State of Time: Beginnings Series Book 6 Page 8

  “You should be part of everything,” Ellen said. “Shouldn’t he Henry?”

  “Yep.” Henry agreed as he untangled wires.

  “And be a top dog in security,” Ellen added. “I am still so shocked you aren’t attached. Such a handsome fellow. Isn’t he handsome, Henry.”

  “Very,” Henry replied.

  Dean laughed. “El, why are you obviously buttering him up?”

  Greg answered. “She wants something from Cleveland. A souvenir. All the women are being nice to me. Jenny Matoose showed me her breasts.” Greg’s head spun to the ghastly ‘UH!’ that came from Josh. “What Josh?”

  “She’s not going to show us is she?” Josh asked.

  “Oh my God.” Denny sounded panicked. “What if she does? What do we do?”

  Ellen answered in a giggle, “Run. Really run.”

  Denny curled his lip in disgust. “Greg, was it scary?”

  “I’m afraid so, yes,” Greg spoke. “And I must get back to the trailer, you know. I have to get that vision out of my mind.” He gave a wink to the boys as he opened the door and walked out.

  Denny shook his head. “How do women live with those things? Especially Mrs. Matoose, hers are so big. Hey, Josh, at least your mom’s don’t hang. I don’t think, do they hang or do you get them bound up Ellen?”

  Ellen would have been insulted, especially with Dean and Henry laughing, but she considered the source. “No, Denny, I’m a free breasted woman. Mine don’t hang. That’s because God loves me.”

  Dean snickered with a shaking head. “What does God have to do with your breasts?”

  “Simple.” She saw she had the boys’ attention. “See, breasts are a curse given to women by God because the very first woman on this earth gave him attitude. So he gave her breasts to annoy her and a menstrual cycle but that’s another story. Anyhow, the more annoying you are, the bigger your breasts are. So there. That’s why Mrs. Matoose’s breasts are so huge.”

  Denny opened his mouth with a nod. “Oh, I see. Ellen? Is this menstrual cycle like the motorcycle Frank rides around on?”

  “Um . . . yeah sort of,” Ellen answered. “Only instead of looking cool when you’re on it, you look mean. Huh Dean?”

  Dean raised his eyebrows. “Oh yeah.” He pulled Ellen away from ear shot, whispering. “Why are you misleading the only teenage boys in Beginnings?”

  “Oh, it’s fun.” Ellen laughed and took a change of subject breath. “Dean? How long are we going to be in quarantine?”

  “I don’t know. It all depends what the length of incubation is. Hopefully I’ll have had figured that out in the future and that part of our work will be done for us. With any luck, which I usually don’t have, we won’t be stuck together too long.”

  “I don’t mind,” Ellen said. “Henry, do you mind being stuck with me?”

  “No El. We’ll have fun,” Henry answered.

  Dean turned and faced them. “Why is that? Why is that always the response? Why does everything always have to be fun?”

  Henry shrugged. “I don’t know. Would you prefer a different mood?” He faced Ellen. “El, why don’t we be mean in quarantine?”

  “Or, Henry. Bitter. How’s that?”

  “We could be sad, El.”

  “Or premenstrual.” Ellen laughed.

  “Oh, I hate when I get like that,” Henry winced.

  “Guys . . .” Dean wanted to shout they were not even in quarantine and they were starting. But Robbie walked in and became the saving grace.

  Robbie raised the corner of his mouth in a half smile when he saw the expression on Dean’s face. “Getting on your nerves already, Dean? Henry, we’re about to attach that walkway.” He waited for Henry’s nod. “Hey El. You’re new house is all set up out there. See, one day from my long trip to Cleveland and I’m working hard to make sure things are done right for you.”

  “You’re sweet, Robbie.” She tapped him on the cheek. Crossing her arms, Ellen moved to the window, peering out at the mobile home. She just wanted to get a good look. The smile quickly vanished when she saw John Matoose walk around the mobile home and into her view. “What’s John doing out there?”

  Robbie answered. “Checking out the propane tank for leaks.”

  “Excuse me.” Ellen, still holding her arms close to her chest, walked to the door and outside. She marched up to John. “Thinking of ways to blow us up?”

  “What?” John turned and faced her. “What in the world are you talking about now?”

  “Don’t play dumb. You know this is a way for us to beat George. Curing the . . .” Ellen stopped when her quick wit kicked in and she remembered only a privileged few knew about the virus. “Cure the itch, yeah, that we have to be quarantined together to create a deadly biological weapon.” Ellen nodded with a ‘so there’. She was proud of her explanation, especially since a weapon was what everyone thought they were going into quarantine to work on.

  John shook his head and squatted down to the tank. “You talk shit Ellen.”

  “I talk the truth. And I’m on to you. I know you’re trying to kill me.”

  John laughed at her. “Yeah right. Why would I do that?”

  “Why not? I threaten you.”

  “You irk me.” John tried to work on the tank.

  “I know that was you in Henry’s house the other night. I know that was you following me in the tunnel, taking a close shot at me. Bet the reason they can’t find the casing is because you have it. Huh, John. You were helping Robbie search for it. You found it and . . .”

  “Ellen! Go the fuck away.”

  “Own up, John. The truth will set you free. George.” She whispered. “George.”

  “Ellen!” John stood up storming and breathing heavy at her. “Keep it up with your big fuckin mouth and someone is going to shut . . .”

  “John!” Robbie’s deep voice was so close, so unexpected. “Get out of her face . . . Now.”

  John only shifted his eyes to Robbie. “Back off, Robbie. It’s between me and this bitch.”

  “You were warned.” Eerily calm, Robbie reached out, the fingers on his left hand gripped tightly in a squeeze to John’s neck. Quickly he jerked John to him, then with a hard fast jab, Robbie landed his fist center on John’s face. He shoved John back. “Come on El.” Robbie grabbed Ellen’s hand and led her away from a bleeding and complaining John, who screamed, ‘ow you broke my fuckin nose’.

  Ellen hesitantly followed with a light snicker to her. “You didn’t need to do that.”

  “Why was he talking to you like that?” Robbie asked.

  “John? John always talks to me like that. I’m used to it.”

  “He what?!” Robbie began to charge back to John, but Ellen halted him.

  “No, don’t. It’s all right. He’ll trip up one of these days. I’m waiting for it. You know. ..about him working with George.”

  “Ellen.” Robbie covered his eyes. “I have told you, he wasn’t in on it with George. Didn’t Frank and I lock him in a room with us for three hours? Don’t you think we would have broken him?”

  “Nope. Cause he cried. I bet he cried.” She saw Robbie look away. “He did. See, it was his way out. And won’t you and Frank look like the big fools when the truth is finally known. I won’t hold it against you though. Why do you think he’s so mean to me?” Ellen rambled. “He’s threatened.”

  “I’m going to my Dad about this, if John is . . .”

  “No. Don’t. I don’t want John to think anyone else but me knows. And it will only make me look stupid. Please?” She tipped toed up and kissed him on the cheek. “I have to get back in there. Thank you for breaking John’s nose. That was great.”

  “Ellen . . .” Before Robbie could say anymore she had quickly made her escape. What he saw of John’s reaction and heard of John’s comments, sent the warning signals blaring. Though Ellen didn’t want him to, Robbie knew he had to look into it and speak to Joe. For his own peace of mind, before he left for Cleveland, he wanted to
make sure that if this was the way John always was to her then it would be the last time it happened.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Ellen paced about in excited little circles in front of Joe’s office door. “What do you suppose it is, Henry?”

  Henry tossed his hands up. “Haven’t a clue. But it’s big.”

  “Yeah.” Ellen looked at the door; the same one Frank had stuck his head out to give the minute warning. “Oh. I know. Maybe it’s a surprise.”

  “Could be. Your birthday is coming up.”

  “And Robbie’s gonna be in Cleveland. Bet me they’re having a private party for me.” Growing more impatient waiting on the surprise, Ellen smiled when she saw Dean approach.

  “What’s going on?” Dean asked. “Joe said he wanted me here for you.”

  Ellen pointed to Henry. “He told Henry the same thing. They’re having a surprise party for my birthday. Only they don’t know I figured it out. Oh, Henry. How’s this look of surprise.” Ellen mustered up a shocked expression.

  “You have me fooled.” Henry nodded.

  “Oh, what’s taking so long?” Ellen returned to staring at the door.

  After tapping the folder on the edge of the desk, Joe walked around and extended a handkerchief to a seated John Matoose. “Here.”

  “Thank you.” John dabbed the blood then whined loudly. “The pain is awful, Joe.”

  Joe rolled his eyes. After looking at Robbie who stood in the office as well, Joe leaned against his desk and gave a motion of his head to Frank.

  Frank opened the door. “You can come in.” He stepped back opening the door wider.

  Ellen, all smiles, walked inside. The smile dropped.

  With a heavy breath, Dean ran his hand down his face, mumbling into his palm. “Surprise all right.”

  Ellen’s eyes angrily shifted from John Matoose to Robbie. “You son of a bitch! You went to Joe!”

  “El.” Robbie tried to defend. “Listen, I was worried and I . . .”

  “You had no right!” Ellen blasted. “Especially going to him.”

  With a slightly tilted head and an irritated look, Joe stood up from his lean on his desk. “Him? Why is that, Ellen? Why shouldn’t my son have come to me?”

  “Well.” Ellen let out a breath. “You’re a busy man Joe. Very busy. And these petty personal differences shouldn’t cloud up your day.”

  “Petty personal differences?” Joe asked. “Ellen. You’re beyond petty. Frank and I were very disturbed when we found out how he spoke to you.”

  “As well as you should be.” Ellen nodded.

  “And then . . .” Joe reached to his desk. “We find out after talking to John that what you’ve been doing to him would have been considered a crime in the old world.”

  Ellen scoffed a laugh. “And you believed him.”

  “No!” Joe shouted. “I believe this!” He whipped the folder causing papers and pictures to fly about.

  Henry, from the back, raised his hand up. “Uh, Joe. Is there a reason why I’m here? Because this sounds like a family matter and . . .”

  “Sit, Henry. You’re on council.” Joe ordered. “You and Dean have your work cut out watching her from now on. Keeping her in line.” His voice was directed to Ellen. “Not only, Ellen, do you verbally accuse this man of working for George, but you wrote notes accusing him too. That, Ellen, was stupid. You nailed your own coffin on that . . .” Joe lifted a handful of papers. “And if that’s not bad enough on the literary side, how many letters did you write forging George’s name?”

  Ellen folded her arms. “A couple.”

  “Try again. Fifteen,” Joe snapped. “All requesting John to be at the meeting place.”

  “I was trying to trip him up,” Ellen tried to defend herself.

  “Oh, yeah? Well how was it tripping him up by cutting George’s head out of a picture and pasting it over Jenny’s face!” Joe held up a photo that should have been John and Jenny embracing, instead it was John and George. Glaring, Joe’s eyes stabbed at Dean who laughed. “You think this is funny?”

  “Well, yeah,” Dean said. “I can’t believe you guys are just finding out about this. I thought everyone . . .”

  “You knew? You knew!” Joe yelled.

  “Joe, come on.” Dean held in his snicker. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting? I mean, John’s a grown man. If he can’t handle this then that’s his problem.”

  Ellen smiled. “Oh, my God. Thank you, Dean.”

  “You’re welcome.” Dean smiled back.

  Henry nudged his hand into Frank’s back. “See Frank. Unresolved. Brownie points for Dean.”

  Joe rubbed his eyes fiercely. “Ellen, I want you to stop this nonsense and apologize to this man.”

  “I will not!” Ellen stomped. “He broke into Henry’s house to get me and he chased me in the tunnel. He shot at me Joe!”

  “He did not!” Joe blasted.

  “Did to,” Ellen said snidely. “Why can’t we find the casing, huh? And . . . where was he? Where? I asked. He wasn’t in Mechanics or moving that trailer. Where, John?” Ellen peered at him. “Where? Calling George to tell him you failed?”

  “Ellen.” Joe had reached the boiling point. “John was with Rev. Bob all morning. Rev. Bob confirmed this.”

  Ellen’s jaw moved from side to side. “Well, maybe Rev. Bob is lying.”

  “Jesus Christ!” Joe brought his hand up to his own face.

  John stood up catching the blood from his nose. “I want an apology from her, Joe, and your son!”

  Frank reached out, laid a hand on John’s shoulder and shoved him back in the chair. “You won’t get an apology from my brother. From what he heard you deserved the punch. You’re lucky it wasn’t me.”

  Arrogantly, Robbie interjected with a laugh, “As opposed to what, Frank? Me?”

  “Yeah.” Frank nodded.

  “Fuck you. Are you saying I can’t throw a punch?”

  “I’m saying you’re not me,” Frank argued.

  “I broke his nose!”

  Frank tossed his head back with a laugh. “Pansy hit.”

  Dean nodded and held out his hand. “There, Joe. This is proof of misdirected mentality. It’s all right to get angry at Ellen for a few tricks, but these two can stand in a testosterone argument over who would have hurt John more?” He reached out and took Ellen’s arm. “Come on, El”

  “Dean,” Joe warned. “Don’t you take her from this office. We’re not done.”

  “Yeah, you are.” Dean, still holding Ellen’s arm, opened the door, wiggled his fingers in a wave, and they both walked out.

  Not only was Frank filled with a burning outrage that Dean just took Ellen from the office but he was angry that his mind had to interject ‘hero’ theme music to the act. He grew even more irritated when he realized that Henry was humming the tune in his ear. With a spin, Frank turned around and vocally blasted. “Knock it off!”

  Henry backed up.

  John Matoose stood. “I’m leaving, Joe. Obviously nothing will be done about this and I need to lay down.” He grabbed the bridge of his nose. “I am in so much pain.”

  Hiding his grumble, Joe nodded to John. “I’ll get back to you on this.” When the door closed, Joe looked to Henry. “Henry, can you get Dean and bring him back here. I need to have a word or two with him.”

  “Um, Joe.” Henry scooted out from his shadow of Frank. “Look. I’m not defending what Ellen did. I’m not. But I’m gonna defend what Dean did.”

  “What did he do, Henry?” Frank barked. “He took advantage of the situation to smell like a rose to my wife.”

  “No, Frank,” Henry corrected. “He acted like not only her friend but her family. And he really is. I’ll tell you three, family sticks together. Instead of coming down on Ellen, try sifting through her logic. She has valid points. And Dean at this moment deserves to smell like a rose. Because he did what you three should have done all along. Stood by Ellen.” Almost apologetic for speaking his mind, Henry gav
e a closed mouth look and walked from the office.

  Joe’s long slow breath through his nostrils filled the silent office. He stepped backwards to his desk, his hand being a guide across it as he moved to his chair. Sitting down, his elbows rested on the desktop and his fingers did a slide down his face. “I think we all just ate a big old slice of humble pie.”

  Frank scratched his head. “Come to think of it Dad, I don’t think I’ve eaten anything today.”

  Robbie hearing and seeing his father’s head fall to the desk barged to the door, flinging it open. “Is he fuckin adopted or what?”

  “No!” Frank screamed at the empty door. “You should know better!” Shaking his head, Frank followed Robbie out. “And people call me dumb.”

  When the door banged, so did Joe’s head--again--to his desk.

  ^^^^

  Former Quantico Marine Headquarters

  “Sit down.” Steward said with a bit of enthusiasm, and pointed out his hand to George’s chair. “Please.”

  The lines on George’s face wiggled annoyance as he did as requested, getting more irritated by Steward’s smile. Behind his desk, in his chair, George laid his hands on the desk surface. “I’m sitting. Now what?”

  From the corner of the desk, Steward lifted the phone and laid it before George.

  “O.K.” George looked at it.

  “Wait.” Steward said. “Any second.”

  George tapped his fingers on the desk. “I’m waiting.”

  “Just any second.”

  “You said that a second ago. How many more . . .”

  The long ring of the phone caused both men to jump.

  “Holy shit!” George looked at it.

  “I knew you’d be pleased.”

  “You couldn’t have told me the phone lines were up,” George said as the phone kept ringing. “You had to be all dramatic about it.” He picked up the receiver. “Yes.” He fell back into his chair and looked up to Steward. “It’s Beginnings.”

  “Yes.” Steward nodded. “We have to be careful of you calling there. They have no phones. But our person can call here. Until, well, you know.”