and eat cookies?”

  “Yes. Yes you can.” She planted her lips firmly to her cheek. “Say goodbye to Frank.” Ellen tried to ignore Frank and his glares. He just stood there staring and Ellen knew what was coming, despite the fact she didn’t want to hear it.

  With his hand reaching over Alexandra’s head Frank leaned closer to Ellen. “Alex told me she woke up and you w
ere sleeping there.”

  Ellen didn’t answer him, she handed her daughter a cookie that didn’t look too bad.

  “El.” Frank’s voice crept above a whisper. “Is that true?”

  Ellen shifted her eyes to him. “Yes.”

  “So you moved back in with Dean?” Another increase in his level.

  “No, Frank.” Ellen remained calm. “I moved in with my children.”

  “Same difference.”

  “No, it isn’t.” Ellen spoke softly, watching Alexandra cringe the same face she made at the cookie.

  “Bullshit. When did you move in with him?”

  “Come on, Alex.” Ellen grabbed the tiny hand.

  “El.” Frank reached out and stopped her. His face, his angry face, said it all.

  Dean saw it as he made his way to Ellen. He saw the way Frank spun Ellen, staring at her. “Frank!” Dean stepped closer, taking Alexandra’s hand from Ellen. “I would appreciate if you didn’t speak to Ellen like that, especially in front of my daughter. Let’s go, Alex.” He pulled her with him.

  “Daddy, wait.” Alexandra pulled from his hand and ran to Frank. “Bye Uncle Frank.”

  Frank put his arms around the little girl, closing his eyes as he held her. “Bye, Alex.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, sweetie.” He kissed her and then released her.

  Alexandra giggled and returned to Dean showing him her doll. “Look what Uncle Frank got me.”

  “Yeah.” Dean barely looked at it. “Uncle Frank’s a real gem.” He walked away with her.

  Seeing Dean leave with her daughter was Ellen’s clue. She too began to step away.

  “El, you’re taking her from me, aren’t you?” Frank asked, his words not as harsh as most that came from his mouth. “You’re going to take her and Billy from my life. Aren’t you?”

  “No, Frank. I wouldn’t do that to my children.”

  “I see it.” He tilted his head. “You’re back with him.”

  “I’m with my children.” Ellen tried to speak with reason.

  “And Dean.”

  “I will not discuss this with you.” Ellen began to walk away.

  “Are you back in his bed too, El?” Frank continued. Even though she didn’t respond, he knew she listened. “You told me that you won’t do it. You said you’d do whatever it took to get us back.” He saw her stop. “You think you’re doing that?”

  Ellen rushed back to him, placing her face close to his. Her words lost their sadness and gained edge. “You said you wanted to end us. Is that still true, Frank?” Her eyes widened at him.

  Frank swallowed as he stared at her, his jaws twitching. “Yes.” He moved even closer, almost growling his whisper to her. “I want you out of my life.”

  “Then stay out of mine!” Ellen pointed at him, stepped back and stormed away.

  Frank watched her walk away, down the street and away from the festivities. He breathed heavily, slamming his hand on the table.

  “It’s terrible how she is with you, Frank.” Jenny Matoose ran her hand down his back.

  Frank spoke no words. He just stared outward to where Ellen used to be, a heavy stare.

  “Um Frank . . .” Jenny’s voice perked. “Do you think since you don’t have the twins you can go relieve John now so he can enjoy the festivities with me?”

  Frank turned harshly and walked away.

  “Thank you!” Jenny yelled to him, and then smiled.

  ^^^^

  She had calmed down some. Letting her anger subside, Ellen emerged from the clinic where she went to cool down. It was as if George was waiting for her when she stepped through the double doors. He was smiling sympathetically, so fatherly.

  “Ellen.” He stepped up the steps to meet her. “I saw what happened. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine George. Thank you for asking.”

  “Here, let’s sit.” He led her down to the steps. “Get away from everyone for a moment.”

  “I guess everyone saw.” Ellen held back her hair.

  “Nah.” George waved his hands. “I saw because I was headed to that table for one of those terrible cookies.”

  Ellen smiled. “They were bad, weren’t they? But I guess you should stay away from them. You don’t need to get sicker, huh?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your ulcer. Henry said it was acting up last night and that’s why you weren’t with them.”

  “With them?” George asked.

  “The goof troop. They had that dead body in the cryo-lab in the middle of the night last night. Oh ,George.” Ellen waved her hand. “It smelled.”

  “That body.” George nodded. “I was sick. I didn’t feel up to it. So, you filled in?”

  “Me?” Ellen placed her hand to her chest. “No, I was in the lab digging up the passwords to the hidden files. Dean asked me to work on it, so I’ve been down there. Broke two of them already.”

  “Two?” George raised his eyebrows. “Like a puzzle for you. You know that could be good therapy. Take your mind off of things with Frank.”

  “It’s gonna get worse. I moved into the house with Dean and the kids.”

  “That is understandable.” His hand rubbed her knee. “You two are very close.”

  “Our closeness was what started this mess.” Ellen took a deep breath. “I had a bad experience and I went to him instead of Frank, that played a big role.”

  “Oh . . . yes.” George lowered his head. “When you were raped.”

  Ellen’s head slowly turned to him. “How . . . how did you know? No one knows.”

  George was caught. He tried not to let it show. “Sorry, Ellen. I just found out this past week.”

  “Can you excuse me, George?” Ellen stood up. “Thanks for the talk. I appreciate your concern.” As she reached down and touched his hand, she felt her heart beat strong, her blood boil, and then Ellen marched off.

  ^^^^

  “You think that will work?” Joe took one more hit from his cigarette than flicked it away and rubbed his eyes. “Henry really is a terrible liar.” He spoke with Dean as they sat on the single step in front of Dean’s house.

  “Henry’s our only choice. He’s the only one of us that can get away with asking John Matoose any . . .” Dean could see Ellen from the tops of his eyes. “I think we better be quiet.” He pointed.

  “Wow, does she look pissed,” Joe commented.

  “Frank got her at the festivities.”

  Ellen stopped before them and dramatically crossed her arms. “Just the two I’m looking for. What the hell is wrong with you? I just want to say thanks. Thanks a lot. I would love to know which one of you it was.”

  Joe squinted his eyes from the sun that shone behind her. “What are you talking about?”

  “George.” Ellen spoke in a scolding manner. “Which one of you told George about what happened to me in Colorado? You two and Frank were the only ones that knew.”

  Joe looked at Dean. George had made a mistake. Not wanting to let George know he was aware of the slip up, Joe decided to cover. “Ellen, I am really sorry . . .”

  “Joe.” Dean stopped him. He couldn’t let Joe take the fall, especially with Frank already not talking to him. With the thought of Frank, Dean smiled, and quickly removed it. “No Joe, don’t cover for him. Ellen.” Dean stood up. “It wasn’t Joe or I that said anything. Perhaps it was . . . Frank.”

  Ellen swallowed drastically. She started to say something, but opted to save it. “Thank you . That’s all I needed to know.” Angry, she stormed off.

  Joe lifted himself from the step and smacked a smiling Dean in the arm. “What the hell did you go and do that for? Like they need any help.”

  ^^^^

  She didn’t even bother knocking on his office door when she heard he was in there. An entrance is what he needed to feel, and an entrance is what Ellen gave him. With a loud ‘boom’ she flung open his office door. “Frank!” She slammed the door shut and marched straight t
o his desk. “You told him.”

  “What are talking about?” Sitting behind his desk, Frank’s focus was on his papers.

  “George. You told George, didn’t you? You told him about me.”

  Frank lifted his eyes. “Yeah, so what.”

  “So what?!” Ellen’s heart started to beat, an almost hyperventilation crept upon her breathing. “So what? Don’t you care? Are you that cold that you could tell him that?”

  “Yes I am.” Frank stood up. “I told everyone. And why not? Huh El?” He stepped closer. “It’s not like it’s a secret.”

  “It was!”

  “Well not anymore!”

  Ellen half closed her eyes. “I didn’t want anyone to know.” Her words were so emotional.

  “And you think I did?” He shouted to her. “You don’t think I’m embarrassed by the whole thing? I am. And you should be too! So I told people. So what!”

  “How could you?” Ellen fought back every single emotion. “I know you’re angry. I know the man in you is hurt. But I thought the friend . . . how could you do that to me?”

  “Because you deserve it!” He struck his words at her with a powerful deliverance.

  A gasp of shock by his emotions took her breath away. For a moment she froze. “That says it all.” She reached for the door. “I guess that’s how you would feel about it now.” She stopped in the open door and looked at the man who wouldn’t even look at her. “You know what Frank? I never thought I’d see the day when you would tell me that I deserved to be raped.” She dropped her head and walked out.

  The slamming of the door brought Frank’s heart to his stomach. “El, no.” He reached for the door. Through all the angry words, all the bitterness, Frank never stopped for one moment to realize that they were screaming at each other about two completely different things. As he stepped outside he saw her. Ellen nearly ran. “El!” He called out to her. No matter how outraged he still was at her, he had to stop her. The thought that he had implied Ellen deserved one of the most horrible things that had happened to her, sickened him. Frank couldn’t believe he did that, whether unintentional or not. He couldn’t let her believe he meant it. Chasing after Ellen, he got the call. Tower spotted two SUTs near the back gate. Frank had to get them. He debated on what he should do. With few men working, Frank knew the safety of the community had to take precedence over a marriage he felt no longer existed. Saving his talk to Ellen for later, Frank ran to the back gate to check out the SUTs.