The Search for Scorpio

The Search for Scorpio

The Search for Scorpio

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 adventure of Hannah Todd. I would strongly recommend you read at least some of "The Bridge," "Badass," "The Auction," "Simon," "Doyle," "Todd's Odds," and, "The Agents," 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 and your reading experience.

The Search for Scorpio - Part Three

While I'd been working on the Scorpio matter, Duane was downtown doing RFS business. By the time he made it home, the kids were all in bed and out for the night. Another long day for my man, and a day of concerns for me. We'd share them tonight during pillow talk.

I told him that Anthony had been successful in landing an initial interview with our target. I let him know that before Anthony had landed the interview, he hooked up with his old girlfriend, Shelly, up in Paramus to see if he could bunk with her for a while. Anthony is a stud, and one the girls just can't say no to. Shelly was available and willing. And she carried a torch for Anthony something awful.

We talked about the new potential Closet operator, Herb's old friend from the Navy. Duane was impressed but wary of a new person in such a sensitive position. But, trusting my judgment, he said to have my meeting and let him know my impressions. He said that he would follow up with an interview of his own.

Then I let him in on the bad news; the drone that followed us when we were heading to the farm to visit the new prisoners. How it almost crashed into us and we had to shoot it down.

"Do you think it was really following you, or did you just act out of instinct and shoot it down as a precautionary measure?"

"The guys following us spotted it and before giving us a heads up they just shot it down. It looked to be a pigeon drone, and we found no others following us after that."

"They're definitely studying us, Hannah. Does your new potential operator have any drone experience?"

"He worked in electronic warfare in the Navy, but I'm not sure what he's doing for the government now."

"Sounds like the first question I'd ask him."

"Right after I ask him why he wants to join us."

"Do you think we should talk to him together this first time?"

"Let's see what I'm doing on the interview day. I'm sure you can handle the whole thing. After all, who knows what we need better than you?"

"Thank you for your vote of confidence."

That's when I offered myself to him, and he refused. Unusual for him, but I understood. We were both beat, and we snuggled down and just fell asleep in each other's arms.

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It was Thursday, the thirteenth of September, when Anthony called me on my supercell. It was several hours after his meeting with the Scorpio representative, and he was calling from Paramus, which he told his contact was his home. He was originally from the area, so it was a stretch, but not a lie.

He'd noticed it when his contact dropped a bug into his suit jacket pocket and kept his mouth shut and drove directly to Shelly's place in Paramus, where he stripped down, stripped her down and they made love. After which he changed all of his clothes into something more casual and walked out of the apartment to make a call. A call to me.

"Miss Todd, it's Anthony. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you, but I was bugged and couldn't talk. So, I went back to Shelly's and changed. The bug, which is probably a GPS as well, is back at the apartment listening to Shelly make dinner. I shouldn't be away too long. I don't want them to grow suspicious."

"You're right, Anthony. This is part of their vetting process, to see how dirty you are. Did they ask about Peacock?"

"Not at all, and I didn't volunteer. They did, however, ask about my prison record. The whys and wherefores. So, I followed the cover story and let them know about my fake military history and my fake prison time. I think they bought it."

"I'm sure they are following up on it as we speak. Did the guy seem interested?"

"When he found out I had a background as a Navy SEAL he got very interested and said that they don't get many of them. He did, however, say that many of the operators they hire had worked as soldiers of fortune or French Foreign Legionnaires. Almost all of their people have military backgrounds. At least that's what he said. He also said my prison record is not a problem. He said he'd be in touch in a couple of days for a follow-up if they found me to be acceptable."

"Good. Well done. You hang out there with Shelly and enjoy your time off. What did you tell them you were up to now?"

"Out of work merc. I think that was the closer. I think I fit their profile just fine. Any word from Ninja and Archer?"

"They will call tomorrow, Friday. One will call the number you did, and the other will contact through another outfit on the dark web. From what we learned listening to the conversations in Scorpio's office; it's the same outfit with a different outreach. But it all starts with you, Tony Machiafava."

"I'll do my best, ma'am. I'll call with any updates. My suit is hanging up in the closet at Shelly's and the bug in it is still active so I have to watch my mouth when I'm there."

"Well, I'm sure you'll find something innocent and productive to do with that mouth."

"I don't know about innocent, but I've got a few ideas."

"I'll bet you do."

*Click*

Herb had the shift, and I met with him in The Closet. Lizzie was still up with us, and had committed to staying with us in Romansville while we planned and pursued the next mission. Having her counsel and her hand in things was always a help. There was nobody I trusted more than Elizabeth Britain.

"So, Herb, do we have a meeting with your friend?"

"Yep. I cleared it with your calendar, and you will be meeting him for lunch tomorrow. I'm having him picked up and brought up here for your meeting with him."

"Perfect. I expect you will be joining us for this meeting."

"I'd be happy to. Especially if you're serving lunch. I'd kill for one of Bertha's lunches."

"Please, Herb, you're here almost every day. You eat plenty of Bertha's cooking."

"That's right. So I know what I'm in for."

"You're a sneaky devil, Herb. But I like that in my Closet operators."

"You're a card, Miss Todd."

"That's right." Lizzie said. "The Queen of Spades."

Danny arrived to spell Herbert and Lizzie and the four of us huddled in The Closet. It had been a quiet night, so Liz and I walked Herb to his car and hung out on the lanai and smoked a joint. One of Lizzie's, of course. We immediately got a case of the munchies and raided the kitchen.

After two scones and a cup of tea each, we went upstairs to check on the kids. Everyone was asleep, and although little Duane was sleeping, he was being fussy. So, Liz and I picked him up and passed him between us until he was nice and fast asleep. Becca was already asleep in the daybed in the same room as the nursery. She never stirred when we came in to attend to Duane, Jr. Her days aren't easy, but she says she is very satisfied with the work. She is a godsend, and I make sure to thank her for her service every day.

It was nine o'clock and Duane still wasn't home from the Navy Yard, so I called him on his supercell. "Are you gonna be home tonight? I'm starting to worry about you."

"Ronnie and I are on our way now. I'm about forty-five minutes out from home. Have you eaten?"

"I ate with Lizzie and the kids tonight. And I just smoked a joint with Liz. So, I'm ready for anything."

"Well, I'm ready for bed. It's been a long, fuckin' day."

"Come home to Mama, Duane. I'll make it all better."

"Right now, a blanket and pillow sound about right for now."

"Are you putting me off again? I'm starting to think you don't love me."

"I will love you until the moon falls from the sky and plummets to earth. I will love you..."

"Yeah, yeah. Talk is cheap. Don't worry, Lizzie's here. Mama will be just fine."

"You betcha!" Lizzie called out.

"Just leave room on the bed for this old salt. 'Cause I'm coming home and crawling in."

"You do that, my man. I'll be here to tuck you in."

"See you soon, my love."

"Mwah," I threw him a kiss.

"Liz."

"Yes, Queen Bee?"

"To the hot tub."

"Yes, my queen." And off we scurried to the en suite in my bedroom and into the hot tub.

I'd taken to wearing heels to give me height, because at 5'6" I'm alright, but at 5'9" I am a force to be reckoned with. But my feet ached, and the best cure for that is time in the hot tub with my dearest friend. Her foot rubs are not to be believed, and I needed one right now.

We finished about half of a second joint and Lizzie flushed the rest of it down the toilet. Then we took our positions in the hot tub, and she rubbed and rubbed me. I felt like I was going to fall asleep in the tub. Lizzie startled me awake with a question.

"Hannah, why don't you run drills at home? Given the fact that we know what is about to happen, don't you think we should be uber prepared for what is coming?"

"You know, you're right. As much as we have encouraged our clients to install safe rooms in their homes and led them in drills on a regular basis, I have neglected that at home. Although we did have the opportunity to put our emergency plan in action, the last time someone hit this place, we should be doing regular drills, including a good wake-up drill on the weekend. And you're right. Sooner is better than later."

"Let's do it in the next couple of days, Han. If we do it successfully, it will take one more of the many things on your mind and put it to rest. And we're talking about the ones you love the most. So let's make it count."

"Agreed. We'll do it tomorrow when the kids get home from school and are engrossed in their homework. Don't even tell Bertha. You can explain it all to everyone after the drill is done. They'll get it."

"I guess we'll see. Tomorrow it is, then."

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On Friday, it rained. We couldn't have been more delighted after more than a month. And it didn't just rain, it poured. Overnight and into midday it just poured. It filled all the rainwater collection buckets to overflowing, and they had been bone dry for most of the last month.

I had plans with Liz to go out to the prison to visit with Dieter Rose. He knew things about Scorpio, and I wanted to know what those things were. Or was that just wishful thinking?

We left in the morning while it was still raining rather heavily. That would eliminate the threat of drones following us, as they do not fare very well in heavy rain. We arrived at the ranch about the time that the rain started to lighten up. I took that as a good sign.

Claudia was set to arrive over the weekend to help me fulfill some promises I'd made for information received from a couple of my inmates. I would use her as bait to persuade Rose to fill me in on the bandit we have come to know as Scorpio.

When we arrived at the ranch, Rose had already been cut from the herd and was in an upstairs bedroom awaiting my arrival.

"Good morning, Dieter," I said as I walked into the room with Lizzie and Domingo. "Today we talk about my new favorite subject, and you tell me all you know. And when Claudia gets here tomorrow, you're the one who doesn't have to settle for sloppy seconds."

"What would you have me say?" Rose answered. "And what do I get for saying it? Have you consideredmyoffer?"

"I'm afraid you ask for too much. You know, by releasing you, I put myself in peril. Until I can overcome that obstacle, I cannot grant that wish."

"Can you get me away from all these people who seem to hate me so much?"

"That you brought on yourself. It seems you had a good working relationship with half of your mates downstairs. What happened to that?"

"Must be my bipolar depression. It tends to rub people the wrong way."

"Tell me, Dieter. Am I wasting my time with you, 'cause I'd just as soon send you back downstairs on half rations and allow you to suffer your mania and depression in good company. Company that will be sooooo sympathetic to your needs."

"You taunt me, Miss Todd. What is my best deal? Whatcanyou offer me?"

"I can put you back on full rations, with an extra treat on occasion. I can allow you the comfort of a woman who just loves sex... on occasion. And I can let you out of your cage, on occasion, to go outside and breathe some fresh air. Isn't that enough?"

"I guess it will have to be. I have information for you, but it's old. I haven't dealt with the Scorpio organization for over seven years. When I had dealings with them, it was for fencing services. They were hitting some of the richer homes in the Southeastern Pennsylvania area and into New Jersey and Delaware at times. It was your typical home invasion with a smash and grab element. They took everything that wasn't nailed down and fenced much of it through me. But then they just stopped doing business with me, about seven years ago."

"Why did they stop?"

"They found a new way of doing business. They would abduct the head of household or one of their children and ransom them off. I understand they got pretty good at it. After that, I never heard from them."

"Location, Mr. Rose?" Lizzie asked.

"Dunno. I never did business with them at their location. I always assumed they were in Southeastern Pennsylvania somewhere. We used to do business over the dark web and using gold or cryptocurrency accounts. I never even got to see the dude. Just his henchmen when they would deliver the goods or pick up payment, if it was made in gold."

"Well, Rose, you've told me nothing I can use. What can you tell me that is useful?"

"I can tell you this. If he's got you in his sights, he is already watching you closely and is closer than you think. He comes at you heavily and takes what he wants. After that, all you can do is agree to his demands."

This gave me pause. Even Rose appeared to be afraid of this guy, even in his captivity he showed signs of fearing this man.

"Why so afraid, Dieter. I'm going to get him and I'm not going to let him get you. So tell me more about your old friend, Scorpio."

"Business associate, but not a friend. There's not much to tell except he's had great success and is far from being caught. I have no idea where to find him or what you will find when and if you get there. When do I see Claudia?"

"Tomorrow. You get to go first. But I want you to keep in mind that if you stop being helpful each time with Claudia is potentially your last. Understood?"

"Understood."

I reached into my purse and pulled out a granola bar and threw it at him. He caught it and gave me a big smile.

"You're back on full rations for now, and that is your treat."

"Thank you, Miss Todd."

"Eat it now. I don't want your mates downstairs to expect the same treatment."

He gobbled the granola bar down like he hadn't had a decent meal for weeks. I guess because he hadn't.

I had the guards take him back downstairs to join the other prisoners, but I had one more piece of business before I left. The guards had brought Simon up and he was now locked in one of the other bedrooms awaiting my arrival.

"Hello, Simon," I said. "It's time we talked. And I want to talk about your needs versus mine. It seems I'm taking care of your needs and I'm not getting a decentquid pro quofrom you. Now that's just not fair. Now it's time to dig deep, Simon, 'cause payment is due."

A look of concern came over his face. His usually cocky expression was gone and I could all but hear the wheels turning in his head about what was to come next.

"Simon, my request is simple. Give me everything you know about Scorpio or a way to find out about him. I know you cannot reach your resources right now, but with the key that you can provide me, maybe I can."

"I doubt it."

"Listen you!" I shouted at him. "Of all my prisoners your lot is the best. For God's sake, you're having more sex than I am and let me tell you, I resent that. And it's gonna stop if you don't fuckin' cooperate. Do you get it?"

"I'm not sure. Haven't I been feeding you a whole bunch of information? Hasn't that been enough?"

"Not anymore. Things have changed. My safety has been threatened and that of my family.I will not have it!You and your little girlfriend aren't going to be seeing much of each except from across the aisle. No more huggy-kissy and no more ass for you. Think on it, Simon, because the more worried I get the more I'm going to take it out on you. And Frankie suffers too."

"If I knew anything, I would tell you. Have I held back at all, so far?"

"Well, it's a whole new ballgame, Simon. I don't care how you come up with it, I want more on Scorpio. And the sooner the better."

We went to leave, but before I exited the room I turned around and said, "You'll be spending twenty-three hours a day with your hands cuffed behind you. We'll only free you to eat. And you can look across the room at Frankie sitting in her cell wondering what went wrong when you two miss getting your conjugal visits. She's going to learn to hate you when I tell her it's your fault."

He sat there grumbling, but said nothing more. So we took off and let the guards deal with him.

As we drove back home, Lizzie was the first to speak up.

"Hannah, maybe he just knows nothing. You can't discount that."

"Listen, Liz. I cannot accept that I've got nine of the most corrupt people in the Delaware Valley and beyond in the basement and none of them knows anything about a very successful home invader and kidnapper. Somebody knows something."

"Peacock is probably your best shot, Han. If this Scorpio is local, Peacock is the one who covered this area for his organization. He should be your focus."

"I don't know, Liz. He's been pretty compliant and I would think that..."

"See, that's just what he wants you to do. He gives a little but I'm sure he's holding back a lot. I think you should let Avi get hold of him and pump him good. And if Rose knows something, so does his boss, Deacon Peacock."

"Do you think I should double back and take a shot at him this afternoon?"

"Nah. The kids are almost home from school, and Georgie wants to show me some things at The Farm and the Greenhouse. Sic Avi on him. He'll know what to do."

When we got home, the kids had just arrived and were playing in the front yard. All except for Celeste, who was in the pool house, swimming. Georgie grabbed Lizzie's hand and dragged her to The Farm where everything was getting ready for the harvest. Dom's son was there waiting for them. He always joins us at harvest time when we need extra hands.

Herb's friend, Heath Sterling, had to put off his appointment with me, and we would get to it early next week. I wanted him on my team before we had to confront Scorpio's people.

Holly was home, and she came down from the home office, where she had been working, and joined me in the sunroom where we had tea and watched the kids playing outside. Everyone was in a great frame of mind and totally unprepared for what we were about to spring on them.