No One Listens to Eleni…
Denial is Not a River in Egypt
Eleni pulled into Ari’s wife, Annabeth’s, garage in Dunthorpe, Oregon and, after checking on Selena Torres, she went to her office and dialed up Simo.
“Ella?” Simo answered.
“Finally you take my call.”
“Sorry… lot on my mind.”
“I heard. Your Merry Christmas and Happy New Year text was insincere.”
“Sorry… just too many women to deal with.”
“I heard you had to go find Jessie… I told you to talk to her, Malaka.”
“Fuck, more of this?” Eleni heard Simo sigh heavily. “Is she ok?”
“She’s fine. Made her Christmas dinner, she was happy.”
“What else?”
“What do you mean?”
“Did she stay the night?”
“No. That is not going to happen, we promised.”
“So, you talked to her?” Eleni heard a long pause, then finally a weak, “Yes.”
“You told her that you love her?”
“What the fuck? I don’t love her!”
“Keep telling yourself that, Malaka,” Eleni barked.
“I’m tired of this shit with you, Eleni.”
“Fire me then.”
“What, you don’t want to work with me?”
“If I didn’t, I would quit; I don’t play those kind of games. Am I fired?”
“NO!”
“Fine. What’s happening with the little bitch?”
“Nothing, besides him selling everything his father built or owned.”
“Surveillance?”
“I’m saving the drones as a last resort, so it’s minimal satellite coverage.
Harding has us blocked at every step we take.
Shutters or exterior shades on all his windows, no glass surface laser listening capabilities, he has vibration devices on them.
Twice daily sweeps of his car, office, and house.
New encrypted cellphones every few days.
His new car is bullet-resistant up to assault rounds.
I have us all loaded with armor-piercing rounds to counter that, if needed. It’s a wait-and-see game.”
“What about Johnny Stone?”
“Chen has taken that over. He’s working with our CIA friend, Mike Booker.
They are trying to exert some influence on the American Samoan House of Representatives delegation.
But the governor of American Samoa has it in for Johnny Stone.
Word is, he was disappointed that Johnny Stone survived his attack.
The governor had met Halo… seems like everyone that meets her wants to be her big brother or lover. ”
“And you, when you met her?” Eleni chuckled.
“Brother.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I have the biggest urge to pull off Johnny Stone’s arms and legs, one by one, for what he tried to do to her. Can’t really explain it.”
“Now, how does that compare to how you feel about Jessie?”
There was a pause, then, “Again with Jessie?” Simo said, raising his voice.
“Just do it. Talk to her for real,” Eleni shot back at him pointedly.
“Or what? You will quit?”
“Maybe…” Eleni laughed.
“Eleni, you are breaking my fucking balls here! I don’t have the time or energy for this shit. And why the fuck are you still on me with Jessie!”
“Because you are one cranky malaka! Everyone is bitching about your moods.”
Simo grumbled wordlessly into the phone, wondering just how right Eleni might be.
“How much longer are you going to have me up here?”
“I can always send Jessie to replace you up there in Oregon… maybe she will like the rain,” Simo snickered.
“You really are a malaka… I know what you are trying to do.”
“And what is that?”
“Denial is not a river in Egypt,” Eleni let out a laugh.
“What?” Simo barked.
“I heard Christina say that. Think about it.”
“Oh.” Simo paused at the mention of his goddaughter.
“Good night, Simo.” Eleni had enough and disconnected her call.