Simon

Simon - A Hannah Todd Story

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 Five

The last week of July was deadly hot. Highs of over 105 Fahrenheit every day. One day, Wednesday the 26th, it hit 110. With eighty percent humidity. I spent every day either indoors or in the pool. Even the pool was warm.

It had been a while since I'd last heard from Rhee Spanner, but I knew the drill. She'll call me when she's got something new. Until then it's best I sit tight and wait for the good news. Or whatever kind of news I would be receiving. So, on that hot Wednesday, I called Gloria Tuttlehill, and hit her with an idea of mine.

"How's my Glorius today?" I asked my dear friend Gloria. "How are you handling this hot day?"

"You know me. Spending lots of time in the pool house watching my big fish backstroke day in and day out. I've never met anyone more dedicated to something. I'm so proud of my Harriet."

"As you should be. She is quite special. And she works so hard. Glor, I'm calling with ulterior motives."

"Oh? Need money?"

"Kind of. I want to start a non-profit and I would like to have a partner. Someone who could help with the seed money. Money you may never get back, but will be glad you spent it."

"And why would I be glad I spent this money I will never benefit from?"

I want to offer psychological services to the girls and women who are being released from captivity. You know, the victims of human traffickers. One of my companies deals specifically with recovering those kinds of gals, but once we get them home we have no idea how they are doing psychologically and emotionally. My idea for a company I call Todd Therapy Services would provide professional services to these released gals. I'm willing to put five million in to get things started. Would you be willing to do the same?"

"Name it Tuttlehill Therapy Services and I'll give you ten million toward it. Think of how many girls we can serve and how much good we could do. I feel like I have been falling behind in my philanthropy lately and this can certainly help to make up for that. For all you do at Todd Recovery, you already get enough credit. Do you want to run it? I am willing to oversee it, but we need a good manager."

"I've got a great medical guy, but we need a good manager. Holly would be a great manager. You've seen what she did with the Jane Amherst Golf Tournament, and the Women's Health Center. Not to mention what she has accomplished with Todd-Bernstein Enterprises. I'll bet if you presented her with the idea she would jump on it."

"Why me? You two are married still and I'll bet your relationship, even though on the outs, will trump my money."

"Right now, Glor, your relationship with Holly is stronger than mine. I think you even see her more often than I do, what with Chuck around so much of the time. Let's make this your idea and then she will truly jump at it."

"Okay. Leave it to me. I'll put the bug in her ear when she comes over with Celeste for her time with the swim team. I guess I should do this soon."

"Yep. There are plenty of girls in need of assistance. And more coming, I am sure."

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

"Let's call it a gut feeling."

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Friday morning I got some good news from Rhee. Her people managed to fly a wasp drone into the back seat of the vehicle used to transport Thomas Truth. That gave us tracking capability and the further ability to hear what the occupants of the vehicle were saying. While continuing to monitor the large vehicle, the ability to track and listen in was also picked up in the Closet. This way we could hear the goings along with Rhee's team.

We could see that the vehicle carrying the drone was heading south and had just crossed into North Carolina. But no conversations were taking place that would give us any idea where they were heading. We heard enough, however to know that Truth was with two bodyguards and an aide. Then the break came.

"Give me Bolinski. This is Truth."

We couldn't hear but one side of the conversation, but that was enough to set the scene.

"That's right. I'm about an hour out from you right now. We just hit Route 85 in Virginia and we'll see you soon."

It got quiet for a minute, then he replied to an obvious question at the other end.

"Yeah, I spoke to Doyle, and he'll conference with us when I get there. Have you heard from Simon? Will he be on the call?"

Again, he appeared to be listening for a time.

"Uh, huh. I should be there in plenty of time. See you then."

*CLICK*

Now I'm stuck with a conundrum. Do I have Rhee's drone follow Truth into the meeting and abandon the car, or should I just leave the drone in the car to track Truth's movements. Rhee solved it for me. She decided to hold. We would not be privy to the goings on at the meeting, but, with any luck, we'd hear the aftermath. And we'd know where Thomas Truth would land after the meeting. If the drone got stuck at Bolinski's that could be the worst possible situation.

Fortunately for us, Truth and his aide chatted about the call, and it appeared that a new auction was indeed in the offing. Somewhere in L'Cheetah Bolinski's territory, but under the auspices of Thomas Truth. It sounded like Clunky Doyle would be a no show.

Unbeknownst to me, Rhee had sent another operative out to follow Truth's car and it was two hours behind it. If she could get those operatives to where Bolinski's place was we'd be able to accomplish scouting both her and Truth at the same time. So she changed tactics, and flew that drone that had been residing in Truth's car into Bolinski's place, and it followed the voices. It lead to a library of sorts where it took up residence above eyesight, but not out of earshot.

I was in the videoconference room when the parties came together in that library. Bolinski, with two large men and Truth with his aide sat on big comfy chairs as a large monitor appeared from behind several rows of books.

Clunky Doyle appeared on one half of the screen and the other half remained blank. For now.

"I'm glad you could make the meeting, Clunky," Bolinski, the mocha-skinned woman, said.

"It don't mean nuthin'," Clunky said. "I'm gonna pass on this one. My other enterprises are keeping me fed, and I am not looking to take any chances after what just happened to Teetotaler."

"Simon's not gonna be happy," Truth said. "Miles set us back with his failure to secure his auction and there's bills to pay. Are you prepared to pay Simon out of your pocket for your failure to show?"

"Not my auction, not my problem. Don't you have enough product to satisfy him?"

"I have about fifty bodies available from my client base, and L'Cheetah has about twenty-five to thirty. It's enough to make some money, but will it be enough to satisfy Simon?"

"Will what be enough to satisfy Simon?" the newly arrived face on the screen said. It was, indeed Simon. But he looked different from his pictures. His head was shaved bald and he was sporting a full beard. The most prominent change, however, was that his bulbous nose had been slimmed and gave him a completely different look than the picture we had for him.

"We were talking about the number of girls we could make available for an auction in August. And how many clients might be interested in attending."

"I expect everyone in the southern geographic area to attend. And one hundred girls should be enough to make it worthwhile."

"I don't know that we can come up with that many. Especially if Doyle is a no-show."

"And, Clunky, why would you be a no-show?"

"Too far for me to travel to the Carolinas, and I've got too much on my plate right now to pull it together on short notice. I'm having..."

"But you could put your clientele on notice. You needn't be involved. Just turn your list over to Mr. Truth and let him make the arrangements. How much inventory do you have on hand?"

"That's a non-starter for me, Simon. I don't want Truth absconding with my clients. It's not that I don't trust him, but..."

"But you don't trust him. I get it. But I wouldn't have pulled you all together if we didn't need this hit now. After Teetotaler's fuck up we are all gonna need the money. I've got people to pay, and they get very irritable when they haven't been paid. That's not good for any of us. Do you understand, Clunky?"

"Yes, Simon. I can certainly get you up to one hundred bitches, and maybe twenty bidders. Does that satisfy your needs?"

"Quite well, Mr. Doyle. Thank you. Alright, people, let's look at mid-August to auction off approximately one hundred girls. That ought to keep the campfires burning for a while. Come up with a date and a location and let me know. I'll be taking my usual cut."

"You two figure out the date and place," Clunky Doyle said. "I won't be there, but my people will be in place along with the product." And the screen went black.

"Alright, L'Cheetah," Truth said. "We're doing this in your territory, so contact your managers and come up with a venue. I'll take care of security and will guarantee fifty girls."

"I will come up with maybe twenty-five. I hope Doyle can fill in the blanks. Simon's gonna be pissed if he don't."

Rhee found the coordinates to the place Bolinski was located to be somewhere outside of Greensboro, a good sized city in North Carolina. It is there that she steered her road team, who were speeding toward that location with another wasp drone, to land back in the vehicle Truth was traveling in.

Bolinski and Truth adjourned from the library once the screen went black and where it had been reverted back to a wall of books. Rhee put the drone to sleep to conserve its battery.

Fortunately, before Tom Truth left Bolinski's place two new drones were placed. One more in Bolinski's home and one in the car that carried Truth. Please don't think that's as easy as it sounds. It's not. Especially when the grounds are being patrolled by guards with Cyberdogs and flown over by Eagle drones. It takes a unique skill set to do that kind of flying.

Overnight, the drone pilot flew the wasp around the first floor of Bolinski's home, but nothing seemed unusual or out of whack. Then as the drone was taking a turn back to the library, a door opened, appearing to be a basement door. We could hear moaning and groaning for just a moment, until that door was closed. The two people emerging from the basement were Truth and Bolinski, looking none the worse for wear.

"Now that was a scene," Truth said. "I'm feelin' as whupped as they must feel."

And Bolinski just laughed. And the two of them went down the hall to the stairs heading up; laughing all the way. The drone then left its nook and sped to the library to find a place that might be more secure. And it did, up high on the top shelf. And the pilot put it to sleep until the morning.

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Saturday morning, I was up before everyone and on the horn to the drone pilot. Herbert was on shift in the Closet and he made certain we had a good connection to the wasp drones at L'Cheetah Bolinski's place. Even though it was too early to gather intel, I wanted to be up and prepared in case Ms. Bolinski is an early riser. She was not.

I was stuck in my office awaiting something in that library, but all I got to see was her and Truth sharing a late breakfast at a table the servants brought in for the occasion. Or should I say the slaves. That's what they were. Lorded over by men who equal my SEALs in stature, if not in character. Two of whom stood by her side at all times. Very intimidating. My guess would be that she had a dozen guards watching over her and her place. Who does she think she is, me?

The kids were beating down the door to my office. Truth be told, I have been a terrible mother of late. I have been so into my missions I have stopped paying attention to my most important things and that is the people I love most. My kids. So I said, fuck that. I went into Herb and told him to record anything that may have any significance whatsoever, and to edit out the shit and leave in the good parts.

Then I put my bathing suit on and hit the pool with the kids. "Cowabunga," I cried, as I hit the water with my best cannonball. The kids loved it and I felt like I was back on track with them. Even Holly gave me a big thumbs up, even though I soaked her with my cannonball as she was trying to work on her tablet. Good thing those things are waterproof.

After a half hour of splashing and swimming with the kids I got out of the pool and sat back on one of the lounges. I put my arm up to my wrist and said, "Call Duane."

"Hannah? Is everything okay? What can I do for you, my love?"

"You can love me forever."

"Done and done. Anything else?"

"I'd like to fly the kids up to the Poconos tomorrow and let them play in the Lodge's water park. You know how much they love that."

"Fine with me. I was hoping to take the day off anyway. Waterpark sounds fun. Call Ronnie and have him lay out a flight plan for me for tomorrow. Let's get started early. Maybe at seven we can have breakfast and then I'll fetch the Bell 407x and bring her here to the Helipad and load up from here."

"I'll call Ronnie right away. I think he's riding routes right now. I'll get him to take it to the airfield and make the arrangements. The kids will be thrilled."

*CLICK*

Call Ronnie.

"Hannah? Is everything alright?"

"Right as rain, Ron. We're taking the kids to the Poconos tomorrow. Duane wants the Bell 407x ready to roll out at seven thirty. Could you have the flight plan done and filed today for tomorrow and fly that bird to the helipad here at the house?"

"I can and I will. I'm on the road right now, but I'll get over to the airfield and attend to it. I'll text you when it's done. I'll have a car and two attendants at the airfield up in the Pokes so getting a ride will be no worries."

"You're the man, Ron. Thanks a million."

"Always a joy, boss."

"Be well, my friend."

*CLICK*

I announced to everyone, Holly and all, that we are going up the mountains tomorrow to their favorite water park. Everyone cheered, and I suddenly got really popular. Even with Holly.

The kids didn't get to ride in the helicopter often so that was the biggest treat of this trip. They loved the flight and the fact that Duane was flying the chopper. And he gave them their money's worth. When we got to the airfield in the Poconos, there were two cars awaiting us, and four bodyguards. When it comes to the kids you can never be too protective. Ronnie did good.

The water park was a blast, and I think that, although they have been friends, Georgie and Duane really bonded that day. They had a blast. With all of us gals around, it's nice they could be just the boys. They went on rides together, and splashed together and just had a great time. Like father and son. I just beamed. Holly said that I kvelled. But she didn't tell me what it means.

Celeste found it very relaxing. She could shoot through tubes and float on a lazy river and not have to backstroke a hundred yards. Life was good. Even with her big brain, she was still a kid and had kid instincts. It was wonderful watching her be a kid, with other kids, doing the things that regular kids do. This trip was a good idea. Mom gets a gold star.

Just as I took a minute to lay back and close my eyes, my supercell buzzed in.

"What?"

"It's Herb, Miss Todd. Something's up at Bolinski's place. She's gonna videoconference with someone."

"Just make sure it's recorded, Herb. I'll be home tonight. How long are you on?"

"I started my shift at noon, so I'll be off at midnight tonight. I'll be around and I'll have something for you. Hopefully, a compilation of things."

"From your lips to God's ears, Herb."

*CLICK*

"Hey sweetheart," I said to my Georgia Peach as she ran up to me soaking wet, and giving me a great big kiss. "Are you having fun?"

"Oh mommy, you are the best. I'm having so much fun. I wish my friends could be here too."

"Well, my love. Maybe I can talk to their mommies and we can arrange something like that. What doyouthink?"

"Oh, mommy, that would be so great. I love you, mommy. You are the best mommy ever. I'm so glad you're mine."

"And I'm so glad you are mine, my sweet darling." And thank God I wasn't wearing any makeup. I quick ran into the pool with her to hide my tears. We played the dunking game, and nobody would be the wiser.

Don't get me wrong, I love all my children. But this one has a sweetness about her that is just contagious. She does not suffer fools, but she does it with grace. So unlike her mother. She does everything with grace and goodness that is unquestionable. She almost wants to be naïve, but she is too well schooled for that. Everyone she touches smiles. That's my Georgia Peach.

Then there's my little Georgie. The spittin' image of his father, George Barry, Sr. Wiry and athletic, he does everything in his power to give his mother fits from his shenanigans. There's been a few contusions and abrasions to keep this nurse busy. And his need to dominate in activities I find a bit disheartening. To him, we need to bring balance. But he feels he needs to be tough in a place where the women are tough. Except his sister. Largely because of her, they get along famously. But there are times when he can make the mischief.

We fit a lot into that day. And I think we found out a lot about each other that we just had to learn by paying attention to each other. But the day, like all others before it, came to an end. Watching the kids sleeping in the chopper, their little helmets on, was about as cute as I've ever seen them. And as quiet.

By the time Duane and I got into bed, we were beat. More than beat, beat up. Water park activities take a lot out of you and give you a bump or bruise here and there. And I got my share. Being mom is definitely my hardest job. But the best.

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Monday, at least the kids are in camp, and I have a chance to heal up some from my adventures at the water park. I don't know how they do it, after a day like yesterday, but they got up, got themselves dressed and took their backpacks with them to camp. While I dragged myself out of bed and headed straight for the urn. I run on black coffee; that's how I stay so thin.

Bertha saw how dragged out I looked and immediately cooked me up a full breakfast. And boy, did I need it. Bertha is not a cook; she is an alchemist in the kitchen. And what she brews up will cure what ails ya. Two eggs over, bacon, hash browns and her own baked sourdough toast. Cooked to perfection and piping hot. I immediately felt better. After a hot shower that is. That's when I spoke to Danny, who would be riding the Closet until Herbert got in at noon.

"Herb compiled some things for you from yesterday. But I think you will be better off reviewing them with him when he gets in at noon. I'll hang in and keep an eye on things while you and he go over what he found out."