Freedom Fight: Beginnings Series Book 9 (4 page)

^^^^

In the small school yard, Dean walked hand in hand with Alexandra towards the school. Jenny Matoose was out front, gathering the kids into the building.

Jenny stepped closer to Dean. She folded her arms and tilted her head with a smile. “All better?” She asked.

“We’re better.” Dean released Alexandra’s hand.

“I’m sorry we bothered you. I was too busy with the art project.”

“Not a problem. I was getting ready to take a break anyhow. I’m just sorry this happened again.”

Jenny smiled as she looked down at Alexandra. “We’re girls, Dean. We do that sort of thing. Then, again, I blame myself. I saw her doing the wiggle dance that Ellen does and I should have known an accident would ensue.” Jenny took a deep breath. “Alex, can you go into the school. Forrest is reading. I want to speak to Daddy.”

“O.K.” Alexandra waved, smiled at Dean, and darted in.

“What’s up?” Dean asked.

“I heard a rumor and I wanted you to confirm or deny.”

“The ‘Ellen’s been kidnapped’ rumor?”

“Yes.”

“I’m really having hard time believing that Frank would take her,” Dean explained. “I mean, I know he’s having a hard time dealing with what happened with Brian. So am I. He just seemed content with the arrangement we had so why would he take her out of our walls, I just . . .”

“It sounds to me like you’re trying to convince yourself.” Jenny raised her eyebrows. “As eccentric as Henry is, I would really think about what he is saying. We know Frank. He pushes and pushes, and yes, he has this understanding with you. But if he needs Ellen more, Frank will just say . . .”

“Fuck you, Dean?”

“I was uh . . . gonna use a better word choice.” Jenny blushed.

“To say what Frank would say?” Dean gave a questioning look and Jenny agreed. “But how can I be sure, short of searching out this community?”

Jenny motioned her head to behind Dean. “It seems someone would have to know the details, especially if he is going to get up early and be the fill-in for head of security.”

Dean turned around to see Robbie waltzing across town. “Thanks, Jenny. My mind’s been so cluttered I didn’t think to ask him.” Dean hurried and raced after Robbie. “Robbie, wait up.”

Robbie slowed down and turned to Dean. “Hey, Dean, I’m on my way to see my dad. Wanna come? Josephine is there.”

“No. I need to speak to you for a minute.”

Robbie looked at his watch. “Go on.”

“Gee, thanks. Anyhow, answer me honestly. Did Frank kidnap Ellen?”

“No . . . well, not in a sense. He needed to get away from the house.”

“So do you know where they are?”

“Oh sure, at least the vicinity.”

“Great.” Dean let out a breath. “Is there any way you can get in touch with Ellen?”

“Dean, they won’t be gone long.”

“I know, I know, but she renamed the file for all of our respiratory ailment meds and I can’t find it. We have a lot of cases of pneumonia at the clinic.”

“Just for you,” Robbie laid his hands on Dean’s shoulders, “I’ll talk to them, but I have to go and your minute is up.”

“Thanks, Robbie.”

Arrogantly Robbie nodded, smiled, and moved to the bakery.

Dean watched him. “My minute was up?” He tossed his hands in the air. “He timed me?”

^^^^

There was something about visiting the bakery that made the stop for Robbie all worthwhile. Not only was the smell really great but so were the samples of the new fudge cookies. Of course Robbie had to worry since Joe was there helping out.

“It’s about goddamn time.” Joe came from the back. “I’m finished here and I’m moving on.”

“I wish you would have told me. There were other things I had to do.”

“Robert, I needed you for something. I have several meetings this afternoon and you’re the key to my preparations.”

“I know I’m great Dad, but I can’t do . . .”

“Robert.” Joe shook his head. “Don’t. Anyhow, I know you know where Frank is.”

“I do. Well, the general vicinity.”

“Good. I know he needs a little seclusion and alone time with Ellen. I understand that but I need those damn field slash security schedules for my meeting with Cole and I can’t find them. Any chance you can speak to Frank?”

“Oh yeah. I have to talk to Ellen for Dean. I’ll do that as soon as we’re done.”

“Good boy.” Joe squeezed Robbie’s arm and walked with him. “Is Frank planning on coming back tonight”

“Could be.” Robbie nodded. “But you know . . . ow!” Robbie jolted a foot in the air then stepped to his right.

Little old lady Josephine, white hair pulled tightly up, smiled and winked at Robbie as she passed between him and Joe.

Robbie rubbed his rear end. “Did you enjoy that, Josephine?”

She snickered. “Very much,” her fragile voice answered.

“Tell me, am I still firm enough?” Robbie questioned so seriously.

“Always.” Josephine smiled and kept moving.

“Cool.”

“Robert,” Joe scolded and pulled Robbie with him.

“What? It’s important to know.”

Joe merely grumbled and walked from the bakery with Robbie.

^^^^

Dean sat in the ‘Joe park’, the area center town that was set up like a park. He ate a sandwich, and looked solemn and in thought. Henry hated to break that, but Henry had to speak to him, so as soon as Henry spotted Dean, he sped toward him. “Dean.”

Dean looked up and brushed the crumbs from his hands. “What’s up, Henry?”

“I have something very important to talk to you about.” Henry sat next to him on the small wall.

“Sure. What?”

“Um . . . I need to know if you think . . . If you . . . uh . . . shit.”

“What?”

Henry tossed his hands up. “I forgot.”

“Must have been a lie.”

“No it wasn’t. Why would you say that?” Henry asked.

“Henry, didn’t your mother ever tell you when you don’t remember what it is your supposed to tell someone then what you were going to say was a lie?”

“No. Did your mother tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, Dean, that’s terrible. Your mother shouldn’t have told you that. Imagine the complex you’ve carried around your whole entire life every time you forgot what you were going to tell someone.”

“Imagine.” Dean rolled his eyes.

“Anyhow, if I remember, I’ll stop by and ask you, but I’m sure it wasn’t a lie. Right now I have this overwhelming sensation that I’m forgetting something.”

“You are,” Dean said. “It’s what you had to ask me.”

“Nah, it’s something else. Geez, what is wrong with my memory today? I know what it is. It’s the Frank kidnapping Ellen thing.”

Dean shook his head with a smile, raised his head and peered out.

Henry noticed the smile dropped. “What’s wrong?” Henry gazed out to where Dean looked. “Oh, I’m out of here. Bye.”

Bev walked near them, waving her hand high and smiling.

Dean grabbed Henry’s arm as he stood. “You aren’t going anywhere. Sit.”

“Oh no, Dean, I can’t.”

“Face your sins, Henry. Besides, I like watching you squirm.”

Bev smiled an innocent smile as she neared the two men, an innocence
she failed to have. She stopped before them as they sat. “Hot day.”

Henry just started to whistle, his feet tapped, and all he wanted to do was make his escape.

Dean was waiting for it, Bev to speak to Henry. But Dean didn’t get what he expected. Bev sat next to him. Dean’s views quickly jolted to her then to Henry who sighed and snickered. “Did you want something, Bev?” Dean tried to move when she sat so close to him her leg brushed against his, but Henry wouldn’t scoot over. Dean spoke to Henry through clenched teeth. “Move over.”

“Nope.”

“Dean,” Bev spoke softly. “I realize Frank has taken Ellen somewhere. That’s the rumor so I wanted you to know if you need any help with your family, or you just need anything at all . . .” Bev laid her hand on his thigh, “call me. I know this is a rough time for you.” Her voice softened even more as her hand slid further up his thigh. “I can really help ease your mind.”

Dean chuckled, lifted her hand, and removed it from his leg. “No thanks. I have one rambunctious little girl at my house already. I don’t need another. What uh…what about Henry?”

“Henry knows my offer always stands.” Bev stood up. “And now, so do you.” She started to leave, stopped, looked back and smiled, then kept on walking.

Henry nudged hard into Dean. “That wasn’t very nice, Dean. I hate her. She ruined my life.”

“You ruined your life, Henry. No one made you get drunk that night and sleep with her on your couch. I wonder what she’s up to.”

“When the cats away, the mice will play. She probably just wants to get back at Ellen for burning her neck. But you know Dean, you should really consider taking her up on her offer.”

“What?” Dean spoke with such shock.

“Seriously, you could get lonely. You should let her, like she said, ease your mind.”

“What? Are you nut, Henry? She’s a child to me. Besides, why would you even suggest a thing that, especially knowing how Ellen feels? If I even let it remotely cross my mind, it could ruin what Ellen and . . . oh.” Dean started to laugh. “I get it.”

“What?”

“You want it to ruin Ellen and me. You want me to make the same mistakes you did.” Dean laughed and stood up. “Forget it.”

“No, Dean.” Henry followed. “Really, you could be very lonely and you have a chance not to be.”

“What about you, Henry?”

“I’m getting back with Ellen after her and Frank get married.”

“Henry.” Dean stopped walking. “Granted you and El live together, but you know that was only temporary during this hard time about Brian. She is moving back with me soon. Secondly, yeah, you have this special friendship back, but realistically, Ellen will never allow it to go back to where it was with you. You’ll never be that close again.”

“You think Frank is going to continue this understanding with you when he and Ellen get married?”

“Ellen won’t marry Frank.” Dean walked again. “Trust me, it will never happen.”

Dean walked off leaving Henry behind. Henry stood there watching, wondering which of them, was actually the one who wasn’t being realistic. Henry couldn’t let his mind dally there for very long. He had to finish his work and go to his meeting with Joe, but he also had to work on remembering what it was that he forgot.

^^^^

There was something fearful about George Hadley. Whenever he sat in his chair behind his desk in deep thought, it made those who worked alongside of him apprehensive about anything they had to tell him. But Jeremy Lyons couldn’t let that stop him. Although he knew he wasn’t bringing bad news, he was there at George’s request.

“You wanted to see me, sir?” Jeremy said as he entered the office.

George looked up from his thinking stare. “Yes, come in.”

Jeremy walked further in.

“What was the Chaldron loses today?”

“One ninety-two.”

“Any word from the other two prisoners they kept?”

“No sir,” Jeremy answered.

“All right, send out word when our divisions check in. I want ground troops out and about searching that side of the country. This was a planned attack and it obviously wasn’t from Beginnings.” George ran his hand down his face. “We have another force out there and it’s one I haven’t a clue about.”

“So I take it we’re searching for any leads that can tell us who this new force is?”

“Yes,” George answered. “Have our most western camps be base sights and bring in anyone who fits the standard militant description.. Question those they bring in but don’t waste time on them.”

“Sir, how will we get information from them if we don’t waste time on them?”

“Simple.” George leaned back. “You bring them in and question them. You tell them if they don’t give you any information regarding this new force, they will be shot by firing squad at sunup. If that doesn’t frighten the information from them, nothing else will.”

^^^^

The second Frank stepped from the stopped truck, he knew. Ellen’s long whine carried to him. “What now, Ellen?” Frank walked to her.

“Here?” Ellen spun to him.

“You wanted to be close to home, but far away. This is perfect.” Frank said. “Secluded but near home. We have a lake.” Frank’s hand motioned to the lake in the distance.

“Yeah, but Frank. Here?”

“All right, I’ll be a masochist. What’s wrong with here?”

“This is the place,” Ellen took a step near the small log cabin, “the honey moon spot Joe used to authorize people to be allowed to leave Beginnings after they got married.”

“Yeah.” Frank moved closer to her. “It’s a great cabin. It hasn’t been used for a couple years, but great. It won’t take much to go in there and clean it up.”

“Frank,” Ellen said his name in a whine, “You know who the last people here were, don’t you?”

“John and Jenny Matoose. So.”

“So,” She spoke long and drawn out, “They probably had sex in there. I can’t sleep in a bed that John and Jenny had sex on. I can’t.”

“We’ll put the sleeping bags over it.”

“Still, as soon as I lay there, I’ll think about it.”

“Ellen.” Frank tried to remain calm. “We won’t sleep in the bed, O.K.?”

“O.K.” Ellen took a breath. “I’ll help you carry the stuff in.”

“Thank you.” Frank walked back to the truck and Ellen followed.

“Do you suppose it’s dirty in there?”

“Yes.”

“Frank, I don’t know how much dirt that I can . . .”

“Ellen, can you try not to be such an Ellen and remember why we’re here? Please?” Frank reached into the back of the truck and handed her the sleeping bags. “Please? I’ll try to make the place as best as I can.”

“O.K.” Ellen waited for Frank to grab some things and she walked with him to the cabin. “Frank?”

Frank dropped everything and totally snapped. “What? What now, Ellen? What can you possible bitch about now? Get it out of the way. Get it over with!”

Ellen stared at him for a second. “Are you finished? Good. I was just going to tell you I think that it’s going to end up be really nice for us.” She saw the expression drop on Frank’s face. “Feel bad now? Good, because you certainly have hurt my feelings.” Tossing her head back and throwing her nose up, Ellen walked ahead to the cabin. She was impressed with herself for turning the situation in her favor and she promised herself that the gripe she
was
going to say to Frank could actually wait until later.

^^^^

“Modular homes,” Danny stated to Joe with so much pride. “What do you think?”

“Modular homes?”

“Yes. They are prefabbed homes that basically come in two . . .”

“I know what modular homes are.” Joe took a moment to subside his frustration. “Why are you telling me about modular homes?”

“It’s the Beginnings wave of the future.”

“What?” Joe leaned back as he laughed.

“Sure Joe.” Danny spread out blue prints. “You wanted me to look at our prefabbed housing and to redesign and make them into more three bedroom homes. Granted it can be done, but . . .” Danny held up a thinking finger. “Time wise we can get this finished much faster and with less man power.”

“By using modular homes?” Joe questioned.

“Yes. You wanted to erect two rows of housing. We can get ten modular homes, line them up front to back instead of side by side in the same area without messing up your housing plan too much. You know, eventually we can put more up, leaving town houses for the single people.”

“How many are you talking about immediately?”

“Ten to start, the way I calculated, including the split families . . .”

“What?” Joe was lost. “Split families?”

“Yes, the ones that share kids. There are four. Including those, there are nineteen families in Beginnings with children. Now . . . nine of them are fine where they’re at. They either have one child or two of the same sex. The rest have two of the opposite sex or three or more children.”

“Those four families are already in the three bedrooms we put up last year.”

“Exactly. We need six. We can do this Joe.” Danny said.

“How long you talking and how many men?”

“One team of four. We can lay the foundation and get the houses erected in two weeks.”

“Good plan with one fault. Where do we get the modular homes and how the hell do we get them here?”

“See.” Danny grinned. “About this point you’re gonna be like, ‘Wow, that Danny Hoi’.”

“I doubt that, but go on.”

“Highway 200. There’s a modular home sales place right there. Four trucks are on the lot. Using those four trucks it will take three trips to bring the houses in with a minimal amount of gas.”

“All right. Get started on this. Pick a crew from our new batch of guys. You have the list of families who are first priority for homes and give them a time frame of when they’ll be moving. Clear a security team to go with you to pick up the trucks. Set it up. You know what is needed.”

“Thanks Joe.” Danny smiled and grabbed his blue prints. “Oh, by the way, since you married Andrea and she is on the needs housing list, you’ll be moving in two weeks.”

“Two weeks?”

“Can’t do it any faster. You guys only have two kids, so you’re at bottom of the list. Start packing.” Danny turned to leave and when he did, Dean and Henry walked in. “And there’s Mr. Top Priority.” Danny pointed to Dean.

Dean looked almost frightened at that moment when he saw Danny pointing. “What?”

“You’re moving. Start packing.” Danny started to leave.

“Wait a second.” Dean stopped him. “I’m moving. Where am I moving?”

“Oh we’re doing new housing. So . . .” Danny closed his eyes and thought. “You’re first on the list. One week tops.”

Dean gasped. “One week? How are you going to build the houses in one week?”

Joe slightly rolled his eyes when he answered for Danny. “Modular homes.”

Dean smiled. “You’re kidding. No townhouse? I get a modular home. Hey Danny, those things can be nice. Get me a nice one for Ellen. She’ll love it.”

“How about when I go to the lot, I get you the deluxe model home?”

“I’d be grateful.”

“What’s it worth to you?” Danny asked.

“What do you want?”

“Can I get back to you?”

“Yeah, sure.” Dean smiled and watched Danny leave. He turned around to see Joe staring at him “What’s wrong?”

“Are we done?” Joe asked. “Can we sit down and be ready, because I’d like to start this as soon as Robbie gets here.” Joe watched Dean give a fake look of fright, but Henry had a different, sad expression on his face. “Henry, what’s wrong? You’re not going to whine because you don’t get a modular home, are you?”

“No Joe,” Henry sulked to his seat. “I just have this feeling that I’m forgetting something.” He brought his fingers to his mouth. “I just wished I knew what it was. I bet it’s important.”

“Can’t be that important if you forgot about it,” Joe said.

“True, but still.” Henry drew up another thinking look. “I wonder what it is.”

^^^^

“According to John Matoose,” Joe paced around a listening Robbie, Dean and Henry. “He says no one else is working for George, but how much can we believe him?”

Robbie shook his head in disagreement. “No, he knows he’s on borrowed time with us. I think if he knew about someone else he’d tell us. He’d do anything right now to save his ass and stay with his family.”

Joe nodded. “You have a point. All right this ‘George insider’ is top priority. Beginning tomorrow, we try to figure out who this person is. Start from scratch. Compile a list of suspects and we’ll go through the list one person at a time. Each one of us will do a list and we’ll combine them.”

Robbie added, “Sort of fine tooth comb it and come down to the most likely.”

“Exactly,” Joe said with a point. “The most likely suspects will get our full investigation, however, each person that makes the list should be scrutinized through every scenario before they are removed from the suspect list.”

Robbie questioned again. “Do we need a list of elimination questions with motive and means?”

Joe nodded. “Yes. This goes no further than this room. Just like we’re keeping the news about John Matoose under wraps, we’ll keep this under wraps. We don’t need a community panic or a lot of finger pointing. We’ll do this slowly and carefully even if it’s putting one suspect a day under a microscope. When we’re finished I’m sure we will know which individual gets our full attention.”

Dean raised his hand slightly. “Any guidelines on compiling a list of potential suspects? I mean, we could end up with half the community if we think about it.”

Joe sat back down. “Let’s see. It’s safe to assume anyone who arrived after George’s departure is safe to eliminate, so let’s go from there. Henry, any questions? You’ve been quiet.” Joe didn’t get a response. “Henry? Henry?”

“Huh?” Henry’s attention was gained. “What was that Joe?”

“Were you paying attention?” Joe asked him.

“Yeah, sure but my mind keeps drifting.”

“To that thing you can’t remember?”

“Yeah. Isn’t that the oddest thing? The feeling is so strong.”

Joe merely sat back and gave a pacifying attitude to Henry. “Why don’t you retrace the steps of your day?”

“Excellent idea, thanks Joe.” Henry immediately stood up and flew to the door. “Catch me later to tell me what time we meet tomorrow.”

Before Joe knew it, Henry was gone. Joe ran his hand down his face then pointed to the closed door. “And that man has been voted to run the community when I retire? Oh boy.”