The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “What about Robbie?”

  “I’m asking you,” Joe told him.

  “Won’t Hal get . . .”

  “Frank,” Joe snapped. “Forget it.”

  “Dad,” Frank laughed. “I’ll move in. What the hell? It’s right next door to the kids and El, right?”

  “Yep. It’ll be good for both of us.” Joe winked and opened the door. “Always remember that things get tough. We have to make decisions. We’re faced with things we don’t want to face. There are ways to get through things. Talking helps. Understand?”

  Holding on to the edge of the door, Frank nodded seriously. “Yeah.”

  “Good.” Joe took a step back as he took hold of the door knob. “Frank, I’m proud of you, no matter what.” His voice softened. “But just do me a favor.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t . . . don’t take that first drink.”

  Frank was so taken aback that his hand slid from the door. Joe left before he could respond. He realized his father wasn’t a psychic when he turned around and saw the bottle in plain view on the table. “Fuck.” Frank closed his eyes and shook his head. He walked to the coffee table. Frustrated with himself, he swept down his arm and lifted the bottle. “What am I thinking?” he huffed out and walked with the bottle of whiskey to the kitchen.

  Standing before the sink, Frank uncapped that bottle. He questioned in his mind what brought him to the point that he came so close to breaking and then he remembered. Just as he began pouring out the contents of the bottle, a vision of his time trip flashed in his mind at the same time the scent of the whiskey hit his nostrils and Frank stopped pouring.

  He stood in debate while he held that bottle and stared out his back kitchen window. Vividly, he remembered what he saw when he watched Bev’s house and with another flash of memory, Frank reached out his right hand and pulled a glass from the cabinet. He poured a shot’s worth of whiskey in the glass, brought it to his lips and before he could think about it anymore, he down the contents of that glass.

  His chest burned with the alcohol and then it burned with guilt. His eyes closed tightly in disappointment and pain that he had done what he just did. But with his closed eyes, he saw Bev’s house again. His body jolted at the realistic gunshot his mind replayed. Frank made a decision. After pouring another drink, Frank poured out the rest of that bottle.

  Holding the glass, he stared at the liquid. Frank swore at that moment that not only would it be his last drink, but the last time he ever thought about his trip back in time. When the alcohol vanished so would go the memory of who he saw going into Bev’s house. He would view his witnessing the same as he viewed his taking a drink again. Both of them would be buried deep in his mind and they both would become something that, to Frank, never really happened.

  Gone.

  With a gasp, Frank set down the glass, shut off the light, and headed to bed.

  CHAPTER TWO

  November 5

  Beginnings, Montana

  Joe wasn’t handing out a pity party for Danny Hoi or Henry. He guessed they wanted some sort of reward for their efforts at staying up all night. But Joe had stayed up all night too and half asleep, the best he could give was a ‘thank you, boys. I’m very grateful.’

  They did do a good job and when Joe was less grumpy, he would make sure he told them that but while waiting on Jason, he took advantage of their labors.

  He had a single cellular phone, its twin was in New Bowman. Both phones were programmed the same and both phones were the only ones, according to Danny and Henry, that could actually work with in a hundred mile radius. A scrambling signal was fed through the satellite dish making it impossible for any phone, without the special programming, to be used. It was a means to control any attempts of outside communication with the Society should another informant remain. Yet, the special phone hook up was a way to keep communications open with New Bowman.

  Joe had just finished utilizing that means of communication when Jason, after a knock, entered his office.

  “Sorry for being late.” Jason shut the door. “The Clinic finally calmed down.”

  “When I radioed you it sounded like all hell was breaking loose.”

  “More like all bile.”

  “What?” Joe asked with a hint of a laugh.

  “Fourteen cases of food poisoning.”

  “You’re shitting me . . . I mean. You know what I mean. Should I be worried? Do we have a possible contamination outbreak?”

  “No.” Jason shook his head. “We narrowed it down. There was a little Sunday dinner gathering happening with some of the Security men. Out of twenty-two men, fourteen got sick. The eight that didn’t get sick did not eat Kevin’s Chicken Surprise.”

  “Surprise all right. So the chicken was bad.”

  “Yep. He defrosted it in the stove all night and half the day. That’s what the problem was. We got it under control.”

  “Is Dean going nuts?” Joe asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” Jason grinned.

  “Good.” Joe sat back. “O.K., we don’t have much time. Henry will be here soon to discuss what we’re going to say at the emergency community meeting. You know, how we intend on handling the investigation. The official investigation.”

  “But we’re going to discuss the unofficial one.”

  “Or rather . . .” Joe pulled a folder forward. “The ‘Frank’ suspect list. The ones that not only had motive but also would be protected by him.”

  Slowly, Jason shook his head. “That’s just about everyone he knows, Joe. We’re talking about the murder of a Society insider. Frank could care less.”

  “True, but . . .” Joe held up a finger. “Would Frank be so upset about finding out it was just anyone? He was thrown through a loop. The person Frank saw ranks high with him. Those who rank high are the ones that get placed on the ‘Frank’ list.”

  Opening the notebook he brought, Jason lifted a pen. “We might as well start with the Movie of the Week Mystery meeting at Henry’s house. Who was there?”

  “You,” Joe said. “We know why you were called. There were two categories Danny divided up the meeting attendants. The first was those affected by Bev and the other attendants were those who helped in solving who she was. You were neither. You were there because you were Council. Motive.”

  “None,” Jason said. “Really. Can you think of any? I’ve been trying because I think it would be interesting to have one.”

  “But there is no motive. Unless . . . unless Bev knew something about you. After all you were frozen too.”

  “True.” Jason rubbed his chin. “Put that down as my motive. I’d rather have one if I’m going to be a suspect.”

  “Now the all important question. Would my son be frazzled, upset, and thrown if you were the shooter?”

  “Joe, your son wouldn’t even protect me if he saw me throw a rock.”

  Joe nodded. “True. All right. We’ll take you off the Frank list and leave you on the official suspect list. Next . . . Hal.”

  “Yes and yes,” Jason said. “Frank would protect and be upset.”

  “Motive?” Joe asked.

  “His family was affected. Ellen was affected. Really, Joe. The Ellen thing had him upset. How many times did he pummel Dean over it?”

  “Too many to count. Hal stays. Robbie . . .” Joe stated. “Same reasoning. Robbie stays. Next, Trish.”

  “No real motive except that she has this thing about running a picture perfect community.”

  “She gets neurotic. She could have offed Bev to purge the community.”

  “I like it.”

  Joe wrote down the motive. “Now would Frank . . .”

  “No.”

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “Trish stays on official but off the Frank list. Next name . . . Henry.” He whistled. “Motive galore. How many times was he the pawn in a Bev game to break up Ellen and Dean?”

  “Too many to count. He stays. Frank would protect him.”

  “Fr
ank would.” Joe jotted it down. “Elliott Ryder.” At the same time as Jason, Joe sat back. “Danny said he was at the meeting only because he happened to be at Ellen’s house. Motive.”

  “He’s crazy about Ellen,” Jason said. “Would Frank protect him? No.”

  “Yes,” Joe mildly argued. “Frank used to hate him. He likes him now.”

  “Elliott is involved with Ellen.”

  “Still, he’s his brother’s best friend and . . . Frank has made him into a ‘Frank Mini-me’. I’m keeping him on the list.”

  Jason tossed his hands up. “I disagree but . . . you’re the leader.”

  “Josephine.” After a second of seriousness, Joe laughed. “She’s off the Frank list. He’d love to get rid of her. But, just for the hell of it, leave her on the suspect list. Danny Hoi.”

  “No motive. No Frank concern,” Jason stated. “Frank gets annoyed by him.”

  Joe nodded in agreement. “Next is Dean . . .”

  Jason’s laugh interrupted. “Leave him. He has major motive and Frank has become close to him. Along with Dean, we don’t even need to discuss Ellen.”

  “Those are our two major suspects.” Joe sadly shook his head. “Now there are two more names on this list that were at Danny’s house. Danny wrote down that they were in attendance because they were affected by Bev.” Joe shrugged. “But it makes no sense. Jess Boyens and Hector.”

  “Does Danny have written why they were affected?” Jason asked.

  “Threatened. That’s it. I asked for details. Danny Hoi had none.”

  “Frank may or may not protect them . . .” Jason said with a thinking tone. “But they should be moved to the official list and off the Frank one on the basis that Frank would not be frazzled if he saw one of them was the shooter.”

  “Good point.” Joe closed the folder. “That’s it for the Henry house meeting.”

  “Did Danny give you all of the material he gathered?”

  “Yes.” Joe answered. “Everything. Frank just took the box to sort through it. He’s gonna use a portion of the cryo-lab.”

  “Everything?” Jason asked. “Including the disks from Ellen’s bedroom?”

  “Those too. But I don’t think Frank wants to review the Ellen and Dean bedroom antics.”

  “What about the Ellen antics when Dean wasn’t around.” Jason raised his eyebrows. “The mystery man?”

  Joe calmly panicked. Unknown to Ellen, he was well aware–courtesy of looking out his kitchen window–of who the mystery man was. “Shit.”

  “How long ago did he get the box?”

  Joe looked at his watch. “Ten minutes. He’s probably in the lab now. Christ, I hope he forgot how to boot up a computer.” Hurrying, Joe stood and headed to the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To stop him and get that disk.”

  “Radio him.”

  Joe laughed. “Right. I’ll say ‘Frank, don’t view those disks’ and that’ll make him do it. No, I have to hurry.” In his reach for the door, Joe stopped. A smile hit him. “Wait. Maybe radioing him will do it.” Holding up a finger to Jason, Joe lifted his radio. “Frank. Frank, come in.”

  “Yeah, Dad.”

  “There’s trouble in the back gate region. I need you there STAT.”

  “I’ll send one of my guys. I’m busy trying to figure out how to boot up a fuckin computer.”

  “Frank, no. You have to go. Now, Frank.”

  “Why? Tracking didn’t call me.”

  Joe rolled his eyes. “I’m in Tracking. Get up there. Only you can handle it. We have . . . we have a bear running around back there.”

  “A bear. You mean like Goldie Locks?”

  Joe took a calming breath. “Christ, Frank. Yes.”

  “Black bear. Brown bear, polar . . . .”

  “Frank! What the hell difference does it make?”

  “I have to know what to use.”

  “It’s a twenty foot goddamn grizzly bear.”

  “Oh yeah.” Frank’s smile carried over the airways. “I’m on my way.”

  Releasing the button on the radio, Joe shook his head. “Finally.” He headed back to his desk.

  “I thought you wanted to go get that disk.”

  “Oh, I do. But I think I’ll have a cigarette first.” Joe reached into his pocket. “If I know my son, he’ll be out there for a while. I have plenty of time now.” With a laugh, Joe lit up.

  ^^^^

  New Bowman, Montana

  Over and over Hal Slagel’s fingers rubbed his eyes as he sat behind his desk. Elliott Ryder thought his eyes looked tired, and dark, an uncommon occurrence for the leader of New Bowman. Elliott’s presence in the office was unknown to Hal. The door was ajar so Elliott slipped in. “You uh . . .” Elliott spoke softly. “You look worse than me.”

  Above his fingers, Hal raised his eyes. “If it’s intended to be a funny comment regarding your illness, it’s not.”

  “Ouch. What did I do?” Elliott shut the door and stepped further in. “What’s wrong with you.”

  “Migraine. I have a lot on my mind.” Hal leaned back. “My father just called.”

  “He called?” Elliott pulled up a chair. “I thought the phones were shut down.”

  “You must of slept well last night, Elliott. I can not believe you didn’t hear the arrival of our Asian population in New Bowman last night or rather very early this morning. They brought the only other phone that works. That’s how I spoke to my father.”

  “Nothing is wrong, I hope.”

  “No. He needs us there this afternoon. There’s an emergency community meeting. I think . . .” Hal played with the note on his desk. “I think it has to do with that girl’s murder.”

  With an ‘ah’, Elliott only nodded.

  “I believe we are suspects.”

  Elliott repeated his single knowing nod.

  “None of this bothers you?”

  “Why would it?” Elliott shrugged. “I’m not guilty. I’ve no motive for taking her life. Why? Are you worried?”

  “Some, but not for myself. I really hope, that there isn’t an investigation into this murder.”

  “Why?”

  “Well . . .” Hal exhaled. “Someone took her life. We don’t need a repeat of another trial. Who was she? What did she do? Someone, in my opinion, did our communities a great favor.”

  “And you are concerned who that someone may be.”

  “A little.”

  “Do you think it’s someone you’re close to?” Elliott asked.

  “You can say I worry that it is.”

  “Do you know something?”

  At that moment, Hal slipped into thought. His eyes stared off as his mind heard his brother’s voice.

  “Come on, Hal.” Robbie nudged him as they walked from Henry’s house after the meeting. “It’s early. One drink before you head back. We need it.”

  “Dad’s not feeling well. I really want to get back.”

  “One drink.”

  “One drink.”

  “Captain?” Elliott called a distant looking Hal.

  Hal didn’t hear Elliott, nor did he see him. His mind was in that Social Hall two nights before.

  “It burns me up,” Robbie said as he swallowed his drink.

  “Let it go,” Hal told him leaning over the bar. He shifted his eyes to Bev not far away.

  “But knowing . . .”

  “We decided to let Dad handle it. Can you excuse me? I want to talk to Mark.” After getting a nod from his brother, Hal walked around to Mark, a security man, who sat at the bar two bodies down from Robbie. Drink in hand, Hal nudged his body in between Mark and Forrest. “Hey, Mark, got a minute?”

  “Business or pleasure?” Mark asked.

  “Business.”

  “No.” Mark brought his drink to his mouth. “Hal, Frank said I am not allowed to talk to you if it is business.”

  “I assure you Frank would allow this.”

  “I am one of Frank’s. I know this
game you guys have.”

  “And as one of Frank’s men, I need your help with one of mine. You’re familiar with the tracking system. Right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, one of my men has been having trouble . . .” Hal stopped speaking when he heard Robbie’s irritated voice snap, ‘I’m warning you’. Hal held up a finger to Mark. “Excuse me.” He walked back to Robbie. Standing behind his brother, he saw who he was talking to. Bev.

  “What’s it worth to you, Robbie?” Bev whispered. “Huh, what’s it worth.”

  “It isn’t worth all this trouble you keep going through to throw it in my face.”

  “Oh, I don’t buy that. Why else do you get so upset? I knew it was good when I found out,” Bev said with a sneaky grin.

  “It’s amazing,” Robbie said with such a hint of mean, one Hal had not heard his brother use before. “It really is. It’s amazing how you know these things. Drop it, Bev, and go away.”

  “Yeah, I think I will.” She giggled. “I think I’ll go speak to Frank right now. He’s working isn’t he? Wonder how big brother would react to your . . .”

  “Bev!” Robbie’s voice graveled. “If you . . .”

  “Robbie,” Hal interceded, placing his body between Robbie and Bev. He stared directly at the young woman. “I will make a suggestion to you. Go home. Go home and stay there. This is not a place for a woman in your condition, and trust me when I tell you, walking around isn’t best for you. Not right now, not tonight. Got that?”

  Bev rolled her eyes and walked away.

  Hal shook his head. “Guess she took me seriously,” he said sarcastically and finished off his drink. “I have to head back. Call me if . . .” He saw his brother watching Bev. “Robbie.”

  “If she says one more thing to me, I’m killing her.”

  “She’ll get her justice and everything will come out.”

  Mumbling, Robbie spoke in a near whisper. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing.” Robbie exhaled and looked at Bev. “I hope to God one of us personally get the chance to put the bullet in her head.”

  “My God!” Hal spoke surprised. “Robbie, I heard her say . . . Robbie, what does she know that she’s threatening to tell Frank?”