Joe (7 page)

“I think the question should be which woman would beside Ellen would sleep with Frank.”

So motherly, Andrea reached out. “He’s still my son.”

“Sorry.”

“We just need to find out and clear the air. We cannot have this deception in Beginnings. Sweet Jesus if Joe were alive, he’d deal with Frank.”

“What?” Frank’s voice carried through the lab door.

Andrea shook her head.

Melissa gasped out, folded arms and walked right out of the lab by Frank.

“Ok,” Frank sung. “Hey, Andrea, just letting you know, I’m going to talk to Jimmy, and then you can release him. Oh!” He snuck Bob in the doorway. “Check out my new friend.”

“Hi, Andrea!” Bob said.

Andrea sobbed out a single sob. “Frank, I love you but right now ….” She walked to the door; paused and peeped out in a voice that squeaked high pitched and fast. “You son of a bitch.” Andrea stormed off.

Frank looked at Bob. “Man, I have you ten minutes and already you’re getting me in trouble.” After a shake of his head in confusion, Frank walked down the hall.

*****

A simple request for allergy medicine turned out to be a trip on an informational highway Richie wasn’t expecting. Admittedly, when he walked into the lab and heard the ‘Frank has a secret illegitimate child’ news, he didn’t believe it. Then it dawned on him, he was hearing it from two medical professionals who seemed devastated by the news.

He laughed about it. A short chuckle then stopped when Andrea gave him that scolding look.

“Sweet Jesus,” she said to him. “This is your sister’s emotional downfall.”

Emotional downfall? Come on. Ellen the queen of cheat wouldn’t have an emotional downfall over discovering Frank had a child with someone else. Richie pitied the person who carried that child. Then he pitied Frank.

Armed with info, Richie headed to Containment. After all, it was his duty as her only surviving sibling to break the news to her.

He buzzed himself in, it was still quiet. The residents were eating breakfast and Ellen more than likely was reviewing Jess’ notes from the night shift.

After saying hello in the dining area, Richie strutted to the office.

But something happened when he stepped to the door. Ellen was staring at her wedding picture and at that instant, Richie couldn’t do it.

He turned.

“Something wrong?” Ellen asked.

“Um, no. I just realized I wasn’t working,” Richie said.

“You are. Just not until this afternoon.”

“Yeah, I know, I’m gonna go back home and hang out.”

“Don’t be late,” she instructed. “Today is Joe Day, where the residents do their tribute to Joe. You won’t want to miss it.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Richie you ok?”

“Yeah, fine, see you in a bit.”

Ellen waved and Richie left.

He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t destroy her like that, but she had to know, so he was off to find the perfect person.

Alexandra wouldn’t stop fussing. She kept dipping her arm down into her book bag throughout class.

“Alex, leave your bag alone,” Jenny told her.

“I’m just playing with my show and tell.”

“It’s not show and tell yet honey, you have to wait. Now you don’t want me to make you put the book bag away, do you?”

“No.” Alexandra shook her head.

“Good, now back to the math problems. They need all your attention, they’re pretty difficult today.” She shifted her eyes to Billy, expecting some sort of sarcastic remark or expression. But she didn’t get it. Billy kept looking at Alexandra’s bag.

As Jenny returned to her reading, she heard the back door of the school open. She peered up and saw Richie standing there. He waved her to come back.

Jenny did, she excused herself from the main room of the class and went back to see Richie. “What’s wrong?”

“No emergency,” Richie told her. “I just … I just need you to take care of something as soon as you can.”

“What’s that?”

“I know you heard about Frank and his little secret.”

Jenny nodded.

“Ellen doesn’t know yet. I don’t think.”

With a gasp, she covered her mouth. “Oh my.”

“I know.”

“She can’t hear about it on the street. You know how things go in this town.”

“Absolutely. Where is she now?”

“Containment.”

“Can you watch my class?” Jenny asked. “They’re doing math problems.”

“Without a doubt. Thanks, Jenny.”

“No problem.” Jenny opened the door.

“Oh, and Jenny, be gentle.”

“Tactful is more like it. You know it.” After a wink, Jenny with inhale of courage, embarked on her mission.

*****

“Hi ya’ Jim.” Bob poked his head, with some help from Frank of course, into Jimmy’s room.

Jimmy laughed.

Frank stepped in.

“How cool is that, Frank?”

“He is, isn’t he?” Frank had Bob look around. “I call him Bob.”

“Where did you get him?”

“Henry did a run this morning, he was on the truck.”

“Too awesome.”

“How you feeling Jim?” Asked Bob.

Jimmy laughed again. “You’re good with that.”

“Henry said my lips move.”

“Well, they do, but sometimes that doesn’t matter.”

“Cause I can go like this.” Frank turned his mouth into his shoulder and spoke.

“Um, no.” Jimmy shook his head. “You’re still learning, keep trying.”

“I will.”

“So are you here to talk to me so I can get out?”

“Yes.” Frank sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m glad you’re all better.”

“Yeah, me too. Those antibiotics and anti-virals worked wonders. Jenny said they’re talking epidemic?”

“No, it’s a virus.” Frank replied, seriously.

“I mean … I mean … ok, thanks for clearing that up. I hear a lot of men got it or are worried.”

“Dean is handling that. It’ll be over soon.”

Jimmy nodded. “Good. Also good thing Bob can’t get it huh?”

Frank fluttered his lips. “Tell me about it, he’s hard enough to learn now. Give him a brain virus. I’m done.”

“Yeah.” Jimmy smiled. “Well, now that you gave the ok, I want to get back to work. I’m behind.”

“Behind what?”

“Where I want to be.”

“Where do you want to be?”

Jimmy huffed out. “Done with the ALS3.”

“You are.”

“I am.”

“Yeah. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. When they said you went into the hospital, I went down to put everything on pause and bam, everything was up and working. You fixed it.”

“Fixed it.”

“Figured it out. Good job.” Frank swatted him on the leg.

“I didn’t do it Frank.”

“Yeah, you did.”

“No, I didn’t.” Jimmy shook his head. “If I did I would know.”

“No you wouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“You had the brain virus. I thought someone else did it, too. No one owned up. So I went into the lock history and you were the last one in the room. You solved the ALS3.”

“Oh my God, and I missed the glory of it.”

“I’m sure you jumped up and down, but just don’t remember because of the virus.”

“Damn.” Jimmy hit his fist against the bed. He stood up at the same time as Frank.

“I want to fill you in more, but you might as well wait until my meeting today. It’s in two hours.”

“Ok. I’ll be there. I do want to go check out the ALS3. See how it works.”

“You already know how it works,” Frank said. “You fixed it.”

“Yeah, but I don’t remember.” Jimmy tucked in his shirt and headed toward the door.

“It’ll come back to you.”

“I hope the excitement comes back to me.”

“It will.”

“I must have had it bad,” Jimmy said.

“Uh, yeah,” Frank replied. “They’re calling you patient zero.”

“Oh my God, they think I started it.”

Frank shrugged.

“How?” Jimmy wondered. “How could I have started the virus?”

“Uh, Jimmy, that’s an easy one.”

“How so?”

“Hello, you were at that computer all the time.”

“Ok.” Jimmy waited and nodded. “So.”

“So you got it from there.”

“The computer?” Jimmy asked.

“Yeah.”

“How?”

“Uh, computer virus? Those things are tricky and contagious. I mean, think about it. How many people did you hear about in the old world having a computer virus...?”

“Frank you can’t get a … a …” Jimmy forced a smile. “Wow, I never thought of that.”

Frank pointed to his own temple. “Got to use the brain when it doesn’t have a virus.”

“You’re right. You’re the man, Frank.”

Frank smiled. “I am.”

*****

“And here we have it set up like a theater,” Ellen explained to Jenny in the skills room. “You got your invite, right?”

“Yes, I’ll be here. With a box of tissue.”

“I hope we bring more laughs then tears. Ten of the residents are really working hard to pay tribute to Joe.”

Jenny nodded sadly. “Ellen, the reason I’m here, isn’t because of the Joe Day.”

“Really? Then why the visit.”

“Ellen,” Jenny sighed out and grasped on to her shoulders. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

*****

Elliott Ryder stared into the front window of Unique Boutique. They always had such nice things.

He was looking for the perfect gift. Something to cheer up Ellen on such a bad day.

His attention was caught when the door dinged, and Ben from Fabrics stepped outside. “Sgt. Ryder, can I assist you with something?”

“I was window shopping.”

“Looking for anything in particular?”

“Actually, a gift for a friend. She is having a bad day.”

“This friend wouldn’t be Ellen, would it?”

“As a matter of fact. Yes.”

“Figures, that poor dear. That beast of a man really messed things up. So Bill Clinton like isn’t he?”

“How … how did you find out?”

“Word travels fast. Come in.” Ben held open the door.

Elliott, hesitant, followed.

“As you know, Ellen comes in here regularly. She’s extended her credit to the max, but I can tell you items she has been wanting and looking at.”

“That would be nice,” Elliott said.

“And, for reference.” Ben winked. “I just heard there will be an open house warehouse of goodies for us. Henry found a treasure trove.”

“That’s nice to know.”

“Here.” Ben lifted a small music box. “This is what she wants. She stares at this daily.”

“Are you sure?”

“Am I sure she stares or sure she wants it.”

“Sure she wants it?”

“Positive. She told me, that should Captain Slagel come in I am to hint that she wants this.”

Elliott chuckled. “It’s very unique.” He held the small box.

“My dear, it is the Unique Boutique. Shall I wrap it for you?”

“Please.”

“Let me take it in the back.”

While Ben from Fabrics disappeared, Elliott took in the shop. Checking out all the handmade items that were also available. They had more purses. Elliott knew Ellen was hinting for a new purse.

Ding.

He turned to see Hal walk in.

“Captain.”

“Purse shopping Elliott. The old handbag not big enough.”

“Funny. No, Captain, I came to get Ellen a gift.”

“Good God, Elliott, don’t spoil her.”

“It’s not spoiling, it’s cheering her up.”

“Ah, yes, I see.” Hal nodded. “For what?”

“I’m sure you heard the news out of Beginnings?”

“Which news?”

“The unbelievable news.”

Hal sighed out. “Elliott, it’s Beginnings, everything that comes from there is unbelievable. Which would this be, my father’s floating head?”

“No. Frank’s bastard child.”

Ben’s effeminate, ‘Bastard’ rang out.

Both Hal and Elliott turned to the counter.

“Sorry,” Ben placed his hand to his chest. “I’m just upset about all this.” He laid the wrapped gift on the counter. “I’ll charge this to your account, Sgt. Ryder.”

“Thank you.”

Hal shifted his eyes to the gift then to Ben. “Let me assure both of you men, that I am certain this Frank's bastard child rumor is just that. A rumor.”

“How can you be so sure?” Elliott asked.