Simon

Simon - 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. I would strongly recommend you read at least some of "The Bridge," "Badass," and "The Auction," which provide the backstory for most of the characters in this story. And if you've been reading me, thank you for your continued support. Your comments are priceless, so please leave your wisdom so I might improve my writing.

Simon - Part One

I really wanted to invite everybody who had participated in our raid on the auction to our July Fourth annual extravaganza, but there was no time to plan for that many people. I wanted to throw a big party for all participants, but there would be too many people to throw it at my house.

Holly had planned for thirty to fifty people for Independence Day, so it would be just family, friends, and my A-team. I was happy to be the hostess, or one of them, but I had no time to plan for such an occasion. What with the auction and all. So right after the golf tournament, while the team and I were at war, Holly put it together with Bertha's help.

Bertha's outdoor kitchen would be the epicenter of the event, but it would be heavily catered, with food coming from two different caterers, as well as Bertha's kitchen. Or should I say, restaurants that did catering. From Bertha's cooking to Chinatown to The Chicken Coop, we would offer something for everyone. Bertha would mostly supervise, and do just enough of the cooking to keep her satisfied. She just loves hanging out at that grill of hers.

The Fourth was on a Tuesday, So we took the weekend and Monday to prepare for the onslaught. Making coleslaw, and preparing homemade ice cream and Bertha's waffle fries to complement the ones we'd be getting from The Chicken Coop. Not to mention the hot dogs and burgers that she made from scratch. She ground her own chicken and beef for burgers and constructed her own beef hot dogs. She even ordered ten pounds of extra-large shiitake mushrooms for her famous shitake mushroom steak sandwiches. And all-day Monday, she baked bread. Hot dog and burger buns. Enough to feed a small army.

This would be a family affair, and my team's families were invited. So were our parents and Davante and Harley. The Tuttlehills, the Chus, the Untermyers and Rivera's would also be there; kids and all. But my special guests were coming from western Pennsylvania for the weekend. It was Toothy and Cass, and Hangar and Tiny. My Soul Rider friends. Toothy hasn't been on a good road trip in a while, so he decided to invite himself. I couldn't be happier.

By the time the evening of the First of July arrived, so did my Soul Rider friends. Bertha had the day off, as it was Saturday, and Holly and I served pre-made pizza and salads for dinner. Not the fanciest of dinners, but our guests were tired and hungry after their long ride from Pittsburgh, so we made do.

"Queen Bee," Tiny said as soon as she saw me. "I love your hair. Why did you cut it so short?"

"It was getting in the way, Becky. And now it takes me fifteen minutes to do my hair. With my schedule, I need all the time I can get."

"That's why I cut all mine off," Toothy said, as he ran his hand along his bald head. "I have no time anymore to be dealin' with hair."

"Well," Cass said with assurance, "I'm keeping mine, just the way it is. Long and strong."

"You'd better, woman. Only the Queen Bee can carry a cut like that."

"I think it's beautiful," Becky said. "Short but still very feminine. Does Duane like it?"

"Maybe a little too much. He can't keep his hands off me."

"Oooh, what do you think, Hang? Should I cut mine short like Hanna's?"

"Don't you dare. I love that red flag flying when we are heading down the road. It's part of what makes us, us."

"Then I will continue to let it grow. Just for you"

I looked at the two of them. "It's good to see the romance is still alive."

"Very much so, Hannah. Hanger is my Romeo. My prince charming."

Toothy started laughing, and then everyone but the kids joined in.

"C'mon," I said. Let's eat."

So we all sat down and had our pizza and salads. The kids had soda pop and the adults had beer. Ron and Carolyn were just getting off a rare shift together, and they hung around to visit. Toothy and Ron had both been Army Rangers and formed a special bond during the funeral of Quay Wilkes and the other Soul Riders who had lost their lives saving little Becky from the hands of Clyde Makoo. Toothy called him Ranger Ron, and that would be the patch on his colors, whenever it is we would get patched into the Soul Riders as formal members. We were honorary members now, until our formal ceremony occurred. Probably while we were in Monroeville for Hanger and Tiny's wedding celebration.

When it was time for the kids to go to bed, Becky came upstairs to help out and to visit with the babies. "They're so beautiful, Hannah. Especially little Dina. She's tiny like me. I want one just like her, but with red curly hair. Hanger wants a baby, and I want to give him one, or more."

"Are you sure that little body of yours can take it?"

"This little body's been through a lot, Queen Bee. It will take it just fine."

"I don't doubt you for a minute, my friend."

When the kids were all in bed, and Holly went to her room for the night, we went with our guests to the Greenhouse, to hang out and smoke some joints. And drink a beer or two. That's when Toothy, the man with no filter, came out with it. "So tell me, Duane, was that you causin' all the ruckus down in Maryland? It so has your fingerprints all over it."

Our Soul Rider friends were well within our circle of trust. Toothy knew more about what Duane was up to than Davante did. And my man came clean to him.

"Yeah, Toothy, that was us. But it was one scary operation. Lots of dead people, but lots of saved girls. Over two hundred saved."

"So I heard. They still haven't released the number of dead. Any idea?"

"We have a source with the F.B.I., and she said that there were thirty-four dead, including bidders and bodyguards. We call them baddyguards, 'cause that's what the fuck they are."

"Baddyguards, eh? Sounds about right. And your troops?"

"We had a handful wounded and two dead. God, I hate losing good soldiers."

"Light that joint, Becky," I said. "I could use some mellowing out about now. And just to enjoy being with you guys. It's been so long. How's business, Tooth; and you, Hanger?"

Toothy waved his hand at Hanger and bade him speak first.

"Well, I don't know if you know it, but I am sticking strictly to bike repair. The gas and the electric bikes. Doing lots of Harleys and doing work for other motorcycle clubs. It's keeping me busier than ever. And Tiny is working in the shop, doing paperwork and stuff. Having her around really keeps my day bright."

"Ahhh. It's good to see you are still a romantic, Hang. Lucky Becky."

"I sure am lucky, Queen Bee. He's so attentive. He's my soulmate."

"I'm so happy for you both. So do we have a wedding date yet?"

"We're thinking October," Becky said. "Sometime before Halloween."

"Yeah," Toothy said. "Trick or treat."

Everyone got a good laugh out of that, and the joint got passed to me. I took a mighty hit off of it and coughed it out. That got another laugh.

"So, Toothy," I asked. "Are you as busy as everyone says you are?"

"It's worse, Hannah. Some days I don't know which way to go first. Fortunately, I have a couple of real good guys that manage to keep things straight, and I have a wife who keeps me grounded. Love you, Cass."

"Love you, big man. You are my world."

"Now that's romantic." I said.

"You should see these two," Becky said. "They are passionate about everything they do, including each other."

"Enough small talk, people," Toothy said on a serious note. "This joint is knockin' me out. Bedtime for old Toothy. Queen Bee, can you steer me and Cass to the boudoir?"

"Only if you use it properly. And don't break the bed."

"Ho, ho, ho." Toothy let out a great big belly laugh. "Not tonight dear. Toothy's not as young as he used to be."

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

The weekend with Toothy and the gang was a blast. We all got to chill out, especially when the kids went to the Tuttlehills with the other neighborhood children for a pool party on Sunday. It gave us a chance to pull together and make twenty pounds of coleslaw and to instruct the rental company regarding table settings and seating. Fortunately, the weather was with us.

On Tuesday morning, July Fourth, we were all ready to receive guests and those who were coming to help started showing up around eleven. Ronnie, Caroline and Juicy were the first to arrive, and put themselves to work immediately. Then Domingo and Rosa showed up with their two boys. Dom was on crutches but ambulating with no further assistance. He grumbled as we found him a seat and Duane told him that if he moved he'd shoot him on the spot. I immediately hugged my big bear and told him how happy I was that he was getting around.

As noon hit, cars filled the driveway and parked on the helipad in the front of the house. Holly's parents picked up my mom and dad and showed up at noon on the button. By one o'clock all the kids and a number of the adults were in the pool. Herman and Peggy watched over them as ad hoc lifeguards.

Juicy and Ronnie took a ride to the airfield, and picked up the Bell 407x. They would be giving the kids helicopter rides as part of the day's entertainment. The kids reveled at the sights from above. By day's end that was all they would talk about.

Bertha spent just about all day on her feet cooking burgers and dogs and her famous Shitake mushroom steaks. And she never complained once. Her Mac helped to watch the babies, who were now learning the joys of swimming. Little Ellie and Dina were skeptical of the pool, but Duanee really liked it, and Herman gave him an extra helping of instruction. All he could see was a future SEAL in the making.

Holly and I did our best to host the affair, while Duane rallied the troops over the beer kegs and smoked cigars, outside the reach of the kids. But my favorite part of the day was watching my guys interacting with their wives, girlfriends and families. These warriors were the most attentive family men I'd ever met. I was very proud of them all.

At sundown, our SEALs, Herman, Alec and Anthony set off fireworks, and the display was very professional. They didn't get to blow stuff up, but they did get to show off their explosive talents in a fun sort of way.

Everyone was beat by the end of the day, and by nine-thirty, everyone but the Krasses, Davante and Harley, Lizzie and our biker friends were gone. The caterers did the cleanup, and tomorrow the party people would come to pick up the tables, chairs and other items we rented for the event.

The group, along with Holly, decided to go out to the Greenhouse and chat some before everyone went off to bed and Davante and Harley took off for the city. Toothy brought up the subject that, until now, had gone unspoken this day. The dust up down in Maryland, where the auction had been held.

Every day, new pieces of the story came together as the news agencies garnered more and more parts of the story. How many people had been killed and the number of girls who had been rescued. But mostly the stories were about those who had been arrested. Not the bodyguards, but the bidders. Most were unknown to the public, but there were those of some notoriety.

"Yeah," Toothy said. "One of the richest men in Pittsburgh was apprehended, and his empire was falling apart in public as he resided in a Maryland jail. This guy's a big philanthropist too. Who would have known he'd be tied up in this shit."

Davante stepped into the conversation by remarking that more than a handful of those apprehended were rich and famous. "We even came across a Japanese fellow, who was locked in the trunk of his car along the side of the road, miles from the warehouse. His bodyguards were dead and there must have been a million in gold locked in with him. We arrested him too, but don't know if we'll be able to hold him."

"So," I asked. "This was an auction of sorts, I understand. Did you apprehend the people in charge of the auction?"

"We arrested some of the support staff, but the auctioneer and his second in command were nowhere to be found. Not among the dead and not among the living. Special Agent Carlotta Russo has been on it, but hasn't been able to find them. She believes that whoever did this took them with. I expect we'll find them dead in the not too distant future."

"That Russo's doing a good job, finding this auction and making such a big bust." I said.

"Please," Harley said. "She stepped into shit and came out golden." Davante nodded.

"Which brings us to the point that we discovered very little gold or free credits at the auction site. All those girls and no money to pay for them. This whole thing could have been just one big robbery. The girls were just a side benefit. That's what Russo is saying."

I latched onto that like a fallen maiden clutching her pearls. "I think she's got it right. I'll bet it was one of those international gangs that take the simple act of robbery and turn it into theatre."

"This was no simple robbery. This was well planned and properly executed. With military precision." Davante said. "This was definitely done by the same people who freed all those girls in April and May. I can't see it any other way."

Toothy gave Duane a knowing look, and my man gave him a sly wink back. "Well, more power to them," Duane said. "The more of these traffickers who are off the street, the less girls will be taken and sold into slavery."

"I think I've had enough of this conversation. I'm going to bed. Duane?"

"Yeah, I'm beat. Come on, Queen Bee. Tomorrow is another day."

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The very next day, my Soul Rider friends jumped on their bikes and headed back to Monroeville. Saddlebags filled with fresh baked goods from Bertha's kitchen. A tear came to my eye when I hugged my little redheaded friend. I promised her that we would be at the wedding as she held onto me like she didn't want to let me go. Then she jumped onto the back of Hanger's bike and, vroom, off they went.

I was curious about both Simon and the other man who we apprehended with Teetotaler. The facial recognition people had nothing on either of them, not that the photos of Simon were very good. On the Monday visit to the venue, our wasp drone got some shots of him, but none were revealing. Aside from the fact that he wore a hat, glasses and a surgical mask, the pictures of him were fuzzy and from a shitty point of view. And the name Simon Meetcham was a dead end. We found two people with that name, but it was pretty obvious that neither fit the bill.

So with Alec and Hoagie in tow, I visited the safe house in order to confront Teetotaler and his aid.

Teetotaler looked pretty washed out and pleaded for something to eat when I got there. Good. I'll have him on his knees in no time, telling me exactly what I want to know, as he sat there, naked, gawking at me like he'd never seen a woman in charge.

"Tell me about Simon, Miles. There's so much I want to know about him. And I'd love to take a meeting with him."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to help you with that, Miss. I'm certain that after what just transpired at the auction he will have cut me off from all contact. It looks like I'm your dead end."

"I don't believe in dead ends, Mr. Teetotaler. Only bumps in the road. And I have my own way of leveling off those bumps. Is that what you are going to be, Miles, a bump in the road?"

"Not me, but Simon. He'll be more than a bump in the road. He'll be a brick wall. Nobody gets through Simon."

"Tell me, Miles, how much of this dog and pony show does Simon run. What's his ownership?"

"Not that I could tell you, because nobody knows. At least nobody I know knows."

"Peacock and Butler know some things. They were instrumental in gaining me entrance to your auction. They have given me insights into Simon, I'm hoping you will expand on. As his auctioneer, I expect you know quite a bit more about him than you have told me thus far. So fess up, Miles. Tell me what I want to know and just maybe you will have a nice shower and an even nicer lunch. Maybe even dinner if you really lay it out."

"Nobody knows much about Simon, only that we do what he says. It's a fool's errand trying to apprehend him. I expect by now he is farther underground than he has ever been. You'll never find him."

"Oh, I'll find him. With or without your help. Tell me about your little friend. The one we are holding in the basement."

"What, Wendell? He'll have nothing to say because he knows nothing. Not about Simon. He's not much more than a manager. You'll get nothing of value from him."

"That's for me to find out. What do you think will happen when I threaten to stick a cattle prod up his ass? In my experience, the birds seem to sing."

"Speaking of birds, what have you done to Peacock? I can hear his bird from here. You haven't killed him yet?"

"I'm not in the habit of killing my guests. I'm more of a catch and release kind of gal, if you know what I mean."

"Ha! I don't see you releasing me. Not now that I know who you are."

That's when Hoagie spoke up.

"There's a lot of ways to die, Teetotaler. And we know some pretty awful ones. How about a free sample, right now." And Hoagie unleashed the switchblade he always kept attached to his wrist and grabbed Teetotaler's short ponytail as if he were about to cut it off.

"Enough, Hoagie. Now is not the time for these kinds of games. Secure that knife of yours and let's let Mr. Teetotaler be hungry for now. Maybe soon we can bring him some company. Maybe a few hours of 'Lute Steep' will loosen him up."

"Shall I get the bird?" Alec asked. "Peacock won't like it, but fuck him. He's already got it too easy, as far as I'm concerned."

"Yes, Alec. Bring Raven in and then join me and Hoagie downstairs. I'd like to see what our other new guest has to say. Have a good visit with Raven, Miles. He is a most loquacious bird." And off we went, Hoagie and I.

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"Well, my new friend," I said to our newest guest. "Who do I have the honor of addressing this fine day."

"I have nothing to say. Release me now or all hell will rain down on you."

"You mean like it did on you on Wednesday night? How's it been since? Have you found your accommodations suitable?"

"No! Most unsuitable. Mr. Teetotaler and I will be free in a matter of days, so you'd better beware of what's coming."

"It's already been a matter of days, Wendell. Nobody's coming for you. That pain on your hip is the spot where we removed your tracking chip. It's gone far from here. Friends of mine have taken it and it's probably halfway across the state of Pennsylvania by now. And if and when your people find it they will be in for a big surprise."

The man looked at me with a quizzical look.

"Now, tell me who the fuck you are and what you do for Miles Teetotaler."

"You already know my name. I have nothing else to say."

Simon Ch. 01

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