Free Freedom Fight: Beginnings Series Book 9 by Jacqueline Druga Page A

mind, as a Christian man, you know as well as I do that the thought is as bad as the act, so let’s wipe that . . .” Andrea stopped rambling when Jason laid a clipboard in front of her.
    Jason cleared his throat and raised his eyebrows as Andrea read it.
    Andrea quickly looked at Dean then back at the clipboard. “Oh my.” She handed the clipboard back to Jason. She whispered, “Perhaps we should start praying for Dean’s soul now.”
    ^^^^
Bowman, North Dakota
    The Captain stared at the radio in the old police station, listening to Beginnings’ transmissions. He smoked a cigarette, listened to the meshing voices, his face serious. Occasionally he would crack a smile at the antics of a civilization that seemed to have it all together. He tapped a pencil from eraser to tip as he rocked back and forth in the chair, paying attention to every single word as if he were listening for something specific.
    ^^^^
Beginnings, Montana
    Dean was the last to enter Joe’s office that afternoon. Joe was in his usual spot, behind his desk. Robbie and Henry sat before it. An empty chair was waiting for Dean. He walked heavily and plopped down hard in his seat.
    Henry scooted his chair over some.
    “What?” Dean snapped at Henry, “do I smell?”
    Henry leaned into him and sniffed. “Not that I can tell. Are you still mad, Dean?”
    Dean only stared at him.
    “You know , if you would have just listened to me the other night, you could have been past this pissed off phase and we . . .”
    “Henry,” Dean said his name strongly, “don’t.”
    “O.K.” Henry held his hands up, hesitated then leaned to Dean again. “Just merely making an observation. You do know Dean, you had me thinking you were gonna . . .”
    “Henry.”
    “Not another word.” Again Henry held his hand up and looked at Joe; after a few seconds he leaned to Dean again. “Just so you know., for a little guy you can get pretty frightening when you want to be.”
    Dean snarled at Henry and gave a glaring look to Robbie who snickered. “Joe, can we just start this, please.”
    “You have to calm yourself,” Joe told him.
    “I’m calm. I’m calm.” Dean pulled out his notes.
    “O.K.” Joe said, “Before we begin, I just need to know from you, Dean, what is this list of ways to kill Frank that Andrea saw in your lab?”
    “Exactly what it said,” Dean spoke nonchalantly, looking at his notes. “I’m killing Frank.”
    Joe’s head bobbed back and forth. “You plan on doing this . . . how?”
    “Very carefully.”
    “O.K.” Joe sat back and grabbed his notes. “Now that we have that out of the way, we can proceed.”
    Henry’s eyes shifted. “A list of ways to kill Frank? Dean, you do know that’s against the rules here. You could get ousted.”
    Dean’s hand slammed down hard on his notes.
    Joe intervened, “Henry, if you don’t leave the man alone, I’m going to give him permission to make a up a list of ways to kill you. Now be quiet so we can continue.”
    “Oh Joe, I can’t believe you’re condoning this. Frank’s your son. Dean is . . .”
    “Henry!” Joe yelled then saw Robbie raising his hand. “What!”
    “I think we should let Henry ramble. I personally would like to see Dean kill him instead of Frank.”
    Joe just looked at Robbie in silence. “You done being a smart ass?”
    “Um . . . yeah.” Robbie answered.
    “Good.” Joe pulled out a cigarette. “Let’s start.” Joe gazed down at the paper. “Now before I begin, I’d like to clarify why Dean is invited to participate. He’s not council, nor is he security, but . . . Dean is the only person who is one hundred percent, without a doubt, not a suspect. I think we can all agree on that.” Joe noticed Henry’s disapproval. “We can’t? Why can’t we all agree on that, Henry?”
    “I’m not saying Dean can’t be off the suspect list. I agree to that. I mean he was the one who cured the plague. If he worked . . .”
    “Henry, stop. What are you