A Ghost from the Past
An eerie feeling
She watched him carefully as he shook a good-looking Ukrainian man’s hand.
Based on the Ukrainian’s dress and mannerisms, she knew he was a gangster, more than likely one who was in charge.
What surprised her was that the entire Ukrainian entourage paid their respects to Simo as they passed him on the way to their tables.
One couple in particular paused, and surprisingly, the young woman shook Simo’s hand warmly.
She watched Simo’s lips as he spoke. He greeted her as Anna, and the man was her husband whose name was Pyotr.
Not spending too long in one place, she moved into the crowd on the packed dance floor.
Watching Simo the entire time, she saw his eyes meet a stunning and beautiful blonde.
She recognized the girl immediately, as her newest hit music video, ‘Simon Sez’, was playing loudly on all the big screens in the club.
This Lilly Delmore was watching Simo nearly as closely as she was.
Lilly Delmore then waved her fingers at Simo.
In turn, Simo nodded back with a small smile.
She recognized his smile. Could Simo know her more than casually?
Spending too much time in one spot again, she moved on, watching Simo, the Hollywood Hitman.
Poor Simo, she sighed sadly. He had to break his rule and kill the crazed woman before she could kill Iravani and the US Navy crew aboard the submarine.
It was her fault. She thought back to her mission…
she was being too careful and missed Amir Iravani by mere minutes as his Iranian abductors dragged him to their waiting fishing ship.
Jessie shook her head in silence as Simo casually glanced around.
She felt happy to see him again. Seeing him in person, from a distance, would have to be enough.
For it would be the last time she would ever see the only man she ever truly loved.
With one last look, she ducked her head and casually moved toward the exit.
Simo shook Demetri the Ukrainian’s hand as he passed by him on the dance floor. Demetri patted Simo’s shoulder jubilantly, and the rest of the Ukrainian entourage nodded respectfully to Simo as they made their way to their tables.
Simo looked over to where the Russians were seated.
Even though Simo was responsible for the new Russian mob’s good fortune, they nearly always scowled at him.
It had been Simo who took down ‘Lev’ the Lion and his degenerate son Bogdan.
The CIA established a new mob leader to keep the balance of crime family power in Los Angeles.
Regardless, enmity was all that the Russians held for Simo.
A tall woman with very red hair passing by caught his eye, and Simo glanced casually after her; but she disappeared into the crowd. He searched for her, and suddenly met eyes with Lilly. She was sitting in a small booth with a girlfriend, and she was watching him carefully.
It had been over two weeks since Lilly had shown up at his place.
Eleni had left for New York to investigate the ‘losses’ at the Club Aurae in Soho.
Lilly gave him a small wave, and Simo nodded back with a smile.
He began to make his way over when he caught sight of red hair again.
He turned toward the dance floor and, once more, nothing.
Simo held up his hand to Lilly, put his finger to his ear, and moved away from the raucous dance floor.
“Theo?” Simo spoke Greek into his microphone.
“Yes, Boss?” Theo replied back in Greek.
“Tall redhead with long hair. Can you spot her on the dance floor?”
After a few moments, Theo replied, “Negative. Lots of blondes and brunettes. No redheads on the dance floor. Why?”
“Nothing… Oh, Theo, if you see her let me know right away.”
“Roger that.”
Simo glanced around and rubbed his nose.
He looked toward Lilly, who was heading toward the exit.
He caught her eye and he began to move in her direction.
She gave him a sad smile, then shook her head slowly at him.
Simo stopped dead in his tracks as Lilly looked away.
Her head was down, and her friend was suddenly concerned for her.
Simo watched as her friend hurried Lilly toward the exit.
Simo stood there wordless. Eleni was right. A pain like a knife stabbed at his heart for Lilly...
Jessie watched Lilly Delmore as she followed her out of the club. Her friend was desperately trying to console her. People waiting in line to get into the club recognized Lilly, and suddenly phones were out snapping pictures as the crowd began yelling Lilly’s name.
Jessie watched the tall, beautiful girl as she ducked her head further down. In moments, Club Aurae’s security team was swarming around Lilly, blocking the view from the crowd. A huge man in charge of the velvet rope bellowed, “If you get out of line, you go right back to the end.”
The few who were going to rush up to Lilly Delmore thought better of it and remained in line.
Jessie waited and watched the Grammy singer.
The girl was obviously upset. Over what, she had no idea.
In moments, a limo pulled up and Lilly Delmore was ushered inside, safe from all the amateur paparazzi.
Careful of Aurae’s cameras, she casually walked in her predetermined pattern to be safe from being spotted.
Though a part of her hoped she screwed up…
but she knew better. Across the street from the club, and in the shadows, she turned back toward Aurae’s entrance.
There she saw Simo, standing at the top of the steps, searching the darkness.
She watched him for but a moment, then slipped deeper into the shadows of the cool California night.
“She looked like Jessie, I swear,” Simo mumbled to Theo.
“Simo, I searched through all the recordings like you asked. There was not one girl with long red hair here in the club tonight. Why would Jessie be here anyway? Isn’t she graduating soon?”
“Next week.”
“Ask her when you see her then.” Theo smiled.
“I’m not going to talk to her. I… I have a card. I wrote in it that I am proud of her, but that it would not be a good idea to see each other.”
Theo shook his head. “Simo… you really think it was Jessie?”
Simo nodded to Theo as he asked Chen to run tonight’s footage through the mainframe.
Simo hung up and turned to Theo. “He said if she was here, the program will find her.”
“Simo, just call her.”
“I don’t have her number.”
Theo smiled knowingly. “Ask Chen.”
“No.”
Theo saw his friend’s cheeks redden. “Ok. Hey, I’m hungry; want to stop by IHOP on the way home?”
“Sure,” Simo replied, lost in thought.
Simo knocked on Chen’s office door.
“Come in, Simo!” Chen’s cheery voice called out.
Simo stepped in and took the seat Chen offered. “Good morning.”
“Good morning to you, Simo.”
“Any hits on last night’s footage?”
“Only this.” Chen pointed to the large monitor on his desk. “It’s just the back of the woman. Just red hair.”
“Peculiar, isn’t it?” Chen smiled.
Simo stared at the motion-blurred shot on the screen, then looked at Chen, who was smiling. “This is it?”
“Exactly. Out of eight hours of footage from multiple cameras, there was only this capture. Peculiar…”
“Yes, it is.”
“I surmise that perhaps you believe this could be your Jessie James, correct?”
“Yes. Is it?”
“I have no clue. Why don’t you call her and ask?”
“Chen… I can’t.”
“Yet you are going to watch her graduate in a few days?”
Simo nodded. “I was not planning on speaking with her. I have a card for her…”
“Then why go?”
“There will be no one there for her…”
“Ah. This is very unlike you, Simo…”
“Yeah. Maybe I should go stay in a monastery for a while…” Simo joked.
Chen nodded to the monitor on his desk. “I observed Lilly leaving the club very upset… did you two break up? I saw no indication of you two talking last night. Is there a problem you would like to discuss?”
“She saw Eleni at my place. We slept together and she began asking about Eleni. I tried to reassure her. I just don’t want to hurt her; I know what it’s like.”
“Simo… you are going to have to come to terms with the fact that you have a heart.”
Simo snapped his head up and met Chen’s nearly black eyes. “I can’t afford that in this business. You know this.”
“Simo, you are one of the most resourceful men in combat that I have ever met. Surely you can…”
“NO. I know what you are trying to say… I just can’t.
Not with Jessie. Not with Lilly, either.
” Simo shook his head. “WOMEN! My head can’t take their thinking!
” Simo sighed. He looked up and saw Chen holding in his laughter.
Seeing the mirth on Chen’s face caused him to smile, and soon both of them were laughing.
“Oh, Simo. My heart goes out to you. The web you are tangled in is so incredibly complex with so many actors participating in your capture. My mind is spinning with all the implications!”
Simo abruptly stopped laughing. “What do you mean?”
“Two women with designs upon you. This is what I mean. You are ‘toast,’ as they say.”
Simo ran his hands down his face and shook his head. “I need to cancel going to Jessie’s graduation. This is too much.”
“Simo… perhaps you should still go to Langley and be there for Jessie’s graduation.”
“Chen… ok, why?”
“If she was here… and not at Camp Peary,” he let that sit for a moment, “call it a feeling. That is all. Just a feeling… will you be taking Theo with you?”
“No. I need him here. Why?”
“I would be happy to accompany you, if you wish.”
“You have the time?”
“Of course, and I am your friend. Perhaps I can help you remain centered, or at least be your wingman…” Chen grinned.
“I’m done with women!” Simo laughed.
“Shall I inform Mike Booker to add me to the guest list?”
“Fine.” Simo sighed. “Thank you, Chen.”