Joe Read Free Page A

Shield.”
    “Exactly.” Elliott agreed. “I think we should send a Special Forces team in there to rescue our man.”
    “I agree.” Hal tapped his hand on the wheel. “One of the best to do so or at least set up the training and the mission would be my brother Robbie. He is …” Hal slowed down his speech and stared out.
    “Captain? What is it?”
    “Robbie.” Hal glanced at Elliott as he drove. “We had this huge meeting. About the impending invasion. Where was Robbie?”
    *****
    Robbie was quick. He ran to the jeep caught it, and guided it to Jason’s lab just a hundred feet away.
    The front end rested against the side of the building, jeep running, while Dan, still passed out, slumped in the front.
    When he was done. He looked back.
    His father was nowhere to be seen.
    Thinking, please don’t let him have put on that suit and left,’ Robbie trotted to the trailer.
    The door was open and he stepped in.
    Joe came from the hall wearing a tee shirt and boxer shorts.
    “Dad.” Robbie gushed. “Oh my God.” He reached out. “I thought. I thought you were dead.” This was it. The big reunion. Robbie had waited for it. All the things Robbie wanted to say that were less-than-nice, he tossed aside for the moment. His father was back and he grabbed on to him in a long overdue embrace.
    “Yeah. I know.” Joe hugged him. “And it was supposed to be that way.”
    Ok, maybe it was Robbie’s imagination, but the hug wasn’t a long lost father hug. Joe seemed rather annoyed. Nah. Robbie grinned. “You don’t seem happy to see me.”
    “That’s because I’ve seen you all the time.”
    Like a kid, Robbie snickered. “True Dad.”
    “Robert, what did you do with Dan?”
    “Oh,” Robbie waved out his hand. “I put the jeep against the quantum lab like he ran into it.”
    “And Dan is where?”
    “In the jeep.”
    “Uh ha.” Joe nodded. “If he’s out there, why are you in here?”
    “To see you.”
    “Yeah, but what happens if he wakes up and comes in here.”
    “He’s fine. He’s just passed out,” Robbie said.
    “So that means he doesn’t have a goddamn head injury, he can wake at any second.”
    “I’m sure he’s fine.” Robbie reiterated.
    “Robert.”
    “Dad, what do you want me to do about it?”
    “Deal with it. Damage control.”
    “How?”
    “I don’t know. Think of something,” Joe said irritated.
    “But I want to talk to you. See you.”
    “You will.”
    “Not if you put that suit on.”
    “Robert go deal with Dan.”
    “Where will you be when I’m done?” Robbie asked.
    “Right here.” Joe nodded. “I won’t go anywhere.”
    “Are you sure.”
    “Yes. Go.”
    “Ok.” Robbie moved to the door, stopped, retracted and kissed Joe on the cheek. “I missed you.”
    “I know. Go.”
    Another step to the door. “I love you, Dad.”
    “Robert.”
    “What?”
    “Go.”
    “I am.” He paused at the door and grinned. “It is so great to have you back.”
    “Go.”
    “I’m gone. I’ll be back.”
    “I’m sure.”
    “Dad …”
    “Go!” Joe pointed.
    With a ‘Ha’ Robbie darted out, closing the door behind him.
    Joe exhaled and plopped on the couch, shaking his head. “Christ.”

CHAPTER THREE
    “Do you even feel the slightest bit guilty?” Danny Hoi asked, while walking with Roy back to the clinic. “I mean you have to face Jimmy. He was working so hard.”
    “Yes, he was. Frank has phoned me and told me he would handle it.”
    Danny stopped before the steps. “I wonder that that means.”
    “I am sure Frank will handle it brilliantly. He is Frank.”
    “He is,” Danny smirked. “That’s why I wonder. Roy, listen. You did great.”
    “Thank you. It is an honor to get to know you as a young man Danny Hoi.”
    “What will you do when this is done?” Danny asked.
    “Done?”
    “Yeah, obviously, in the whole scheme of things to make the future better, you have a time frame when you’ll know it will work.”
    ‘Yes.” Roy nodded. “I