The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

“Behavioral changes?” Frank asked.

  “No, Frank.” Dean rubbed his brow. “Changes. Are you still going the same?”

  “Of course, Dean. Why?” Frank seriously questioned. “Are you expecting me to start to stand up when I go?’

  “No, Frank, I . . .”

  “Am I gonna start to bend over?”

  “Frank . . .”

  “Lift my leg?”

  “Frank . . .”

  ‘Uh!” Frank screamed.

  “What!”

  “Fuck!” Frank shifted his eyes around then leaned into Dean with a whisper. “I’m not gonna start shooting pellets, am I?”

  Slam went the clipboard and Dean stood up.

  “What?” Frank lifted his hands, dumbfounded.

  “The questions are over.” Dean turned on the monitor, ran his fingers through his hair and, with one hand on his hip, he looked at Frank. “Just . . . peddle.”

  ^^^^

  “There’s not a trace.” Bertha laid down a map before George.

  “What was the circumference you ran?”

  “A logical one hundred,” Bertha answered.

  “Well, they didn’t fly out and no one spotted them leaving.”

  “True, sir. Interviews with everyone stated they saw no one drive out with eight of our men and ‘It’.”

  “And the footprints were there, indicating they walked.” George rubbed his head.

  “Then the footprints disappeared.”

  George tossed up his hands. “Well they didn’t spread their wings and fly. How in the hell did they just disappear?”

  “Perhaps they had planted a means of transportation. This plan could have dated back to Sgt. Doyle.”

  George nodded. “Excellent point you.” His eyes shifted to the right of Bertha. “Well, it’s about goddamn time you got back.”

  Steward Lange, sporting an even, golden brown tan, stepped into the office. “Excuse me?”

  “It’s about time you returned.”

  Steward chuckled. “President Hadley, you authorized my vacation.”

  “You had have asked me on a busy day.”

  “No.” Steward shook his head and stepped closer. “I told you I had to meet with James down south and asked if you minded my staying longer to take a break and see Disney World again.”

  Slowly George raised his eyes. “I thought you were being sarcastic.”

  “No. Disney World is up and running.”

  “Christ Almighty!” George snapped. “Disney World? Disney World is up and running? Who the hell did that?”

  “James,” Steward answered.

  “Don’t even tell me there’s a giant mouse running around.”

  “No,” Steward laughed. “Honestly, it isn’t at full capacity. I mean, yes, Space Mountain was great, but there is only so many times you can go on ‘It’s a Small World’.”

  “Oh, you poor thing,” George said with sarcasm. “Well, since you’re rested and tan, your ass can get back to work on a major problem we encountered last night.”

  “Which is?” Steward stepped even closer.

  “‘It’ escaped with eight of our men.”

  Steward’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. Is ‘It’ heading to Beginnings?’

  Bertha answered that, “That is what the note said. Only we have a huge country and searched a hundred mile circumference but have yet to find them. We believe they left on foot and took off in predetermined transportation that could have dated back to Sgt. Doyle.”

  Steward peered at the map. “So you only searched this circumference?”

  “Yes,” Bertha answered. “Now we plan to head east.”

  “No.” Steward shook his head. “Go north. Actually . . .” Steward pulled the map. “Go northeast.”

  Curious, George looked up from behind the desk. “Why?”

  “Well, going on your theory that perhaps Sgt. Doyle aided in this plan, Sgt. Doyle would have mapped out their route. We’re pretty much covered straight across the east. Beginnings is two hundred miles from the Canadian border. My guess is if Doyle gave them directions, they headed northeast straight to the Canadian border. That is our weak point. We’ve barely touched the north. My guess is they probably will get fuel and get aid from the small town in northeast Ohio that’s been giving us problems, then they’ll head straight to Canada, go across, and come down.”

  George nodded. “What do you think? Should we attack that small town?”

  “No., it’s not worth the man power. The guy who heads that town will pretty much wipe out anything less than a full scale attack. Don’t lose the men. Send an immediate team straight past the town. You should catch them going north.”

  “Stew.” George smiled and leaned back. “Suntan and all, it’s good to have you back.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Cucumbers and coffee was an odd smell combination to Robbie as he moved slowly into the kitchen. The coffee he needed. The cucumbers he wondered about.

  While running his fingers through his hair and clearing his throat, Robbie released a groggy, ‘hey’ to Ellen who stood at the kitchen counter.

  “Hey.” She smiled and stopped cutting.

  “Cucumber salad?” Robbie asked, then reached around her and snatched one up.

  “Enjoy them while they last.” Ellen got a cup and poured Robbie some coffee.

  “El? Why didn’t you wake me? It’s dark out.”

  She handed him the cup. “For one, you were up all night. Plus, all day you were learning and watching the new tracking system. You didn’t lay down until after two. You were tired. Why shouldn’t I let you sleep? Things are quiet.”

  “Yeah.” Robbie sipped the coffee, set it down, then picked up his pack of cigarettes that were still lying on the table. “I didn’t tell you something last night.” He lit a cigarette and exhaled the smoke. “I didn’t thank you.”

  “Thank me?” Ellen asked. “For?”

  “For picking me to be the one to go with you.”

  “Robbie, there was never a doubt in my mind that it wouldn’t be you.”

  “See. I find that hard to believe.”

  “Why?”

  “Because, come on.” He gave a motion of his head to his missing arm. “I’m not a hundred percent effective when it comes to protecting you.”

  “You’re right.” Ellen nodded. “You aren’t a hundred percent effective when it comes to protecting me. You’re a Slagel. You’re Robbie. You’re at two hundred percent effectiveness.”

  Robbie snickered with a shake of his head. “If I were Hal, I’d do that fake humble blush thing he does.”

  “And if you were Frank . . .” Ellen shrugged. “You’d say.” She deepened her voice. “I am.” She took in Robbie’s smile. “Oh!” she said loudly with a snap of her fingers.

  “What?” Robbie said surprised.

  “Guess what I started while you were sleeping?”

  “Trouble.”

  “Ha-ha-ha. But . . . probably. This way.” She led him into the dining room. “Look.” She lifted a tablet.

  “What’s this?”

  “Notes for my book I’m gonna write during the ousting. It’s an exposé. Danny wants me to write some really good dirt on . . .”

  Robbie laughed. “My dad?”

  “Yeah, but here’s the problem. I was making a list of bad things Joe has done since he was in Beginnings and I think it’s pretty lame. It’s on the next page. Check it out.”

  Robbie flipped the page and laughed again. “El, lame is an understatement. This lists sucks.”

  “Hey.”

  “He took three paperclips from the clinic when he only asked for one?” Robbie shook his head. “He tracked mud on your carpet when he knew his shoes were dirty. El?”

  “Well, what am I supposed to do? Joe’s not a bad person.”

  “You can make things up.”

  “Yeah.” Ellen smiled brightly. “Will you help?”

  “Sure. It’ll be fun. It will be our project.” The smiled dropped
from Robbie’s face. “El, in all seriousness, what do you think Frank and Dean’s reaction is right now about you choosing me?”

  “Right now?” Ellen shrugged then gave a nonchalant attitude. “I believe right now they are fine with it. I mean, come on. Really? It’s been half the night and all day. It’s evening now. By now, by now . . .” Ellen nodded. “They should be pretty settled down and accepting of the fact that you and I are no longer in Beginnings.”

  ^^^^

  “I’m really getting worried now, Frank.” Dean, with his hands in his pockets, walked with Frank across the yard to Joe’s house. “Where could she be?”

  “I don’t know, Dean. I’d be more worried but Hal had this shitty look on his face.”

  “Maybe he’s hiding her in New Bowman or she’s with Ryder.”

  “I visually tore that town apart. I switched on my senses. I couldn’t find her.”

  “Did you . . .” Dean stopped on the step to Joe’s door. “Did you try to read Hal’s mind?”

  Frank huffed. “I tried. He blocked me.”

  “Shit.”

  “Let’s ask my dad.” After one knock, Frank opened up his father’s door. “Dad?”

  “Right here,” Joe called from the living room.

  Frank walked in, waited for Dean, then shut the door.

  “Well.” Joe lowered the book he read. “Something tells me I know why you two are here.”

  Dean stepped forward. “How are you feeling?”

  Joe nodded. “Good. What’s up?” he asked as he stood.

  Seeing Dean ready to speak, Frank jumped ahead. “Dad? Do you know where Ellen is?”

  Letting out a nodding, ‘ah’, Joe placed his hands in his pockets, walked around the coffee table and to the dining area. He grabbed his fake cigarette off the table, flicked his lighter, and went through the motions of lighting a cigarette.

  “So do you?” Frank asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Joe?” Dean requested. “Tell us where she is. Is she in New Bowman?”

  “Nope.”

  “Beginnings?” Dean guessed.

  “Bear with me for a second.” Joe lifted his ‘cigarette holding’ hand to Frank and Dean. He chuckled once, shook his head, rubbed his brow, and then brought his hand out in a point. “An entire day. One entire goddamn day she has been gone and now, just now you two morons are wondering where she is!”

  “Dad!” Frank blasted. “We aren’t fuckin around.”

  “Neither am I, Frank!” Joe yelled.

  “Where is she!” Frank screamed louder.

  “Gone! Out of Beginnings.” Joe’s vocal level was hard. “The sentence has begun! Ellen has left.”

  ^^^^

  A heavy exhale came from Frank as he lowered the letter Ellen had written to him.

  “She wanted me to give that to you when you asked where she was,” Joe told Frank as they stood alone in the dining room.

  “Why didn’t you give it to me sooner?” Frank asked.

  “You didn’t ask sooner.”

  “That’s cheating.”

  “How is it cheating, Frank? Huh?” Joe questioned. “You should have wondered where she was sooner.”

  “Does Dean’s letter say the same?”

  Joe shrugged. “I don’t know. She just wanted you to know why she did it. Why she left early. So do you?”

  “Who went with her? She didn’t say.”

  Shocked, Joe’s mouth dropped open. “What?”

  “She didn’t go alone. Who went with her?”

  It was almost a sarcastic snap the way Joe spoke. “Who do you think, Frank?”

  “I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”

  “Jesus Christ.”

  “Dad.”

  “Guess.”

  “I don’t wanna guess.”

  “I’ll give you a hint. Who haven’t you seen today in Beginnings?”

  Frank looked up to the ceiling. “A lot of people.”

  “Frank! I know you haven’t seen this person today! Here’s another goddamn clue. He’s your brother.”

  “Hal!” Frank blasted, “Hal left with . . . no. wait, I saw Hal.”

  Joe raised his eyebrow.

  “Robbie?”

  “Aren’t you bright?”

  “Robbie went with Ellen,” Frank stated with a calm nod.

  Curiously Joe peered at Frank. “You seem all right with this.”

  He exhaled through his nose. “I am. I understand why she did it. I don’t like it, but it’s done. I can’t get angry now about it. Will I miss her? Oh, yeah, with all my heart. But . . . I know she’s safe. My brother is with her.”

  After a moment of eye closing relief, Joe reached out and grasped Frank’s arm. “I’m very glad to hear you say that. Now, let’s just hope Dean feels the same way.”

  ^^^^

  The duffel bag with a few items flung violently across Dean’s bedroom and smashed into the dresser. In a rage, Dean tried to control himself but failed. He flew across the room, picked it up, and whipped it back to the bed.

  “Dean,” Frank stated his name calmly.

  “I’m busy.” Dean grabbed his clothes.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What’s it look like, Frank?”

  “Packing.”

  “No shit.”

  Frank folded his arms. “Where are you going?”

  “Where do you think?”

  “I’m asking the fuckin questions here, not you.”

  “I’m not answering!” Dean screamed.

  Frank stormed into the bedroom and stopped Dean. “I won’t let you go.”

  “You can’t stop me.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Frank chuckled. “You wanna bet.”

  “Don’t threaten me.”

  “You don’t even know where the fuck she is!”

  “You’re right.” Dean let go of the bag, brushed by Frank in a vengeance, and stormed out of the bedroom. “I don’t give a shit. Joe is gonna tell me where my wife is.”

  “Dean.” Frank tossed up his hands, then raged after him. Frank flew out of the front door and with a jump off the porch, he grabbed Dean.

  “Leave me alone, Frank!”

  “Don’t even think you’re gonna go blast that little body into my dad’s house and give him shit. Don’t.”

  “I wanna know where she is!”

  “You can’t!” Frank yelled. “Didn’t you read her note?”

  “I read it.”

  “Then your note must have said something mine didn’t. Where this is angry shit coming from? She left. She didn’t want to start waves. She left on her own to get this thing started. She is in good safe hands. Accept that.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Then respect that.”

  “How Frank?” Dean charged with passion. “I love her!”

  “I love her too!”

  “Then how . . .” Dean’s words moved his body with each point of his finger and lunge of his words. “How can you stand there! How? You say you love her! Why don’t you want to go after her!”

  “You don’t think I do?” Frank came back strong. “With every ounce of my being I want to say ‘fuck it’ and go, but we can’t!” Frank’s voice va-voomed its loudest then he dropped it to a soothing one. “We can’t.” He watched Dean lower his head. “You and I . . . we wanted to go. We wanted to be the one to leave these walls with her. We love her. But the truth of the matter is, you and I can’t. We have kids, Dean. Kids we raise together. We can’t leave them. They can’t lose two of their parents for a month. I have Savages out there and a community full of people to worry about, not to mention running the Security of two more towns. You have everyone’s well being to take care of. We, you and me, are needed by this community.”

  “Ellen needs us.”

  “Ellen . . .” Frank swallowed. “Has my brother. She will be safe.”

  “Can’t we just go? You and me? Can’t we go and just see for ourselves?”

  “Oh, Dean,” Fra
nk breathed out the words. “As much as I want to, we can’t. A decision was made. Part of that sentence is no one from Beginnings contacts her or helps. That can lengthen her sentence and if they abide by those rules, we can’t get back in. Then this community and our kids are screwed. Ellen doesn’t want that. We have one month. Let’s not jeopardize anything that will make that longer.”

  “What if something happens to her?”

  “It won’t. We have to trust and believe in how Hal rigged that house and Robbie’s ability to protect her.”

  As if in a daze, Dean blinked, “Ellen is really gone from Beginnings? We aren’t gonna see her?’

  “We’ll get through this.”

  “How?” Dean slowly shook his head. “How, Frank? How? I’m so worried.” Slowly he stepped back and dropped down in despair to sit on the porch. “She’s my wife. This is Ellen. She’s gone. What am I gonna do?” With anguish Dean brought his hands to his mouth and lifted his eyes. “What am I gonna do?”

  CHAPTER THREE

  December 24th

  Hal couldn’t figure out why Frank did it. Elliott, who sat next to him in Communications, found amusement out of the annoyance fluttering of Hal’s right eye.

  “Again, Frank?” Hal dreaded the thought of getting a response over the radio.

  “If I call you Captain, you have to call me by my radio name.” Frank was loud, almost too loud, over the radio. The helicopter noise of the chopper he flew was completely overshadowed by Frank’s vocal ability.

  “I will not do that, Frank. Why in God’s name do you have to scream?”

  “It’s loud in here. I can’t hear you.”

  “If you can’t hear me, then why are you talking louder?” Hal raised his voice.

  “If I can’t hear you, you can’t hear me!”

  “Trust me, Frank, the entire continental US can hear that mouth! I’ll talk louder. You talk normal.”

  “Call me by my flying name!”

  “I refuse.”

  “Then fine,” Frank spoke loudly “I’ll call you by the radio name I gave you.”

  “I don’t give a shit. What do you have?”

  “Well, Small Squaw.”

  “You’re an asshole.”