Joe (19 page)

“Yeah, but not as odd as Hal thinking this may be the missing link. Or one of them.”

“I don’t understand.”

“The beam split in three. We know ‘When’ two of them went, we don’t know where the third went.”

“Hal thinks this man was sucked in by the beam?”

“He does.” Robbie nodded. “And from the past.”

“The past? Christ.”

“”But I don’t think it’s possible,” Robbie shrugged. “I’m gonna head on in, talk to the priest, then visit the man. He’s still out. I mean granted it makes sense him being sick. He exhibited old plague symptoms.”

Joe raised an eyebrow.

“But he’s basing it on the fact that Elliott says this man looks remarkably like Elvis. But Elvis died.”

This caused Joe’s face to drop.

“Dad?”

Joe exhaled. “That’s not entirely true.”

“What?”

“Well, I wasn’t in the CIA then, but we have the file.”

“The CIA has an Elvis file.”

“Oh, yeah, Top Secret,” Joe paced with his hands in his pockets. “Seems, he went into the bathroom and disappeared. Everyone thought he crawled out the window and snuck his way into seclusion. He was unofficially a missing person. Off the record. The CIA searched for years, never found him. Officially he was claimed as dead.”

“Holy shit.”

“Yep.”

“So it’s possible...”

“It can be determined.”

Robbie started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“Dad, history shows a country in an uproar. Devastated, and we may have been the cause of it.”

“Not we. Dean.”

“Still, if this guy wakes up and says his name. Wow.” Robbie heaved out a breath. “How weird is that. Elvis right here.”

“What can I say?” Joe lifted his hands. “It’s Beginnings.”

****

It may have been her authority that demanded a question and answer session to be set up elsewhere other than the sanctity of her clinic, but that didn’t mean Andrea had a chance to speak to the culprits, or rather culprit, Dean.

When she finished up her three pap smears, she cleaned up and headed out.

She looked at her watch. Never in a million years would she figure out why Dean and the clone needed so much time to prepare for the session. Didn’t they know people were waiting? A line was formed outside of the Social Hall door, and Dan from Security stood guard,
Andrea marched her way to the front.

“Hey!” Henry yelled. “Are you line cutting.”

She spun around and faced him. “Are you questioning my authority to go in there?”

“Actually, Andrea I am.”

“I don’t care. This affects my clinic in turn the community’s that takes precedence.” She continued to the door and as she reached for the handle, Dan stopped her.

“No one goes in until they’re ready,” Dan said. “Sorry, Andrea.”

“I’m sorry, too. I have gave you a temporary vaccine for that brain flu, and will not give you the permanent one unless you let me in there.”

“That’s blackmail.”

“That’s life.”

“Go on in.”

An eruption of moans carried out when Andrea opened the door. They silenced when she shut it.

Dean and Roy were sitting at the bar.

“Well," She gasped out. “I guess you aren’t preparing.”

Roy turned and looked at her. “Dean says if we wait long enough people will leave.”

“Oh, really.” She folded her arms and walked to Dean. “You start all this and now you want to worm your way out.”

“Excuse me?” Dean laughed. “I didn’t start anything.”

“Sweet Jesus Dean, the deception. The only positive part of this all is that you, I mean the clone, Roy was such a gem to work with.”

“Thank you.” Roy smiled. “I find you a pleasure as well, Andrea.”

“See.” Andrea pointed. “And he’s a Christian.”

“I love God.”

“Sweet Jesus. We love Roy.”

Dean rolled his eyes. “I’m sure he works really well.”

“Fast," Andrea added.

“I prefer to call it efficiently,” “Roy said.

“Well, sweetheart, you are efficient and fast.”

Dean held up his hand. ‘Ok. Ok. Fast and efficient.”

“And he cleaned the lab.”

“Labs,” Roy added.

Dean snapped a glare. “You can’t clean my lab.”

“Would you like me to mess them up again?”

“No!” Andrea barked. “Don’t you dare? He wanted a vacation and made you do all his work. He can work in a clean lab.”

“Hold it.” Dean said. “I didn’t take a vacation. I didn’t do this. Frank did.”

“Frank did what?” Andrea asked. “He found Roy, moved you out of town and made Roy pretended he was you.”

“No.” Dean shook his head. “He found Roy, told me to get out of town and forced Roy to be me.”

“And it was all Frank’s idea?” Andrea asked.

“Yes.” Dean nodded.

“And I’m supposed to believe you.”

“No. But you know he doesn’t lie” Dean pointed at Roy.

Andrea faced Roy. “What is the truth?”

Roy shifted his eyes back and forth. “I hate to be a tattle tale. But Frank was not honest. See, I was here in regards to Joe’s death. I had to track Dean so I could slip in and out. Frank found me out and removed Dean from the community. Next thing I know, Frank is bringing me to town calling me Dean. I had no idea he knew I was not Dean.”

“So Frank lied to the community?” Andrea asked.

Dean nodded. “Get mad at Frank.”

“I will do no such thing. He is my son, and he is the leader. He lied so the community wouldn’t get mad at their leader. We can’t have a community divided in war time.”

“Wait a second. So you’ll get mad at me and not to him.”

‘Oh, I’m not mad at you anymore. I just won’t get mad at Frank. Shame on you for trying to make me.” She moved to the door. “I suggest you boys prepare. You have about fifty people outside waiting.”

Dean cringed. “Can’t you do anything about it?”

“As a matter of fact, I can.” Andrea opened the door.

“Thank you,” Dean said.

Andrea stepped out and her shouting voice was heard “You can let them in now.”

The door flew opened and flocks of people raced in.

Dean faced Roy. “I’m killing her.”

****

The hiccup echoed
throughout the hollow church, but Fr. O’Brien was nowhere to be seen.

Frank, Hal and Robbie sat in the front pew waiting.

Another hiccup and the creak of a door brought Fr. O’Brien out of the confessional.

“Fuckin’ figures,” Frank whispered.

“Sgt. Ryder,” The good priest walked toward the pew. “You’ve not been in rehearsal lately.”

“Father, you have me playing the same song over and over,” Elliott defended.

“And you think that’s because you play it well?” He shook his head. “Until you learn Hail Holy Queen to perfection, you’ll play it. Now what can I do for you gentlemen?”

Hal replied. “Last night you found a stranger.”

Fr. O’Brien nodded. ‘Yep. I did. Was one of the Jordan people?”

“So you know him from Jordan?” Hal asked.

“No.” He shook his head.

“Then how do you know he was a Jordan person?”

“One, I didn’t know him,” Fr. O’Brien said. “Two, all them Jordan people are strange. This guy was no different. I was walking down the street singing Hail Holy Queen correctly,” He shifted his eyes to Elliott. “When I saw him. Seemed to appear out of nowhere. Probably was waiting around the corner to flash me.”

“Flash you?” Hal examined.

“Yeah. There he was pants around his ankles. Had he not fallen over ill I would have bopped him.”

Frank said. “Maybe he thought that’s what you wanted to see.”

Fr. O’Brien looked sharply at Frank. "Is that an altar boy reference you big dumb jackass?”

Robbie snickered.

Hal spoke up, “Forgive my brother Father, that’s not what he means. Sometimes he doesn’t know how to phrase questions.”

Disgruntled he nodded. “Fine. But I won’t forgive him. I don’t have to forgive him.”

“Man,” Frank gave a twitch of his head. “You’re tough.”

Hal cleared his throat. “That’s fine if you don’t forgive him. I just need to know if the man said anything to you.”

“Nope. Well. Said ‘Where am I’ and then passed out. That’s it. Why is this guy so important, doesn’t he know who he is?”

“He is out.”

“Ok,” Fr. O’Brien shrugged. “Wait until he wakes up.”

Frank leaned around Robbie. “Hal, I’m the expert, just take me to him. I’ll know.”

Hal tossed up his hands. “Fine. Let’s go.”

“Oh, yeah,” Frank graveled. “Things are gonna be interesting with Elvis in the building.”

“You think it is?” Hal asked.

“Hal, I know. Trust me.”

“This is great,” Robbie said as they stood around the bed.

“Wait. Wait.” Elliott held up his hand. “You guys think this is Elvis.” He pointed. The brothers nodded. Elliott laughed. “I’m sorry. I’ve heard a lot. But . . . but this man is in his forties. Even if Elvis were alive when the world ended he wouldn’t be now. He’d be too, too old.”

Hal decided to explain. “What I didn’t tell you Elliott was last night the Bobbsey Twins, Dean and Roy, The Clone and Drone they . . .”

“Ha!” Frank squealed out a laugh. “That was good.”

“Thanks.” Hal nodded in appreciation and faced Elliott. He opened his mouth to speak again.

“Clone and Drone. I love it.”

“Frank.”

“What?”

“Can I tell the story?”

“Sorry.”

Hal continued. “Last night they were fighting over the time machine, which I told you was fixed. They fought, struggled, it dropped and three beams shot out. These were retractor beams.”

“Meaning.” Elliott asked.

“Meaning they like the Jason system were devised to rescue someone from a time zone. Bring them back. We know where two of the beams went, to the future, but the third. We don’t.” Hal pointed to the man. “We’re thinking.”

“Did the other beams bring anything back?” Elliott asked.

“Not to our knowledge.”

“Then surely we cannot assume the third brought back Elvis.”

“Yes, we can,” Frank said. “There he is.”

“This isn’t Elvis,” Elliot spoke. “Think about it. If they stole Elvis, surely I wouldn’t recall hearing about his death. It would be that he disappeared.”

“He has a point, Frank.” Hal looked at Frank. “History tells of his death. Not disappearance.”

Robbie interjected very nonchalantly. “That was my thought, then Dad said it was a CIA cover up. Elvis disappeared from his bathroom and to stop everyone thinking they saw him the said he died.”

“Fuck,” Frank wisped out. “That would explain his pants down.”

“Wait. Wait.” Hal held up his hand “Dad said?”

“Yeah he …” Robbie stopped. “A long time ago. Long, long time ago.”

“You had me scared. It sounded like you were talking in present tense.”

“He is.” Frank said. “I read his mind. He spoke to Dad.”

“Frank!” Robbie snapped. “Quit reading my mind.”

“How, little brother did you speak to our father?” Hal questioned.

Robbie smiled.

“Fuck.” Frank said.

“What?” Hal asked.

“I knew it,”

“What?”

“Bob.” Frank nodded.

“Bob?” Hal asked.

“Bob.” Frank repeated.

“Bob?” Elliott looked at Robbie.

“Bob.” Robbie stated.

Frank touched Robbie’s head. “Bob.”

Hal hesitated slightly. “You spoke to Bob the dummy about this.”

“Told you he was possessed by Dad,” Frank said.

“Frank shut up.”

“Bite me.”

Robbie held up his hand. “I needed answers. So I snuck into Frank’s office, pulled out Bob and sure enough. Possessed by Dad.”

Elliott rubbed his chin. “If Joe is in that doll, would it be possession? I mean, I associate evil with possession.”

Frank nodded. “True.”

“Stop. Stop!” Hal formed a ‘T’ with his hand. “This man looks like Elvis and we are confirming it because Bob the dummy who is possessed by our father told you?”

“Yeah.” Robbie answered.

“Good God.”

“No, Dad.” Frank said.

“Frank! No.” Hal shook his head. “It’s insane. Stop this. Dad does not possess that doll.”

“You’re right.”

“Thank you.”

“It would mean evil if Dad possessed that doll. We got to think of a better term.”