The Bridge Ch 28 - Hoagie and Rose

The Bridge - Chapter Twenty-Eight - A Rose and a Hoagie

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 28 - A Rose and a Hoagie

Gloria and I have an appointment with Dieter Rose at First Republic Antiques and Auction House today. Domingo and Rapper would be driving us, followed by the clown car, I call it, of four RFS agents ready to rock and roll at a moment's notice. We'd vetted this guy, Rose, and he came up smelling like his namesake. Rhee hadn't been able to find much more than we had, but I told her to keep looking.

When we walked through his shop's door and he stuck his slimy hand out to me, I just knew. Fuck the data. This guy is dirty six ways to Sunday. I've just got to make the connection. I told Mr. Rose that there was absolutely nothing I could do until my designer arrived. Moments later, there was Flora, with an attractive, but not stunning, man. Average height, average weight, pretty nondescript. Your 'Regular guy' right out of central casting. Nothing wrong, but nothing special. But he had very special talents that the eyes couldn't see. And the fact that he could exercise these talents, and nobody could see what he was doing, was beyond my scope of understanding.

Constantine 'Hoagie' Hinton, was a master magician, hypnotist, thief, safecracker, pickpocket, grifter, and master of disguise, but not an RFS employee. I am trying to rectify that, at least when it comes to working with my squad. But he agreed to work with me today, just to get a feel for how we work. I told Rapper and Domingo not to get within five feet of the guy, or they'll lose their wallets and supercells. I need his eyes looking over Rose's operation.

When we had our quorum, Rose gave us a tour of the premises, from gems and jewels, to five-hundred-year-old framed art. He had ancient arms and old agricultural implements. Gloria bought two large paintings from the nineteenth century. Cost a pretty penny, but she seemed to think they would be a good investment. And with the kind of money she had, this is the kind of investment she makes. But it's also the kind of thing home invaders are looking for. Without even knowing it, Gloria was laying out the bait. They already hit her place, and we beat the shit out of them, but that doesn't mean another outfit won't take a shot.

If I found a piece interesting, I'd talk to Flora about it, and Mr. Rose would bring it out and he would be flanked by Gloria and Hoagie when he did. Hoagie wasn't here for the artwork, or even the jewelry. He was collecting intelligence and working up a profile on this guy and his business. He was also planting bugs. And he had a million questions, driving the staff nuts. The art of distraction,

"Miss Todd," Rose asked, "Do you always carry a gun?"

"Pretty much. It's a dangerous town. A girl can't be too careful these days."

"Do you really think you have to worry about that?" Looking around at all the armed men, both inside and outside his building.

"If you're me, you do." Gloria got a good chuckle out of that. Rapper just grinned and put his hand on his hip where his gun resided.

"Mr. Rose, your shop is beautiful, and your wares are spectacular. I think I'll visit your website to revisit some of the pieces I saw today. Did you write those down, Dom?"

"Yes, Miss Todd. I scanned the codes on five pieces and you can you can just pull them up on your tablet or home computer any time."

Then it was time for me to dip my toe into the waters of evil.

"Tell me, Mr. Rose, what are you holding back? I have found that the best pieces are usually kept back for special clients. I'd like to be that kind of client, don't I, Flor?"

"That's right, Hannah. It's the hidden treasures you always seem to relish. What say, Dieter, what are you hiding from us?"

When she said that, his eyes locked on to one of his assistants, and the woman marched herself into the back, and Hoagie followed her. Was she going back there to get a shotgun? Or was she just, as they say, powdering her nose?

"Oh, Miss," Hoagie called out to her. "Can you direct me to the men's room?" Hoagie was going to get back there one way or another. And she led him through a large storage room, which had a restroom at the far end. When he opened the door to the restroom, he released a Wasp drone, and let it fly. He could see what the drone saw on his supercell, and directed it accordingly. They could also see it at Central, at the Navy Yard, as well as the video conference room at my house where it will be recorded.

Hoagie flew the drone all around the large back room, which he estimated at about five thousand square feet. Sizeable, to say the least. He flew that little drone through that entire warehouse, and left it parked up high above a rafter, ready to come out and spy when directed to do so. When he came out, he gave me a wink, and returned to acting like Flora's assistant. Before we left, I whispered to Hoagie that I needed to talk to him when we walk out of this place.

While Gloria was concluding her business with Mr. Rose, I walked out with Hoagie, and told him that he's coming to my house after this appointment and that we'd get him home later tonight after he and I finished our business.

"That's really not the way I do business, Miss Todd."

"Ah, but it's the way I do business. Right Domingo?"

"Absolutely Miss Todd."

"Hoagie, there's not much in my life that is trivial. And when trivial things happen, I just let them go, and my people make them go away. When important things happen, I seize them and make them my own. When I see exceptional talent, I need to be close to it. And when I see a perfect piece to fit into my organization, I do whatever I have to in order to obtain that piece. Right now, I see you as that piece. I want to spend some time talking to you about what you saw here today. And I want to have that conversation with you when it's fresh in your mind. And then I want to talk to you about joining my team. And I'd like you to meet them. Like you, they are the best at what they do. Coming?"

"And if I don't?"

"Well, one; it would be foolish; and two, I'd have Dom here blow your brains out. It's ugly, but at least we like you. Believe me, if we didn't, it would be a whole lot more painful. So much so that just describing what we are going to do to someone will make them shit their pants."

"Can I call my wife?"

"Absolutely. I would never deny a family man the opportunity to communicate with a loved one. Ever."

He walked about ten feet away and made the call. Obviously, talking to someone he loves, and before he hangs up, he says, "Kiss the kids." And "I love you." Hoagie's family is my ace in the hole. Hoagie never had a 'straight' job. Some of his magic work could be considered that, but pickpocketing, grifting and theft were what paid the bills. He had no other real marketable skills. We can offer him a chance to go straight, have a job with good steady pay and benefits, and a real retirement plan, all for doing what he does, anyway. I just have to convince him that it's for real. I wanted him on the team so badly, but I just felt like I had to make him squirm a little before he got the best job offer of his life. But I'm also going to tug on his heartstrings a little.

I sent Hoagie to my house in the car with the agents following us as our backup detail. Dom and Rapper drove Gloria and I. Flora was just a ploy and she knew it. I thanked and told her if she didn't send me a bill, I was going to send my biggest guy around to harass her. She kissed me and told me how much she loved me and that I was her favorite client. I just love when my vendors kiss ass. After a long day of doing that myself, it's nice to have the favor returned.

When we hit my driveway, Gloria and Rapper and two of the guys from the other vehicle were off to the Tuttlehills, and I had Mr. Hinton to myself. Lizzie was upstairs in the office and Duane wasn't home yet. Neither were the kids, but I expected them within the next forty-five minutes. I introduced Hoagie to Bertha, who looked him up and down, and almost fell over when he produced a deck of cards out of nowhere and told her to pick a card. She did, and when he told her what her card was, he guessed wrong.

"Some magician you are."

"Look in your apron, Bertha."

Damned, wasn't it the three of clubs, the card she picked?

"You got me there, Mr. Hoagie."

Bertha poured us each a cup of coffee, and we sat on the high tops at the kitchen island table.

"So, Hoagie, I understand you're a family man. Kids?"

"Two, both girls."

"Really? How old. I've got an eight and a twelve, almost thirteen." Gotcha.

"Old kids. Mine are all still babies compared to yours. Holly and I have five altogether. I gave birth to four of the them."

"Wow, you look great for a woman who carried four kids."

"In actuality, I carried five, but that's a whole different story. Oh yeah. You are exactly what I am looking for. And it pains me to say I know how to get you."

"You know, Miss Todd, getting pushed around by a woman, a girl, ten years my junior, really tears at me. I'm an independent cuss, and have been all my life. On my own since the age of fourteen. I know the streets, and every inch of my town. I can take down a guy twice my size if I have to, and I have been arrested plenty, but never convicted. I don't understand what you want with me if you know my record. How could I get past the vetting of a legit company like yours?"

"Tell me what you know about my companies, Hoagie?"

"The only one I'm familiar with is Royce Field Services, and you are supposed to be the best bodyguards in town. What could you want with me. I ain't no bodyguard. I ain't a tough guy. I'm a guy who takes stuff and disappears."

"Exactly. You make the magic happen, and I need just a touch of that. Tonight, I'm going to introduce you to some people who I am hoping will be working with you. That's really up to them more than to you and I. If I offer you the gig, you'll take it. I promise you that. You'll take it before I offer you a dime of salary, or benefits, or retirement, or just plain legitimacy. Come upstairs with me to a room that is very private. Not many people get to visit that room. But first something is going to happen that you will just love."

Hannah Todd's perfect timing, as the car with the kids coming home from school pulls up, and out pour our three, and Lily Chu, who came home with Georgia to play. Right to the kitchen where we sat and after very quick introductions, they were off and running. Celeste to her room, to finish a chapter of the Biology text one of her Penn instructors recommended. The little girls went right to Georgia's room and Dom was around, so Georgie went out to play ball with him.

"Come upstairs with me, Hoagie, there's something I want you to see, but first the crown jewels." And we walked into our makeshift nursery and those magnificent little muffins of mine were lying there, taking their afternoon naps, backsides in the air. And he did what I expected him to do. He leaned over and smelled their heads. Oh, I've so got him.

As we walked down the hall to the office, He said, "You've got a regular United Nations going on here."

I let him know I pride myself in that. When we got to the office, Lizzie was on her laptop on the desk that wasn't mine, and I asked her if she would light up the video conference room, as I had one of 'those' demonstrations to give. When I said that, Hoagie looked at me sideways. I told him to take a seat, and I sat back on the Queen's Throne, as Lizzie likes to call it.

"Hoagie. I'm going to tell you that I have had you fully vetted and I have been watching you. And, quite frankly I like what I see. Your record notwithstanding, I like the kind of person you are. I've seen you do things, even as a thief, that were good and charitable. I would cite examples, but you know what they are. Tonight, I'm gonna stick my neck out, because I think you're worth it."

"We'll thanks, but I don't..."

"What do you know about Peace Dunbar?"

"That he was scum. A dirty, slimy, piece of shit. Whoever killed him didn't go far enough."

"Well, I take great offense to that."

"You..."

And I just nodded my head. He was visibly taken aback and looked at my face, side to side and up and down.

"Your people did that?"

"Nope. The shoddy work was all mine. They just supported the effort."

"You... killed... Peace... Dunbar."

"I did."

"Why are you telling me this? I'm finding this a bit eerie. And, frankly, I'm getting a bit frightened, and I don't get frightened."

"I'm going to take you into that room over there and show you something." And I reached down using my thumbprint and opened my bottom drawer, which was more of a safe. I took out the copy of the red drive I had easily accessible, and took it into the videoconference room, where Lizzie was waiting for us.

"Hoagie, do you know what we do at Todd Recovery?"

"Oh, yeah, that's one of your companies. Don't your recover girls who have been trafficked? That's a lofty goal."

"I think it is, and, to date, we've rescued over a hundred girls. Many of them were captured when they weren't much older than your oldest daughter." The trap is set.

"My oldest daughter isn't even thirteen yet."

"Lizzie, how many thirteen-year-olds do we have in this drive?"

"Only twenty-three."

"Only?" He asked.

"Yeah, we've got a hundred and six nineteen-year-olds, but only because they were captured by these pieces of shit when they were twelve and thirteen and fourteen."

"No. Don't tell me that. I don't want to hear it."

'Oh, Hoagie, Dom is out in the corridor. You're not going to just hear it; you're going to see it too. Hit it Lizzie, intro file."

"What's your name slut?" The voice came out of the speaker as the very young blonde's head shot appeared on the screen.

"Allison, sir."

"Allison, what?"

"Allison Svenson, sir."

"How old are you, Allison?"

"Eighteen, sir."

"Why are you here, slut?"

"To serve my master, sir."

"And what has your master asked of you?"

"He has sold me to you and asks that I do anything you wish. How may I serve you, my new master?"

And the camera panned back and away, until it showed a full body shot of a naked young girl, arms up in the air, chained to the ceiling, and cinched up so tight, her feet barely touched the floor. She was skinny, and not what you would consider shapely. Unless you are a fucking pervert, and a really bad one.

I could see Hoagie was starting to get really riled up, but was paralyzed when a large man with a long strap started walking around her and beating her. She begged and pleaded, but he would not stop until she was red from her bottom to her shoulders and breasts. He could have jumped through the screen.

"Please, turn it off. I can't watch anymore."

"You will watch till I tell you to stop. I have to warn you though, it gets worse"

"How can it get worse?"

"Don't ask." Lizzie said.

Lizzie then clicked the next file and Allison was being dragged into a room, looked like a warehouse, and the unmade mattress could have been cleaner. The man threw her on the bed and she was suddenly surrounded by four men. From big to small they each took their turns in their own special way. I will not go any further describing the molestation of a young woman, only to say it was gruesome and it was brutal. When it was over, I told him these were two of twenty files in this series on Allison. Then I asked him if he wanted to keep watching.

"No more, please. What is it you want from me? How can I help you with this? And, did you really kill Peace Dunbar?"

"Want to see the tape?"

"Somehow, I don't think so. Just the news reports were gruesome enough. I'll take your word for it. So, what's next?"

"Usually this is where I ask you to quit your job and give notice. But I am hot on the tail of this fence, and I'd like you on board ASAP."

"Great. I'm on board."

"Alright. But I can't welcome you on board yet. Without the team's approval, the offer is off the table."

"Well, that could wind up pretty anticlimactic for me."

"I don't think so. My guys usually fall in line when I can give them a good reason to bring a new agent on board."

"Do I have to work bodyguard shifts?"

"No. You will be in a completely different place. In fact. I'm not going to let Duane have you. I'm taking you for Recovery. That will be your home and you will work primarily for Avi and Les McKelly on a day-to-day basis, but I will be your real boss."

"Is it true they call you the Queen Bee, because you are such a badass?"

"Ahhh. I thought they called me that because I'm a cute little blonde."

"Beggin' your pardon, ma'am, but you are a hell of a lot more than a cute blonde."

"Well, thanks, Hoagie. I appreciate that. I like to think that myself."

"So, what's next?'

"Dinner. Is your wife a good cook, Hoagie?"

"I think so. What she can do with a mushroom is beyond compare."

"Well, you're in for a treat. Bertha is the best cook in Chester County and you are about to get spoiled. Afterwards, when the kids go up, the team will be meeting in the Greenhouse."

"The Greenhouse, huh? It sounds like a euphemism."

"Oh, it's a very real place. Do you garden?"

"My wife does the gardening. She's got a real green thumb."

"Yeah. We've got a bit of a green thumb around here, too."

Hoagie mixed in well with the family when we adjourned to the dining room for dinner. He was very impressed with the kids' behavior and by the incredible intelligence of Celeste. While we were finishing up dinner, he asked Celeste if she could take his vital signs.

"Of course. Let me just get my bag."

As she strutted upstairs, we all chuckled a little, but the kids didn't know why. This was Dr. Celeste. Of course she is gonna check him out. This is Celeste at eight, almost nine. She received her little doctor's bag when she signed up for Physician Track, and whenever she went to class and wherever she went, she took it with her. Even to the pool. It contained a blood pressure cuff, and a stethoscope, a pulse-ox device, something to measure temperature, and lots of first aid stuff. She even carried with her a nasal injector to stop a drug overdose. As she learned to use new things, she'd add them to her bag. But she was only eight. And, really, how much could she do? You would be astounded.

When she came downstairs with her bag, she had her 'short coat' on. In the medical profession, a 'short coat' is worn by physicians who have not completed their training. Med students, interns, first-year residents all wear them. Holly bought the smallest one she could find, and had our tailer alter it to fit Celeste, with a little room to grow. It was to be used exclusively at our house, and not to be spoken of outside the family and privileged guests. It existed only to make Celeste feel good about herself. It was actually Lu Como's idea. We had a Lizzie-photo of Celeste taking Georgia's vital signs. The writing over her left chest said Celeste Bernstein on the top line, and Physician's Track, on the second. She loved wearing that thing.

When Celeste was done giving Hoagie his check up and declaring him fit and healthy, I excused her and myself, while Hoagie had another cup of coffee, and chatted with Bertha and Lizzie, who were cleaning up. The boys were starting to gather, and Bertha still had a half full urn of reasonably fresh coffee, so just about everyone stopped in for a cup, and introduced themselves to the new potential member of the team. And Avi started a trend when he asked Bertha if there were any scones around. There were, but there aren't any left now. I will scold my herd of pigs when I confront them in the Greenhouse.

I was just finishing getting the Diva down when Domingo came up to let me know that everyone is present and ready to go. Then he went for the reason he really came up. He smelled the babies and gave each a gentle kiss. Like being kissed by a grizzly bear with Barbie's lips. But he loves them so much, and they are crazy about him.

I sent Dom downstairs, kissed Celeste and my other two, and a little peck for tiny Lily Chu who was sleeping over with the Peach. As I walked down the stairs, I could hear the hushed conversation, nobody wanting to wake the kids, but not wanting to leave before they finish their scones. When I walked into the kitchen, a silence fell over the room. At the other side of the room stood Duane Royce. In my mind, by far, the handsomest within eyesight. I pointed at him and then crooked my finger at him and gave him a come-hither look that you could catch a killer whale with. In a second, he was at my side with his arms wrapped around me and we were kissing. Oh yeah. We were definitely kissing.

"Hey, you two," Caroline said. "Get a room."

Everyone cracked up, and hand in hand, Duane and I led the team out to the Greenhouse.

"There really is a Greenhouse. And it's a beauty. Who's your gardener?"

"Mostly Georgie."

"Your four-year-old?"

"Almost five and he's quite the agronomist."

"You really mean that," Hoagie said.

"If it came past these lips, I meant it. Right, boys?"

"Hoo-Rah," came the call from all. Really startled Hoagie, who is not ex-military.

Everyone either sat around or stood around. Lizzie was with us. All in our usual places in the Greenhouse. Duane got up and stepped to the middle and addressed the team.

"This is gonna be short and sweet. There are two reasons we are meeting tonight. One is to decide whether to bring Hoagie Hinton onto the team. You've all gotten your packets and I hope you will have some questions. But first, this is Hannah's meeting, and she'll take it from here."

"Alright, guys, and Caroline and Lizzie, I'm proposing we bring a new member onto our team. He brings us capabilities we don't come close to possessing, but need badly if we wish to pursue our goals. Hoagie is like the Swiss Army Knife of crime. He's an extraordinary pickpocket, a stage hypnotist, an expert at the grift, a superb thief, master magician, and master of disguise. He's a guy who knows how to get in and out quickly, and never leave a trace that he's been there. We need that kind of operator."

"But I don't see any military experience." Anthony said.

"True, but we don't need him in that capacity. We have plenty of muscle in this room. We need to expand our capabilities. We need to be more cerebral."

"I don't need to be military to be a tough guy. I grew up on the streets of South Philly, and that was before the gentrification. Been in a fight or two, but make my living staying out of them. You know, live to fight another day."

"Do you shoot?"

"I own two guns. A forty-five caliber Colt, and a little Remington snub.38., which I usually carry with me. To be honest with you, I use them more to wave around than to shoot people."

"Have you?"

"Have I what?"

"Shot anyone?"

"Once or twice. But only to get myself out of danger. Once out of sheer panic."

Alec, our Navy SEAL and triple-A team member, asked Hoagie why, after working for the bad guys all his life, he was looking to be a good guy?

"Frankly, I wasn't. But Ms. Todd waved a bunch of money at me to do a one-day job and then offered me this gig after showing me why you do what you do. I am so in. My wife and I have two girls of our own that I would lay down my life for. I can certainly see myself fighting for those like them who have not been as lucky as we have. If you will have me, I will do my best to blow your minds, both with great ideas and the skills I have developed over a lifetime."

"I don't know," Big Dom said. "After being dishonest all your life, how can we expect you to be honest with us? As opaque as we must be to the public, openness and honesty has to be the policy when we hit this Greenhouse. Can you do that? Can you keep your mouth shut out there and open yourself up here, where it counts?"

"That's a great question. Unfortunately, the only way to answer it is with time. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and you just have to wait for me to prove myself. I will."

"Well," Dom said, "If you pass the Hanna Todd sniff test, you've got my vote."

Avi, not to be upstaged by his large friend, asked, "Could you kill someone if need be?"

"I never have, but I came close. I was angry enough once, but got talked down by a grifter friend who felt that we should flee rather than shed blood. But face to face with someone looking to do me in would certainly change things. I've spent my entire adult life taking, but never taking a human life. I'm able, but not willing, to do it as a job. I'm no hit man."

"Nor will you be called to be," said Herman. "I think Hannah has a very different job for you. You will be working primarily with Avi, over in Recovery, and I think, from what I have seen in your Bio, you and he would work well together. You've got my vote."

Well, if Herman and Domingo agree on something, it's pretty certain the team will follow. For very different reasons, they carried the full respect of the team.

Nobody had any further questions after Herman's vote of confidence. So we took a vote and Hoagie become one of us with a one hundred percent approval. The next topic of discussion would have to do with the next job for the team. Dieter Rose. That's when I took over the meeting.

"Let me tell you what I know about Dieter Rose. Gloria Tuttlehill and I went to his shop today. It is expansive, and it is expensive. Mr. Rose puts on a very good show of being a straight up businessman who is both formidable and charitable. I expect he will be a tough nut to crack. Hence, Hoagie. Tell us, Hoagie, you were with us when we went to Mr. Rose's shop. What do you think?"

"Well, Miss Todd, he has a ton of high-end merchandise in his place. It was well maintained and guarded by two very shady looking characters. If it takes one to know one, I'd keep an eye on those two, and others I expect he has on his payroll. Is this guy dirty? Can't tell from the one look. It appears he does everything to run his shop on the up and up. But meeting the guy gives me the shakes. There is definitely something about it. I watched Ms. Todd's interaction with him and she certainly picked up on it. I could tell, just by her body language. I would look deeper into him before pursuing any form of action against him. And if you need a target, it probably shouldn't be the shop. Although I'd like to review the drone footage to see if I can find anything to change my mind."

"Excellent," I said. "This is why I want a guy like Hoagie on the team. His eyes and his instincts will serve us well. Rhee Spanner is doing a deep dive into Mr. Rose and once her vetting is complete, we will make a few moves of our own. I'd like to have this guy tracked and follow him home and to whatever other haunts he has. Next Monday, I want you to report to Recovery, Hoagie, and you will be working with Avi, who will keep you in the loop as to any action that might be forthcoming."

"I'll be there." And he walked over and shook Avi's hand. Queen Bee was pleased. By the time Hoagie was on board, I would have the full report from Rhee Spanner, and Duane, Herman, and I would sit down and formulate a plan of action. I was feeling that Dieter Rose was a big fish. A very big fish. And I was casting my line out with the expectation that I would catch him in the act and end his spree. What I found out would cause me to end more than that.

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

While we awaited Hoagie Hinton to come aboard, I called Aurelia Spanner and had her agent, 'Shadow,' taken off the Jimmy Cookman matter. One night when Jimmy came home drunk after partying with one of his clients, a 310-pound defensive tackle, Shadow snuck into his place and injected a tracker chip into his left butt cheek. Jimmy no longer needing tracking by a human, I had Rhee put Shadow on the Rose case for now. I wanted to know everything about this guy. It is said he has two houses, but I'm betting he has a whole lot more.

The first report I got from Shadow pointed to a place between Chadds Ford and Concordville. It wasn't a house, but a full-on estate. The photos, taken by a drone, were of an estate that was several acres with outbuildings as well as a manorly main house and what appeared to be a large barn.

Hoagie had completed his first week with us when I called him, Avi and Ninja to my office in my home in Romansville. There we discussed next steps in our mission to out and solve the problem that is Dieter Rose. I also had Lizzie join us, just to keep her in the loop. Duane was down at the Navy Yard, but joined us, along with Herman, via videoconference.

"Gentlemen, it's time to take the next step in securing Dieter Rose. I know he's dirty, you know he's dirty, but we have to be able to prove it and then prove it to the world. I'd like to get you three to get inside his estate and get a feel for what's going on, up close and personal. I'd love to know what's in that barn. Thoughts?"

Hoagie was the first to speak. "Looking at the photos, it doesn't look like it would be that hard. Of course, there is the human element and being able to deal with the unexpected. Like how many guards does this guy have in and around this place? That's the sticking point for me. If you want, I can go in alone and check things out."

"Nah, I could have had Shadow do that. I want impressions from you, my people, so we know what we are really dealing with. Your three points of view are very important to my thinking. Ninja, do you think you could get into the house once you are on the property?"

"I don't think it will be too much of a problem for me, but it would be nice if we had a distraction of some sort to move most of the guards away from where I will be."

"Sounds like you're calling my name," said Hoagie. "I can come up to the property 'by accident,' if you know what I mean. I'm sure if I throw an attitude at them, that should keep them busy for several minutes."

"I like that, but I will also have a team outside of the property ready to support and rescue if necessary. In all, I want six operators on this, including the other two members of Triple-A. Maybe Archer could shoot something into the grounds that will cause some chaos for Mr. Rose's troops. I'd ideally like to do this when he is not around. Do you think the daytime is doable."

"I'm out regarding a daytime raid. It's still winter and we have early sunset on our side, but it's a job to be done in darkness." Avi commanded. Hoagie agreed and Ninja nodded his head in the affirmative."

"Alright, night time it is. Maybe I can meet with Mr. Rose at his shop in town to keep him away from the property. I can take Flora and keep him busy for a couple of hours. Can you guys get in and out without ever being noticed?"

"Having not gone on missions yet, I don't know about these guys, but send me in alone and they will never know anyone's been there." Ninja said.

"That's just what I need. This is not a battle I am looking to fight, its strictly intelligence gathering. We good?"

"Way good, Avi said. "And don't worry about me. They will never know I've been there. I don't see any problems here. I like the misdirection. Archer could be our guy. A flaming, or exploding arrow properly placed could bring their people running. Will that do it for you, Ninja?"

"Perfect. I could be on the property before the arrow flies and when it hits, I'm in the house and scouting it out."

"Sounds like a plan," I said. "I think I'll take Lizzie to Rose's place this time. I'll let you know when it's set up. Just be prepared to go at any time. Duane has a couple of drones that will be taking surveillance from on high and at ground level to give us a lay of the land. He'll be using bumblebees and pigeons to get us the most up-to-date look at what we are up against. Avi, you take the lead on this mission. Everything flows through Avi, inside and outside the compound."

"Thanks, Miss T. We won't let you down."

"Hang in a minute before you guys head out. Let me call Rose and set it up, so we know from the get go when it's going down."

Rose's card was on my desk and on the back, he had scrawled his supercell number. So, I called it.

"Mr. Rose, Hanna Todd. How are you today?"

"Miss Todd, how wonderful to hear from you. How might I help?"

"Mr. Rose, there are some things in your shop that caught my eye when last I visited and I'd like to get a second look and maybe pick a few things out. My schedule is extremely busy and daytime is just not an option for me. Could we meet sometime after your regular business hours? I have some business at the Navy Yard on Thursday. Would that be good for you, right after business hours?"

"I am in the shop on Thursday, and for special customers a late appointment is never a problem. When can I see you on Thursday?"

"My business on Thursday should conclude around four-thirty. How about we meet for dinner at five-thirty and then go to the shop? My treat."

"That sounds divine, Miss Todd, but please let it be my treat. I can order something in for us and we can eat at the shop and we can be surrounded by all my goodies. Hopefully that would tempt you to buy more of them."

"Perfect. It's a date. I'll be bringing my friend and employee Elizabeth Britain along to help me with choices. She is a photographer and has a great eye."

"I look forward to meeting with both of you. How is Mrs. Tuttlehill enjoying her purchases?"

"She loves the wall hangings and makes a point to show them to everyone. I expect you will be seeing some business from her other friends. I expect she will be a very good customer of yours."

"You ladies are always welcome in my humble shop. I will see you on Thursday. I hope you like fish."

"I love fish and so does Lizzie. We will see you then."

"Alright, gentlemen, you've got your marching orders. I expect you to review all the intel we gather, especially the photos. Meet with Archer, Anthony and Alec, who will be our outside men, tomorrow in the Greenhouse. I will alert them as to the meeting and the gig. Go, do what you were doing and I'll see you tomorrow.

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On Tuesday, I met with all six of my operators doing the Rose mission. Rather than meeting at the Greenhouse, we met in my dining room and had lunch. I always think more clearly on a full stomach, even though Bertha's cooking can be a distraction. Today it wasn't. Everyone was mission sensitive and ready to roll.

Lunch, as usual, was delicious and got to the hearts and bellies of all my operators, especially the new ones. They were not yet used to the great eats which flowed out of Bertha's kitchen. But according to Hoagie, he could get used to it.

"Miss Todd," Hoagie said, "Your cook is amazing. This food... My wife is a fine cook, and I know my around a kitchen, but this food..."

"Yeah, amazing, huh? But Bertha is much more than a cook. She is the epicenter of Todd-Bernstein World. If it happens in this house and I don't know about it, that's okay. But if Bertha doesn't know, then I worry. I like to say she is the only person I employ who I cannot fire."

"Why's that, Archer said. "The food is great, but..."

"No buts, Archer. Every day Bertha is not around my world runs that much slower and rockier. She is the flow I go with. She is our North Star."

"Now you stop fussin' over me, Hannah. I just cook for the family and help raise the kids. That's all I am."

"Oh, no, Bertha. You are far more than that. Without you, I am no more the Queen Bee than I am a frog. Holly and Duane complete me, but you perfect me."

"Hoo-Rah to that, Ms. T." That was Alec, being the supportive one he always is. Husband, father and straight shooter. In more ways than one. Then we got down to business.

This was Avi's mission, and he took the lead. "Here's how I see it going down." And he passed a drone shot of the property around. "Up is north, and you can see this is a property that is heavily wooded on its perimeter, and partially walled and partially fenced all around. I say we hit the fence in two places. Both in the back of the property. We've tested the fence with a bumblebee drone and it's not electrified. At least it wasn't at the time. We have the equipment, and Anthony will test the fence before we go in. Anthony."

"Yeah, thanks, Av. I have the equipment, and my first job will be to test the fence. The wall is topped with barbed wire which I believe may be electrified. But that's all in the front of the property. I don't expect to be going in that way unless we have to. That will be a last-minute decision."

Avi took the meeting over again. "Arch, I want you to shoot that flaming arrow into the northwest quadrant, as our inside guys will be coming in from the east. That gives us closest access to the house and outbuildings. Ninja will go for the house, and Hoagie go for what we are calling the barn. I will be checking all other structures and then head back into the woods and back over the fence. Time in at the property should not exceed fifteen minutes. In and out. Ninja will be tempted to take more time because there will be so much to see, but let's keep it down to fifteen minutes. If we can't get what we're looking for in that time, shame on us. You boys got it?"

Everyone said yes or shook their heads. They were all in. We spent about an hour all together at lunch, hashing out the details and sharing the intel we had gathered. Thursday, Lizzie and I had a date, and so did my team. Till then, they'd spend time together preparing for the breach.

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Thursday at a bit past five-thirty, Deiter Rose met us at his shop, which had the closed sign up. It's nice to be the queen. Sometimes. Mr. Rose couldn't have been more pleasant and more accommodating. Rose had carved an office and a conference room out of the back of his shop, and it was there that we sat and ate fish and chips from Center City's premier seafood restaurant. While we ate, he showed Lizzie and me several pieces of jewelry and a few watches he thought we might be interested in. I wore a vest, as part of my pants suit, and he showed me a couple of very old pocket watches that were made in the mid-twentieth century that he thought would fit my image. I agreed to purchase the one on the spot. But not for me. My man wears vests too. When he's rockin those three-piece suits of his, he'll be sportin' this.

At six-twelve, according to my supercell, Rose got a call, which he excused himself and took outside of the conference room. It was a short call and when he returned, his demeanor had changed slightly. Still friendly, but hesitant. As if he were trying to put two and two together. I was hoping he couldn't, and started to worry about the way my boys started this endeavor.

While he was answering his call, I was receiving a text from Anthony that the arrow had flown and the team had breached the property. It was a flaming arrow which they couldn't miss flying on to the property. Then, just in case, the thing exploded. That, I believe, is when Rose got the call.

The pine arrow was rigged to explode. The fuse was long, so it didn't blow on impact. But as soon as it blew, my guys were in and doing what they were supposed to do. We would meet tonight at the Greenhouse for a debrief, and see if we met with any success. This would be Ninja's first mission, and Hoagie's too. Tonight, we see the quality of people we have hired. My fingers were crossed. The all-wooden arrow, less any metallic tip, would burn up and blow up and there wouldn't be much left of it for anyone to find and identify. With any luck, they would think it was a small meteor that landed and burrowed into the earth.

By the time these guys started to scramble to see if anything else was happening, my boys were gone. Back over the fence and on their way to Romansville, not fifteen minutes away.

Lizzie and I didn't get to see what was happening, but Danny, in the closet, would get it all recorded for our later viewing. All the operators on this job were wearing, of course, their comm-links and body cams, so every move they made was documented. As were the moves Lizzie and I made, as I had my jeweled necklace cam on, and Lizzie wore a jeweled choker that did the same thing.

Altogether, I guess Lizzie and I spent about two hours at Mr. Rose's shop. I bought a Marc Chagall painting for Holly. He was her favorite artist, and a member of the tribe, as she would say. I also bought a sterling silver tiara for me, for when I need to show people what a Queen Bee really is.

We finally got home and to the Greenhouse at around nine. The boys had eaten and were hanging around the Greenhouse waiting for me and the meeting. I was on pins and needles, anxiously awaiting the word from my team. They did not let me down.

They had obviously had time to compare notes, and Avi, as I expected he would, took the lead.

"Miss T. We found lots in this place. More than you might expect, so brace yourself. This guy is most certainly a fence. Whether he is the fence who started the Tuttlehill raid, I cannot tell you, but it's a probable. Hoagie, why don't you give your report first?"

"Well, my job was to scout the 'barn' which looks like a barn outwardly, but is really a warehouse of sorts. It appears it is in the process of being organized. Some stuff is, and some isn't. But if it ain't stolen, I'll go back there and eat it all. I took a couple of pieces that may prove where at least some of this stuff came from. I did my best to use my body cam to video as much of it as I could within my fifteen-minute window. These pieces stood out to me, so I took them in hopes we can find their true owners." And he held out a bracelet, a necklace and ring. The ring was personalized.

"Great job, Hoagie. Ninja, what did you find?"

"You almost don't want to know. The guy lives an opulent life, like a fucking king. But a pervert king. This Rose guy is really rich, and he doesn't mind showing it off. But there is one thing he's not showing off, and keeping to himself. I think. If not, this guy is trafficking. The first floor looked pretty normal, but instead of going upstairs, I went down. And that's where I found the harem room."

"Harem room?"

"That's what I'm calling it, but it's worse. Half a dozen young women, mostly teens, were there in every stage of dress and undress. They were being guarded by a very big guard, like Herman sized, and they were scared to death. He was wielding a whip, and they were doing whatever he told them to, and it wasn't pretty. I know why you like to kill these guys, Miss Todd. They are the scum of the world. I'd like to take one of Archer's arrows and shove up that guy's ass, and then really make him pay."

"Animals, eh? Well, Ninja, we know how to deal with animals, don't we Av?"

"Damned right. I'm ready when you are. Did you place any bugs, Ninja?"

"Two bumblebees. First floor and downstairs. The guys in the closet should be able to activate and control them on an as needs basis. As long as they aren't found, we will have the inside track."

"And the barn?" I asked.

"Solid," said Hoagie. "I got a bumblebee in the barn, or warehouse, and that should be sufficient. Too many and we flood the zone, making it obvious something's going on."

"Good call, Hoagie. See, I knew you three new guys were the right people for the job. What do you think, Avi?"

"Definitely. Super operators just got it done. I'm impressed which is not something that happens with any frequency."

"Well, good leadership will do that Avi Gold. You deserve a big pat on the back for this mission."

"Hoo-rah," came from the table. "Shhh, I said. We're not in the Greenhouse; and you don't want to wake the kids. You do that and you will have a different kind of job tonight. And one Duane Royce is enough for anyone." I got a real laugh out of that one. Even Duane.

"Well, troops, time to put my man to bed. You guys go and scatter with the winds. I want to review some video and do some thinking and maybe some pillow talk with my man and I will let you know what the next step is. Go. Be well, my best."

And they did. And I took Duane upstairs, checked on the kids and then dragged him into the bedroom and fucked him lights out. The wonderful thing is he did the same for me. Lights fuckin' out.