The Simsville Inheritance
Copyright ©2006 Elizabeth G. Cox. All rights reserved.

Chapter 5 - Answers and More Questions

Through a roast beef sandwich and another pot of coffee, I learned way more than I wanted to know about Simsville.

It had gone from a sleepy little town in the middle of South Carolina to a haven for retirees of the FBI, CIA, NSA, all the U.S. intelligence departments as well as assorted state investigative agencies — mostly ordinary employees like secretaries, clerks, mechanics, computer geeks, and personnel managers, with a smattering of scientists, investigators and actual agents. A few couples were both retired agents, like Jones and Smith. Most residents still had security clearances, some higher than others.

Most were well off these days, thanks to savvy investment strategies by Thomas Johnson. He managed investments, banking and any necessary paperwork. Rental income allowed the estate to effectively manage Simsville's infrastructure. As Jones described the key persons in town, I asked as many pointed questions as I could think of. Our conversation began to wind down, but one more thing lingered in the back of my mind.

"What did you mean, do I want to handle things, Jones?"

"The lawyer couldn't tell you everything, Avery. Fact is, you're CEO of the Simsville Company. I've been keeping all the systems running while you got up to speed, but I can't be CEO and do what I'm doing too. You're going to have to turn in your resignation up in Virginia. Soon, too."

Resign? From a job I loved? To run a retirement village for ex-spies and secretaries? I don't think so.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 |