Freedom Fight: Beginnings Series Book 9 (16 page)

From the roof of his apartment building Hal could see the digging of the graves for the men lost in the battle. Nineteen of his men died as a result. He held a certain sadness even though he knew he was victorious.

“Captain!”

Hal heard his name called from below. It echoed up at him and he peered over the roof’s ledge to see Sgt. Ryder. “You’re back. I’ll be right down.” Hal hurried from the rooftop, into the stairwell, and raced to the street below. “Sergeant.” Hal walked out to the street. “Where are they?”

“Who?”

“The Beginnings people? Your men that arrived before you said you found the two they’ve been searching for.”

“We did,” Sgt. Ryder said, “but they didn’t come back with us.”

“Why? I heard the man was ill.”

“He is but they wanted to go home. We secured them safe passage to the Anderson farm. They can radio for help there.”

“But we’ve been monitoring radio transmissions and heard nothing.”

Sgt. Ryder was silent. “Do you suppose the radio isn’t working?”

“That’s a possibility.” Hal ran his hand over the top of his head. “All right, I’m gonna send a team of six up with them. If he’s ill, he can’t protect the woman he’s with. Let’s have some men go there crack of dawn and watch the house.”

Sgt. Ryder nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. He’s a stubborn man. He’ll get upset if he knows they’re there.”

Hal sort of chuckled. “He’s from Beginnings. All of them hold a certain arrogance about them.”

“That they do. Has anything been said about our raid. I mean, with them searching, have they found it yet?”

“Our radio monitor said Eagle one spotted it. Let’s go to the station and see if anything else is happening.” Hal and the sergeant began to walk. “Maybe they’ll start searching for their people in the farm area.”

“If they’re as determined as the Beginnings man, they will. Do you realize he walked up to every single Society soldier and if they moaned or moved, he shot them in the head.”

Hal stopped walking. “He
… what?”

“Shot them in the head. Killed them for assurance.”

“It’s uh . . . that’s kind of sadistic.”

Sgt. Ryder shook his head with a laugh as they started to walk again. “This guy was the epitome of sadistic. I might also add… mean.”

“Really?”

“Sir, I kid you not. If this man is a representation of what they are breeding in Beginnings, I could be a little apprehensive about ever visiting there.”

Hal fluttered his lips in Slagel arrogance. “Don’t you think you may be exaggerating?”

“No. Check out the lack of respect this man has. He said to me ‘Sir? I call no man sir. People call me sir’.” Sgt. Ryder heard Hal laughing as they stopped in front of the police station. “I’m telling you in both size and appearance, this big, mean looking son of a bitch, makes Mad Max look like a puppy dog.”

Hal Slagel stopped laughing.

^^^^

If it wasn’t for the air of sadness that hung over Beginnings like a rain cloud, all would look normal. In the living section, beyond the last row of houses, Joe stood with Danny Hoi. The day light hours were fading as Danny’s team worked in finishing the foundations. The helicopters flying in caught Joe’s attention. They were back a little early. Joe’s heart sunk. Something must have gone wrong.

Dean didn’t want to work, but since Andrea insisted she be home to prepare the Slagel Sunday dinner, Dean was stuck doing rounds. He stood before the John Doe that had been dropped off, wounds cleaned, at Beginnings front gate. He was a quiet man who didn’t speak much. They learned his name was Tom and that he was shot running from the Society army.

“How’s this.” Dean held a needle at his ankle. He poked him. Tom didn’t move. “Nothing?”

“No.”

“How about here?” Dean ran the needle up the sole of his foot.

“Nothing. I’m not gonna walk again, am I?”

“It’s too early to tell,” Dean explained. “You’re still healing.”

“I’m not feeling anything.”

“No,” Dean stated in his doctor mode, “but the fact that the paralysis is confined to the lower region is a good sign. With therapy, who knows?”

Tom nodded and leaned his head deeper to the pillow. It snapped back up and he looked to the window when the helicopter noises came into ear shot. “It’s still light out. They’re back?”

“Shit.” Dean closed his eyes. He knew if they had found Frank and Ellen, a radio call would have been made but there was no call. With some day hours still left, and Robbie back already, Dean feared that the old saying, ‘no news is good news’ wasn’t going to hold true.

Dean stayed behind at the clinic. His hands shook as he worked, dreading the news that he knew would soon come. It had been fifteen minutes since Robbie landed. No phone call, no radio call, nothing. Then he heard them, the unison footsteps walking down the corridor of the clinic. Combat boots. It had to be Robbie. He could hear the others with him and Dean, in the last room of his rounds, froze solid. The pounding of their footsteps went through him, aching him the closer they drew.

“Dean,” Joe called him, peeking his head in the room. “Can we talk to you?”

Every bit of Dean’s insides trembled. He knew his face was pale. “Um, yeah, Joe.” Dean grabbed his chart, took a long breath and stepped out of the room. The minute Dean stepped into the hall, something about Robbie’s look, not Henry’s, made a lot of his fears disappear. Robbie flashed him a quick smiled.

“You found them?” Dean tried to contain any premature happiness.

Joe shook his head. “Not yet. But . . . .” There was a sense of relief to Joe’s tone. “We believe they are fine and possibly on the way home.”

Dean’s eyes closed he backed up and leaned against the wall. “How do we know this?”

Henry answered “We found a camp that looked like it belonged to the Society, about a hundred miles from where Frank and Ellen disappeared. Frank and Ellen weren’t
there. All that was left was about one hundred and twenty soldiers.”

“Frank?” Dean asked. “Could he have done that?”

“We know he helped. He left his signature,” Robbie said.

Dean nodded slowly. “A single shot to the forehead. So where are they now?”

Robbie raised his hands. “We think they’re on their way home. It had been a minimal of four hours since the soldiers were killed. We circled and didn’t see them. My gut tells me they got away, but how far is the question. That’s what we need to know from you. When I last spoke to Ellen she said Frank was ill, fevered, coughing. You know Frank. How far would he be able to go?”

“If his pneumonia relapsed,” Dean explained, “which is possible, and then he was, let’s say, beaten? Didn’t sleep much.” Dean thought for a moment. “He’d go a couple hours before he’d get to the point Ellen would make them stop. She knows how bad this can get without rest and treatment.”

Joe agreed. “My guess too. I’m thinking they found shelter and are letting him rest up. That’s why we didn’t see them.”

“So what happens now?” Dean asked.

“We send out choppers,” Joe said. “First light, waves of them. Robbie, Dan, Johnny in alternating shifts, circling the area. If they move, we’ll spot them.”

Dean’s hand clenched his chart tighter in gratefulness. He didn’t want to let himself get too excited, but this was the first good sign or news he had heard since Frank and Ellen disappeared the day before.

^^^^

Eight men, wearing grey uniforms, sat on the long front porch that early evening. Hal emerged from the house. He carried a tin cup filled with coffee and took a seat on a wicker rocking chair joining the circle of men who sat around for after dinner talk. They talked of the victory, the minimal losses, and their ability to save the Beginnings people. They also talked of the six men going up to the Anderson farm at sun up.

“I think it could work in our favor. It’s a good idea.” Sgt. Ryder spoke “Don’t you
, Captain?”

Hal snapped from his day dream state. “I’m sorry. What’s a good idea?”

“An open door policy with Beginnings,” Sgt. Ryder said. “The man made mention if we need anything just stop by.”

“It could work in our favor,” Hal spoke, “since we do know for sure we’re on the same side, especially with winter coming. We know they produce more food than they need. Obviously they drop it to the wildcats. Maybe with all our manpower we can work a deal. They have all those fields they don’t use because they haven’t enough workers. I am thinking we could exchange workers for food. I’m working on a deal to present to them soon. At least now I feel at ease about dropping off our people if medical attention is needed.”

“The woman said she was a nurse there . . .” He saw the stunned expression from the other men including Hal. “Yes, a nurse. She works there.”

“Their women work?”
a soldier questioned. “Really?”

Sgt. Ryder shrugged. “I’m guessing so. She said she works with a brilliant doctor. They would assure the best care.
There was something very familiar about her though. I don’t know why.”

“She woman Elliott. You want her to look familiar. I know you’re secret.”
Hal smiled, then shook his head quickly. “As far as women working, she’s probably the exception to the rule. Her skills are needed. You did mention she is the wife or will-be-wife to this Neanderthal. That’s probably why she can interact. Would he let someone near her?” He raised his eyebrows. “I’m curious now to see how many other women loan their skills to that community and how the Chief handles it.”

“Carefully,” Sgt. Ryder commented while sipping his coffee. “Of course anytime I’ve heard him on the radio, he seems to get annoyed rather quickly. What do you think Captain? You listen to the radio quite a bit. As a matter of fact, if you don’t mind me asking sir, why is that? You are so intrigued by it.”

“I don’t mind you asking. It’s a little embarrassing.” Hal smiled. “It’s just I find a little bit of familiarity in their voices. You know, your mind plays tricks on you. But I just like listening. The family-style bickering they have reminds me of my childhood.” He noticed the odd looks on the men’s faces. “My brothers and I always bickered. We fought, we beat each other up. You name it but I loved it.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I loved it.” He leaned back in his chair with a look of remembrance.

^^^^

Alexandra sat on the kitchen counter. Andrea stood before her, holding the little face in one hand while wiping it with a wet towel.

“Oh just let Grandmommy clean this precious face for you.”

Dean leaned in the doorway cringing.

“So pretty,” Andrea wiped. “Maybe daddy will let you stay tonight with me and Pap, so you can play longer with Katie.”

Alexandra looked to Dean. “Can I, Daddy?”

“Um, sure.” Dean tossed his hands up. “I’ll run home and get your clothes for school.”

“I’ll go with you,” Alexandra said. “I want to get my doll.”

“I can get your doll.”

“Daddy, you never get the right one.”

Andrea lifted Alexandra from the counter and set her on the floor. “What does mommy teach you about that?”

Alexandra nodded. “He’s a man and he doesn’t know better.”

Dean rolled his eyes at Andrea. “Must you encourage Ellen style thinking in her?”

“Someone has to until Ellen’s back.” Andrea softened her voice and walked to Dean, laying her hand on his cheek. “Which will be soon. I believe it. We prayed in services for her and Frank today. God will answer those prayers.”

“I know. I have hope.” Dean felt the tug to his jeans. Alexandra looked impatient. “Let me walk her home. We’ll be right back.”

Alexandra darted through the living room, kissed Joe who sat on the couch reading reports, and shrieked when Robbie intercepted her, lifting her up. “I have to go.” She told him.

Robbie, still holding her, extended her out. “You aren’t gonna pee on me, are you.”

“No silly.” Alexandra laughed. “I’m staying with Pap tonight. I’m going with daddy to get my dolls.”

“Oh.” Robbie brought her closer and kissed her then set her down. He looked when he heard Henry whine. “Why do you sound disappointed she’s staying here Henry?”

Henry held Nick as he talked. “Andrea doesn’t do her hair well which means I’ll have to stop by the school and fix it and listen to Jenny bitch at me that I’m anal.”

“You are,” Robbie stated.

“Thanks.” Henry looked at Jess who had joined the festivities. “How do you live with this guy?”

Jess smiled. “Robbie? I love living with Robbie. He’s a great guy.”

Immediately Joe lowered the reports and his eyes lifted above his glasses. He stared outward for a second, shook his head, shrugged, and went back to reading.

Henry laughed. “Joe, what was that for?”

“Huh?” Joe looked up again. “Nothing.”

The smiled dropped from Henry’s face when he saw Dean walking out with Alexandra. “Dean, what about Nick? He’s getting fussy.”

Dean stopped before opening the door. “Hold him for a little while longer, Henry. I’ll be back.” He grabbed Alexandra’s hand and left with her.

Dean loved holding his daughter’s hand so small and lost in his. Her little arm swung happily as they walked to their home right down the street.

“Daddy, we won’t be this close to Pap when we move. Will we?”

“Nope, closer to Uncle Frank. Not that it’s a good thing.”

“I’ll have to stay longer at Pap’s when I visit then, because he’ll live so far away.”

Dean smiled at his daughter’s perception of distance. Six rows of houses was not that far. But he supposed in a world as small as Beginnings, to Alexandra it could have been miles. He slowed down walking when he got to his house. “Shit.”

Bev sat on the step then stood up. “They said you get home about this time from Sunday supper.”

“Excuse us.” Dean tried to get past her.

“Dean, if you aren’t busy tonight, I’d love to just sit outside and talk to you. How long has it been since you’ve had female company do that?”

Dean said nothing, He gripped Alexandra’s hand and moved to his door. “Come on, Alex.” Dean tried to pull the little girl who wouldn’t budge. “Alex.”

Alexandra stared hard at Bev. “You know, there was a reason my mother burned you.”

Dean’s eyes widened and he quickly spun around to look at his daughter and the shocked expression on Bev’s face. Bev just gasped and walked away. Dean hid his chuckle while he took Alexandra into the house. “There are times when that Ellen-type mouth you have comes in so handy.” He bent down and kissed his daughter in appreciation.

^^^^