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 Seven

Thomas Truth ended up being the one to call Simon with regard to the next auction. He was the majority shareholder of this crew, with fifty girls on the line and the largest force of baddyguards to be used for security at the venue. Fortunately for us he did it from his car, where we had a wasp drone comfortably wedged under the rear seat of the vehicle he used as his primary source of transportation. Unfortunately, we only heard one sided of the conversation, as Truth had his earbud in.

"Simon, it's Truth. I just wanted to contact you to let you know we are getting a lot of negative feedback from our potential buyers and sellers for the auction on the twenty-fifth. They have concerns that you will not be guaranteeing security for the event, and..."

He stopped in his tracks and appeared to just be listening. For a full minute, not a word was said.

"I-I-I think so, sir. But if buyers bail out on us there will be no money. And if sellers do not bring their wares, there will be no way to make money. Yes, I know that it is a rumor that is being spread by a malcontent who we cannot control, but it's having an effect."

Again, there was a pause; this time even longer.

"I can't threaten these people, Simon. Only you can..."

Once again Truth was stopped in his tracks. And then he acquiesced to Simon's demands.

"Okay, Simon. I'll call the others, and we will have a full-scale videoconference on Saturday... Yes, I should be able to have everyone contacted. I'll see you then... I hope so... You too."

*CLICK*

Two days before I am leaving for the Olympics, and hopefully we will be able to attend this meeting as a fly on the wall. Assuming Truth would be conducting it, that is. Fortunately, he was.

Romy and Hoagie were up from North Carolina with their report, so I decided to feed them lunch and hear them out.

"Well, Miss Todd," Romy said. "It's quiet down there compared to these parts. A lot of the bigger manufacturers have closed down, so many of the workers in town are working remotely, if at all. Tourism is still strong, especially with the backpack set. It's truly beautiful around there."

"Yeah," Hoagie added. "We drove past the place where the auction will be held, and it's really dark and quiet at night. We were out there the night of a full moon, and you would hardly know the place was abandoned. Other than the lights were not on. But there were no signs of life when we drove out there, and no work was being done."

"However," Romy said, "when we were driving home, we drove by the plant, and there were signs of life. I saw a few trucks there and some men moving around. Hoagie was at the wheel and didn't notice, but I did."

"Good work, kids. Why don't you write up a full report on this little vacation of yours and then, Hoagie, get home to your family. I'm sure they've missed you."

"Thanks, boss. If you don't mind, I'm going to go home from here and I'll write up my report from home. I really have been missing the Mrs. if you know what I mean."

"You do that, Hoagie. And take a couple of days. While I'm in Mexico I am going to want you to keep an eye on the safe house, as Avi will have his hands full down at the Navy Yard."

"It's gonna be the week before the auction, so I'll make sure to crack the whip to find out anymore than we already know."

"Good call, Hoag. Don't hesitate to call on Avi if you run into any glitches."

"Oh, I won't." And he pulled out his knife to punctuate his point.

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Saturday was the day I had been waiting for. The day Simon would address his people and insist they attend the auction. It was done from Tom Truth's office up in New York, and he had the sixty inch screen that gave me a full view of the attendants lit up. His office was not so much a library, like Bolinski's, but the wasp drone found a place behind and on top of a painting high on the wall facing the big monitor.

As the videoconference was about to begin, people were in and out of Truth's office making sure he was prepared for any eventuality that might come up during the meeting. At eleven-forty-five, fifteen minutes before the meeting was due to start, Bolinski and Doyle appeared on the screen.

They discussed how the meeting was going to go and what everyone's roles would be. Five minutes later, a dark screen appeared, and the voice of Simon came from the speaker.

"Alright, you three. Are we squared away for this meeting? Thomas, are you prepared to conduct this meeting so that everyone attending will be making it to the auction on the twenty-fifth?"

"I am, if you will show yourself. If you show just a blacked out screen, this meeting will mean nothing. We need your full, unvarnished support for the auction. These people will need to know you are all in."

And Simon appeared where the black screen had been. In all his glory, there he was. Bald head, full beard, fixed nose and all. This time, however, he wore a black cap and sunglasses. Looking ominous as the gangland leader he is.

The camera focused on Simon, then panned out to reveal that he was surrounded by two of his meanest-looking guards. An optic he would maintain throughout the videoconference. Typical of Simon's fear tactics. He would want them more afraid of him than they are of us.

Then at noon, screens started lighting up on the monitor, and each screen got smaller as new ones appeared. There must have been fifty in all when Thomas Truth started the meeting.

"Alright, I'm not sure if everyone is here, but enough of us are to get the ball rolling. As you can see, Simon is with us, and he has promised to bolster our security for this auction, unlike with the last one. Unlike Miles Teetotaler, I will be taking advantage of the troops he will be making available."

"Yeah," someone said. "But will Simon be there with us?"

Simon spoke up.

"I plan to be at the auction, and although I will not be conducting it, I will be overseeing it. I have readied thirty of my best people to be there to insure security and make everyone feel safe. I like the venue; I like that we will have more security than Teetotaler had and I like that there will be three auctioneers present to assure proper leadership when it is needed. I have every confidence that this will be one of the most profitable auctions in recent history. All the elements are in place to ensure that happens. Truth..."

"That's right. Rumors of Simon not being fully invested in this auction are bullshit that has come from outside our trusted circle and should be ignored. In fact, Simon has placed a million-dollar bounty on Deacon Peacock for selling us all out and trying to throw a monkey wrench into the works. Simon..."

"That's correct. And be advised that non-attendance will not show you in the best of light. I will take it personally if I am snubbed. Thomas, tell them what we know."

"Well, right now we can tell you that the auction will take place on August 25th, starting at eight o'clock in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Directions and specific location will be given during a videoconference like this on Thursday, the 24th. Until then, rally your people, prepare your goods and know we will have a very successful auction. Simon?"

"A very successful auction, indeed. I will see you all on the conference call on the 24thfor the big reveal. Then at the auction. I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am."

Then, the screens started to go blank, and the meeting was over. That's when Thomas Truth got on his supercell and made a call.

"Yes, Simon, I thought it went very well. Your being at the auction will be a big plus. I think your threat to non-attendees hit hard, and we will have few no-shows."

"Yes, Mr. Truth, and I expect to make a dramatic entrance. One that will get and hold everyone's attention. You'll see."

"I can't wait, sir. With your leadership, we should have a very successful auction indeed."

*CLICK*

Truth continued to make calls throughout the afternoon, but I couldn't be bothered and let my guys in the Closet record them and edit them down to something I could easily digest. I had an Olympics to get ready for.

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By Sunday night, we were all packed and ready to go. Duane and Ronnie would be piloting the Cessna, and my kids, Domingo and Caroline, would join me on the flight. Holly, Celeste, Herman and Peggy had already left the day before on Gloria's plane; a full commercial-sized jet that could hold two dozen people very comfortably. Gloria took six bodyguards altogether, including Rapper Malone and his wife, Gert. Gloria goes nowhere without Rapper.

We occupied, between Gloria's party and mine, an entire floor of the hotel we were in. Thanks, of course, to Gloria's connections and all that money of hers. Harriet was staying in the Olympic Village, of course, but always had someone looking after her. And where Harriet went, Celeste followed. And where Celeste went, Herman and Peggy followed. And nobody stops Herman. Nobody.

We got to see everything, from the Parade of Nations to the swimmers to some of the track and field. But we were in it for the swimming. Little Celeste got to spend very little time with the Olympic swimmers as they were focused on their sport. She understood and cheered from the gallery.

When the women's hundred-meter backstroke event started, there was Harriet in lane four for the qualifying heat. Harry wound up qualifying in the number six position, with the sixth best time. She was not disheartened, but a bit disappointed.

When the final match for the hundred-meter backstroke happened, Harriet came in fifth. Tears flowed. But this was not her strongest event, and the next day would be the two-hundred-meter backstroke which was, due to her endurance, a stronger event for her.

On Thursday, the 17th, after qualifying in fourth place for the final event Harriet looked strong and said she felt confident. She was the only American in the final heat, and her greatest competitors were the Australian and the New Zealander.

When she stepped up to her mark, in the fourth lane, she looked over at us and waved. We all waved back, but none of us as much as Harry's little protégé.

The gun went off and all eight swimmers hit the water almost simultaneously. After the first lap, Harriet was in third place, where she remained until she hit the fourth and final lap. When the girls made that final turn the strongest swimmers started to separate from the pack. Harriet remained in third, all but assuring her a bronze medal. But then she turned the jets on and rallied past the girl from New Zealand where she held to win the silver medal. The gal from Australia took the gold. For her first Olympics, that's not so bad, and Harry was pleased. Very pleased. Chuck Miller was over the moon.

At this point, as far as I was concerned, the Olympics was over for me, but Celeste wanted to watch all the breast stroke events, that being her event. So Herman, Peggy, Holly and Chuck took charge of Celeste and watched the breast strokers and then rallied with the backstrokers celebrating Harriet's victory.

We celebrated by buying souvenirs. Lots and lots of souvenirs. And then we got to see it, in all its glory. The medal ceremony during which Harriet Tuttlehill received her silver medal. Yes, she cried. They all did. It's a very different ceremony when someone you know is being awarded a medal. It's personal.

Friday was the day to pack it all up and get ready to pack it in and fly home on Saturday. The Bernstein girls would be staying with Herman and Peggy and two other RFS guards, and hanging out with the Tuttlehills watching the rest of the swim meets and some track and field events. They also wanted to explore Mexico City and absorb some of the culture. They would be home on Tuesday.

Before we even left for the airport, I was already absorbed in the plan for our assault on the auction. Most of the preparation was done before we left for Mexico, but there would be much to do before the auction to be on point and coordinated for the action to come. I spent most of the flight home reviewing communications from my boys in the Closet, and making decisions regarding who would be doing what, and what I would be reviewing with Duane once we got home. Although I did spend some time in the copilot's seat shmoozing with Duane and exchanging ideas about the assault.

The kids slept through most of the flight from Mexico to Philly International Airport, where we would be parking until we cleared customs. With all the crap we had bought in Mexico it took awhile, but then we were fueled up and cleared for the short hop to the airfield in Chester County where we kept our birds.

When we got home, the first thing I did was go to see the ones I'd missed the most. My twins. They went wild when they saw us, as if they thought we'd never be returning. I decided that this would be the last time away from them for this long. I had a great time, but it was not as great as their longing for me. When little Dina broke down and cried, I was heartsick that I had left my little ones for almost a week. Duane convinced me that they would get over it. I wasn't so sure.

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The closer we got to the auction, the less and less comfortable I felt sending my troops into battle against these people. The more and more they met over videoconference, the less and less confident I felt that we had the manpower to do the job. Simon was the 'it' factor, and the strength of his people and the fear they held over the others gave me pause. Could there be a better way, and would it be possible to implement it so close to the auction? And do it successfully.

On Sunday, the 20th, I rallied my team at the Greenhouse. Herman was still in Mexico, but we'd loop him in when he gets here on Tuesday. Everyone else was there and ready to roll.

I was the first to speak my mind, and what I had to say was not going to make anyone here happy.

"I think we've been going about this whole thing all wrong. I think maybe instead of doing this one on our own, we should bring in law enforcement. Let them do everything from the bust to the cleanup. Russo can rally her people in two days easily. When I tell her what's happening, she will make it work. She's gained a lot of credibility since the last big bust and I think we should take advantage of that."

"Hannah makes sense," Duane said. "I look around this Greenhouse and I don't see anyone who I'd like to lose in this effort. Dom is still limping and Ali is still rehabbing. I like what the boss says. We should think about letting the feds take the lead here and do the whole damned job."

Everyone started talking at once and there was much protest from the hawks in the room. Not that we have a lot of doves. And then from the middle of the room came Hoagie.

"And what about Simon? Are you gonna let the feds have him? Do you really think the F.B.I. can get us to the next step if they have him?"

Then Avi said, "Yeah, if they get Simon, they will ID him as Patrick Muldoon, and he will wind up in the darkest, deepest cell the feds can provide. We'll never get him."

"Then," I said. "That may be all we can hope for." That's when a collective groan fell over the crowd.

"Then I'll just have to get the feds to release him to my custody."

"And how do you think that's going to go?"

"I think it will go just fine," Rhee Spanner said from the video monitor. "Hear her out."

"Yeah. Hear me out. We'll just have to get Russo to cut Simon out from the herd in a way that we can abscond with him. And I might just have some backup to do that. She's not my only connection to the F.B.I. Trust me on this one. This time if we walk away, we live to fight another day. And there will be other days."

Everyone looked confused. They were ready for battle, but their queen had called them off. They much prefer offense to the defense they find themselves playing every single day. As bodyguards, life was a bit boring most of the time. But the heat of battle really gets their blood flowing, and they like the adrenaline rush.

"Well," I said. "We're not changing gears just yet. I want another meeting here tomorrow at ten after I get the chance to talk to Russo and my other F.B.I. contacts. So still be ready for battle, just in case."

"Hoorah!" came the call from the crowd. They're ready to go. More ready than I, unfortunately.

After the meeting broke, I grabbed Duane, Hoagie and Avi and we went to my office. I needed to call Russo. Then Davante.

"Carlotta, do you have five minutes to talk and a place where you wont' be heard?"

"I'm in my office and have all the time you may need. How can I help?"

I told her the story of Simon and the auction to take place on Friday the 25th. I could almost hear her salivating over the phone as I told her I thought she could lead a force of federal agents and other available law enforcement to a place in North Carolina where they could do what was done in June at Teetotaler's auction. Only she would get full credit for it.

She was jumping for glee when I presented it to her until I dropped the bomb. That I wanted Simon for myself. I told her I wanted her to cut him out of the herd so we could deal with him the Hannah Todd way. She immediately understood, but was skeptical. I told her not to worry that I had a plan.

"Miss Todd, this generally takes weeks of planning for an operation like this. And you give me less than a week. How..."

"Can you do it, Carlotta? Can you put it together?"

"I will, but you have to give me all the information right now so I can sell it to my boss."

"You have what you need to know - slave auction in the Piedmont of North Carolina. You'll need a hundred people from..."

"I'm gonna need Marshalls, ATF, DEA, SWAT, and anything else Homeland Security can provide. I'll need airpower as well. We've done something like this against a drug operation about three years ago, and if we handle it the same way, we should be able to pull it off."

"Do it. And keep me in the loop."

*CLICK*

The next call was to Lizzie, who was hanging out with Jim Butler at Acquisitions.

"Lizzie, I need you to do something for me. And I need it on the quick."

"Name it, Han. I am your humble servant."

"I need an F.B.I. ID for Davante Royce."

"What did he lose his ID?"

"No. I'm gonna need Duane to impersonate his brother. We're doing the assault on the auction a whole different way. Trust me?"

"Of course. I'll make a call and have it for you in a day. Do you have a passport photo for Duane?"

"I'll send it to you as soon as we get off this call. Make it a rush job."

"I'll make the call now."

"That's my girl."