Joe (8 page)

“Because Elliott, it’s my brother. I know my brother. I’m positive he said something stupid and it was all misconstrued.”

“But the women are certain …”

“The women are wrong. The man is not sexually driven. My God, he’s only been with two women in his entire life. This is nonsense. You’ll see.”

Ben raised his hand. “You still want that gift right?”

Elliot looked down to the present. “Very much so, thank you.” He opened the door for him and Hal.

Hal stepped out and placed on his bandana. “Well, now that you are armed with gifts, shall we go to Beginnings?”

“Yes, I am ready. I have some thoughts of my own to share at the meeting.”

“So you slept on it?” Hal said sarcastically, walking to the truck.

“You can say that.”

“Well, you’re ideas may be a little too late. My ideas may be a little too late.”

Pausing before opening the door, Elliott looked at Hal. “What do you mean?”

“I figured out his little sleep on it.”

Elliott tilted his head in question.

“My brother was stalling to talk to this new advisor.”

Shocked, Elliott cocked back. “A new advisor? That sounds odd. He told you this.”

“Not that he was stalling. But he said his new advisor has some things to say at the meeting.”

“Where is he from?” Elliott asked, getting in the truck.

“I don’t know.” Hal said after he entered and got situated behind the wheel. “Probably Jordan, maybe even Doyle camp. But I’m a little insulted that he’d go to someone new for advice.”

“Understandable.”

“Yes, I cannot wait to meet this man who has so much influence on my brother.” Hal started the truck. “This man my brother only calls Bob.”

*****

The black magic marker did the trick, and it was indelible ink, too, so it wouldn’t go away. Frank was impressed at how good Bob looked in a goatee. He was enjoying the new office and the much bigger desk.

“Oh, yeah, we look alike.” Frank lifted the dummy, positioned it, warmed up the head and eyes, laughed at his own wit, and then spoke. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“My name is Frank.”

“My name is Bob.”

Frank chuckled. “Fuck saying the letter ‘B is hard. Ok, I can do this lip not moving thing. In his own voice, “My name is Frank.”

“I aim is Ob.”

“What?”

“Ob.”

“Not Ob, Bob.”

“Frank.”

“No, my name is Frank. Of course Frank is easier to say.”

“Yeah en ob.”

“Bob. Fuck. I’ll get it. You want a cigarette.”

“No I don’t smoke.”

The door to the office blasted open and Ellen raged in.

Frank let out an ‘uh!’ then so do did Bob.

“You son of a bitch!” Ellen pointed at him and slammed the door.

“What?’

“Oh, look at you. You disgust me. You’ll do anything to have your hand up someone’s shirt.”

“Well, yeah, I mean …” Frank stood. “El, what the fuck did I do?”

“You would ask.”

“I did.”

“Fuck you Frank.”

Bob’s head turned to Frank. “Wow, she’s mad at you.”

“Tell me about it.”

Bob said, “Your lips are moving.”

“I know. But it’s hard to sound good like you when I don’t move my lips.”

“Frank!” Ellen screamed. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Fuckin Bob has been getting me in trouble all day.”

“Sure. Sure. Blame Bob. Was it Bob’s penis that started the trouble?”

“I don’t know.” Frank looked at Bob. “Has your penis been starting trouble?”

“I wouldn’t say trouble, I’d say …”

Whack. Ellen smacked Bob.

“Hey! You hit Bob.” Frank shouted.

“Hey!” so did Bob.

“Wow, I could do that word without moving my lips.”

Ellen growled. “Can you please pay attention to me? Maybe that’s why you were in trouble. Maybe if you paid less attention to everyone else …”

“El, what are you talking about. Why are you so pissed?”

“You wanna know?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll tell you.”

“Good. Cause me and Bob are tired of being yelled at and not knowing why.”

“Fine!” Ellen blasted. “You started it. You made this big deal yesterday, Frank. A huge deal, and now it’s all over town.”

“What is?”

“Hiding the child.”

Frank stared. After a moment he asked. “What do you mean?”

“Sneak into the clinic. Hide the child. Hide the fact that you have a child that was at the clinic. Tell Roy that he can’t tell anyone your child was there.”

“Ok, yeah, so. Fuck, it would start an uproar.”

“Hello! It already did.”

“Fuck. Who knows?”

“Everyone.”

“Are they pissed?” Frank asked.

“Very.”

“Fuck. I tried to keep it a secret. Big mouth Roy.”

“Yeah, well, Roy doesn’t know about things.”

“True.”

“That’s it?” Ellen asked. “That’s all you have to say. Why didn’t I know Frank?”

“I … I don’t know. You of all people should have known.”

“Yes. I should have.”

“You would have understood.”

“Yeah, Frank, if you would have told me at the time, I would have.”

“Don’t be pissed.”

“I’m hurt.”

Frank’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Really, Frank. God.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’ll take some adjusting. Just … just …” Ellen held out her hand. “Tell me who the mother is?”

“Kelly.”

“Kelly? Who is Kelly?”

“El, do you have the brain flu?”

“No! I don’t have the brain flu, that’s a guy thing. Why would you ask?” she snapped.

“Because first you don’t remember who Johnny’s mother is, then when I say her name, you don’t know who she is?”

“Kelly.”

“Yes.”

“Oooh.” Ellen chuckled. “Kelly.”

“See it’s all coming back to you.”

“You had Johnny at the clinic?”

“Yeah, I just said that. You knew that. Brain flu again.”

“Oh my God.” Ellen laughed. She laughed hard.

“I take it you aren’t mad anymore.”

“Not at all. That is funny.”

“Yeah, I had him there to see if he could fly. Why is that funny?”

“Because you told Roy to keep it quiet, now the whole town thinks … they think you have a … never mind. Let’s let them keep thinking that, ok? it’s funny.”

“Ok.” Frank shrugged.

“I have to go back to work.” Ellen tipped toed up and kissed him. “I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

“Have a good meeting.” She walked to the door and stopped. “And, Frank, you’re pretty good with that.” She pointed to the dummy.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t forget the Joe Day show.” Ellen opened the door.

Bob asked, “Can I come too?”

“Yes, you may. Sorry I hit Bob.”

Frank walked to Ellen and had Bob kiss her. Ellen giggled and walked out.

After an exhale, Frank turned to Bob. “Do you have any idea what that was about?”

“Clueless.”

“Me, too.” Frank walked back to his desk, to get ready for the meeting.

*****

“Frank,” Danny Hoi was usually easy going, and even tempered. “Frank.” He closed his eyes as he stood near the Joe Park on the phone. “Fine. Bob, may I speak to Frank? Thanks.”

He nodded as he waited, catching from the corner of his eye, Jenny as she placed something on the Joe Board. Two things went through his mind, why was Jenny posting, that was a no-no, and who was with her students? Finally, Frank spoke.

“Yes, Frank, Bob was nice. Now, did he by chance relay my message?”

“Yeah, you’re missing two invisa suits.”

“Yes. Do you have them?”

“I don’t know. I might.”

“Can you check?”

“I can. But if they’re invisible, I won’t be able to see them.”

Danny held back his grumble. “Frank.”

“Yeah.”

“We acquired twenty-three suits, I counted twenty-one.”

“Is that including the one Darrell was wearing?”

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe if you could see it …”

“Oh my God, you have the brain virus.”

“Fuck. No. I don’t. I wasn’t messing with a computer lately.”

Danny squeezed the corner of his eyes. “Just please check. I’ll see you at the meeting.” He closed the phone, took a composing breath and walked to the Joe board.

What the hell did she post?

The moment he saw the word ‘impeach’ with the name Frank, Danny picked up the phone. “Nah,” he said out loud. “I don’t want to deal with Bob.” He paused. “What the hell am I saying?” He opened up the board, removed the notice and headed to his next destination.

It seemed to be Danny problem solving day.

Missing invisi suits, panic over the brain flu, and now Trish having a lock down.

At least that would be easy.

Trish was consumed with a phone call when Danny walked in. She paused enough to talk to him. “It’s been insane around here, Danny no one can view history.”

“Was anyone even here?” Danny asked.

“What do you think, Danny?”

“I don’t think anyone was here.”

“Well, the ghost was.”

“Oh my God. I’ll go fix the computer.”

“Be careful, Frank said the men were getting the brain virus from computers.”

“I’ll uh, keep that in mind.” Danny went into the back room. It didn’t take him long to fix the problem, the computer was locked down. The main frame history link locked up when a password was entered incorrectly three times.

Overridden, Danny had history back up and running.

Trish was done with her phone call when he emerged.

“Fixed?” she asked.

“All done.” Danny prepared to leave. “Next time make sure you remember the password.”

“It wasn’t me.”

“Who was it? You lock it down.”

“I know, but it was like that when I came in. It read the executive password entered is incorrect.”

“You’re kidding me? Man, Frank couldn’t remember the password?”

Trish snickered.

“What?” Danny asked.

“Frank never comes in here. That was the ghost.”

“What are you talking about Trish?”

She huffed out. “Danny, remember some ghost was using Joe’s password. Well I changed it and sure enough, the ghost only knew Joe’s word.”

“Really.” Danny tilted his head.

“Yep. Smart ghost.”

“Um, yeah. Just make sure you lock up at night.’

“I do. You can check lock history.”

“I will.” Danny began to leave.

“Things are weird around here,” Trish said.

“You can say that again.”

“Things are weird around here.”

Danny laughed. “Tell me about it. Ghost using a Joe password, missing invisible suits and Joe’s floating head. Then again, it’s Beginnings.” Danny with another chuckle walked outside and pulled the door closed. But the moment he stepped out he stopped.

His own words raced through his mind. Ghost using a Joe password, missing invisible suit, and a floating Joe head.

He blurted out a ‘No’ with a shake of his head as he stepped forward.

Then Danny stopped again.

His mind started spinning.

It took a few moments for Danny, but he reasoned out the insanity of his thoughts. But then he saw Dan from Security. He was coming out of the clinic and walking to where Dan believed was the down hatch to the cryo tunnels.

He had things to do, a meeting to prep for, but he wanted to talk to Dan.

“Hey, Dan, you have a minute?” Danny trotted to him.

“Actually, not too much. I have to work. I missed all day yesterday.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Mind if we talk and walk. I’m walking the cryo tunnels.”

“Sure. I have to make my way up toward the offices, I’ll use this route.”

“Sweet.” Dan lifted the hatch and climbed down, at the bottom he waited for Danny.

Although Danny had no problem climbing down the ladder, he was dressed for a business day. He straightened his long sleeve shirt and tie, and then asked, “So how are you feeling Dan?”

“Better. Much, much better.”

“Good, I’m glad.” They began to walk.