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

by Jacqueline Druga

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  Although Frank knew something could have gone wrong, he felt strongly that it didn’t, so he waited outside the building where the labs were. Hanging in the darkness like some sort of criminal, he watched the lights finally go out in the building--for the second time. When they went out the first time he was certain it was safe to send Richie inside. But no sooner had he done that, the scientist returned. How was Frank to know they only took a break for a late dinner.

  Knowing it was getting late and the chances were good that it was an all clear, Frank walked into the lab building.

  He made it to the main lab, unlocking the door with his own keys. “Richie.” He called out in a whisper. “Richie.” Frank saw nothing.

  Remembering what Richie told him about the back lab being located off of the cooler room, he headed back there. “Richie,” he continued to call in the darkness and then Frank heard it. A light banging. It seemed to come from that lab Richie had told him about.

  “Look at this shit.” Frank placed his hands on his hips and looked around. “Is this decked out or what? This has to be for the bigwig. A desk . . .” He stopped when he heard the banging again. “What is that?” Scratching his head, Frank listened in to locate it when he saw the silver fridge sitting on the counter. “Oh, the Salicain.” His hand reached for the handle when again, he heard the banging. It was close to him, under him, and Frank squatted down. There was a cabinet under there with a large door. Frank placed his ear near there, hearing the light bang. Seeing the latch on the cabinet, Frank undid it and pulled on the door. The second it opened was the second Richie rolled out of the cabinet and on to the floor.

  “Frank.” Richie stood up.

  “What the hell are you doing in there?”

  “I was stuck.”

  “How did that happen?” Frank asked.

  “They came back, Frank, like two minutes after you sent me in here. I had to hide. They latched it when I was in there.”

  “Did they see you?”

  “No.” Richie shook his head.

  “Good.” Frank patted him on the back. “Did you get the Salicain.”

  “No, they came in too fast.”

  “Not a problem.” Frank pointed to the fridge and pulled on the handle. Locked. “Fuck.”

  “Sorry, Frank.”

  “No. That’s O.K.” Frank ran his hand over the top of his head and through his hair. “If we can’t get it, I think I have a back up for getting nosey fuckin Leo off my back.”

  “Well I got news for you Frank. You better set whatever that plan is in motion and set it in motion fast.”

  “Oh . . .uh . . . why is that?”

  “Because I overheard them talking.” Richie said frantic. “Things are gonna get tight. That big shot all the hoopla is about. He arrives tomorrow.”

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  “Thank you.” Joe hung up the call and turned to face those who gathered in Robbie’s living room. Robbie sat slumped on one end of the couch, Jess in the chair, and Dean and Ellen huddled so close, holding hands and leaning forward, they nearly shared a cushion. “O.K.” Joe spoke to them. “So we may not have to depend on Danny’s tracking anyhow. We’ll use it for Dean but we now know where Frank is.”

  The gloom disappeared and all of them looked up at Joe.

  “Binghamton, Alabama. A reserve base there.” Joe walked over and sat on the chair.

  “How do you know where Frank is?” Robbie asked.

  “Three of the UWA soldiers that helped him and Ellen were taken with him.” Joe explained. “He helped them escape.”

  Robbie was curious. “Helped them escape. What about himself?”

  Joe held up his hands. “They don’t know why he wouldn’t go. They asked him and he said nothing. Hal said they complained about him. Nothing new.” Joe reached into his pocket, grabbing a cigarette. “Dean leaves in four hours. They are going to go home and so am I. Jess and Robbie, you two head down to the social hall, mingle, do whatever. At 12:20 I want you two to leave, go the long way around to the living section, and watch the house for anyone. Got that.”

  “Dad.” Robbie spoke up. “Why can’t I just follow Dean? Let me follow him to the gate. He can go but maybe I can see who will be tailing him. See George’s guy.”

  “No,” Dean spoke up, clenching tightly to Ellen’s hand and looking as if he were dying inside. “I won’t take even the slightest chance with my family. Not the slightest, Robbie. It goes as planned. You and Jess watch my house while I leave.” He brought Ellen’s hand to his mouth, keeping it there, running his lips over it as he rocked back and forth.

  “This is ridiculous.” Robbie stood up. “I can’t believe we’re just letting him walk out our gates. We’re handing Dean over.” Robbie’s voice was high and filled with emotion. “I know why we’re doing it, but Frank can take care of himself. We’ll watch the kids and Ellen. We’ll guard them with our lives. Let’s just send Jess to Binghamton, scout out the area, and get Frank.”

  “And what?” Joe questioned. “Chance Dean not going out to that gate? Chance them shooting Frank on the spot down there? He’s the bargaining tool or one of them. If Dean doesn’t go, there are no guarantees for Frank, or worse, Ellen and the kids. Guard them, Robbie? From who?” Joe questioned. “Do you know? Do I know? No. We don’t even know who or where it would come from. Guarding blind is not smart. I don’t want Dean to walk out into George’s hands anymore than you do, but we all know he has too.” Joe stood up and paced. “We have him covered. The tracking device is hooked up to the communications room map. The bug is attached to Dean’s jeans. We’re good. We wait until the signal stops and we drop Jess near there. He scouts, takes pictures, and then we go back and get him. In a matter of a week, we have Dean and Frank back.” Joe sounded so certain. “Dean, we’ll have you back. I promise you with my life. Trust me. Just . . . trust me.”

  “I do, Joe.” Dean closed his eyes briefly and held Ellen’s hand he stood up. “But right now I’d like to spend these last couple hours alone with my wife and kids.”

  “I understand.” Slowly Joe nodded his head once. He laid his hand on Dean’s shoulder “We are with you out there. We’re watching you. You are not alone.” He placed his face close to Dean’s. “You are not alone.” Joe dropped his voice. “Take care of yourself for us.” As Dean passed him, Joe laid his hand on Ellen’s cheek and kissed her.

  Robbie walked before Dean and extended his hand. “Be careful. I mean it,” he said with more seriousness than Dean had ever seen.

  Dean shook his hand firmly. “I will. Watch my family.”

  “With my life, Dean.” Robbie stepped back and out of the way.

  Dean gave one more closed mouth and silent nod to everyone, then sadly he led Ellen from Robbie’s home.

  ^^^^

  Quantico Marine Headquarters

  No sooner had George placed on his favorite pair of blue checkered pajamas and turned off his bedroom light, than his phone rang. George stared at the receiver as it set on the night stand, calming himself before he picked it back up. He wanted to lash out, scream at Leonard for calling him, but seeing how it could have been important, George waited until his anger subsided.

  He lifted the receiver to his ear. “Just for the record, Leonard, it’s midnight on this side of the country.”

  “Yes, I know, but this is . . . is important,” Leonard told him. “It’s uh . . . . about Colonel Slagel. This Frank guy.”

  “What about him.”

  “Sir.” There was hesitation. “Sir, he . . .”

  “Spit it out.”

  “He frightens me, sir.”

  “Yeah, so.”

  “So he uh . . . . he uh . . . he . . .”

  “Leonard!”

  “He’s gay, sir.”

  George rubbed his eyes. “He’s not gay.”

  “Sir, he um . . . complimented my appearance.”

  George hid his snicker.
“It’s not a gay thing, Leonard, it’s a sexual necessity. Obviously though, with the amnesia, it must be something he had in him way before he and Henry had their thing. Now tell me how this is a risk to the Society?”

  “It isn’t.” Leonard said.

  “So where’s the problem?”

  “I think he’s attracted to me.”

  “Turn him down for crying out loud. He is not the first gay man you have run into. It’s common.”

  “But uh . . . he uh is the first one that is as large as he is. What if he wants me?”

  “Keep your distance. O.K. Now I’d like to hit the hay, Leonard. Don’t bother me anymore for this stupid shit. The only reason I don’t have your ass fired for this is because it amused me.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  George prepared to hang up but stopped. “And if it’s any consolation, I wouldn’t want him behind me either.” Leaving that as his last words, George hung up, enjoyed a moment of laughter, then finally crawled into bed.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Ellen’s eyes stayed focused on Dean’s shaking hands as he placed a photo of her and the kids into his duffel bag. She held the sheet close to her nude body, sitting in bed, her heart pounding as she watched him. The expression on his face was so sad. His head stayed down, his growing hair falling forward. Packing slowly as if he just hesitated a moment longer, his leaving may not have to occur.

  “Dean.” The ‘zip’ of the duffel bag went straight through Ellen from her stomach to her heart.

  Quietly he lifted the bag and placed it on the floor by the foot of the bed. He reached for his shirt, grabbed it, and walked up to Ellen. “I have to be going soon.”

  “Not yet. We still have time.”

  An emotional single laugh came from Dean. “Still have time,” he spoke softly and sat on the bed.

  “We still have time.” Her hand ran up his bare chest, moved to his neck, and pulled him to her. “Spend just a few more moments with me, please. I need to be close to you again.”

  Dean closed his eyes and softly grazed his lips against hers. “If I crawl back in this bed with you, I won’t wanna leave.”

  “You don’t wanna leave anyhow.” Ellen pulled at him. “Just one more moment.” Her lips parted his as she laid back.

  Following Ellen’s lead, Dean brought his knee up to the bed and his body down to hers. Softly he kissed her. His bare chest met hers and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. It was the first time in Dean’s entire life that he could actually recall his heart hurting as he made love to Ellen. An ache filled him with each kiss, each move of his body. He made love to Ellen slowly and as if it would be his last time, holding her tight and trying to consume her in, as if he could take a piece of her with him. He needed so badly to steal something at that moment that would last, that he could carry with him and give him the strength to do what he had to do. Dean was so frightened, scared of what was going to happen to him. And he buried that, hiding it deep within him. Dean wanted nothing to ruin their final, tender goodbye.

  ^^^^

  “Anything?” Jess asked Robbie as they sat deep in the underdeveloped section watching Dean’s house.

  “Nope.” Robbie handed the infrared binoculars to Jess. “See if you can see anything.”

  “I know what you’re thinking.” Jess lifted the binoculars to his eye level. “You’re thinking no one is watching Dean’s house, so no one will see me follow Dean.”

  Robbie was silent.

  “Robbie?”

  “I have to do it.”

  “You have to stay put.”

  “What if . . . what if . . I follow Dean. I can do this. What if I see who it is working for George and take him or her out. Then the threat against Dean’s family is over and we go after Frank.”

  “And what about what your father said?” Jess asked. “Huh? What about Frank?”

  “Frank can take care of himself.”

  “Not if they have a gun to his head right now waiting for the news that Dean is secure.” Jess lowered the binoculars. “This is the only way, Robbie.”

  “No it’s not.” Robbie stood up.

  “Sit down, Robbie,” Jess ordered.

  “I have to do this.” Robbie started to walk.

  “Robbie.” Jess stood up. “I am under orders from your father.”

  “For what?” Robbie said with sarcasm as he moved. He stopped when he heard the clicking of a gun’s chamber. He slowly turned around to see Jess pointing a gun with a silencer on it at him. “What the hell, Jess?”

  “I am under orders from your father to watch you and incapacitate you if you interfere.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  Jess held the gun steady in an aim at Robbie’s leg. “Robbie, you’re my friend. I care about you. But if you come close to jeopardizing the lives of those kids in that house, I will do what I have to do to protect them first.”

  “You’re fucked. You know that.”

  “Yeah well, the world’s fucked. The whole situation is fucked. But that doesn’t mean we can take matters into our own hands, especially when innocent lives are at stake. Sit down, Robbie, and watch the house with me.”

  Robbie closed his eyes. “Jess.”

  “Sit down, Robbie.”

  Letting out a long huff, Robbie tossed his hands up and moved back to where he was. “I won’t forget this, pulling a fuckin gun on me.”

  Jess put the gun away into his harness. He sat down at the same time as Robbie did. He handed Robbie the binoculars.

  Robbie snatched them from his hand. He was angry, he was bitter, but he would do exactly what he was supposed to do, especially after realizing Jess was dead serious. But then so was the situation that was about to go down.

  ^^^^

  Billy was the last kid Dean kissed. His lips stayed upon Billy’s cheek for the longest of time, smelling his son, whispering to the sleeping child how much he loved him and would miss him. Dean’s heart was breaking.

  Painfully Ellen watched him. She held her arms tightly to her body trying so desperately to stop herself from shaking. Her body quivered from top to bottom. She felt so cold and her heart beat strongly. Her breath escaped her when Dean laid his hand on her cheek, picked up his duffle bag outside of Billy’s bedroom then walked without saying anything to the living room.

  “Dean!” Ellen raced after him. He was reaching for the door. “Oh God.” She flew forward, slamming it shut with her body. “What are you doing?”

  “Ellen.” He closed his eyes. “Please. I can’t say goodbye. Please just let me walk out.”

  “Don’t you leave without saying goodbye to me. Don’t you do it. Look at me.”

  Dean lowered his head.

  “Dean.” She reached her shaking hand for his chin. “I love you,” she spoke softly and with passion. “Don’t think a minute or second of the day isn’t going to go by without me thinking of you. My heart’s breaking. Don’t leave without looking at me and saying goodbye.” There was silence. “Please.” It was so quiet their breathing was actually heard. “Please.”

  Dean swallowed. Feeling her breath and hearing her words, he dropped the duffel bag with a thump to the floor, and Dean grabbed hold of Ellen. With such force, he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her, exhaling an aching moan as her body touched his and his face pressed to hers. “El, I love you. I love you so much.”

  A single sob came from Ellen as her fists clenched his shirt wanting to hold him there forever.

  “I have to go.” He laid his lips to her cheek. “I have to go.” Dean stepped back, running his hand across her face, feeling her tear that fell across his hand.

  Ellen shivered, sniffling hard as she watched Dean pick up his bag, toss it over his shoulder and reach for the door handle. “Dean. I love you.”

  Dean opened the door and took one long look at Ellen. He paused before leaving, reached out his hand, clenched behind her neck, and pulled her back to him. He pressed his lips hard to hers.
He kissed her long and with emotion, putting everything his heart felt into that one single goodbye kiss. Softly he released her, sliding his fingers across her cheek. “I love you. Goodbye, El.” While his strength to do it was up, Dean turned away from her and walked out the door, pulling it closed behind him.

  “Dean.” The second the door closed, Ellen dropped into it. Filled with so much hurt, she laid her forehead to it and pounded her fist once against the wood. “Goodbye.”

  ^^^^

  Quantico Marine Headquarters

  George had set his alarm so as to be awake when the call came. Sitting on the edge of his bed, the light on, he jumped from his skin with excitement when the phone rang. “Yes,” he spoke rapidly. “Yes, he’s on his way to the gate?” George closed his eyes in gratefulness. “You stay back, you hear. You don’t let a soul see you at all. No, it’s too risky, trust me . . . No.” George shook his head. “I don’t care if it’s clear. You take top priority with me. I told you this before. I love you. You know that. With you, I take no chances.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Timed perfectly as instructed, Dean stood by the unlocked back gate. It set some up on a hill and he turned around, taking one more long last look at the home he was about to leave. The buzzing of the perimeter shutting down for the nightly check jolted Dean as if he touched the electricity of it. When the buzzing finished, he pushed on the gate, stepping through and closing it. So strongly his heart beat and Dean could not breath.

  He stood alone. He heard nothing. He saw nothing.

  Just as he began to think that something had gone wrong, plans had suddenly changed, he heard a quick shuffle of leaves behind him. Before Dean could turn around, he heard a popping sound and felt a strong painful pinch hit to the back of his neck. A burning made him cringe and an unbearable pain filled his head as he felt the hot liquid move through the veins of his neck. The dark back gate area spun around him and grew even darker. Out of focus and blurry, Dean’s eyes felt heavy, his legs felt weak. The duffle bag slipped from Dean’s shoulder and fell to the ground. Within seconds of that . . . so did Dean.