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

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Ellen.” Joe held up his hand. “If they were dead when you got there, how do you know this stuff?”

  “The cavalry told us.”

  “The cavalry,” Joe blew out. “Oh boy.”

  “No Joe. They saved us. They rode in on their horses and saved Frank from being shot by a firing squad. They told us about the farm. They told us you guys were looking for us. That’s why we were waiting outside. How do you think I got home?”

  “We thought The Society dropped you off.”

  “The Society was dragging my ass across the field. This soldier had me by my hair and the next thing I know his head is bouncing on my chest, decapitated by a sword.”

  “The cavalry?”

  “Yes. They look like the cavalry too except they wear bandanas like bikers instead of hats.”

  “The cavalry.”

  “You don’t believe me.”

  “Ellen.” Joe stood up again. “The cavalry? Sweetheart, I believe someone in that camp came to your rescue but not the cavalry. And . . .” Joe drew up a thinking look.

  “What?”

  “The third and fourth blood,” Joe stated in thought.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Dean found a third and fourth unidentifiable blood on your clothes. That must be where it came from.”

  “Joe!” Ellen’s voice perked up. “I killed at least three. The cavalry killed more. There, there would be bodies right? Who’s gonna take them? If we go to the farm, we’ll know for sure and without a doubt about Frank. Because if he is dead, he’ll be there too. Joe we can prove to everyone that Frank isn’t gone and we can get everyone…”

  “Stop.” Joe sat down again. “If we look for Frank, we look for him without the community knowing. It stays in a small circle of people. Because I don’t want The Society finding out we’re looking for him. Got that?”

  Ellen nodded. “The other person working on the inside might let George know.”

  “Ellen? How do you know about the other person?”

  “You had a suspect meeting in here.”

  “You remember?”

  “No, Henry told me.”

  “Goddamn that boy.” Joe shook his head. “What else did he tell you?”

  “Nothing.” Ellen’s voice dropped. “I’d love to be part of the meetings.”

  “Well you can’t. They get out of hand enough. I have Henry who rambles on and on, Robbie who instigates, and Dean who’s been nothing but miserable. Which . . .” Joe laid his hand on Ellen’s, “should change now that you’re back safe and sound. He was worried about you.”

  “I know he was.”

  “He went out looking for you.”

  Ellen looked surprised. “He did?”

  “Yes he did,” Joe told her. “When they brought you in here, he wouldn’t let a soul touch you, no one. He worked on you alone.”

  “Thank you for telling me that,” Ellen said. “Joe, in your suspect meetings, did you at all bring up Henry or Andrea?”

  “Why would you say those two names, Henry especially? Tell me why?”

  Ellen shrugged. “I guess . . . I guess because he’s so non-suspect. If I was watching it on T.V., I’d pick him because he’s less obvious. Not that I think he’s working with George. And Andrea, well.” Ellen hesitated. “I love her, don’t get me wrong, but I was sitting here thinking when I found out about the meetings. You know, just in case I was allowed to come and I thought of her.”

  “Why?”

  “Something she did a while back that’s always bothered me.”

  This caught Joe’s attention. “Which was?”

  “You can’t yell at me.”

  “Why would I yell at you?”

  Ellen just looked at him.

  “Go on.”

  “In the history I remember, see it’s different than you remember, because I went back with Henry to bring Dean back.”

  Joe slid his hand down his face. “A ripple in time.”

  “Yes.”

  “They don’t count Ellen. I’ve told Henry the same thing.”

  “Yeah but Joe, just listen. O.K.. When Frank pulled me from the explosion, I had a one track mind. Get to the clinic, get the vial to save you, and pull you out to get George. Well I raced into the lab. Jason was there and Andrea was too. I rambled and rambled about saving you when I was getting the vial. Jason stayed. Andrea left.”

  Joe sat back from his lean in the chair. “Where did she go?”

  “I don’t know. The next time I saw her was when I was holding Dean’s body.”

  “Ellen, you have to realize, this holds little stock with me because it really never happened.”

  “I know.” Ellen’s head dropped.

  “You do know, since I think I’ve convinced you not to watch for Frank, you can leave this room. Why don’t you get some air? Dean wants you to do that. Move around. Let Jenny take you out to see all the closet homosexuals. You’d like that.”

  Ellen shook her head with a smile. “No, I’d rather not.”

  “Why.”

  “I’m just a little scared right now.”

  “Christ, Ellen, I take that as an insult. I run this place. Robbie would be insulted if he heard you say that you…”

  “No, don’t tell Robbie, O.K.? He’s the last person I want thinking that I don’t feel safe. He’s working so hard for Frank.”

  “And speaking of Frank, do you think you can recall where this farm is? I think I’ll send Robbie that way on his reconnaissance this afternoon.”

  Ellen agreed and looked to the window. “You said something, Joe. You said you would bring Frank back. Was that figuratively speaking because you always use the word ‘we’.”

  “Let me let you in on a little father-daughter secret.” Joe leaned to her. “The moment we get hint of where Frank is, I’m going myself to get him,”

  “But you don’t want The Society to know. You’re the leader. You can’t up and leave.”

  “I’ve been thinking about retirement a lot lately. Maybe get into distribution and start making some of those runs with the men.”

  Ellen looked horrified. “No, Joe, you have to lead this community. You can never retire. We’ll never make it.”

  “Yes you will.” Joe patted her hand. “I have a plan. He looked at his watch. “I have to go.” He kissed her as he laid his hand on her cheek. “We’ll talk more later. I’ll be back for those directions.”

  “O.K.”

  Joe stood up and saw Ellen looking out. “Ellen. You’re staring again.”

  “I know. But Joe, if I promise not to get neurotic about it, may I? It makes me think of him and it gives me hope. I need that. I miss him so much.” She spoke sadly. “I miss him so much.”

  Joe laid his hand on her shoulder. “Watch away.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Washington DC

  George held one ear closed as the train whistle blew loudly. He looked in irritation to Jeremy. “Must the conductor do that?”

  Jeremy shrugged as he held the phone. “An answer. They need an answer.”

  George huffed. “Are they absolutely sure this is where the camp is?”

  “Lt. Merrick said the one man broke during interrogation and the other men confirmed it by their reaction.”

  “All right,” George spoke with edge, “tell them load up sixty men and find the place. Hit the shit out of it with mortar, weaken them, and then storm in. I want as many of those men as I can get. One of those well trained men is worth four of ours.”

  “I’ll tell him.” Jeremy stepped back and began to speak on the phone.

  The train whistle blew and George cringed again.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Joe knew the moment Robbie stepped into his office that his flight to look for the farm did not turn out well. Robbie walked in, looking frazzled and hot He tossed the clipboard down in front of Joe.

  “Nothing.”

  Joe removed the sheet of paper from the
clipboard. “Nothing at all?”

  “I couldn’t spot anything that remotely looked like a well-kept farm.”

  “Maybe we’re relying too much on her memory. After all she did say the cavalry rescued her.”

  Robbie shook his head. “What does Dean say? Does he think she’s remembering things wrong?”

  “Not wrong but possibly distorted because she was half out of it when everything was going on and the shock of seeing Frank shot. This group of men or whoever came to the rescue and she just exaggerated. But…” Joe looked at the flight sheet. “She was here before all of that went down. Let’s give her a map this time instead of relying on where she said ‘the cavalry’ told her it was. Start her out from the camp she left.”

  “Good idea.” Robbie took the sheet as Joe handed it to him. “Want me to file this for you?”

  “Could you? Thanks.”

  Robbie stood up. “I’m not giving up, Dad.”

  “I didn’t think you would.” He watched Robbie move to the file cabinet and then looked to his door. There was a knock. “Come in.” He returned to his paperwork.

  Jess walked in. “Hi Joe.” He looked at Robbie. “Hey you’re back. Just the guy I wanted to see. How you doing?”

  Joe raised his eyes to Jess and saw Jess hand Robbie a sheet of paper. Joe went back to his own paperwork.

  Jess indicated to the sheet. “I found some foot prints outside of these perimeters. Tracking doesn’t pick up single beings, but maybe you might want to take a look.”

  Robbie checked out what Jess showed him. “Yeah, I will. Thanks.”

  “Need me to go with you? I will since I’m done for today.”

  “Uh . . .” Robbie shut the file cabinet. “Yeah, I want to stop and see Ellen first, just to promise I’ll make time this evening.”

  “Oh,” Jess said.

  Joe raised his eyes. “Um Robbie. When you stop by, any chance I can get you to convince her to go outside and walk or get air? Dean wants her to do that.”

  “She won’t?” Robbie asked. “That’s not like Ellen.”

  “No it’s not.” Joe started to laugh. “Jenny even offered to take her in a wheel chair and point out all the men who…who…the men who…um.” Joe cleared his throat, “the men who work the fields.”

  Robbie snickered. “I wouldn’t go either. Why doesn’t she want to go out?”

  “I’m not supposed to tell you, but…she’s afraid.”

  Robbie’s expression dropped. “Afraid to walk in the community? Oh Dad, that’s bullshit. That makes me feel bad, I’m doing…”

  Joe held up his hand. “I know. That’s why I think you probably can get her to go. Besides, you and her are close. From what I’ve heard and seen from her, I think you may be the only one who she feels safe with. She’s been subtly glorifying you.”

  Jess interjected, “It may be a connection to Frank so keep that in mind, Robbie. I know how you feel about her.”

  Joe grumbled. “Whatever the reason, can you?”

  “Most definitely,” Robbie said. “I want to help her. I’ll think of something.”

  Joe smiled. “Good. Trish says it’s a comedy tonight at the walk in. Ellen loves comedies. Why don’t you ask Dean if you can steal her from the clinic for that? But keep in mind he may give you a list of do’s and don’ts.”

  “That’s just Dean,” Robbie said. “I’ll talk to him. I’d like her to go and she always loved the drive in. Besides, I know he wants to get the house ready for her, so that can be his excuse for why he’s not seeing her.”

  Jess walked closer to the two. “I’m heading out. How about I meet you up at perimeter ten?”

  “Sounds good.” Robbie handed Joe the sheet that Jess gave him.

  “By Joe, Robbie.” Jess moved to the door and left.

  Robbie saw Joe staring. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Joe shook his head.

  “You act weird with him. Don’t you like him?” Robbie asked. “He’s a really nice guy, Dad.”

  “You don’t say. Hmm. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to act weird. I’m just . . . I guess weirded out.”

  “I understand.” Robbie started to stand up. “I’d better run so I can get cleaned up in time for the movie. I want to check those perimeters with Jess.”

  Joe leaned back in his chair, grabbed a cigarette, and snickered.

  Robbie paused in his walk out. “What?”

  “Nothing. Go on.”

  “Gee thanks.” Robbie shook his head and walked out.

  Joe lit his cigarette. He took a long hit then looked at it and watched the smoke for a moment. He smiled a little with a swaying head, leaned forward to his desk, and went back to finishing his work.

  ^^^^

  Bowman, North Dakota

  Craig’s singing of the song, Home on the Range, Carried through the cool night air of Bowman. “Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam. Where the deer and the antelope play-a-a-a . . .”

  Hal stopped walking down the street with Sgt. Ryder.

  “Ignore it,” Sgt. Ryder told him. “Let’s go listen to Beginnings.”

  Hal walked and again he heard the singing, loud, badly and . . . close.

  “Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word. Because our captain is sensitive and gay.”

  Hal stopped cold.

  “Captain.” Sgt. Ryder tried to warn but it was too late.

  Hal had marched back and looked for Craig. “Sing some more,” Hal shouted out. “Go on so I can find you.”

  Only Craig’s hyena style laughing was heard. Craig thought he was in the clear, safe between the bookstore and the old hardware store. Safe until he felt the snatching of his shirt and himself being pulled out of his hiding place. He smiled. “Hey, Captain. What’s up?”

  Hal grunted long and softly. He released Craig. “Please, stop the singing. If you must, do it somewhere else.”

  “But I’m singing patriotic songs, like you said. You said if I must sing, and you used the word ‘must’, you said I must sing patriotic songs.”

  “That’s because I didn’t think you knew any. Since when did that song mention anything about a captain being gay?”

  “The revised rap version.” Craig nodded with a smile and saw Hal did not. “O.K., patriotic songs.”

  “Fine.” Hal held his hand up, stepping away from Craig. “And try to sing in key. You’re terrible.” Shaking his head, he joined Sgt. Ryder who waited outside the police station. “Sorry.”

  “I feel no remorse for your irritation. You bring it on yourself.”

  Hal opened the police station door. “I can’t help it. Like I said, it was bred in me. You don’t know the type of household I grew up in.” Hal walked in, patting the monitor on the back. “You can take a break. Sgt. Ryder and I are going to listen for a while. Anything happening?”

  “Nope.” He shook his head and stood up. “I’m just biding my time through the check-ins. There is a woman on the radio oddly enough.”

  “A woman?” Hal sat down. “What channel?”

  “Seven.” The monitor pointed. “She was talking about some moon event that is happening tonight. It got boring. She said she’ll be right back.”

  Hal quickly turned up channel seven. “The moon event could be important.”

  “Uh . . . I don’t think so,” the monitor said. “It didn’t sound it.”

  Sgt. Ryder shook his head. “You never know. The Chief seems like a bright man. He may be sending coded messages through the woman in case someone is listening. We’ll take it from here and see what we can come up with.”

  “O.K.” The monitor shrugged. “I’m off on a break. I’ll check back.”

  Hal quickly grabbed the pen and paper and drew it near him. “Good thinking on the codes. The Chief may be on to someone listening to their transmissions and to be on the safe side, he’s probably doing that. I would.”

  “So would I and we still don’t know the condition of the woman we returned. She could have said something a
bout us monitoring them.”

  Hal nodded. “Yes, but Blue said from what Gary described, she could be in shock for weeks. Shh . . . here comes the woman.” Hal listened.

  “O-Key. Dough-key. I’m back,” the woman said.

  “Her voice sounds kind of annoying,” Hal commented.

  Sgt. Ryder agreed. “Probably because she doesn’t speak much.”

  “Probably.” Hal got ready to take notes as he listened to the Beginnings’ transmission and to the woman speaking.

  “Whew!” The woman let out a long breath of relief. “Boy, did I have to pee.”

  Sgt. Ryder looked at Hal.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Dean leaned with his one hand on his lab counter, the other hand on his hip holding back his lab jacket. He kept peering up to Robbie through the tops of his eyes. “I don’t know.”

  “Come on, Dean. We don’t even know if she’ll do it. If she does, why not?” Robbie wanted to know.

  “It’s going to be cold.”

  “What, is she your child?”

  “Robbie, she just came out of a deep shock not even twenty-four hours ago. All right?”

  “You said she needs air. This could help. It’s probably a short movie.”

  Dean ran his fingers through his hair. He thought about it.

  “Besides, I know you want to get the house ready, don’t you?” Robbie said. “If you are there, how are you going to be here? Ellen is going to want to know where you are.”

  Dean took a deep breath. “I do want to get it ready. All right, listen to me. If she gets tired, you bring her right back.”

  “Got it.”

  “Keep her warm.”

  “Got it.” Robbie nodded.

  “No alcohol.” Dean told him. “I know you guys got blasted last weekend.”

  “I won’t get her drunk.” Robbie held up his hand in promise.

  “You still have to convince her to go. This whole conversation all might be in vain.”