The Auction

The Auction - A Hannah Todd Story

The Auction - 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" and "Badass," 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 product.

The Auction - Part Five

The Auction - Part Five

As soon as I got home, which was just before the kids, I went right to my office and opened the locked drawer. The one that opens with my fingerprint as the key. There, among a dozen or so other drives, was the blue one. The original blue one. A copy was sent down to the analysts at RFS for investigation and evaluation.

After using the two passcodes, I opened the directory named 'Contacts,' and sought out the information on Simon and Miles Teetotaler. Neither was named on the list of contacts, but there was a contact named S, and one named M. Funny. S & M. How appropriate. So, I opened the one named S first.

And there he was, Simon Meetcham, with an address in Charleston, West Virginia. And a phone number. A supercell with a West Virginia exchange. His title was 'Emergency Contact.' Very clever. Should anyone stumble onto the blue drive, they would never identify Simon as the boss. Just another name on the list. Emergency contact, indeed.

Next, I checked out the M, and it was indeed Miles Teetotaler. Title: Auctioneer. Address in Frederick, Maryland with the number we had used to contact him. There was no other address; however, there were map coordinates, and, according to Alec, who was with me at the time, they didn't match the address. They did, however, match the coordinates of one of the houses Greta Goldheimer had singled out as a possible location of Miles' house.

Time to send a drone up at that location and check it out.

"Alec, who do you think I should send down to Maryland to set a drone or two?"

"Why don't you send me and Anthony down there? We know our way around the area from when we did the mission to fetch little Becky for the Makoo mission. And he's as good a drone pilot as I am. I think we should start with maybe a quick flyover with a Hawk or an Eagle drone, just to see what is happening on the ground at that location. He's bound to have drones and robots watching the place as well as the mercenaries these guys are so fond of using."

"You know, you're right. You two are perfect for the job. Where is Anthony working today?"

"I think he's got today off, but we can give him a call and roust him."

"No, let's do this on Wednesday, to give you two a chance to plan your strategy and get down there. Is he on tomorrow?"

"Yeah. We are both supposed to be working at the house tomorrow, so we will be here, and the three of us can map this out."

"I like it. Drop him a text and let him know we will be meeting tomorrow morning, here. I'll feed you two breakfast, and we can meet here in the office. It will give you a chance today to get some more satellite images of that property. Lots of pictures and as close as possible."

"Yes, ma'am. I can get one of the assault squad to relieve me here, and then I can go down to the Navy Yard. The equipment there is more sophisticated."

"Do it. I won't need you for phone calls for the next few days. I want to know as much as possible before I make the next phone call to the auctioneer."

"I'll head down there now. Dom's here today, so I know you'll be in good hands. Will you be visiting our captives?"

"Already did. The women are like putty in my hands right now, so I'm gonna let them sweat a little before I go in for the kill. If I can hit them with pictures of the inside of Teetotaler's home, that ought to be the last straw in making them my total bitches. Then they will know who to be afraid of."

"Boy, I'd be afraid of you, knowing what I know."

"You never have to be afraid of me, Alec. You're very special to me."

"Thank you, Queen Bee. But I know Domingo is your favorite."

"I can't run away from that. He does have a special place in my heart."

"And you with his. Ifyoucan't trust Domingo, you can trust nobody."

"Let's not talk about favorites. You are all my special guys. I love you all."

"Hoorah to that, boss."

"Go, Alec. Get down to the Yard and send me home some pictures. I want to review them with Duane tonight when he gets home."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm on my way."

And off he went. I grabbed Caroline, who was working the house today, and we went for a quick five-mile run. Then off to the shower and then playtime with the babies. The big ones were frolicking in the pool. Except for Celeste. She was doing laps.

Holly and I, who were constantly on edge with each other, got the kids cleaned up for dinner and she ate with them. I would wait for Duane to get home, which would be a little later than usual. I helped Aggie feed the little ones. Lot's happening at RFS as he and Herman did a deep dive vetting of new potential members of the recently formed assault squad. The adjunct to my A-team.

Lizzie would be coming home with him tonight, as I wanted her sharp photographer's eye on the aerial satellite photos we would be analyzing. Bertha had made a casserole for dinner, and I heated up the leftovers for Duane, Lizzie and me.

Once dinner was done, we adjourned to my office and downloaded the images Alec had sent through the secure line from RFS to the house. There were twenty in total. Some from a distance and some truly close up. A couple of neighboring properties as well.

"See these here," Lizzie said. "You could see what looks like a trail or a line on the midrange shots. These are drones, either passing by or hovering over the property. If we could send out our own drones, maybe hawks, at around five hundred feet in the commercial lanes, we could pick out which ones belong to the house and which are just flyovers. Moving pictures will give us a better take on which is which. My guess, though, is that a handful of these drones are native to the property. They look like hawks or eagles to me from this angle. But it's hard to really tell because of the perspective. Because they are higher up and closer to the camera they look bigger than they actually are."

"How do you know so much about these things, Lizzie?" Duane asked.

"My time on the continent. Any photographer who doesn't know his or her way around drones isn't much of a photojournalist these days. Look, you see these bright spots? These are robotic guards, I expect. They sure aren't human."

Then she pulled up another photo, one closer to the property.

"Here you can see people in this shot. Notice at the entrance to the property, there is a guard shack of some sort. There are two people minding the store. Use these shots as a baseline, and you can pick out the people meandering around the property."

"Ooh, is this a person?" I asked and pointed to a spot closer to the house."

"Exactly. See, you've got it, Hannah. Do you see what I mean, Duane?"

"I do. I see a couple of groups of two around the property."

"That's right. Definitely guards set up to watch over the property."

Then Lizzie got into the weeds.

"I see Alec sent us comps of other properties in the area. Great job Alec."

"Comps?" I asked.

"Other properties we can use as comparisons. A baseline of sorts as to what a regular property might look like as compared to the target property."

"Ahh. On this one there are not as many human guards and I don't see as many drones or drone trails."

"Exactly right. I think we've found our target, and it's time to place some drones of our own."

"Already on it, Liz. Alec and Anthony are going down there on Wednesday to set drones and explore the terrain."

"That would be my call."

"Mine too," Duane said.

After reviewing all the shots Alec sent to us, we were certain this was Teetotaler's property and Wednesday's mission would be a go. The boys would go down there with an Eagle drone and a couple of wasp drones to get us a closer look.

I put a call into Alec and told him to have Anthony and him meet with me at my place tomorrow, to prepare for Wednesday's trip to western Maryland. I thanked him for his great work, and he was really gung-ho to get going.

We closed up shop around nine-thirty, and the three of us went down to have some wine in the sunroom. We were joined by Caroline, who was just getting off her shift as Ronnie was coming on. Before ten-thirty, Lizzie left with Caroline to stay with her for the night. Like me, Lizzie just loves tall brunettes.

Because we'd already spent the evening together evaluating and planning our next step, pillow talk was not so much about business as it was about the golf tournament."

"It makes me uncomfortable when you get so much open exposure. Putting yourself in harm's way is foolish."

"Please, Duane. I'm Hannah Todd, and people have expectations. We are trying to raise funds, and I am the beggar in chief when it comes to the Invitational. Don't worry. I'll have a ton of our people surrounding me. Will you be playing this year?"

"Hell no. I'll be right there by your side. Me and Domingo. If any stranger tries to get close to you, they will have to get past us. Herman is playing, though."

"And Mrs. Krass?"

"Don't you remember? She'll be watching the kids here at home."

"Oh, yeah. Lots on my plate. Can't remember everything."

"But the kids?"

"Hey. All I know is that they won't be there and they will be safe and well cared for at home. That's all that matters to me."

"Except Celeste will be there. I understand she will be acting as her mom's assistant."

"Yeah. Holly won't be golfing this year, just running the whole damned thing along with Missy and Samantha. But don't worry, the little Doc will keep them under control."

"When she's not hanging out at the medical tent. You know how she loves being around the doctors and nurses."

"Yeah. I may hang with her there myself. I just love the vibe."

"How is the divorce coming? You know how eager I am..."

"Just be patient, my man. Holly and I are struggling a bit right now, but I am optimistic that by Thanksgiving we will have something to be thankful for. How does a small Christmas wedding in the city sound?"

"Sounds great to me. But no Judge Cooper?"

"I wouldn't have anyone else. She loves getting down into Philly and I'm thinking of buying out Cramps for the after-party."

"I know you're the bride and all, but I'm a little uncomfortable having our wedding party at a lesbian bar."

"Tough shit, my man. This ismyparty, and you are just an accessory. Problem?"

"No problem. As long as I get the girl, I'm happy."

"And there we are. Kiss me and let's go to sleep. I'm tired as hell, and I'm thinking it's gonna be a long week."

"Is there any other kind?"

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

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

Tuesday morning Alec, Anthony and I met for a late breakfast. After the kids were off to school, and I had had my morning run. The boys were ready to roll, and we had a quick chat about my expectations.

"Alec, do you have the drones you'll need?"

"Yes. I'm bringing an Eagle, which is longer range than the Hawk and will give us better video from up high. We'll also be flying in the commercial lanes which are higher than civilian drones are allowed to go, just to get a wider range of vision and to not draw attention. We'll just do two sweeps with the Eagle. One up and, forty-five minutes later, one back. That will give us a better look than the satellites will. Then we will get close to the target and fly in the wasp drones."

"Yeah," Anthony said. "We are going to park at Indian Springs Rehab, under the guise of RFS officers making a snap inspection of our guards there. In actuality, they know we are coming and will be very squared away. Indian Springs isn't that far from Teetotaler's place. Once the wasps are in, Herb, or whoever is in the Closet, will be able to control them while we take off for home."

"I like that, boys. And I'll be able to see everything?"

"From the comfort of your videoconference room. We'll fetch the Eagle on the way home."

"Sounds like a plan. Go forth and be safe. If we can fly them in and use them prudently, we can get from forty-eight to seventy-two hours of intel before we have to either fly them out or blow them up."

"Aye-aye, ma'am." And off they went.

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

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

Today was to be a very special day for me. I had arranged with Flora, my designer, to send one of her hairdressers over to cut my hair. And not just a trim. I was tired of my longer than shoulder length hair and wanted a new look. A new signature look for my appearance at the Jane Amherst Annual Invitational golf tournament.

Shonda, the gal who cuts my hair and my kids' kinky messes showed up and I was pleased. If anyone could give me what I want, it's her.

"Shonda, we're not trimming today. I want it all gone. Cut it to the quick. Short pixie."

"No, Miss Todd, your long hair is so beautiful. There aren't a lot of real natural blondes around. I'd feel so guilty, and I just know you won't be happy with it."

"I'm not happy with it now, Shon. Besides, I want to preserve the hair to make a wig for those times when I want to wear it long. Can we do that?"

"Are you sure? Absolutely sure?"

"Listen, girl. It's gonna grow back, anyway. If not now, when?"

"Come Sunday, you're gonna shock a lot of people. There's no way we can have a wig made before then. You are going to come as you are."

"Exactly. I'm gonna need more to talk about than young women with the baby blues. Let's give them something else to focus on. Besides, I am far too busy for all this hair. It just gets in the way."

So we reviewed some photos of blondes with pixie haircuts and I picked one that was an absolute boy cut with no hair longer than a couple of inches and very short bangs. It was radical to say the least. In the process of cutting the hair to preserve, she braided my hair in a flat weave and just cut it in two long braids. She wrapped them up for transportation purposes and promised me a wig in the next month or so. Then on with the cut.

She really took her time and left me with very short bangs and a virtually maintenance free hairstyle that I could wash and dry in minutes, as opposed to the almost hour-long routine maintaining my long hair took.

I was pleased when I finally got the chance to look at myself in the mirror, but could hardly recognize the woman I saw. Dom was the first to see it, and his jaw just dropped. He was speechless but gave me a big thumbs-up. His look gave me the assurance that I would both shock people and turn heads. It was far different from Lizzie's short, spiky, platinum blonde hair, and more than a tad softer, which is just what I wanted.

Now it was time for the big test. How would Duane take it? But the next person, after Dom, to see it was Bertha.

"Now look at you, missy. You look ten years younger...if you was a boy."

That didn't hit exactly right, but I went out on the property and walked around. I even got a wolf whistle from one of the guards who did not recognize me. I'll be damned if I'm gonna scold him. It was just what I needed right then and there.

Holly wasn't much better, when she said that I look just like Lizzie now. Fuck her.

Shit. I liked it and that's all that counts. Shonda took some still photos to take home to show Flora my new look. Flora would be coming by on Sunday to make sure both Holly and I were perfect for the tournament. A lot of eyes would be on me, and I wanted to be dressed comfortably but stylishly. She assured me she'd have just the things we needed to look our best and be as cool as possible on what will be a very warm day.

When the kids came home from school, everyone freaked out. Except Celeste who said she was thinking of doing the same thing.

"I get it," she said. "Sometimes a pony tail just isn't enough. And short hair will fit under my swimming cap more easily. Maybe for my birthday, Mommy will let me get it cut."

She'll be ten in a week, and at almost five foot tall, she could pull it off. Being Celeste, she could pull anything off. She hung mostly with Harriet Tuttlehill and her crowd and the fourteen to sixteen-year-old swimmers that were in the age group just below Harriet's. To the unknowing, she often pulled off the fact that she was one of them. In many ways more mature, and almost always smarter. Maybe not almost.

But the real test was yet to come. Duane would be home for dinner tonight, and he was the one I wanted to please the most.

When he walked through the door he looked at me and looked over at Holly and begged her to mind the kids. That he and I had an errand we desperately needed to run.

"It's business, Holly. And I need you to step up." She did.

We jumped into the Navigator and off we went.

"Where are we going, Duane?"

"My place. Problem?"

"Hell no."

Archer and Ninja were working, and they followed in a car of their own, just for security purposes. I knew where we were headed. And I knew why. Glory be.

When we arrived at Duane's house, he pulled into the garage and locked up, and lifted me up and carried me to the bedroom, where he stripped down, stripped me down and fucked my eyeballs out. I can't remember the last time he was more driven. I was hoping it wouldn't be a one off.

"So, Duane. I guess you like my new cut."

"I love it. It's a shame you didn't do it long ago. Although I have to confess I'm feeling a bit gay right now. Maybe Crampsisthe right venue for our wedding event. You are going to rock this town on Sunday when you show up for the golf outing. Heads will turn."

"How do you always know the right thing to say and do? I'm so impr..."

"Let's say I'm highly motivated by a magnificent woman. Go again?"

"You betcha, sport. I'm all in."