“It was tough Joe. Really tough.” Dan shook his head and ran the back of his hand across his mouth which bled some. “Four men were injured in the pursuit, unintentionally, but injured.”
“You knew what we were dealing with,” Joe told him. “Is he in there?” Joe seriously motioned his head to the door.
“And secured, Joe. I’ll go in with you.”
“Nah, I can handle it.” Joe reached for the door.
“I’d rather be in there with you, Joe. He’s agitated and not very happy with being captured. It might not be safe.”
“Well, I can handle him, but if you want to amuse yourself, come on in.” Joe opened the door wider and waltzed into his office with dramatic flair and intimidation. He was greeted by the noise of continuous banging of wood against the linoleum. It was accompanied with muffled grunts of a struggle. Joe snickered some, gained his composure, and walked further into the office. “Frank, calm down.”
One long deep growl came from Frank Slagel as he raised his mean dark eyes and peered at his father. He grunted again, unable to speak from the gag placed over his mouth. His big shoulders tossed back in forth as he tried to free himself from the chair in which he was tied.
“Now if you promise to not yell, I’ll take this tape from your mouth.” Joe bent down to him. He listened to the heavy hard breath Frank released from his nose. “Frank? Deal?”
Frank nodded.
“Good.” Joe reached for the end of the tape slowly lifting it and then paused before ripping it off his son’s mouth harder than he should have. He pulled the small cloth from Frank’s mouth. “Better?”
Frank screamed first. It rumbled from his chest. “What the fuck is this all . . .” He muffled a ‘hmpf’ when Joe replaced the tape.
“Frank,” Joe spoke pacifying to him, “we can do this my way or you can stay like this until your big ass calms down. Now, can I take off this tape or what?” He saw Frank nod again. “Now scream at me again and I’ll smack the hell out of you while you’re tied to that chair. And guess what? You can’t do shit about it. Ready?” Joe raised his eyebrows once and ripped the tape roughly from his mouth again.
“Uh!” Frank twitched his head. “My fuckin goatee better still be there.”
“Frank!”
“Dad! You got me fuckin tied up in a chair and you don’t want me to be pissed?” His face turned red. “Don’t . . .” He saw the tape coming. “Put that thing over my mouth. I can’t believe you had eight of my guys chasing my ass around . . . ow . . . hey you hit me.”
“What did I tell you?”
“Knock it off!!” Frank screamed. “Why were my men tracking me down like I was Bigfoot or something?”
“Because you’re out of control.”
“Yeah I’m out of control and wait until I get my hands on Henry. Wait.”
“Speaking of which.” Joe lifted his radio to his mouth. “Henry, Henry all is clear. You can stop running now.”
“Oh he’d better fuckin run. Three hours I chased him, most of which has been avoiding my own men. Tell him to run because he’s a dead man.”
“No he’s not, Frank.”
“Yes, he is.”
“No, he’s not.” Joe backed up, placed down the radio, and leaned against his desk. “I had your men grab your ass because you had to be stopped. You can’t be chasing Henry around Beginnings like you were sixteen years old. What were you gonna do when you caught him? Beat the hell out of him?”
“Well . . . yeah.”
“Well . . . no,” Joe mocked him. “I told you that I wouldn’t stand for this behavior if you ever found out that he and Ellen were together. Tough, Frank, deal with it. You started it, you pushed it, and now you have to live with it. Henry can’t be running from you for three hours. He should be at the clinic where his baby is.”
“Oh no!” Frank shook his head.
“What do you mean oh no. It’s his baby.”
“Oh no, my baby,” Frank spoke with insistence.
“Frank, did you look at the kid? Really look at the kid?”
“Yeah. He has dark hair like me.”
“He also is very Asian like Henry. You’re not Asian Frank, at least the last I checked you weren’t.”
“But it’s my baby.”
Joe grunted and ran his hand over his own face to calm himself. “How in Christ’s name do you figure that?”
“He’s my kid. Ask Dan.”
Joe looked over to Dan. “You’re not going to tell me that baby is Frank’s, are you?”
“Well Joe.” Dan lifted his shoulders. “It is.”
“The goddamn kid looks just like Henry,” Joe blasted. “How can you say that?”
Dan scratched his head. “According to understanding rules, whichever man is the primary relationship when the kid is conceived, that’s whose kid it is. Ellen was married to Frank when the kid was conceived. He had the understanding with Henry. So technically, the baby is Frank’s.”
“Yeah, I own the kid,” Frank stated.
Joe waved his hand in an ignoring fashion to Frank as he spoke to Dan. “That rule cannot hold true in cases such as this.”
Dan disagreed, “Oh, sure, Joe, it can and it does. The baby rule was established first. It had to be in order to keep peace. Any man that enters into an understanding knows full well that if the woman gets pregnant the child is not his. It’s up to the primary relationship to make the decision on whether he shares the kid or not,”
Joe closed his eyes. “How do you keep track of all these rules?”
“Eh,” Dan shrugged, “there’s not that many. Besides, Trish in history has a copy of them she keeps for reference purposes.”
Ignoring Frank’s ‘Come on Dad . . . Dad . . . Dad let me go . . . Dad?’, Joe continued speaking to Dan. “You people actually wrote down rules? How come I didn’t know this?”
“You did,” Dan stated. “We thought you did. You gave the final decision on a lot of problems.”
“Christ.” Joe picked up the phone. “When you people came to me and said it’s a rule, I merely agreed with the rule. I didn’t think there actually were any.” He began to dial, whining ahead of time, knowing full well how Trish was going to answer the phone.
“Dad!” Frank yelled.
“Shut up Frank.” Joe put the phone to his ear.
“Good afternoon,” Trish spoke pleasantly. “This is Trish in History. How can I help you?”
Joe closed one eye and took a breath before he said anything. “You can start by not answering the damn phone so old world professionally.”
Trish giggled as if Joe was joking. “You’re funny, Joe.”
“No Trish, I’m not. I want you to have a copy of the understanding rules ready for me in about . . .” Joe glanced at his watch. “Fifteen minutes. I’ll be by to pick them up.”
“But you have a copy, Joe.”
“I have a copy?”
“Yeah, I brought them up to you last year.”
“Christ Trish, that was last year, I probably tossed them out thinking it was a joke. Get me another set. Thanks.” Grunting, Joe hung up the phone and laid it down. “Now.” He walked to Frank. “About you.”
“Yeah.” Frank struggled. “Untie me.”
“Not just yet.”
“What?”
“I need to have your word that you are not going to be giving the Frank attitude to Ellen. I won’t stand for it. She’s just as much my daughter as you are my son. Your word.”
“You have my word.” Frank sounded so agitated. “We have another kid now and we’re going to work it out between us. Without Henry.” He saw his father laugh. “What?”
“I don’t think that’ll be such an easy thing to do Frank, unless you plan on being the secondary relationship.”
“Fuck that.”
“No Frank, I don’t think so.” With a look of enjoyment on his face, Joe leaned again against his desk. “You see, a birdie whispered in my ear just a couple hours ago … Henry and Ellen . .
. got married.”
Very calmly Frank tilted his head. “Repeat that one more time.”
“Henry and Ellen got married. That’s what Henry told me.”
“That’s what I thought you said.” With flaring nostrils, Frank let out a bellowing grunt, stood to his feet and brought the attached chair with him. With all his strength, he raced full speed backwards, crashed into the wall, and smashed the chair apart. Raising his arms out, he flung the ropes from him, whipped open the door, and charged out in typical heated Frank-fashion.
Joe saw Dan racing after him and he reached out and stopped him. “Let him go.”
“But Joe.” Nervously Dan pointed to the door. “He’ll kill Henry.”
“Nah, he won’t.” Joe walked behind his desk and sat down.
“Should we forewarn Henry? After all, he thinks it’s safe.”
Joe thought about it for a second. “Let it go. I gave Henry the advantage long enough. After all, if this marriage thing is real, well … there has to be some loyalty to my son. Right?” Joe pulled out a cigarette and lit it as he reached for the phone.
Dan looked at the door ad visions of Frank pulverizing an unsuspecting Henry raced through his mind. He looked at Joe calmly. “Who you calling?”
“Oh, Godrichson. He’ll enjoy this.”
Throwing his hands in the air, Dan moved to the door. “I’m heading back to work. Let me know when you hear from Robbie.” He walked out.
Robbie. Joe stopped dialing. With all the antics that he was enjoying with his other son, he let the worry of Robbie slip from his mind and at that moment, it returned full force. Switching his demeanor, Joe set aside calling Godrichson and began to dial again. This time he called Robbie, hoping he was in close enough range that Joe could speak to him. He needed to speak to him.
<><><><>
In the west division of the fields, Henry emerged from the tall corn stalks. He clenched his radio with excitement and hooked it back on his belt. Raising his head up, he spoke softly. “Thank you,” and in Henry fashion, he took off quickly back to town. Rounding by the field house, he lifted his hand in a wave to Cole then, as he looked back, he saw it. It perched out from under the wooden structure used as an office and tool building. Henry stopped cold in his tracks, turned around and went to it, It was a wild flower, so long, and blue. So perfect for something, Henry thought, as an item nature merely spit out by accident. Smiling widely, Henry bent down and picked it up. He brought the strong stemmed object closer to his face. Grinning even more, he continued in his speed off to town.
<><><><>
Frank merely made a grunting noise to everyone he passed in his storm to the clinic. That’s where he pegged Henry to be going. Strong and tall, he walked his big body, his arms swinging back and forth as he moved in long strides.
“Hey, Dad.” Johnny Slagel had stepped from the steps of the clinic. “Going to see Ellen?”
He didn’t want to stop, but seeing how Johnny was his kid, Frank had to. “Henry.”
“He’s not in there.” Johnny pointed back. “At least I didn’t see him when I looked in.”
“You didn’t go in?”
“Not yet. I only wanted to see how she was. Later, I will.”
“So I take it you saw your brother?” Frank asked with a raised eyebrow. “What do you think?”
“Cute, really cute.”
“That’s all?”
“And little?”
“And?” Frank tilted his head.
“Um naked except for a diaper?”
Snarling at his son, Frank made a spin in the direction of the clinic and took the steps in one extension of his legs. As he barreled up the steps, he thought how much he hated to do it to Denny and Josh who were cleaning the doors. But if Frank didn’t do it, then it would ruin his entrance into the clinic, his mean ‘stay out of my way’ entrance. So without saying anything, Frank grabbed the handle of the door, threw it open, and let it smack, first off of Josh and then off the wall. Frank knew which direction he had to go.
The rage Frank was feeling boiled his blood and hardened his footsteps so much that he caught the attention of Jenny Matoose who stood by the nursery window. Hunching and hoping she wouldn’t talk to him, Frank was out of luck.
“Hi Frank.” Jenny bounced in her walk to him, tossing her thick red hair over one shoulder. “Congratulations. Your son is beautiful.”
His lip curled and his eyebrow rose. He tried not to, but a growl came out of him.
“What’s his name?” Jenny said to him as Frank, looking ahead, walked by the nursery. “They don’t have his name up?”
The high squeal of his boots from his sudden stop not only made a noise but a black scuff mark, long and dark, as well. “What do you mean they don’t have his name up?” He turned back and marched to the nursery window,. He looked at the bassinets set close together. “Where is he? Does Ellen have him?”
“No.” Jenny shook her head. “He’s way back there.” Her index finger pointed against the glass.
Frank’s eyes widened when he saw the incubator huddled in the corner of the room. “Why’s he way back there?”
“They had him up front until he went into respiratory arrest . . . Frank?” Jenny felt the brush by her of Frank and she turned back to the window.
Frank’s heart beat heavier when he walked directly back to the incubator, his complete focus forward. It was the first time since the baby was born that Frank had seen him,. How different he looked outside of that blanket. “Oh my God.” He stepped to the incubator, closing his eyes briefly as his hand ran over it. He felt a lump form in his throat when he peered down to the tiny boy, so small, and looking more helpless than Frank had seen any of his children ever look. Frank felt as helpless as the baby looked. “Hey,” Frank spoke softly, placing his hand in the protective glove opening. He flashed back to when Brian was in a warming bed. Brain didn’t look so frail and he definitely didn’t have the intravenous, oxygen, or monitors that this baby had. His huge hand trembled some as it reached for the baby’s stomach. The moment it touched down, he felt the rise and fall of the body that was buried beneath his palm. “Hey little guy.” Frank tapped on top of the incubator plastic. He smiled when the baby jolted some. “Did you hear me? Yeah.”
“Of course he heard you,” Andrea spoke behind him.
Frank tilted his head in disgust when he heard Andrea’s voice. “I hope to God there isn’t a smart comment following that like he heard me because I have a big mouth.”
“No, not today.” She moved closer to look with Frank. “He’s doing better.”
“What happened to him?” Frank asked.
“Besides being very early, he stopped breathing about an hour and a half ago.”
“Shit.”
“Normal, Frank,” Andrea calmly told him. “We expect normal lung functioning in a few days. We checked the ratio, it’s good. We’re giving him a steroid equivalent to make him stronger.”
“So sad.” Frank brought his face closer to the plastic. “He looks so defenseless. So helpless.”
“He is right now,” Andrea told him. “But with time and prayer, I’m certain he will be fine. You’ll see a difference in a few days.”
“Look at his little arm, Andrea. You have it strapped down.”
“We have to keep the IV in there. He’s a wiry little guy,” Andrea smiled.
“Why isn’t his name anywhere?” Frank looked at the sign that stated. ‘Ellen’s baby boy’
“I didn’t put anything up because, well, to be honest with the way you have been acting the past few hours, no one knew what you were going to do.”
“What do you mean?” Frank asked.
“There was some talk that you would disown this child because of . . . you know.” Andrea smiled again and ran her hand down Frank’s back. “I know we don’t see eye to eye Frank, but let me just say to you, you coming to the clinic and being in here so calm is the best thing to do. Not raging to kill Henry is even better. I know you
want Ellen back, and you handling this so unlike yourself, so mature . . .” She snickered when Frank gave her a look of disgust. “You’re going about it the right way. Everyone said you wouldn’t. I kind of thought you’d be like this. You know as well as I do, if you go in there tearing Henry apart, you can forget about Ellen.”
Frank smiled and touched the baby one more time. He retracted his hand from the glove. “You know what Andrea? You’re right. Thanks. I know exactly what I’m going to do now.” He tapped her on the cheek and gave a smirk.
This surprised Andrea. “Did you change your mind about something?”
“You can say that.” Frank stared down at the baby.
“I hope I didn’t make things worse.”
“Nope, better.”
“Good. I’ll let you visit with . . .” She stopped talking as she stepped back. “What is his name?”
“Nick,” Frank nodded so assuredly. “Nicholas Robert Slagel.”
<><><><>
Henry kept up his pace all the way to the clinic. He even ran down the hall so quickly by Jenny Matoose that she didn’t see him. Or at least Henry hoped she didn’t. With his hands behind his back, and an excited look of a kid upon his face, he bolted into Ellen’s room. “Hey El.”
“Henry,” Ellen grinned.
Dean released the grip he held on Ellen’s hand and sat back. “Passing by again Henry?”
“No, it’s safe now. Everything is under control.” He caught his breath and walked over to the bed. “I’m sorry for not being here.”
“That’s O.K. Henry, your life is so much more important. Dean kept me company.”
“Thanks Dean.” Henry grabbed a chair and pulled it to the other side of her bed. “Here, El. I got this for you.” He handed her the wildflower.
“Oh, Henry,” Ellen sniffed it. “That is so sweet. Dean, isn’t he sweet?”
“He’s a pip.” Dean rested his elbow on his knee and his chin on his palm.
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 233
