Badass

Badass - A Hannah Todd Story

Badass - A Hannah Todd Story

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work is copyrighted by the author. All characters involved in sexual activity are eighteen years of age or older at the time of portrayal.

This is the continuing adventures of Hannah Todd. If you have not done so, I would recommend you stop reading this and go back and read at least some of "The Bridge" which provides the back story for most of the characters in this story. And, bad or good, your feedback is always welcome.

Badass - Part Thirteen

Badass - Part Thirteen

Duane did get home to have dinner with the family. An infrequent but welcome occurrence. The behavior at the dinner table was always at least a little more civil when he was around. His quiet strength cast a shadow over the usually noisy kids.

Georgie was telling tales of the big bird he'd seen in the Greenhouse this morning, and the girls expressed disappointment that they had missed the experience. I promised if I had the opportunity to visit with the bird that I would try to video it so they could visualize what Georgie was trying to express to them. Truth be told, my operators at the safe house had instructions to video just about everything the bird did and said.

After we put the kids to bed, we adjourned to my home office and the videoconference room. Duane had a dozen drives and two ledgers; small ones. There were ten blue drives and two red ones. We opened a red one first. The one labeled '2055.'

There were three directories; receivables, payables and accounts. The first two had subdirectories, but the one marked 'Accounts' was just files, document files, each named with what we assumed was an account number from a bank. The password Starling opened everything, without fail.

Opening the first file revealed the name of the establishment, its location and contact information for the administrator of the account. It was all done on a spreadsheet which followed the contact information with a list of deposits and withdrawals from the account - with dates and amounts. These were from three years ago, but the sums were substantial and reflected sizeable balances remaining in the account. This one was Swiss. Still the safest harbor for ill-gotten gains. It was also one of the places that survived the carnage of the thirties in Europe during the wars between the forces of democracy and those of authoritarianism. Fortunately, we won that battle, but it was almost as good a thing for the bad guys as for the good. Where there is carnage there is inevitably corruption.

On that drive alone, there were eighteen sources of wealth with accumulations of tens of millions of dollars according to our forensic accountant. Just on one three-year-old drive. Our analysts had made the connection between the two red drives and one of the small ledgers. The ledger was entitled 2050 - 2055. And it was all about the money.

The other red drive was marked 2056, and was formatted exactly as the other had been. Same directories, same type of documents. It begged the question, 'Where are the other red drives?'

"Duane, do you have more red drives down at the Navy Yard?"

'We do, but I thought we'd start with these. I believe we have about ten years' worth. But the analysts just can't get to everything all at once."

"Understood. And the blue drives?"

"They should go straight to 'Recovery.' They may even be cause to go out on some midnight raids."

"Oh?"

"Yep. Active sites where young girls are being stored and broken in for a life of slavery. Both here and abroad. What Herm and I have seen so far paints an awful picture. The only thing we don't know now that Peacock is out of action is whether these places are still active."

"Sounds like a lot of work. And we're already spread so thin. Do you boys have any thoughts on this?"

"We do. We find the worst of the worst and deal with them one at a time, as always."

"And what of the auctions?"

"We've got to get someone in there and see how they work. That's a whole different level of working on this huge conundrum. We have to be very careful with those. If we take one down, the rest may shut down, and we will lose the opportunity to cut the rest of them off from their patrons."

"Smart thinking. Sounds like we are venturing into new territory here. Are we really equipped to tackle this?"

"If we move slowly and with Rhee Spanner's assistance, I think we have a good chance of making more than a dent in this organization."

"Do you think without Peacock they are even operating?"

"That's what we've got to figure out. We have to find out how to get into one of these auctions, and one will lead to more. We may even have to purchase a few girls, just for the optics."

"Can we put more analysts on the job?

"Well, right now I have a forensic accountant and an ex-CIA analyst working the drives and ledgers and you can see we are already makingsomeprogress."

"More people, Duane. Anyone else at RFS able to help out?"

"Well, I have two ex-CIA field agents, but they are not classic analysts. But they know this kind of stuff. I think I may throw them into the mix for now."

"Regarding the auctions?"

"Exactly. Recovery will have to deal with the black and white drives, and if we can stop some of this action at the auction level it will be like vaccinating the system against further disease. I think we have to make it all about the red drives and blue drives. I think it may be a good time to get the team involved."

"In what way?"

"Advise and consent, Queen Bee. Many hands make light work, and we have much to do."

"And who do you see sending in at this point?"

"Easy call. This is right up Hoagie's alley. And once Romy gets back, send her with. She is built for this kind of work."

"All we need to do is find our way in. Any ideas?"

"Yeah. Peacock. Or maybe Rose. We haven't beat him up much lately. Time to put him to work."

"Agreed. We don't have a lot on Brumby or Goldheimer regarding the girls, but Rose is a given. We already caught him in the act."

"Hmmm. Rose. Everyone thinks he's run off. Nobody knows we have him."

"Please, Duane. Nobody knows we have any of them. That's our ace in the hole. We can send proxies in Rose's name. All we have to do is get him on board."

"Well, he's pretty beat up at this point. It won't take much more persuading. Let's come up with a timeline and locations for the next upcoming auctions. Get him to pave the way. I want to talk to Hoagie tomorrow. And maybe Lizzie. It may be time to put her hardened heart to work."

"I'm sure McKelly will take exception to that at Recovery. She's been screaming bloody murder about how I've kept Avi away from her. And now with the new massive case load she's going to go over the brink."

"I've got plenty of RFS field agents now. I'll drop a couple on her and that ought to satisfy her for a bit."

"Nothing satisfies Les's need for more help. She's relentless."

"And don't you thank God for that?"

"Every day. She's a blessing."

"In her own way, she's a warrior."

"In every way, she's a warrior.

Duane was obviously tired by the time ten o'clock rolled around, and I sent him off to bed. I still wanted to get a feel for when future auctions would be occurring and a taste of those black and white drives just to stimulate my rage.

Over the next three months, there were four auctions scheduled; one in May, two in June and one in July. All relatively local. If you call Maryland local. At least they were mostly in the Northeast part of the country, with the one in May being in the Mid-Atlantic. It also looked like all four were being conducted by different 'auctioneers.' That could be a plus.

I put the red drives into the safe with the blue drives and pulled out a black and white memory stick. It was simply labeled with a number: 2054-08-20-0017. I grabbed the ledger that Herman had extracted from Peacock's desk and opened it to the page that was formatted with that numbering system.

The ledger indicated that the girl was acquired on August 20, 2054. Also that she was auctioned on February 18, 2055. A turnaround time of six months. The price, 47K, sold out of Trenton, New Jersey. No name, no age, no identification other than the number she was assigned at the time of sale.

I plugged the drive in and held my breath. I opened the file identified as 'first.' What I saw was all too familiar. A girl, identifying herself and giving her age as eighteen years, appeared on the screen. Yeah, right. She seemed cheery enough, but her vocalizations were tentative. She told the camera that she knowingly and mindfully was entering the service of her master, Master Graves, and was doing so of her own volition.

Next came a series of files where the young woman was put through her paces in every which way; sexually and violently. The last file was of her vowing her allegiance to her master and begging to be sold to the highest bidder. She must have been twenty pounds lighter and was frazzled in every way. That six months must have been bloody hell on her. It sure appeared that way.

I'd planned to review a few of the black and white drives, but one was enough. It was more than enough.

I went to bed and crawled in with Duane and snuggled as closely as I could to him. But I didn't sleep. All I could see was that girl's face. Gaunt and drawn. With a look of fear that cannot be described, but that I felt to my core.

--------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------

Avi begged me to let him get back to Les and Recovery down in the Navy Yard. All I had him doing for me had him stretched mighty thin, and much of his work had to be taken up by Les McKelly, whose workload was massive already. I was also getting ready to steal Lizzie from her and feared repercussions. Fortunately for me, Peggy Olszewski, Herman's lady, was there to blunt the sharpness of Les's attack upon me.

"I don't know whether to quit or come up there and kill you!" she ranted. "You gave me this great job and now you are using it to kill me. I need more people constantly, and you keep taking the best ones away. Give a sister a break, Hannah."

"Alright, alright, McKelly. You win. I'll give you two RFS agents and bring in two more people just for you. I..."

"Yeah. Well, where the fuck am I gonna put them?"

"Put them down the hall in Acquisitions. Lizzie will find room for them there."

"Yeah, right? Next, you'll be taking Lizzie away."

"About that."

"Don't even say it, Hannah Todd. I will come up there and fuck you up!"

"But I need her, Les. What's coming is big. In fact, I want you up here over the weekend with her so we can discuss it."

"I was hoping to do some catching up over the weekend. I..."

"Take this weekend off. I'm ordering it. You need a break, and I want you up here in my hot tub, chilling with the ladies."

"Why must you always do this?"

"Do what? Give my star time off? You're not gonna take it if I don't insist. So, I insist. End of discussion. Clear it with Sean and I'll see you up here tomorrow night when Herman and Peggy come up for the weekend with Lizzie. Besides, there's a lot to catch you up on. So, it's a date?"

"You are the Queen Bee. So, I guess it's a date."

"And you're not gonna kill me?"

"That's yet to be determined."

"Just remember who's the one who carries the gun."

"You ain't the only one, Queen Bee. And I'm a better shot."

"Oh?"

"Just ask my Sean. He's scared to death of me now."

"I guess he would be. I don't know any other woman who uses a.45 as a marital aid."

"Hah. Works every time."

---------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------

Tablet in hand, I ran out to the car where Domingo and Caroline were awaiting me. We were going to the safe house to see if we could further rattle Peacock's cage and also get Rose on board regarding auctions of human flesh. The thought of it almost made me throw up in my mouth, but it had to be done.

I had loaded some information from the drives onto the tablet, including the drive I had watched last night of the girl offering herself up to a master and going through training. I was intent on seeing what effect it would have on Peacock. And on Rose.

Duane had assigned Hoagie to the house detail over the weekend so I could have some time with him on a more casual basis. I wanted to discuss the auctions with him. As a father of two girls, his ire would instantly be up, and he would immediately jump on board. He hated the traffickers more than anything else. He was the first to give a thumbs down when it came time to bring one of these fellows' lives to an end. He'd be at my place when we arrive back from the safe house.

Speaking of hoagies, that's what we brought with us as the 'carrot,' when we went to visit our charges. No booze this time, veggie hoagies. After my time with the thumb drives, I was more in a 'stick' mood than 'carrot.' But the carrothasbeen working well lately.

When we got to the safe house, we skipped over Peacock for now, and Dom and I went straight to Dieter Rose while Caroline worked with the agents minding the place.

"We know about your proclivities and your history, Dieter. What we need to know more about now is the whys and wherefores."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Miss Todd. Tell me, are you always in the habit of starving your guests? I don't think I've had a half-decent meal since I've been here."

"Please, Dieter. You're lucky to be alive. A little hunger may serve you well. I do, however, have a little something that can take the edge off if you are cooperative. Can I get you to work with me?"

"You've got my attention. What is it you wish?"

"Right now, about eight full hours of sleep. But I'll settle for an invitation to the next auction in May. I believe it is taking place on the 19thin Western Maryland."

"You people work fast. How did you come up with this? I don't even know about this auction."

"You'd be surprised what we know." And I pulled out my tablet and showed him the blast at Peacock's property. Rose's jaw just dropped, and he looked at me with a question in his eyes.

"You have him, don't you? I can hear his damned bird. I thought that was him."

"That's right, Dieter. And you're gonna help us with our next steps, aren't you?"

"Never. What are you going to do, kill me?"

"There are a lot of ways to die, Mr. Rose." Dom put his hand on Rose's shoulder and just squeezed. Rose winced.

"Ouch," he said, loud enough to be heard outside the room. Caroline peeked her head in to see if all was under control. I smiled at her, but shooed her away.

"Yes, Dieter. I know you know plenty about inflicting pain. But bearing it? Not so much. And what you just felt was a mere bug bite compared to the dragon that is coming for you if you can't see fit to give me what I ask for. No is not an option, Mr. Rose. Simply a delay tactic. And nobody is coming to your rescue, as I expect you have deduced by now."

"And what is it you expect I'm going to do for you?"

"Well, you're going to get us invited to the auction in Maryland as your proxy, and then you are going to validate our credentials as traffickers of young women. As a slaver, you've probably attended many of these auctions. I expect you are well-known. All you've got to do is pave the way."

"You'll never get away with it. If you think you will get away with attending an auction, you are fooling yourself. They will have you figured out in a heartbeat."

"Oh, not me. I'm no genius, but I'm smart enough to know I'd never pass the sniff test. But I have people. Lots of people. The very best. You just do your part. Let us take care of the rest."

"And what's in it for me?"

"Now we're getting somewhere. From the way you've been treated the past several weeks, you know what we are capable of. Know that we are capable of much more. Much worse. But we can be kind. Especially to those who cooperate with us."

"Yeah, right? I'm sure of that." He said sarcastically.

"No, it's true. We've set your man Charlie Tendler free. He's out there running and hiding. I even gave him a few bucks to see him through. All because he cooperated."

"The Chicken would never..."

And I showed him a video on my tablet of Charlie 'The Chicken' Tendler confessing Rose's inclination for young girls and his years of trafficking them. He also ratted out Greta Goldheimer, and that got a rise out of Rose. That one of his own would so easily sell his superiors down the river. Especially with Charlie's reputation for holding fast against all enemies.

"Tell me, Dieter, are you as tough as old Charlie? If we could break a brave soldier like him, you ought to be a piece of cake."

"Uh-uh-uh..."

"Cat got your tongue, Dieter? Maybe we'll start with the bird. Punish you and Peacock at the same time. Hey? Lute Steep, Dieter, Lute Steep."

"Shit!"

"Yeah, deep shit. Consider your options. I brought a delicious veggie hoagie for you, but only if you have a 'Come to Jesus' moment before I leave today. Think it over. How'd you like to have to fight that bird for a peanut butter sandwich?" And Dom and I left the room, leaving Rose to contemplate his fate, chained to a chair, naked. We then adjourned to Peacock's room.

Before entering, I let Domingo and Juan know that I wanted to move Raven to Rose's room for a while. Just to start the torture and let Rose know I meant business. A few hours of 'Lute Steep' should soften him up some.

"Boys, I want that bird caged and brought to Dieter Rose's room. If he gets hungry enough, he'll be fighting that bird for peanuts. If it doesn't' drive him mad first."

Things were relatively quiet in Deacon Peacock's room. The bird was in its cage, and it was covered. Peacock was asleep in his chair. I nodded to Dom, and he gave the chair a kick. Startled, Peacock awoke and looked at me through bloodshot eyes.

"I'm taking your bird for a while, Deacon. I have a job for him."

"He's going to get very verbal."

"Yes, he is. And that's the point. He'll be visiting with one of our other guests."

"And who would that be?"

"That's for me to know. But don't worry, we'll bring him back."

Juan and another guy came in and lifted the cage and removed it from the room. At least Mr. Rose won't be lonely now.

"Let's talk about auctions, Deacon."

"And your interest? Art, jewelry, gold?"

"Girls, Deacon. Young ones."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

So, I played a bit of the video I downloaded from the black and white memory stick and he went ashen. It had been taken from his desk, so it was fairly recent. One he'd remember.

"Ring any bells? I thought so."

"We plan on attending at least one auction, and I'm going to need everything you know that will pave the way for us to do so. Give it up, Deacon. There's one in May that I'd like us to attend. And you're gonna open that door, aren't you?"

"Please. There is nobody left out there after what you have wrought. There will be no auctions."

"I'm banking on the fact that someone out there's got lots of girls they are looking to dump as soon as possible. Before all hell is rained down on them just like it was on you. Should be a real fire sale. I'm already getting cooperation from Rose, and all I need is someone to hold my hand throughout this process. You wouldn't want to see me go through this alone, would you?"

"It doesn't appear you do much alone, Miss Todd. Why would you need me?"