The Bridge - Ch 26 - A lot like...

The Bridge - Chapter Twenty-Six - A lot like Christmas

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 copy written by the author. All characters involved in sexual activity are eighteen years of age or older at the time of portrayal.

This work will, at times, contain instances of lesbian sex, pregnancy, interracial sex, chastity, group sex, Dominance and submission, tattoos and piercings, slavery, intrigue, action, romance and affection. There are also threats of violence and a fair amount of heroism and family love and fun.

I have put this into the Lesbian Sex category because it is where I seem to be getting the most hits. Also, that's where the sex is in this one. Your positive ratings and comments, positive or negative, are welcome and appreciated. If you have read this story from the beginning, I would like to thank you. I hope someone is enjoying reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.

Chapter 26 - A lot like Christmas

I woke up to screaming babies and children in need of getting dressed and fed before school. Duane, as has become the norm of late, was gone. Probably already at the Navy Yard. I made a quick bathroom run and before I knew it, I had a coffee cup in my hand and the kids were out the door with Avi and Anthony. When I came into the kitchen after the kids were off, Bertha greeted me with a stern look and the words that I could not wait to hear. "Full breakfast for you, missy, how do you want your eggs?"

"Bertha, you're the best." I said, as I watched little Ellie scooting around in her little sit me up seat that she was padding around in."

"Are you okay, missy? You've been looking pretty stressed lately. I think you are stretching yourself out too thin and it's having an effect on you."

"Ya think?"

"Go look in the mirror. You're a beautiful girl, Hannah Todd. You better take some time to cool off, I can see how it's taking its toll. I'd hate to see you turn into an old lady before your time."

"Thanks, Bertha. You're a love. I'll take it under advisement."

"You really should," Holly said as she came into the kitchen. "I'm surprised Duane hasn't said something."

"Is it really that bad?"

"No, but I can see it heading in that direction."

Holly was making a comeback, so I took her at her word. "What do you think I should do?"

"You should let your people run your companies for a month and you and Duane should take a long vacation. Away from the kids too. You both need it."

This coming from Holly blew me away. But not totally. She appears to have accepted the depth of mine and Duane's relationship, and was now focusing her attention on being a housewife and mother to the five kids. I was becoming not only wife to Duane, but husband to Holly and father to the kids. It was strange, but felt right. More than anything, though, I was happy Holly was finding her happy place.

She's started taking the social planning away from Lizzie, fortunately, because Liz was very busy with Recovery and Acquisition. She also got more involved with Celeste's swimming when it occurred to her that this kid really does have a shot at the big time. Her friendship with Gloria Tuttlehill grew stronger, as she spent more and more time there with Celeste. Something that would happen until our pool was completed.

Holly also ended up close with Peggy, as she would accompany Herman to Celeste's meets. They would sit together and nobody would cheer harder for Cee Cee than Peggy. Excuse me, Aunt Peggy. One time Peggy was over and braided her hair. She had her best race ever. After that, every time she would visit Ceece would ask her if she could do her hair and every time she did. It got to the point where she would insist that Peggy be there to braid her hair. One time Peg gave her a two tailed French Braid. A tight one. Cee Cee loved it and swam her best race ever with that hairstyle. I told her that we'd have the hairdresser over before she raced to do it, but she insisted that Aunt Peggy do it. Races were all on the weekends and Peggy had weekends off, and during the racing season Herman and Peggy built their Saturdays around Celeste's racing schedule. And their budding releationship. Of course.

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December came and I was spending most of my time at home, either tending to the kids or running things from what I call the 'Mother Ship,' my home office. Holly had moved out of the office and was running household and social affairs off her laptop on the small desk that Bertha used in her kitchen, which they were now sharing. The other desk in my office lay empty, except for occasional use by Lizzie or Duane. Occasionally Herman, as well. I still took the occasional in-person meeting down at the Navy Yard, and at Larry and Linnie's office, but mostly I took advantage of being the boss. Believe me, I got the job done. I didn't need to be in someone's presence to give them a good dressing down, a rare occurrence with my people.

Saturday, December Fourth, would be the last meet of the season for Cee Cee, and we would all be there. Harriet wasn't racing this week but she would be there for Celeste. As would Herman and Peg. I was hanging in the video conference room watching videos of my hit squad practicing for the upcoming execution of Clyde Makoo. They looked great, but they always do. They were ready and I was going to put Herman in charge of the operation. But he preempted me. My supercell went off and it was him. He is so my guy. He even knows when I am thinking about him.

"Herman. What's up, my friend?"

"Hannah, I have a favor to ask. A big one. I know I have to ask Holly, but I wanted to ask you first... get your feedback."

"Sure, Herm. Whatcha got?"

"Peg and I were talking, and after Celeste's meet, we'd like to take her downtown to spend the night with us. You know, take her out to dinner, show her around Peggy's neighborhood, that sort of thing."

"I love it. I'm not sure where Holly stands on this kind of thing, but I like it. Would you consider taking Holly along with you?"

"I guess. But I really wanted this to be a bonding experience between my two best girls."

"Let me call you back, Herm. I'm gonna go down and talk to Ms. Bernstein right now."

"Thanks, Hannah. I can't tell you how important it is to me that these two get along."

"Trust me, my friend, I can tell already."

"Thanks again. Let me know."

I didn't hesitate for a second. Neither did Holly. "Of course. When Celeste hears that she will be so happy. I'll bet she will swim her best race ever. And she did, with her tight braids and her hours and hours of practice, she won her class in the fifty-meter crawl, and blew everyone away in the fifty-meter breast stroke. It wasn't even close. She was also scheduled to compete in the hundred-meter breast stroke, one of the toughest races for girls this age. One lap up and one lap back. She, Herman and Harry had been working on the endurance aspect of the hundred meters, which was a stretch at this age. Herman told her, "If you can make it, you can win it." She made it her mantra.

When the race was about to start, Herman called Celeste and went over to her. Holding her hands he was talking to her and then he whispered something into her ear. She smiled, put her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. Holly, Peggy and I all went, 'Ahhh.'

She lined up with the four other qualifying contenders and when the gun went off, they were all in the pool in a heartbeat. And they were breast stroking their little hearts out. Celeste immediately jumped out in front, but her main competitor, a girl a year older, five pounds heavier and an inch taller than her was right on her six. Celeste hit the wall and a half length later the girl hit it and she was still on her tail. Holly and I looked at each other, like it didn't look like Cee Cee was gonna do it this time. Then when she was about four strokes off the wall, Herman said, "Watch this." He knew something we didn't, of course, and Celeste turned on the jets, and pulled away from the girl, beating her by two lengths. When she put on those jets everyone was screaming. Who was screaming the loudest, the one you could hear anywhere at the pool. Peggy Olszewski. And when Cee Cee came out of the pool, happy and victorious, the first arms around her were Peggy's.

Peggy wrapped a towel around her and took her into the locker room to change. Holly looked at me and she was wearing a sad face. "Why so glum, Hol? Celeste had an all-star performance today. She was the best swimmer out there."

"Hannah, I feel like I'm being replaced. Like I don't belong anymore. Duane took you away from me and now Herman and Peggy are taking my baby. I feel so alone. Nobody wants me anymore.'

"Holly Bernstein, you shut your mouth. Right now. How dare you get in the way of Celeste living her best life. Neither you nor I can give our children everything they need in life. They will need more, from others. Look at what Herman has done. He has poured his heart and soul into her. If he were her father, he couldn't love her more, or be prouder. Get your head out of your ass, Holly. Get with the program."

"As always, you're right Hannah. Dr. Como and I have been talking about my attachment issues and my underlying fear of losing everybody and everything in my life. Hannah, I already almost did."

"Back up, Holly. You never lost anything and I guarantee you never will. When we found out you were in trouble we came running. And now the guy that brought you that trouble can bring you no more. If something were to happen to me you would be one of the richest women in Chester County with one of the most powerful organizations and the very best advisors in the region behind you. Your daughter thinks the sun rises and sets on you and will love you till the day she dies, many, many years from now. My kids too. Like you were their own mother. You have at the very least, dozens of friends, and hundreds of acquaintances. You are beautiful, talented, kind and intelligent. Let's not get so dramatic, Hol. You'll be fine."

"Still issues to work out, Hannah. What I..."

"Nobody knows that better than me. But we will work on them together. Holly, I love you. I have never and will never stop. No matter what happens with me and Duane. Children or not."

"But you have his babies. I can never give you that. I can never even make love to you anymore. I just..."

"Hold up my love. I know about your issues. I've been in the middle of it the whole time. What I did to Peace Dunbar was not an act of vengeance, it was an act of love. My love for you. It was the depth of that love that drove me to extreme action. I'm sorry if exposing you to that has hurt your therapy."

"On the contrary, I think it has made it easier. I have not yet told either Dr. Como or Dr. Pasquale about that. Even I know that isn't a good idea."

"If it gets to the point where you need to confess, let me know and I will do everything in my power to make that process as comfortable for you as possible."

"Thanks, Hannah. Yes. Cee Cee going with Herman could be great. I trust Peggy with her and I think the three of them will have a great time. Can I tell her?"

"I think that would be more than appropriate. But don't tell her, Hol. Ask her."

"Right. Wise again."

We were all waiting at the entrance of the pool when Celeste and Peggy approached us from the locker room. No trophies this time, but Celeste had three little gold-ish medals hanging around her neck. We all cheered and clapped, and she threw her arms around her Mommy and gave her a big kiss, showing her the medals up close and putting a big smile on Holly's face. Peggy looked over at me and then at Holly. Holly gave her a wink and a nod, and Peggy pointed to Celeste. Holly told them to enjoy and she bent down on her knee and asked Celeste if she wanted to spend the night tonight and tomorrow in South Philly with Peggy and Herman.

"Really? Can I? Yes, yes, yes!" Please, mommy, can I go?"

When Holly said, "Of course, dear. Enjoy." It took a lot of strength, but the effect it had on Celeste assured Holly that she had chosen correctly. Celeste gave her a giant hug and kiss, then she ran over to Herman and Peggy and looked up. "Can I?"

"It was my idea." Herman said.

"It was?" And she put her arms around his legs and hugged him. He lifted her tiny frame into his massive arms and gave her a firm, but gentle hug.

Dinner was at our house, but it was just us. We dropped Harriet off at home on the way. But not before she told Celeste how very proud, she was of her and that today was her best swim ever. It was. Her fifty meter-breast stroke was a full two seconds off her best time. Something was happening, and Herman noticed it before any of us. He was sure she had what it takes to make it to the Olympics and has, more than once, vowed that if takes every ounce of his strength, she will get there and she will be victorious.

After dinner, Holly, Peggy, Celeste and Georgia went upstairs to pack up for her weekend. When they finished, she looked up at Herman, and said, "Let's go." And they did. Everybody got hugged and kissed, and off they went. As they drove down the driveway, Herman driving, Danny, our ex-cop, sitting shot gun and the girls in the back talking about today's races.

The couple brought Celeste home Sunday afternoon about an hour before dinner. She was smiling broadly the whole time she told us about her tour of South Philly, the Mummer's Museum, the Polish American String Band Clubhouse in Port Richmond, and how when she arrived two banjo players serenaded her. On the way back to Peggy's they stopped at the 9th Street Markets and picked up some wonderful Italian things for dinner. She marveled at all the sights and the smells, especially the Cheese shop; with all its smells and the samples they gave out. Nineth street is where Peggy bought Celeste a tee shirt that said, 'South Philly Girl.' When she got home, she was wearing it over her sweat shirt. All in all, it was a wonderful time. That's when Peggy gained full acceptance to the family. That's when we started the pool.

When will Herman pop the question? To all of us who know and love Herman, it was just a matter of time. So, Holly created a grid for the months from January to June. Nobody thought it would take any longer. Most didn't think it would take that long, and many picked days in January and February, with Valentine's Day being a favorite. But I had the inside track. I picked May 3rd. That was Peggy's birthday, and if I know my Herman, that's when he'll do it. I was sure.

Bertha was off today, so dinner was on me. I made it easy. "Who want's chicken and French fries from the Chicken Coop?" Well, the kids certainly do. So, I put in the order and served it with the remains of Les McKelly's coleslaw when Danny brought it in. All through dinner Celeste could not shut up about her weekend. And it was Aunt Peggy this, and Aunt Peggy that. I was starting to wonder if my pool pick was too far away. As Celeste talked about her, Herman looked at Peggy with love in his eyes. I'd never seen him look at a woman like that. Usually, he was guarding her and never looked at all. But he was looking at Peggy Olszewski. And she was looking back. He never had a chance. She already had him hooked. The Queen was happy. Happy that her best Knight had found his own queen.

Herman and Peggy helped with the kids. They read together and got them ready and tucked them in at bedtime. I told Duane and Herman that before the couple leave, I want a minute with my two leading men. Peggy went downstairs with Holly, and the boys and I went to the office. I sat down in my chair and looked at them as they sat in the chairs facing me.

"The floor is yours." Duane said to me.

"Boys, it's time. I want Makoo dead by the end of the week. I'm going to go see Becky this week and test the waters. If she's a go, we do this before the weekend. If not, I'm going to rethink and maybe do it anyway without her. We'll just have someone else do the dirty part."

"I don't know," Herman said, "She may be a bad ass biker chick, but I don't know if she has it in her. And the real hard part is breaking her out of the hospital without anyone knowing."

"Are we prepared to take her up there and if she can't do it, do it for her? Do you have my short redhead to replace her?"

"The squad sees that as the most likely scenario. The only one who thinks she'll do it is Caroline. And she's absolutely sure. So, we are going with that as Plan 'A' and someone else bringing it to conclusion as Plan 'B.'"

"I like it. I think I'll go down to Maryland on Tuesday and let's plan on meeting as a team on Wednesday, do a last run through, and doing the deed on Thursday. Doable?'

"Done." They both said.

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I called Becky Gaffney on Monday to discuss moving forward with Makoo, and told her I'd be down tomorrow. She said she is almost sorry it's that time as she is having so much fun on the feed watching him not get laid. I got a kick out of that.

Tuesday, when I got to Indian Springs with Duane, Ronnie and Caroline, Becky was waiting for us. Fortunately, although it was a bit cloudy, it was mild so we bundled up as much as we needed to, and took a walk around the property. I did not want to be anywhere where our conversations could be listened to or monitored in any way. Of course, Becky was wearing Quay's colors.

The first thing she asked was about Hanger, and I told her that the last time I talked to him was the last time she talked to him. But then I told her we have to get down to business. And we did.

We talked as we walked, and I outlined the risks and the downside of what we were embarking on. It did not put her off one bit. When I asked her if she still wanted to be the one to do the job, she said, "Absolutely." Like she never intended anything else. She just expected it. We didn't tell her, but we were ready if she backed out at the last minute. Caroline had practically begged me to be the backup to Becky. I immediately gave her the job with the hopes she doesn't need to do it.

"Car. I want you to go in with Becky when she does it. You'll be our live witness and try to get some good close shots of Mr. Makoo's end."

"I'm in. Should I latex up too?"

"It wouldn't hurt."

"Latex?"

"Becky," I said, "while you are flying from Maryland to the Poconos, we will be dressing you down to your skivvies, and dressing you up head to toe in latex. There's gonna be a lotta blood, girl. After the deed is done, Caroline is going to throw you in the shower and wash you both down. Then, while you are making your escape, the latex will come off, back into your pajamas and before you know it, you will be lying in your bed here at Indian Springs. There won't be a trace that you just bludgeoned someone to death. You gonna be okay with the blood?"

"I've made it through seven years of periods. Better the blood should be flowing out of him than me."

"Good point. But it's different, Beck."

"I only hope I'm on my period when we do this. Just make me angrier and more bitter."

"Don't make it about anger and don't make it about revenge. I just recently told someone I love that something I did on her behalf was not an act of vengeance, but an act of love. My love for Holly."

"You killed somebody?"

I put my finger to my lips and said, "Shhh." She giggled. We discussed the elements of the plan, especially those regarding abducting her from Indian Springs Country Estate. We went over it and over it again. She would not have a very active role, but she would have to be aware of each step coming in order to expedite the mission. By the time we were done, I thought she really had it. We'll see on Thursday night.

On Wednesday I spoke to Becky again and she hadn't moved off her position. She was doing it. So, I met with the squad on Wednesday night and they laid it all out, warts and all. Avi did the math and predicted an eight percent failure risk, if Maryland goes right. If not, the risk jumps up to over twenty percent. But Avi said that couple of our operators are working at the facility, as I persuaded them to take four guards for free for two months to see if I could snake their business away from their current security company. And one of the guards on duty is going to pave our way in and out.

We would be working with a virtual stranger, although Herman took the pains to introduce the girl he calls, 'Little Patty' to as many squad members as possible. Patty was five foot two and a half on her best day. A flaming redhead, with a cute little body, and a little better than plain face. She saw herself as an adventurer and a bit of a badass for someone so small. She did a two-year trial enlistment in the Army, something offered because they were so hard up for troops, but never reenlisted for a full term of four years. She was unmarried and unattached. She also was a gun owner and boxer, who has fought and won several fights in the Bantamweight class. We wanted her for this one job, but decided it would be wiser if we keep her on in RFS in some capacity.

On Thursday, our D-Day, I talked to Becky a couple times in the morning and once in the afternoon. She still sounded cool as a cucumber. I told her to eat an early dinner and go right to her room, and call me from there. That's when the ball starts to roll. At two o'clock, the helicopter landed a mile outside Indian Springs and my 'A' team, Avi, Anthony and Alec, with Little Patty in hand, got out and put themselves in place. Caroline would wait with Duane in the chopper.

The sun set at a little before five, and Becky had been in her room for an hour, having eaten at four. Avi said over the comm-link that it's a go, and Caroline called Becky on her supercell, and told her to get ready.

Minutes later Avi came in followed by Alec, who was carrying Little Patty. He dropped her on her feet, she threw off her coat and jumped under the covers when Becky jumped out. Alec, picked up Becky, and behind Avi, who cleared the way, off they went, through the woods and into to car and off to the helicopter, followed by Anthony who had their rear. Avi, Alec and Anthony ran all the way. These guys train for this kind of stuff, so it was easy.

When they got to the helicopter, everyone got strapped in but Caroline and Becky, who were tasked at getting Becky into the latex body suit. Caroline was already in hers. It took the poor girls half an hour to get her squeezed into it, but the girls prevailed, strapped in and prepared for the next leg of the journey.

As they travelled, they maintained contact with the ground team in the Poconos, which were Herman, Domingo and Ronnie. It was their job to monitor the house Makoo was in and be ready to breech when Becky arrives with the Maryland contingency. I was on the comm-link, but this was Herman and Caroline's baby. Everyone was dressed in black, with black Balaclava's over their faces.

When Caroline called ahead to Herman to say they were three minutes out, Herman gave the signal to take out the two lookouts on the front porch, which Ronnie did with a silenced sniper rifle. He got two of them in two seconds, and then, just as Becky, Caroline and the Triple 'A' got there, Herman gave the order to breech, and they did.

Like a couple of bull elephants, Herman and Domingo hit the door first and took out two guys who were looking to get hostile. There were two more in the kitchen, but before they could reach their guns their hands were up in surrender. Makoo was in the back bedroom, and Caroline and Domingo had him pinned against the wall, each holding a 9 mm. pistol to his head. "Strip!" Caroline demanded. And Big Dom let him go long enough for him to get himself down to his boxers. "Everything!" Caroline screamed in his face. Man was he shaking. But the shaking was just beginning.

Then something he didn't expect happened. As Dom had his arms wrapped around him, Caroline got down on her knees and pulled a remote control out from under her latex top. She hit a couple of buttons and everyone heard a loud click, coming from Makoo's groin. Caroline slipped the CockMate and its retainer off and Makoo's cock and balls were freed. For now. Avi came in and took the device from his team mate, and out the door he went. Then Caroline and Dom handcuffed Makoo's hands behind his back, and then ankle cuffed him so he couldn't walk. Then Caroline pushed him down on the bed, on his back. "Move and it gets ugly." He didn't."

With a very menacing Domingo watching over Makoo, Caroline departed the room. Becky was there, all in black latex, except for the Balaclava over her face. "You ready for this, sister?"

"Watch me."

The two women entered the room where the confused and very, very frightened Makoo was visibly shaking. Caroline silently signaled Domingo to go and out he went. And then there were three. Makoo looked up at the very tall woman, obviated by her shape, and the very short woman, obviated by her shape and stature. A child maybe.

Makoo looked up at them and started to ask, "Who..."

"Shush!" Caroline said, and she looked over at Becky, and the little gal pulled off her balaclava and brought her face as close to his as she dared. "You asshole, motherfucker, do you know who I am? Who am I, Malcolm? What's my name? Tell me Malcolm, what's my name?"

"I-I-I..."

"It's not about you, Malcolm. It's about the hundreds of girls, not women, girls, you tortured, and raped, and bought and sold, and beat and maimed and drove out of their fucking minds. And I'm here for not one of them, but for all of them. Look at me, Malcolm. Say my name!"

"I-I-I don't..."

"Don't you dare say you don't know it. 'Cause that's how bad gets worse. Look at me, Master, with my flaming red hair and tiny tits. You used to pimp me out as if I was a twelve-year-old. Disgusting. Tell me, Malcolm, WHAT'S MY FUCKING NAME!!!"

"Please, please, let's work a deal. I have lots of money. We can be partners in one of my ventures."

"I don't think so. You know what? I think this is a job for Carver. Carver has a way of getting information from people. I'm certain Carver can do the job." She nodded to Caroline, who walked to the door, opened it and in a moment turned with something in her hand. The tall woman held it out in both hands and offered it to the smaller one. It was a Twelve-Inch Shan Zu Carving and Slicing Knife. It sure looked big in those tiny little hands. And Makoo started to sweat profusely, and tears were flowing from his eyes and he was pleading.

"Okay. String him up." Becky said. And Caroline called in Dom again and they cuffed his hands to the ring in the headboard of the big four poster bed, designed for Makoo to bind and torture his poor sweet victims. The Becky Gaffney's of this world. Once he was secured up top, they undid the cuffs on his one leg and secured it to the corner of the bed. Then Caroline took the other leg and pulled it to the other corner to cuff, but it wasn't being as cooperative. So, Dom grabbed it and pulled while Caroline cuffed him up. He was howling the entire time. And his legs were taut. You could have bounced a quarter off his belly, if you could find a quarter these days.

The whole time my troops were getting him trussed up, Makoo was begging and pleading for some kind of deal. He would make her rich beyond her wildest dreams; he would get her an acting gig and make her famous; he would fly her around the world and show her around the very best places. The only thing he would not be able to do is to get her to acquiesce. She was on a mission. "What's my name?" She screamed in his face.

Then, Caroline helped Becky put on her latex hood that covered everything but her eyes, nose and mouth, and started the clock. "Five minutes, Tiny. Not a second more. I'll be back in in a minute or so." And she turned and walked out the door. It was just Becky and Makoo. And you could say she had him at a disadvantage. The sweat was pouring off of him. "Pleeeeeeeeease, have mercy. Please, let's work this out."

Becky swished that big scary looking knife around as she walked around the bed surveying the situation. She'd rest it on his nose as she went upon her diatribe about the evil he has brought upon this earth and vile piece of shit he is. "Stories went around about how you cut some poor girl's nipples off. You motherfucker." And she leaned over and grabbed right nipple and pulled it up. "This is for her." And she sliced that nipple off in one fell swoop. Boy, was he howling. And she hadn't even gotten to the dick. But I expect it's coming. But it better come soon. Caroline stuck her head in the door. "Three minutes. Get it done." And she closed the door. Don't worry, we were getting plenty of video from the Bumblebee that's been sitting in Makoo's room since yesterday keeping an eye and ear on him.

She grabbed his cock and gave it a very firm squeeze and he let out a yelp. She held it out and ran the knife up and down it like a barber would with a razor on a leather strop.

"Make it hard for me Master. Show your little slave girl what a powerful Master she has. Please Master, make it hard."

"I-I-I... it can't get hard I'm to..."

"Too much of a chicken shit, Malcolm? Maybe I can help." And she started to kiss and caress his penis and despite the obvious tension, it started to rise in response to her attentions. Then she went all out blow job mode and in no time he was standing erect, hard as a rock.

That's when Caroline walked back in the room and said, "Two minutes. Get it done."

Upon hearing that, Becky raised that big knife over her head and plunged it into his left thigh. He went nuts and started to bleed. A lot. But she left it buried there and continued berating him and taunting him. Then she got to the point.

"Tell me who Quay Wilkes is, Malcolm. Tell me!"

"I don't know, I don't know. Let me go. Please, please, please."

"Oh, I'm gonna let you go alright, Malcolm, or Makoo, or whoever the fuck you are."

She grabbed his cock and his balls in her left hand and with her right she held that knife.. Well, the way the next two minutes proceeded went in such a way that cannot be described in this forum.

"Quay Wikkes, motherfucker. He died like a man, trying to save his woman. You will die with no balls; the way you lived your life. Let his be the last name you hear, you piece of garbage."

Then it was Caroline and Anthony's turn. They dumped about five gallons of gasoline on him and in the room All that came from his throat were silent screams. As we left several more gallons of gas were spread around the house.

Caroline took a bunch of snaps and then grabbed Becky's hand and said, "Time to go girlfriend. To the shower to wash this blood off and we are outta here." And that's exactly what happened. When they came out of the shower, they looked in at the open door to Makoo's room, he was bleeding and still gasping for breath. When Becky asked Caroline if they should finish him off, she said, "Nah. What we're doing next will do the job."

As everyone exited the house and moved to the vehicles, Caroline lit a torch and threw it in the front door as far as she could. The place burst into flames. After the flames really started to consume the house, we called it in. By then Becky was on her way back to her suite at Indian Springs and the team would soon be heading home. Herman ordered everyone to disperse, and that debrief would be tomorrow at ten at the Greenhouse.

Lizzie and I had seen the whole thing from the video conference room. I had four drones on one screen, six operators on another and Malcolm's bedroom in the middle. One thing I never mention about the video conference room is the five television screens above the doorway in. They are programmed to seek out current and breaking news and with the help of one of our AI programs, we can separate they bullshit from the real deal.

While Duane was in mid-flight to Maryland, with Becky, I called him up and he patched me into the intercom in the chopper. "Becky, how are you doing, my girl?"

"Just happy to get out of that damned latex suit." Everyone got a good laugh out of that.

"How's your head?"

"Good. I feel like I'm saving the world."

"You are certainly saving some of it, Beck. What you did tonight you did for many, many girls who could not be here to do it. And there are many in the future that will never find themselves under the thumbs of vile creatures such as Clyde Makoo ever again because of your bravery. I love you, Becky Gaffney. You are my hero. Get better and come home to us soon."

"I promise."

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Friday morning was getting the kids dressed, fed and off to school, and of course deal with the twins. Today, though was a very different battle for me. Little Duane would not let go today. He had to have his mommy, and if I got three feet away from him, he wailed and threw a tantrum. He didn't need my tit. But he wouldn't let Becca give him a bottle, or Aggie or Holly. Only me. It was all about me today. And that is how I'd play it.

When I came down, in my jeans and Royce sweatshirt and my little man in my arms. Bertha turned my bacon and eggs into a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, so I could hold it in one hand while I've got Duanee in the other. I tried twice to pass him off to Lizzie and once to Bertha, to no avail. So, I bundled up after breakfast and bundled up my little man, and walked down to the Greenhouse, followed by Lizzie with two cups of coffee.

It was still twenty till ten, so everyone wasn't here yet. So, I chatted with Caroline and Ronnie and tried to hand him of to her, but he just wasn't having it. And he is crazy about Caroline. I think he really likes the big girls. But not today. Today, this little gentleman prefers blondes.

"As everyone filtered in the love fest went on. Everyone wanted to kitzy with my little man. But he clung today, and I had no idea why. Well, he's got me for the weekend. Let's see what we can do with that.

Everyone had arrived and we were just waiting for Duane and Herman to come down from the office. I was taking a minute to thank each of my best guys for last night's performance. As always, pleased, but not surprised. At ten-twenty, the boys came down the path to the Greenhouse.

"Herman," Duane said, "Your op, your debrief."

"Okay. First of all, damned fine job last night. Everything went off like clockwork, no glitches and everyone's timing was spot on. Did the redhead get home alright?"

"That's me," Alec said. "Done and done. She seems easy to work with and fell into the mission like she was not a newbie."

"Anyone have any complaints, or spotted anything we may have overlooked or done better?"

Everyone paused but shook their heads. It would be hard to improve on a mission like last night's. It would be impossible to improve on the team.

Caroline topped the meeting off by saying, "I found it very satisfying." Everyone laughed. Then we all applauded her for her impromptu burning down of the house as part of the ceremonial portion of the killing. Then we went inside and Bertha fed us all brunch. When it was all done, everyone scattered into the wind, and Lizzie and I went back to the office to talk about Christmas, which was three weeks away. Danny was in the video conference room, keeping an eye on the Tuttlehill property and watching the five televisions to see if there was any breaking news regarding our latest exploit. But everything stayed quiet, while Lizzie and I worked the phones. Toothy and Cass would be coming for Christmas and staying the week. The accommodations I booked at the Bellevue for them would blow their minds. Them being our friends would blow everyone else's.

Liz and I decided that we were not going to have the cavalcade of friends and workers tromping through the townhouse this year. This year we rented out one of the Center City restaurants for the day, Christmas day, and just spent enough of the day there to make sure everyone was being taken care of before we followed our, now traditional, bus from South Philly, filled with well wishers and gifts for the kids at CHOP. We were keeping the townhouse just for family and close friends this year to see how that works out. Lizzie and I were on the phone when Danny called to me from the video conference room. It sounded urgent, so I ran in, with Lizzie trailing behind me.

When we entered the room, the big screen was lit up with the NBC local news. The shot taking up the entire screen was from a drone, far above the house we just invaded. The Chyron running across the bottom said "Pottstown home set ablaze and brutal murders in Chester County." "Brutal?" I'd say that's accurate. "Details." I yelled out.

The news isn't much help. Usually what they don't get wrong, they don't get at all. But there was no denying, that the big burned out hulk was the house we hit. The reporter said that they were too fresh on the scene to give many details, but that a further report will be shown at six and eleven. "Is that on tape, Dan?"

"Everything's on tape for at least twenty-four hours. If you want me to edit the important parts and start a news archive in this case, I..."

"Do it, Dan. You're way ahead of me. But keep an eye out and update me on any new reportage."

"Yes, ma'am."

Okay. I called Rapper Malone and let him know that the news of Makoo's death was starting to hit and to be ready for anything. "Until the dust settles on this, Rapper, I'll be staying close to the neighborhood. I'm thinking my friend Gloria is going to be needing me sooner rather than later." A very prescient thought. "And I want to know everything as it happens. EVERY THING."

"Absolutely, ma'am."

"Lizzie," I asked my best friend and most trusted confidant. "Do you think I should take my medical bag and head over to Gloria's now?"

"You can, but if you are around when Gloria gets the inevitable news, she's gonna make the connection. She's too fucking smart not to. Just be ready. Herman and Peggy are coming up to spend some time with the kids tomorrow, and I have a feeling you will be spending that time with Gloria."

The kids, the big ones, were at Gloria's house, swimming. I called Rapper, and told him to keep Gloria away from the televisions, that the reportage on Makoo's death would be front and center in the news any minute now. And at five o'clock, the lead story on the news was about the "Massacre on the Mountain." That's what they called it. And the news was spreading.

Rapper, doing the best he could, managed to steer Gloria away from any type of media, especially those reporting breaking news. At five-twenty I got a call from Rapper, that Alvin had called from downtown, where he was working on finalizing their departure deal from their company and raking in big bucks. Billions. I should say, billions more.

Rapper said she was going nuts, and two of the guards, both women, were trying to comfort her. Before I could ask him anything more, or he could tell me he let out a, "Oh shit!"

"Rapper, what the fuck's going on? Talk to me."

"Her water just broke."

"Get her in the car and get her to Paoli. I will call the hospital and doctor and meet you there. Don't wait for me. Go!"

The line hung up and he was gone. I ran down to the kitchen where Domingo and Ronnie were talking to Bertha about what was being shown on her TV screen. She asked, they said nothing. Bertha never asks twice.

"Boys, I need to get to Paoli. Ronnie, lights and sirens."

"Yes, ma'am."

And off we went. I asked Ronnie how long it would take, and he said it's usually about a half hour, but he would cut that down to twenty-five minutes with lights and sirens. We pulled up at the ER entrance twenty-two minutes later. I ran in, flashed the badge I kept as an occasional part-time staff member, and went right to the operating suite where they were attempting to deliver vaginally. The original plan was to deliver, by C-section, on December Fifteenth, but when her water broke that plan went all to hell. Especially when they got to the hospital and the baby's head was already crowning.

For four hours they worked on Gloria and the baby. The entire time I watched from the observation area as Rapper held her hand the entire time. And in moments when she felt she needed support, she looked to him. And like any of my people, he gave it to her lovingly and positively.

When the little man finally came out in a 'whoosh,' and started wailing, Gloria looked up at Rapper and said, "Baby?"

"He's perfect. Apgars are perfect, Bilirubin good, he's nine pounds and two ounces, twenty-one inches long. He's gonna be a big kid. And Mrs. Tuttlehill, if you don't mind me saying, he is very handsome."

"Thank you, Rapper. Can someone take me to my room and shoot me up with some drugs? I feel like shit."

Alvin had been downtown, but about an hour after the baby came, so did he. He stopped at home to pick up the girls and head to the hospital. And he and the girls went right into Gloria's room with her and Rapper, after which Rapper came out to report to the boss.

Holly got my brood home while all this nonsense was going on. Bertha had strict orders that no news channels or channels that would show breaking news would be showing until this matter blows over. We would monitor and watch from the video conference room.

After a real quick look at her chart and an even quicker visit, I walked away for a while to give the Tuttlehills some space. I found an empty hospital room and tapped my supercell.

"Call Becky Gafney."

"Hello, this is Tiny."

"Becky, it's Hannah."

"How are you, Queen Bee?"

"Feelin' good. You."

"Never better."

"Really?"

"Yep. It won't be long now, Hannah. I can almost taste the freedom."

"I'm so happy for you, Becky. I'm here when you are ready. We'll make a real fun time of it. Our story hit, Beck. It was on the early news. One news station is calling it the

"Massacre on the Mountain." What do you think about that?"

"Good. He deserved to die in a massacre. He deserved to die just the way he did. Hannah, every night, from now on, I will go to bed and say my prayers that all the sister who died by his hand and because of his deeds will rest well knowing that one of us has come forward to avenge us all. And those still out there who suffer in silence every day."

"Very well put, Becky. Very elegant."

"So, what's next Queen Bee?"

"That, my little friend, is up to you. Choose the direction you wish to follow and I will clear the field."

"You will, won't you?"

"Becky."

"Of course, you will. You're the Queen Bee."

"Becky, there will be no celebrating until your release from Indian Springs. No need to tip our hand."

"No problem. All I talk about these days here are how much better I'm feeling and gardening. Mostly the gardening part."

"Excellent. Stick to gardening and we'll be perfect. Let me go, Beck. Gloria Tuttlehill just had her baby and I gotta get to it."

"Ah, boy or girl?"

"A little boy. Or should I say, a big boy. Over nine pounds. Healthy baby, happy mother. And she delivered the old-fashioned way, right through the old hoo ha."

"Boy, that hurts just thinking about it."

"Tell me about it. Been there."

"You've been everywhere. I can't imagine carrying a baby that big."

"Well, my friend, look at your man. If he is the father, I think you can count on a monster sized child."

"Then I could never have a child. Not that I could anyway, after all I have been through."

"You might be surprised. You know what you have to do to make it all worthwhile?"

"Live my best life."

"Damned right. Beck, Toothy and Cass are coming our way for the holidays. I've got them booked in a swanky downtown hotel and everything. I can't promise, but I will do what I can to bring them by for a holiday visit."

"Just thinking about it is so you, Hannah."

"Well next year it's gonna be you and Hanger visiting, if that's where you wind up going."

"I'm definitely going back to the club. And I'm gonna ask Hanger if I can be his old lady."

"Oh, Becky, I'm so happy for you. I know he's crazy about you."

"Yeah. Well, it looks like I caught a dose of that, because I'm always thinkin' about him."

"Good. Keep doing that, and if you need a toy to help you out with that, let me know. I've always got a little somethin', somethin'."

"Hannah Todd. I'm waitin' for the real thing."

"Think you can handle it at this point?"

"I'm sure of it. Hanger would never hurt me."

"I totally believe that. Okay, my Tiny friend, go tend to your gardens and I have to tend to my friend, Gloria. I love you and if I don't talk to you before, we'll conference on Christmas."

"I love you too, Queen Bee. Give Duane and everyone my best."

"Will do."

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

Rapper Malone, who was also giving the Tuttlehills some space, and I walked down to the Garden Level Cafeteria, and got a couple of cups of coffee. Not bad for hospital food. He gave me a full report on what's been happening over the last week up unto and including today. He did not miss a detail, or hesitate to make a suggestion. Then he hit me with both barrels when he said that he wanted to tell me what he had planned for Gloria. "Let it go, Rapper, hold nothing back." He held NOTHING back.

He said that he was very happy with the progress he was making with her, given she already has a master that she was being committed to. He told me that the minute her water broke the first word out of her mouth was, "Rapper."

Rap said that because of his vast experience, he could see her starting to already acquiesce to his charms. Which are substantial. He said that he wanted to help nurse her back to health and get her back on a good exercise regimen. She really did not gain a lot of weight with this pregnancy, and now that she doesn't have to worry about the ramifications of a C-section, she'll be ready for something more vigorous sooner than he had expected.

"Miss Todd, I didn't even plan to talk to you about this for months, figuring we'd be dealing with a long recovery after the birth. But I think the sooner we do this, the better it will be. Not only will it tighten her up as a slave, but it will bring her more peace, mind and body."

"Is this a mindfulness thing, Rap?"

"Not really, ma'am. Although I practice and sometimes teach it. This is about dominance and submission. This is about her committing to me as her master, like she did with the dead guy."

"Oh. You know?"

"It's been all over the news. One of the nurses was telling me about it. The way I figure it; you guys must have done it. Pretty gruesome, though. That's what I heard."

"Well, I am acknowledging nothing, Rapper. So, what's this thing you want to do?"

"I want to take Gloria Tuttlehill away for thirty days. To do what I wish, at my discretion for the total of the thirty days. I want all resources I will ask for, when I need them and as I ask for them. When she returns after the month's long absence, you will find a woman ready to take on the world as a top in her business life and a bottom in her sex life. She will answer to me, as she answers to nobody else, because I am her master. And when she answers to me, she will be doing not only my will, but yours. You are the true puppet master in this deal. I'm just the vehicle."

"And where do you plan on doing this?"

"I'm thinking either the Andaman Islands or somewhere in the Caribbean. Small, private island, with nobody but us and a security contingency that will observe from well offshore. I'd also take my wife for the first week."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"My wife has also been my slave for these past many years. She is well trained and extremely docile. Gloria will follow her example and become a great slave as well. If you are concerned about my wife and how I have treated her has affected her, I can bring her up here and you can talk to her."

"Alright. We know who is going, we know where, and we know how long. What's it going to cost, and when and how do we get started."

"Beggin' your pardon, Miss T., but all that is up to you. As far as what it's going to cost, we're talking about the Tuttlehills here. Is that really a concern?"

"That's the one thing that's definitely not."

"So, I guess the departure date is when Gloria is healthy enough to weather a month in the Caribbean. 'Cause I ain't sending you to the other side of the world. I'm not quite ready for that. I don't even know if I'm ready for the Caribbean. Will she be?"

"Yes. Because she didn't have to section, she'll heal up much, much quicker. I'm thinking February. I'll work with her till then and get her into basic shape. When she is back from the islands, she will be in the best shape of her life. You won't believe the change."

"Well, fortunately I have time to stew on this, talk to my trusted advisors and let you know what our decision is. Until then, I want you to proceed as if this is going to happen in February. If she wears a frown till March but nothing but a smile come April, I will consider this a success."

"Easy peezy."

"Never say that, Rapper. The human element is always there to stick it to you just when you think it's all under control."

"I can dig that."

"Alright, Rap. Let's talk in a day or two about this, in the meantime, keep me in the loop."

"Always, ma'am. There ain't even a loop without you."

"I like that. C'mon."

We returned to Gloria's room and the baby was in with her and the family. So, being me, I, of course, grabbed the charts, checked the last notes, put it back in its rack and walked into hugs and kisses, and a brand-new baby boy that Alvin was holding. Gloria looked like shit. Just the way we all look after gifting the world with another life.

I went right for my girlfriend. "So, Glorious, welcome to the club. How's little kitty doing?"

"Like she's been run over by a very large vehicle over and over again."

"Boy, do I know that feeling. We're all here to help you get to your happy place."

"Right now, my happy place is going to have to include alcohol and pot."

"Absolutely no alcohol and no pot. You're breast feeding. After that I'll take you to the skuizziest bar in the city and get you shitfaced. Till then, ya gotta take what they give you."

"Oh, Hannah. You're such a nurse."

"My first calling."

"Hannah, I'm kicking everyone out now, but I want you to hang around for just a little while. Okay?"

"Sure. I'm gonna go out and talk with a couple of my guys and I'll be right in once I say goodbye to the family."

She gave me a thumbs up, and I went out to talk to the troops, and to let Ronnie know we'd be leaving soon. He went to get the car, while Dom and Rapper, and two of our other guys, kept a very close watch on my girlfriend and I.

Once everyone was gone, I went to spend some time with my Gloria, who was holding her beautiful, mocha colored, brown eyed boy. There was something I had to get off my chest and into her head. That Clyde Makoo was a world class bad guy. I had all the proof I needed. I just had to get up the courage to tell her. And to discourage her from naming her beautiful son after his now deceased birth father.

"Hannah. Master Malcolm is gone. I know it. I can feel it in my insides. I just don't know what to do about it. I've been too busy to start to mourn. I know you don't like him but there are things he did for me that nobody ever did."

"Well then, Gloria, it's time to find a replacement. 'Cause he ain't comin' back."

"Actually, I know it's sacrilegious, but I think I may already have."

"Oh. Do tell."

"My bodyguard, Rapper. He puts out that vibe that a good, stern, master gives off. Frankly, I think I'm a tiny bit smitten with him. You sure know how to keep your clients happy."

"That's the goal. Actually, Rapper was chosen with you and the family in mind. I think if you casually follow his lead, there may be something there for you to hold onto."

"Ya think?"

"Absolutely. My people will not do anything inappropriate, but, with proper consent, they'll do anything you want or need them to do. There are many reasons my people are the best, Gloria."

"So I see. As soon as my water broke, Rapper had me in his arms and before I could say, "Help!" he had me in the car and we were sirens going and lights flashing. Hannah, it was a sight to see. Even in my state I couldn't help but appreciate their handling of every aspect of the situation. And Rapper. He's been with me every minute since."

"It's good to see Rapper lived up to his resume."

"Oh?"

"Oh Yeah. It's no accident he's here. Didn't you know he had experience during the course of his duties, delivering several babies? At RFS we like to be prepared for all contingencies."

"You are like a walking miracle, Hannah Todd."

I got about ten minutes to hold and rock the little man before the nurse came to take him to the nursery. When they left, I sat on the bed next to my dear friend and told her a story.

It was a story about a very bad man. A man who kidnapped young girls, abused them and pimped them out. A man who bought and sold girls as if they were a commodity. A man who enslaved, tortured and killed dozens of girls and stole millions of dollars from some of them. A man who impregnated young girls only to sell their babies and them for a profit. And then I hit her with the kicker.

I pulled my tablet out of my handbag and kicked it on. I pulled up a particular file and looked around. I even opened Gloria's door to see who was around. This was pretty sensitive stuff. Once I felt secure, I started the video. It was shot from a Wasp drone in his Pottstown place. They were sitting around the table, talking about plans they had for the next year or so.

They talked about hitting certain areas and grabbing certain kinds of chicks. Then he picked up a shovel and started to dig his own grave.

"Say, Koo. Anything special comin' up? I think the boys are itchin' for a mission."

"Well, there is one thing I'd like to do, but I don't want slave Gloria to know or make any connection to me."

"Oh. What's that?"

"I want the swimmer."

"The swimmer?"

"Yeah. Her daughter. Did you ever see her. Boy, I'd like to hit that. Young and prime. Virgin, no doubt."

Gloria was fuming. Her hands were balled up in fists and I thought she was going to punch my tablet, but she continued to listen as I let it play out.

"Boy I'd hit that twice. When do you want to try it? It ain't gonna be easy. She's a fuckin' billionaire and has security up the ass."

"So, we'll have to maybe bring in a few more boys. I don't really want to do it too soon. I want to bleed a half a billion out of her first. Ya just don't kill the golden goose."

That's where I cut it off. There was plenty more. But I had her at Harry. She gave me a teary-eyed look and held her arms out to me, and I jumped right in. "Ouch," she said. "Tits hurt."

"Oh yeah? Get used to it, sister."

"Han?"

"Yes, my Glorious."

"On the way here, Alvin decided to make a command decision. We will not be naming him after his birth father. And, after hearing what I just heard, I thank God, yet again, that I have a friend in Hannah Todd."

"Always my friend. Always."

"We've been calling him 'Bull,' because he's so big. But I think I'm going to make it 'Hannibal.' Hannibal Todd Tuttlehill. We'll call him Bull, for short."

"No, that's too much, Glor. Why not Alvin?"

"Alvin? Really?"

"Listen, Glor. You're a big girl. I am honored that you would do that."

"There's more, Han. We want you to be Bull's Godmother."

"Of course you do. Honors and accolades. I seem to be collecting them more and more every day."

"Ya know why?"

"Tell me, Glor."

"Because you deserve them. Simple as that."

"Well, it looks like you're done with the whole beat me up, beat me down, thing."

"Oh no, Hannah. I need that. I'm going to ask Rapper if he would be my master, at least until I can find someone permanently to control me."

"Is that what you really want?"

"Sexually, yes. Very much, yes."

"Well, you do you, love. I'll be watching from the wings. If I see anyone getting out of line, I'll let you know. Either that or they'll disappear."

"Hannah?"

"Just kidding. Got a reputation to protect, Glor."

"Oh, I think your reputation is in great shape. Everyone is scared of you."

"I'm not really crazy about the dragon lady rep. I'd really rather be known as a sweet young thing. Till I'm not."

"You are no dragon lady. You are wise and wonderful. Hannah. I have to say something to you and I hope you will understand what I'm saying. Do you hold any stock in our company?"

"Yes, I do."

"Much?"

"Right now, about a million shares."

"Wow, that's a lot. Why do you say right now?"

"Because I've got Jake Johnson out there trying to scrounge up another million, before you sell the rest of the company. The two million will only give us about a one percent share."

"How do you know?"

"A hunch."

"You are the Queen Bee, aren't you?"

"That's what they're starting to call me."

"I hope you get more than a million more shares."

What I didn't tell her was that I'd been following their main company all along, since I started getting my hands into the investments. And Jake was great. He wasn't afraid to tussle with me if he felt I was going down the wrong road, and he was usually right. When I told him I wanted as much Tuttlehill as I could get, he said he thought the time was right, and picked up a million shares as soon as they were offered. Now I had him out scratching for more, and he had no objection.

"I'll take what I can get."

"What have you been hearing?"

"Only good things, Glor. Listen girlfriend, I gotta go. Kids and all. Enjoy little Bull and pump a lot. The boys are just hell on your tits. I'll see you tomorrow when the kids are all at your place, swimming."

"See you then. Love you." I gave a big smooch and out I went. Note to self: Have Bertha make up something special for Gloria for tomorrow for lunch.

When I got home everyone was there, and all inquired about Gloria, so I gave them the whole story as I knew it. The kids were fascinated. Georgie looked up at me and said, "Rapper's cool."

"Yes, he is, my love and he is doing a very good job at the Tuttlehills."

Herman and Peggy would be staying over tonight and spending time with the kids at the pool at Gloria's. The kids would frolic and Herman would attempt to teach Peggy to swim.

When I finally got the chance to pee, and get myself situated Celeste came up to me.

"Can we talk, Mommy Hannah?"

"Absolutely, Ceece. What's up?"

"In private."

So, I took her hand and we walked to the sun room and I sat back. Everyone else was either upstairs or in the other side of the house. I held my arms out to her as I sat on the lounger and she fell into my lap, her head against my chest.

"Mommy Hannah. A boy in school was picking on me and said that he'd kick my ass any time in the pool."

"Celeste, did he use those words?"

"Yeah. Exactly."

"So, then what?"

"Kimmie heard it and told the boy he is an asshole. He put his hands up and said that he is the fastest swimmer in the elementary school. I told him I would kick his ass."

"Those words, Ceece?"

"Yeah."

"We have to learn to choose our words more wisely, dear."

"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. But I was pissed."

"So, what are we going to do about this?"

"Kimmie has his number and she is inviting him over tomorrow for a race."

"How do you feel about that, Ceece?"

"I'm gonna kick his a... butt."

"We shall see. I'm sorry I'll miss that."

"You don't have to. Herman will tape it."

"I can't ask Herman..."

"He tapes all my meets. He never misses a one. He is keeping a collection so we can review them and I can learn from my mistakes."

"You really love Herman, don't you Ceece?"

"I wish he was my father. I love him so much."

"Well, he feels very much the same about you."

She smiled and we went in and had dinner. Celeste didn't say much tonight. She had her game face on and she was thinking about kicking ass. How can you not love this kid?

Herman and Peggy were over and Celeste would be doubling up with Peach and the couple would use her room. I gave them a serious dressing down about even thinking of having sex in that bed, although, I must admit that Ceece confessed to me that she loved when Herman stayed over and she stayed with Georgia. She said she loved the way her bed smelled when she crawled into it the next day. Is our girl growing up too fast?

Well, the social networking system of the 2050s is both wonderful and awful. It provides a forum for these kids to really whip themselves up into a frenzy. And that's what happened to the second, third and fourth grade kids in our neck of the woods. And they were all on the network, and it was pretty evenly split between Celeste and a nine-year-old, a fourth grader. She was up in Georgia's room screaming at her tablet, when Herman heard her.

"What's up Ceece? Sounds like the internet is blowing up."

"Oh, it's blowing up all right. All over my school. Some fourth grader said he will kick my ass in the pool."

"Sounds like you've got a reputation, Ceece."

"Yeah, as the best damn swimmer in the school!"

"Ceece. Language."

"I'm sorry, Hermey. I'm just so... so..."

"Angry?"

"No. I'm pissed!"

"Cee Cee. Your language."

"I'm sorry, Uncle Herman, but I am."

He steeled himself, seeking a solution.

"Call Harriet Tuttlehill."

"Hello."

"Harriet, it's Herman Krass."

"Hi Uncle Herm. What's up?"

"Have you heard what's going on with this nine-year-old boy who is calling our Cee Cee out?"

"I have. Kimmie tells me their little network is blowing up."

"Well, Har. I want to call this kid out. Can you make the connection and set up a match between the two?"

"Let me call you back in two minutes."

A minute and a half later Harriet called Herman back. The match was set, and the support for the contestants was now leaning sixty/forty - Celeste. And they were harassing the other kid to no end. The minute the match was set Celeste got on the phone with Harriet and asked her what she should do to prepare for tomorrow. Harry went through her regular routine with her, which she said she should keep. Then she told her to do some stretching, and run a mile in the morning with Mommy Hannah, to open up her lungs. And, of course, she told her to get a good night's sleep. She went to bed at six-thirty. On a Thursday!

Friday morning and Herman, Peggy and Celeste were up first. Celeste was eating a light breakfast and was ready to hit the track when I got downstairs. I took a quick gulp of coffee and Cee Cee and I went outside to meet with Caroline and do our stretching. Watching her do what we were doing with that tiny little body, if it wasn't so damned cute, it would be amusing. Caroline and I had already discussed it and we would go half speed once around the track so our littlest runner could keep up. Leaving her in the dust would serve nobody's purposes except that little asshole whose ass she is going to kick today.

Herman and Peggy threw Celeste in the car and off to the Tuttlehills they went. They were the first to arrive. It was no accident. The guards, our guards, let them into the pool house, and they staked out an area to set up. It was on the first row, center of the stands. And I can guarantee you, there won't be anyone there with the guts to ask Miss Olszewski to move.

Herman and Cee Cee did their stretches. They did what he called form stretches, to keep her in form so her strokes were even and gave her the most propulsion per stroke. Peggy watched as they side stroked from one end of the pool to the other, Herman talking to her all the way while he was observing and commenting on her form. Today's race was the American crawl, and that's where they focused. The kid wouldn't dare try her on the breast stroke. She'd kill him with a ten-pound weight tied to her neck.

As more and more kids and their parents showed up, there was a lot of splashing and fooling around. I showed up in the middle of it all with Georgie and the Peach, at the same time Celeste was climbing out of the pool. She was wet and she was huffing a bit. The kids ran up to her and gave her big hugs. Lily Chu showed up and did the same, giving her a high five and told her, "You go girl."

The little boy showed up somewhere during all this and he was in the pool and doing some practice laps. He looked strong and he seemed confident. He never smiled. When Cee Cee went up to him, she put out her hand and instead of taking it and shaking it, he slapped it away. She looked over at Herman, like she was looking for permission to sock the kid. He put his hands up in a gesture that he hoped she would take as a sign to calm down.

After the boy, Archie Fendster, stepped up to the end of the pool, in the lane next to Celeste's, she gave him a cold look. She was ready to call him out. As loud as she could she called out to him, "Hey, asshole. Let's make it One Hundred Meters. Got the balls?"

"Celeste Bernstein!" Her mother called out. Watch your mouth. We were all laughing and Peggy gave her a big slap on the back. "Come on, Holl, get with the program."

The kid looked at Celeste and she looked back, and she started to go "buck, buck, buck buck." Like a chicken. Pretty soon all throughout the pool house was the taunting and the calling out of "Chicken, Chicken, Chiceken,"

Celeste was feeling pretty full of herself, but the kid ended up accepting her challenge. Now she'd have to put her money where her mouth is."

She looked over at Herman, and he stuck his thumb up showing his full confidence in her. A neutral party was chosen and the starter pistol came out. And to the count of 3-2-1 Boom, they were off. Celeste's dive into the pool was better and she came up ahead of him. But he was not far behind her and catching up quickly. "Form," Herman screamed out. "Form, Celeste."

She must have heard him because she never broke stride or stroke and kept it strong and steady, and until she hit the wall, she maintained the lead. But not by much. As soon as he turned, he got a great push off the wall, because of his size and superior strength. But now it's Celeste's turn. The stretch is where she turns it on and she did. He was really pushing hard now, and all form he may have had went out the window and was just stroking as hard as he could. Celeste maintained her form, never a stroke out of place and every one pushing her forward at the maximum rate of speed. With half the length of the pool to go, he pulled even with her. As she continued to stroke, she looked over at him and said, "Pussy." Then she turned the jets on. She beat him by a length and a half. One of his lengths.

Peggy was screaming her guts out and Herman was outside of himself cheering and encouraging Celeste to remember to keep to her form and just do what they'd practiced. The kid came out of the pool, no doubt embarrassed. Celeste held her hand out to him and he refused to take it. He just went to his mother to leave, and as they were going, this used to be tiny little voice rang out, so everyone could hear. "Hey Pussy. Come back any time and I'll kick your ass again!"

Oh yeah, there was laughter. And didn't Herman pick her up, put her on his shoulders and parade her around the whole pool to the applause of all, including me. Badass. Now that little girl is a badass.

Gloria was still in the hospital when I stopped to see her. And, as always, review the chart. Look her over really well and ask her the standard questions. She was doing better than I had expected. So was Rapper. When I entered her room, she was talking to him and holding his hand. Neither of them even thought to unclasp them.

"So, Glor. When are you bustin' out of here?"

"Doc Rubin says that I can go Sunday or Monday. My vote is Sunday so I can prepare for my big meeting on Monday."

"Please don't tell me you are travelling downtown for a business meeting."

"Nope. We're conducting it in the dining room. I'll have it catered; we'll do our business. No hookers or dancing girls. Just good old-fashioned give and take. Hopefully they're gonna give and we're gonna take."

"I'll be watching the market all day. I could use some excitement."

Gloria started to laugh so hard she had to hold a pillow against her stomach. And then the sun emerged from the heavens. Or should I say, son. The nurse placed little Hannibal in her arms and out came the boob. "Oh, Hannah, you are so right. What's gonna happen when he starts to teethe?"

"Two alternatives, and they can't come soon enough. One is pump. The pumps these days are a lot more forgiving than a sucking baby. Especially one with a tooth or two. They will just suck your nipples off some days. Some days I wanted to walk around not only without a bra, but without any kind of top, it hurt so bad. The other alternative is formula. But I'd try to get as much of your own milk into him as you could before you resort to that."

"How about you?"

"Please, my two are six months old, my tits are off limits. Done. The only Duane Royce that gets to suck on these things stands six-three. He's also much gentler than his son."

"Ya gotta stop it, Han. You're killing me."

"Alright. I gotta make this a short visit anyway. You're not the only one who's got meetings Monday. You gonna have Larry with you on Monday?"

"Are you kidding me? Since you hooked me up with him I do virtually nothing without consulting him. And his wife. What a doll. Two weeks ago, she called me back at nine-thirty, one night apologizing for calling so late. I had called her at four-thirty with a question that was plaguing me going into a mediation on one of our smaller companies."

She was smiling broadly, and she was very into Linnie.

"Didn't she put me in a direction that I was more comfortable with, but she also instructed me to lead from a point of advantage, and she would be there if things got off track. Go with our strengths up front and don't worry about what's in the tank. In that particular case it was good advice. We walked out of that settlement with a hundred and twenty million more than was on the table. And with Linnie, you always get the feeling that she expects you to call her back just to let you know how it went. That she is always on your shoulder, and there if you need. Larry was the big guns. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY fucks with Mark Lawrence, Esquire. There are very few things I do without consulting him, now. He has been my guide, my Moses through the vast wilderness of money and power.

"Alright you. I don't know if I'll be around tomorrow, but let me know if you are going home, and maybe I can slide in over there just to give you a peck on the cheek and take your vitals,"

"You're a love, Hannah. In every which way."

"Glor. Can I steal Mr. Malone from you for a few moments? Company stuff."

"Sure. But you better send him right back. He's my MVP."

"All my guys and gals are MVPs."

I had him walk me to the car and we talked as we walked. "Rapper, I cannot find the words to describe the job you have been doing. Exemplary? Not even close. "Outstanding?" It just doesn't say enough. Maybe we have to wait for them to invent a word that says how great you are doing. If I were to go over this whole couple days with a fine tooth comb, there is not one thing I would have done differently. Nothin'. And probably not as well."

"Thank you, Miss Todd. That's very kind of you."

"You keep doing what you're doing and I can be all kinds of kind. I've been thinking of your month away with Gloria. Let's keep it close. Say the Bahamas or someplace. I'll see if Duane and I can fly you down to the nearest airport and you can get to your ultimate destination from there. Duane and I pillow talked about it, and he said if you need, he has over two hundred hours in Seaplanes, from his Navy days. I'd really like to see this happen in February. In fact, if it could start out around Valentines Day, that would really work out for me."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. After a year of unbelievable stress and anxiety, fly down to the islands with my man, drop you three off, find a place to pitch a tent, and have a grand time with each other for a week until your wife is done her portion of this month. Especially on Valentines Day when Duane will do things to me that will put a smile on my face for a month. Then we pick her up and fly home. I'll either send a plane to fetch you when you're done, or we'll come back and getcha. How's that?"

"More than amazing. More than I expected."

"Does this island have modern comforts?"

"It does, but she'll never experience them."

"Hmmm. I'm sensing some cruelty here."

"Maybe a little. But slaves expect it. They need it. Disrespect is their dog chow. Ya gotta trust me on this one. You make me think of an idea. Why don't you come to a dungeon get together with me one day? You'll learn a lot, and I understand you look great in leather."

"Oh? From whom?"

"Can't say, ma'am."

"Good to jump on that real quick. You know what. It's not unlike me to take up an offer like that. Keep me apprised of when these things are happening and if we can make schedules gel. I always love the opportunity to wear leather."

"Beggin' your pardon, ma'am, so I've heard."

"Are my guys talking about me again? I swear. As much as I pay you guys, I still get no respect."

"You. No respect? You're kiddin' me, right? Half the guys at RFS are scared to death of you and the other half are ready to line up behind you to go to war."

"And that's the half I like. Those are the folks that climb in this organization. You know, I have an elite squad that works for me. Highly skilled and continually practiced. They do mundane, everyday work, just like the rest of you guys, but they also do missions. Would you be interested in being part of something like this?"

"I'd kill for an opportunity like that."

"Literally?"

"What do you mean?"

"Would you kill someone for the opportunity to become part of a squad that is, on occasion called to do just that."

"This is serious."

"Oh, we passed serious when I told you I have an elite squad that works for me. You are a smart, serious operator, who knows his business and gets the job done. You bring a list of credentials that are very impressive. And every move I have seen you make tells me that you have what it takes to join that team. But what do you think? And how do you feel about it?"

"Stunned. I'm absolutely stunned. I was really hoping to take care of Mrs. Tuttlehill. Don't you think she should be my focus?"

"Totally. My team works in many ways. First of all, Gloria Tuttlehill will always be your primary job. It trumps all else. There will be times that I will be able to steal you away from her to do certain things that you are best at, if you know what I mean. As her dear friend, she won't stand I the way if I take you for a day or two. Most of our missions are in and out within twelve hours. It's conceivable that you can tuck her in at night, go out on a mission, and be there to give her a good shtup in the morning."

"You have such a colorful way of stating things."

"Thanks, Rapper. There's one more thing I want to discuss with you. I want to meet your wife, either virtually or in person. Her man is very important to me and keeping her happy and knowing what it takes to do that is very important to me."

"You don't have to..."

"No. But I do. It's important to me to know the people I'm working with. I expect when we fly you down to the islands, we will sit together and have one last meal. I just want to sit and spend time with my friend before she goes through her transition."

"Not so much a transition as a transformation."

"Too much to ask?"

"Oh no. Done deal."

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

Other than the fact that Royce hit a growth spurt, nothing exciting was happening. Everything was ordered and prepared for, from pastries to pot. Duane ordered all aspects of the company to go on holiday schedule as of the fourteenth. That was the day I went down to the Navy Yard to see my girls at Recovery, and maybe peak in on Royce. The Company and the man.

Before I went to see the girls, I peaked in to see how Duane is doing, and shake a few hands if anyone's around. The office was decked out beautifully and their tree stood about twelve feet tall, fully dressed, but not electrified. We don't do that no more. Of course, Tilly was running around like a chicken without a head, but there wasn't much action, otherwise. Most of the agents were either out on the job or on holiday break. Christmas week off is mandated for all agents with families. They also have first preference on either the week before or the week after. He's the boss, and if that's the way he says it is, then that's the way it is."

Of course I grabbed Tilly. Told her to get hold of herself and then I asked her about her family and she calmed right down, and we talked as we walked into Duane's office. The office party would be Monday, the Twenty-Nineth, here at the office. We'll just set up tables on the long wide corridor and party out there, with overflow into the conference room. Nobody comes in the office. It's off limits.

My problem is, we're supposed to be in the Poconos on the twenty-nineth. Davante is coming up and everything. But, leave it to my man to solve all my problems.

"I'll tell you what, Hannah Todd. You attend the RFS party on the Twenty-Nineth, between eight and midnight, and I will fly you up and back. The kids will miss you for a couple hours before bedtime, but they've got the Tuttlehills and the Chus, and I think Rory McKelly is coming with us this year. A pretty stable bunch. Holly and Lizzie will make sure everything happens in an orderly fashion."

"Done and done. Is it formal?"

"There has been a press by the women to make it a dress up occasion. I think..."

"Formal it is. No. Too restrictive and too stick up the ass. Say semi formal. Jackets and ties, nice dresses, hair and makeup. It anyone wants to do the whole nine yards, well then, more power to them. I will try to wear something short and sexy, now that I look like I'm thirty and not forty-five."

"Miss Todd?"

"Yes, dear."

"Some of the staff wanted to know if they could have a family hour. For maybe the first hour they can bring their kids. Meet the kids of other employees, and explore friendships with other agents who are family people."

"An hour, huh?"

"Yes, ma'am."

I sat down in one of the chairs and looked up at Tilly. I just thought for a minute. "Tilly, we want to do this so we can have an alcohol-free hour?"

"Basically, yes... ma'am."

"And the party is starting at seven?"

"Yes sir."

"No. Food service and festivities for the families will start at five and run till eight o'clock. At which time the parent of any child on the premises will be summarily shot. The alcohol will flow like water, and everyone that needs a ride gets one. If I hear of anyone celebrating with us who is not being driven home, there will be hell to pay. I don't have any problem with family people coming back after the kids are tucked in and under the watchful eye of a caring adult. We'll get them both-way too. The independent drivers are great that way, and really, most of our people are not that far away from Philly. Am I missing anything, Tilly?"

"NO MA'AM!"

"Ya got chutzpah, Tilly. Keep it up. So, what isn't ready?"

"Now that you are coming it's complete."

"Aren't you the dear. Tilly. We're getting closer. I feel it."

"Hannah." My lord and master's strictest voice said.

"Yes, My Lord."

"C'mon.

Tilly was watching, mouth agape, while our exchange continued.

"You don't love me no more?" I said with my saddest face.

He stood up and walked toward me and put his arm out. Yep, that one. And I sidled up right under his arm and into his neck. He put his arm around me, and I took a sniff of his neck. My pussy started to vibrate. Then he wrapped the other arm around me and lifted me up and gave one of his sub orbital specials. Tilly was cracking up. She just couldn't contain herself.

Tilly walked me out and asked if I needed an escort to Recovery, and I pointed over at Ronnie and Domingo, and she nodded her head. Off to Recovery I go to spend some time with my girls, and check on Peggy's progress.

Recovery was like Grand Central Station. Shelly was sitting at one computer, but moving between it and another, erratically. She had a head set on and was calmly conveying fact and location information regarding a girl the agent has had eyes on but does not yet have hands on. She's trying desperately to bring them together and get her out. The girl is in the United Arab Emirates, in the Dhubai area, and is being held with others. We are in the process of filling out our intelligence profile before we make a hard charge on the site.

Peggy is in an office and she's screaming at a guy on the phone at the top of her lungs. She saw me through the door and waved. After that, things sounded cooler coming out of the office. When she hung up, I asked her who it was, and she said, "the caterer."

"What?"

"Kidding, kidding. It was some asshole who missed a rendezvous. That shit's unacceptable. Of all the people we work with the Euros are the worst. We need someone who knows the territory and can read a fucking watch."

"Workin' on it, Peg. Workin' on it."

Les was in her office with a sheet of paper in her hand and someone on the phone. "Cool," she said. "When does she hit the states?" Good... I want to talk to her as soon as she is here in a safe place, but before we bring her home. Even if I'm off, call me on my supercell. Excellent. Fine job, Jordan. What's in the pipeline? Good. Keep it up, and remember what I told you. Ten large for any new agent we hire. Yep. Have a good one, and if I don't talk to you, Merry Christmas." She hung up and looked over at me and said, "That's one more."

"Great. It's like a Christmas present to Recovery. And to me."

"I don't know how we're gonna shut down over the holidays, Hannah, we've been getting slammed."

"Listen, Les, these poor girls have been out there for a long time. They can hang on there a little longer so that their rescuers can get enough rest to come out for another year and bust their asses rescuing more lost girls. I want you to contact all European and Asian operators and tell them, unless they have an urgent ongoing rescue, to stand down for now till the end of the year. I don't have enough people as is. I don't need to burn out the ones I've got."

"Out of the mouths of babes."

"Oh, now I'm a babe?"

"Damn straight!" Lizzie called out.

"So, Les, how's Peggy working out?" Not that I could not surmise.

"Ah, you know, another dumb Pollock."

"You bitch," Peggy called out. "I am gonna kick your skinny Irish ass."

"That's skinny Jewish ass to you, slut."

Lizzie and Shelly and I were rolling on the floor. Then Peggy and Les joined us and that was pretty much the end of work at Todd Recovery until 2056. There were things I wanted to talk to Duane about on the way home, so Lizzie and Peg went with Herman and met us at our house at the end of the workday.

When we got home, we were met by Celeste who was walking around in her big puffy robe. Herman and Peggy ran upstairs to Celeste's room, where they would be staying for the night, and changed into their bathing suits and the matching onesies they used to keep them coming and going. While they were doing that, Celeste was changing into her onesie, that matched theirs. All the onesies were denim with a wool lining. On the back of all them was written the same two words, "Team Celeste." When they showed them theirs for the first time and gave her hers, she sat down and cried for a half hour straight. She wore hers everywhere.

Herman had been coaching Celeste on how to teach Peggy to swim and she put everything into it. And Herman was great, as a coach, an instructor and just a wonderful loving man. When they got home before dinner Celeste came in yelling "Aunt Peggy is a swimmer!"

All through dinner, Celeste hogged the conversation, talking about Aunt Peggy swimming and how she helped. Herman and Peggy gave all the credit to Celeste. Dinner was a gas. Once the kids were in bed we hung out with Lizzie, Herman, Peggy, Caroline and Ronnie in the Family Room. Holly went upstairs to spend some time with Becca and the twins. We talked a lot about Christmas and a bit about business, which was something I did not intend to happen. Peggy talked about Recovery as if it were her own personal start up. The only time she moved off the sofa and out from the protective arm of her lover was when she stood up to make a point.

The Pool regarding Herman's imminent proposal did not start until January First, and I was getting the feeling nobody was going to win. The clock was ticking, and the second hand was moving faster than ever. Before I knew it, Christmas week had fallen upon us and the kids were getting on my last nerve as our vacation time crept up. Both houses were decorated as if Santa were really coming to town.

Todd Recovery was closed as of the twenty-first and Herman and Peggy stayed at her place until Wednesday when they joined Lizzie and my usual keeper of the townhouse, to get things ready for the onslaught. The kids had a real short day, Christmas Eve day, just to have a party and celebrate. We picked them up from school and headed straight downtown. Domingo took us, along with Avi, who would be staying downtown with us and celebrating Chanukah. Holly wanted Celeste exposed to Avi as much as possible during the holidays to bring her into the tribe a little at a time. Avi was more than fine with that, and he had been talking to Celeste on occasion about what it means to him to be a Jew.

Avi's parents are both practicing Orthodox Jews who live in Israel, but Avi chose the Conservative path. But he was still observant and attended synagogue whenever he could. The people of his temple loved him. He was both generous and protective. Any act of antisemitism that found its way into Avi's ear was addressed. A lot of people got hurt hating Jews on Avi's watch.

There was a particular family in Delaware County that was really causing grief to one of the temple members. They graffitied their house, robbed the wife and beat up their kids. Then one night they were awoken by a burning cross on their front lawn. When Avi caught wind of this, He went to the family's house one night, knocked in the door, dragged the father outside and beat the shit out of him. Then he screamed to anyone in the house to get out. The house is on fire. Once he checked to see that everyone was out, he tossed two Molotov cocktails into the house and took off. By the time the police arrive the house was half burnt to the ground. A month later, a note was dropped at the house they were staying. It simply said. "The next time we catch you in an act of antisemitism, we will take your entire family and have the word NAZI tattooed across their foreheads. The next month they moved away. But Avi kept track of them, and would occasionally send them a warning to mind their p's and q's.

We were the Todd-Bernsteins, and I decided that my children would have at least a historical knowledge of the Jews, from Solomon's time to the present. Holly's father cried when he heard. Avi took it very seriously and was even talking about starting to teach Celeste Hebrew. "It's the language of our people, and it will serve her well into the future. Especially when she has to gather in Haifa with all those great Israeli doctors."

Avi's Hebrew was more than excellent. He grew up in Brooklyn and at the age of eight, his family moved to Israel to get away from the prejudice and the race violence and got involved in an agricultural Kibbutz. At eighteen, he found himself in mandatory service with the Israeli Defense Force. His great skills and hard work over those two years brought him to the office of Chaim Leibovitz, the head of Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, where he spent ten years of his life, saving lives and protecting people. Mission after mission earned him a basket full of accolades. But after ten years, he'd had enough. So, he moved back to the states, where he held dual American-Israeli citizenship.

Avi joined the Barry household, when Duane hired him. Not only did he fit in, but when Royce started up and he jumped on board, he brought forth innovations that have really helped. Avi worked in intelligence, so he is my intelligence guy. If I need to know it, if Rhee Spanner is not doing it, Avi is the guy who finds my answer for me. And absolutely nobody is better at the tech, not even Anthony. He was using some of the stuff we use before anyone ever heard of it. Those were the days when Israel was creating this stuff and sharing it only with the U. S. government. Avi brought a lot of that stuff our way. To say that he is a vital member of my team is, as with all statements about my boys, is understated. But he loves me and would never leave. Thank God, 'cause I love him too.

When we got to the townhouse, Celeste first ran to Herman, then Peggy, and then to our downtown housekeeper. So did my kids. Bertha and Aggie had enough of their family last year and decided to spend this year with us. Mac drove them down and took the last parking spot in the garage.

We had beds and sleeping bags everywhere. Lily Chu would be with us through Sunday, when her parents would pick her up. Patty would always do the same thing; thank me for helping her keep her marriage alive, and then she would pat her vagina and wink. Her husband always called me, 'the best medicine.'

Kimmie came too. Harriet and Hilly would be here tomorrow for Christmas Day and in time for our Annual Christmas Giving. They were taking the train down, a first for them. Two body guards would be with them and our RFS world, the part that was on duty, would be on high alert until the packages arrived at our place safely. The trains were packed this time of year, so there were plenty of partiers and well-wishers on the train and the girls had a grand time. Their bodyguards were nervous wrecks and very happy when they made it to my place. I immediately pulled them off duty and bought them each a stiff drink. Then I told them to go walk it off for two hours and be back here to finish their shift. They don't understand me, but rumor has it, they love me.

I tend to overdo the details about the holidays. It's because I love them so much. They are like an investment I make every year that pays off at the same time. I feel like my best self that time of year. This time, I'm gonna keep it brief. First by stating the lesson learned. Family and very close friends only at the house. No massive troop movements through the house. We did a Center City party for the Todd-Bernstein Companies, excepting the three at the Navy Yard. That was held at a Restaurant on the river. For the children, we did our annual giving at Children's Hospital. Wherein my children learn, yet again, how lucky they are in so many ways. Harriet is always a big hit when she shows up with her many statewide swimming medals around her neck, and her 'Future Olympian 2056' sweater.

One thing of note was that for the first time, Herman dressed as Santa. We had to have the suit custom made for him, he's so big. And when those kids saw this giant Santa Claus walk into the room, if they didn't believe before, they did now. Watching him, while kid after kid got on and off his lap was not amusing. It was heart rendering. I just couldn't stop smiling. And Peggy, she was just falling deeper and deeper and crushing harder than I've ever seen a woman fall before. Tick, tick, tick.

Speaking of a woman falling. Celeste and her 'Littles' were all dressed as Santa's Elves, and were helping kids from their parents to Herman and back. As you would expect, Celeste was directing the traffic, and everyone else was doing the work. Every time Holly and I looked at each other we cracked up. But we also held our hands to our hearts.

The sightseeing was great and the mountains were outstanding. The Tuttlehills and the Chus were with us and even Duane's brother joined us, with a woman he was staying with in Philly over the holidays. She was an FBI field agent stationed on Arch Street. She was pretty. And she was an Amazon. Six-one. Big enough?

This was the year that Toothy and Cass first came. We put them up at the Bellevue and told them that it's carte blanche. Their money is no good in my town, and if they want something, to do something, to have something, all they need do is ask a friend. They were going to hop on Toothy's bike and fight their way through the almost January weather when I sent them plane tickets, first class of course, and a note where to meet their driver.

When they hit Philly International, they didn't have to go looking for their driver, someone was there to meet them. Ronnie was driving, but the agent with him spotted them in a crowd like a big red thumb on a yellow background. When the couple got out to the car and saw Ronnie, they jumped him. A very friendly jump.

"Ranger Ron, how's our girl, Big Car? You two married yet?"

"Don't worry, Tooth, you're right at the top of the list of people who will know."

"My man."

The two agents got my guests to the hotel and situated. Told them to come downstairs to the lobby, at six, and that they will be taken to dinner at the townhouse.

"The Townhouse." Toothy said, mimicking an English Earl. They all laughed. But the fun was just beginning. My fun, at least. I figured I'd give them ten minutes to settle in before I start to blast them. The trip wasn't that long, so I'm sure they're not exhausted or anything. So first to come was the flowers. Big bouquet. I'm sure Cass liked it. But it can't be all about Cass. Ten minutes after that a fruit basket arrived. Both cut up and whole fruits. I can hear Toothy now. 'C'mon Queen Bee. Fruit?'

Fifteen minutes later a man arrives with a cart with two bottles of Champagne on ice. But he is not just dropping and running. Behind him a man walks in with a tray with breads, crackers, meats and cheeses. The first man introduces himself and tells the couple that I sent him to, first ask them not to eat too much and spoil dinner which will start promptly at six-thirty. Next, he gave them each a menu. You know, the kind with no prices on them, which Toothy inquired about. I knew that because the minute it happened, my supercell rang.

"Toothy? Is everything okay? Problem?"

"Problem? It's incredible. Nobody ever treated me like this. And Cass is parading around here like a queen. I'm likin' Philly."

"Wait till dinner. Bertha's cooking and the place already smells like you could eat the railings. Don't you eat too much. Oh, Toothy, what kind of beer do you like?'

"Queen Bee, you never stop, do you?"

"Never. Not for my friends."

"I can discuss it with Mr. Grimm and have it delivered forthwith, ma'am." The man from the hotel said.

"There it is, Toothy. Ask and you shall receive. They're pretty familiar with me over at the Bellevue. You just say it's on my tab and give them your name. Either of you. And all you'll have to do is sign for it."

"Hannah."

"Yeah, Cass."

"You can have my man for the night."

"WHAT! Stop it. Not that I wouldn't find the possibilities intoxicating, there's no debt here. This is all my holiday gift to you, and to the club through you. A healthy Prez is a happy Prez."

Needless to say. When they went downstairs the other agent had gone and who greeted them now was Ron and Caroline. They hugged and kissed and made fools out of themselves in the middle of Broad Street. Then Caroline shuffled them into the back seat and jumped in shotgun. The lights up and down Broad Street dazzled the pair from Pittsburgh as they made their way to the insanity that is our downtown place.

When they arrived, Ronnie grabbed Cass and Caroline grabbed Toothy, and escorted them into utter madness. But the smells were divine, and that was the first thing he commented on. "My God, have I died and gone to heaven? What am I smelling and when can I eat it?"

"You mind yourself," Bertha told the large black man. "Supper's comin' soon enough."

The kids were running around, expending some of their vast reserves of energy. But when they saw Toothy and Cass come in, they stopped and looked up. And I mean up. They were used to having large black men around, but for some reason, this guy seemed bigger. "Wow!" Lily Chu said in the cutest little voice. Put a big smile on Cass's face. So did everything surrounding her. I walked up to them with the little monster we call Duanee, and Cass immediately snatched him away from me, and told me she was planning on taking this one home.

"I don't know, Cass, there's still time."

"What, me, another one? Get real, Queenie. Would you want another one?"

'Hey Cass, I've got five. Now THAT is enough." Got a good laugh with that.

The Chus were already here talking to the Lawrences, when the McKelly's came through the door. This was also their virgin tour. Peggy dropped the word on Les that it might be a good idea if the boys left their noisemakers home till New Years. Rory ran right up to me while I was standing with Cass and asked me where 'The Littles' were. I told him in the Family Room, upstairs. "Just listen for the giggling, Rory." And he shot up the stairs. This was their virgin tour of the townhouse, and they appeared as impressed as my friends from Pittsburgh. They were equally impressed by the way we dealt with the babies in an almost communal way. Not much differently than they did in the neighborhoods of South Philly. Everybody wanted to see the tour, and I told them to wait until later when the kids are ready to fall into their beds and sleeping bags.

We brought in two people from our caterer, who were pretty much multipurpose, to help Bertha. Sous chef, cleaner, server, prepper, wrapper of leftovers, and all the things that a caterer as good as mine does.

At six, the kids sat down, and Bertha, Mac, and Aggie sat with them. The servers and us made sure all the kids got what they wanted, and if there were special orders the chef member of the crew would cook it up. The kids took up most of the length of the table, but there were more adults and we would fill it. We hung out around the kitchen and in and out of the living room where the kids were chowing down. And chattering away as well. There were a lot of mmmmm's and aahhhh's. And a lot of clean plates at the end of the meal. Rory looked up at his mother as she was walking around the table putting gravy on Georgie's mashed potatoes. "Mom. You better get with the program."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. This food is bangin'. I want more."

"You have to come to our house," Georgia said, "We eat Bertha's cooking all the time."

"Wow. Would you invite me?"

"Sure. I'm sure I can arrange it."

I was walking down to where they were sitting, and all I heard was "I can arrange it." Frightening words coming from a six-year-old.

"What are we arranging, Peach?"

"Can we have Rory over for dinner?"

"Sure. His mommy and I work very closely and there will be times when I want to work with her in my home office. I'll see if she can bring Rory up with her sometimes and they can stay for dinner."

"Thanks, mommy. See Rory. My mom's the best."

"Yeah, I guess that's why she calls her the Queen Bee." Not an adult within a ten-foot radius was not laughing hysterically. The Littles didn't get it, but the middles, Harry, Hilly and Shawn, Jr. did. And they were nodding their heads like bobbleheads.

I was hoping to sit the adults down to dinner at six-thirty, but getting the kids situated, up in the family room, took a minute more than we anticipated. But a bit before seven we all sat down and Bertha and the crew took over. While some of us (women of course) were serving dinner, others were feeding and changing babies. When we sat down, Aggie was upstairs with the three little urchins and we got to eat in peace. Bertha took great care of us, but fended off all compliments. She hears it so much she is getting tired of it. Something I'll never understand. I never get tired of being called a badass.

I bought out the entire fourteenth floor of the Bellevue from Thursday the twenty-third, till Sunday, the second of January with all my out of town guests in mind. And I looked around, and the Chus were checked in, the Grimms were checked in, the McKellys are checked in but they showed up seeking a ride for Shawn after dinner so he can stay over at a friend's house and they will both catch the bus to CHOP in the morning. Herman immediately volunteered. And Peggy went with him. Pilot and navigator.

When they dropped Shawny off, Herman said he wanted to talk to the lad's father. Just to check him out and make sure this is a safe place. The boy's father turned out to be the band's banjo teacher and was also an English and Music teacher at the local Combined Middle School/High School. Herman more than approved. Especially when he told him that he would be going along to CHOP and act as one of the chaperones. He was back in forty-five minutes and now parked behind Mac in the garage. Mom and Dad McKelly were going to have a free night in a luxury hotel and they were looking at each other like they had not yet had a chance to eat. Later. First, drinks and conversation. And lots of it.

It was going on seven-thirty and they were setting up dessert, but I wanted to check the kids first. They were still up talking and playing and just being kids. So, I called them all down for a reason Holly gave me. I thought we would start tomorrow night, when the grandparents are down. But Holly shot that down and brought our own home menorah to the house downtown. So it was that night, the night before the first day of Chanukah, we lit our first candles. I couldn't help notice that Les was hovering nearby.

Holly said a prayer in English, then she made her best attempt at saying in Hebrew, when Avi stopped her. He looked at her and Celeste and looked around. "Miss Bernstein, Celeste, I'm going to say the prayer tonight in Hebrew, and starting tomorrow, the three of us can do it together, okay?"

"Yeah. Mommy?"

"Of course, dear. Avi."

Everyone was quiet and still. Avi said the short prayer with reverence. It made an impact. I expect that nobody in this crowd had ever experienced this ceremony that we would perform for the next seven nights. I'm glad they got to experience it here. But I couldn't help notice Les mouthing the words to the Hebrew prayer, as if it were familiar to her. I think she and I should have at least a short talk about her Judaism. We'll see.

"Just wait till Passover. Right Bertha." I said.

"I do just love cooking up some of Mrs. Bernsten's chicken soup. Cook it by the gallon, eat it by the bowl. Good for what ails you."

"I've recommended it plenty for sore throats and congestion and it's a good way to both hydrate and nourish the body at the same time. People who get a cold or the flu recover quicker if they eat some good old fashioned home-made chicken soup." Dr. Chu stated, with obvious authority. "They haven't been calling it Jewish Penicillin for a hundred years for no reason." The wisdom of Dr. Chu.

Les and I took the boys upstairs to my suite, the penthouse, to change. It was a schlep and I apologized all the way. Lizzie and Hannah, Harry and Hilly whipped the little girls into shape up in the kids' big bedroom, and before long they were all in their pajamas. Then something happened I didn't think I'd expect in a million years. Harry came up to me and asked, "Aunt Hannah, can Hilly and I go up and see the babies?"

"Sure, Har. Let's go. But you've got to be quiet. If they're sleeping, I want them to stay that way. You know what they say about poking a sleeping bear. Well, when they made that up, they were thinking of Duane Royce, Jr." They both giggled.

"Shhh." We tiptoed up to the fourth level where my suite was. This was now my second trip up. There would be no grand tour tonight. The next time I walk those stairs will be the last time. Aggie was watching over the twins, Ellie and Monique Lawrence when we hit my suite. And the girls did a one-eighty with their mouths open.

"Wow, Aunt Hannah. Mom would love this room. I've been to the house but never this room. It's awesome." She whispered.

Ellie and my two were conked out, but Monique was lying on her back and looking up at us. I gave her my best smile and she smiled back. Aggie got up to tend to her and I told her to sit back and relax. I gave a sniff and a feel, and determined she was neither wet nor soiled, but I just got the feeling she didn't want to lay there. So, I picked her up and we had a grand old time. Les was watching and when I rocked, she rocked. When I hummed, she hummed. And in no time, Linnie's delicious little milk chocolate drop was asleep, and back in the crib, and I was hightailing it out of there. Aggie had it under control.

When we got downstairs, everyone was pouring or drinking Brandy or wine. Herman and Peggy were just coming through the door. Duane's brother, Davante, had arrived for dessert, with a nice tasty looking morsel on his arm, named Harley Tanner, and Ronnie and Caroline were introducing them around. She had to be six feet tall. When Les and I hit the first floor and she looked up at him with a tall, beautiful light skinned black woman, she looked at me and said, "What the fuck's up with Duane? You allow him to have other women?" Before I could say anything, Ronnie asked if anyone wanted to smoke cigars and a couple of the fellows raised their hands and he ran out of the house saying, "They're in the car. Meet you at the front door." And he ran all the way to the garage laughing his ass off.

When most of the men had gone out to stink up the neighborhood, I gathered my fellow hens and told them that they are not just invited, but they WILL be at Cramps tonight, Christmas night.

"What's Cramps, Hannah?" Patty Chu asked, "It doesn't sound like much fun."

"It's a lesbo bar. All women." Our Polish prodigy spouted.

"We don't really use that term much anymore, Peggy. It's so... twentieth century." Lizzie said.

"You are aware, Peggy, that I am a woman married to a woman. Aren't you?"

"I thought you converted."

Lizzie, Holly and I broke out into a laughing fit.

"Cramps is indeed a lesbian bar. But not just any bar. It's the best damned lesbian bar in the state and one of Philly's top ten bars. It's big, it's bold and it's always happening. You'll see. A lot of straight folks go there too. One day a year I like to let my hair down, and kick out the jams with my Bridge House girls and my friends in Philly's lesbian community. And you are all coming with me. The bar has been forewarned and I have a long table and couple of booths reserved. And they don't take reservations."

"Can I come too?" Patty asked in her demur voice, so like her little Lily.

"The Queen Bee just ordered you to, Pat. You've got to."

"And you know what happens to those who do not obey Hannah's orders, don't you?" Holly asked everyone in general and no one specifically.

"They're taken out and summarily shot." Lizzie said. A hush fell over the room.

"Ah, come on... Everybody thinks I'm this damned dragon lady. I'm gettin' sick and tired of it. I keep trying to be the benevolent Queen Bee and I only end up breathing fire. Lighten up."

"It's called Imposter Syndrome, Hannah. And it looks like you've got a good case of it." Dr. Chu said. "It's not uncommon among High-achieving people."

"It's not about achieving. I fell into all this. It was all dumb luck."

"It was luck that you fell into it, but what you have done with it had everything to do with your success. How has your fortune grown since you fell into it?"

"Doubled." Said Holly. "At least cash holdings. Stocks - up fifteen percent; real estate - up twenty percent; three new companies started and already growing, and one is already hitting profitability. Is that enough, Hannah, to show you that you are the real deal." And to top that off, Peggy stood up and started to applaud, and everyone else followed her. It was so embarrassing, but I hoped, in that moment, that they would do it every day for me.

"Well, I'm no psychiatrist Hannah, but I think you are just fine, and certainly no imposter." The doctor insisted. "Not to mention, the best host in town." And he raised his glass, and all those who had one raised theirs. "To the Queen Bee." The doc said. "To the Queen Bee," everyone else responded. That's pretty much where the night ended at the townhouse. But to us girls, the night was just beginning.

I asked Ronnie and Avi to get our guests to the hotel, but Toothy said he wanted to walk it. Everybody thought it was a great idea. The stores, although closed, would all be alight on Walnut Street, the place that had become known as Rittenhouse Row. And the street was strung, east to west with decorations and lights. Ronnie, Caroline and Avi would escort them, and when the doctor recommend that they take a lap around Rittenhouse Square Park, they did. Once around and once through to Walnut Street. Patty and Cass stopped numerous times to look in the windows of the closed shops to admire the wares. The McKellys just kept on walking, her hand up his coat and down the back of his pants, holding onto his boney Irish ass. When they went to leave, Les whispered in my ear about how she should show up tomorrow, meaning what she should wear. I told her drained and sore. She laughed, but that's the way she showed up on Friday. And with a big smile on her face. Yeah, one of those smiles.

Our Christmas tree was beautifully decorated, a wonder to behold. But it had no presents under it. Not until the last of my guests left and a box truck pulled up to my service entrance and emptied a shitpile of gifts, which Caroline, Lizzie, Holly and I, with the help of the guys, piled around the tree in the family room and along the wall there were so many. Everyone knew that nobody was opening presents until we returned from CHOP. Then let the frenzy begin.