Chapter 1

Kim Lee met Joe King in college. Joe was a star defensive end on the football team. Kim was a genius and enrolled in college at thirteen, majoring in genetics and mathematics. While Joe was a star on the football field, he was a below-average student. Part of his problem was that education took a back seat to football.

Joe was failing math and science, and he would be suspended from the team unless he maintained a C average. His scholarship was at risk, too, and his parents would cut him off financially. His parents were wealthy and from old money. His father was a banker, and his mother managed her family trust and was active in charities. They didn’t approve of him playing football, but they let him pursue his passion as long as he got a degree, too.

Kim Lee was ten years old when her parents died in a plane crash while visiting relatives in China. Her uncle Jon Lee assumed guardianship of her and her parents’ estate. He wasn’t happy about her disrupting his lifestyle. He had a successful import/export business and was more than glad to send Kim to college at age thirteen. She was on a full scholarship and an allowance from her parents’ estate. She wouldn’t gain control until she was twenty-five years old, so she was under her uncle’s mercy and power.

To have extra money, Kim is tutoring while going for her doctorate. Kim was 18, and Joe was 20 when they met at the university’s athletic tutoring center. She tutored athletes because the university paid tutors well to keep them eligible to perform. Kim barely got Joe up to a C average, and the football team qualified for the playoffs.

The team advanced to the championship game but lost after their quarterback threw an interception. Joe had three sacks and four quarterback pressures, earning him national recognition. He let the accolades go to his head, barely maintaining a C average for the rest of the semester. Kim had to hunt him down to get him to study and reported his lack of learning to the football coach. She said If he doesn’t want my help, fine, but I’m not his babysitter.

Joe left for the summer, and Kim took summer courses and taught beginning mathematics classes because of a shortage of professors. She didn’t hear from Joe until the fall term, and he was in serious trouble. He partied all summer and didn’t work out. So, he showed up for football out of shape and overweight. The coach threatened his scholarship and position on the team if he didn’t get into shape and lose weight.

Joe spent so much time getting into shape that his studies suffered, and he was at risk of being academically ineligible for the football season again. The coach read Joe the riot act and told him to get his shit together. He said, Joe, it doesn’t matter what he did last year, but how you perform this year on the field and in the classroom. So, stop thinking you’re a star and apply yourself, or you’ll be second- or third-string or off the team.

He reapplied himself and showed up for his tutoring sessions and classes. Joe was actually on the verge of a B average when he injured his ankle. He became depressed, and his studies suffered. The rehab was slow, and Joe missed four games. Then it took him two more games to get back into game shape. Half of the season was gone, and he had planned to enter the NFL draft. Now he wasn’t able to do it, and he went into a deep depression.

The coach arranged psychological counseling for him, and Kim did her best to keep Joe eligible. During one of their counseling sessions, Joe kissed Kim and then took advantage of her inexperience and took Kim’s virginity. He apologized afterwards, leaving her sore and crying. That ended their counseling sessions, and Joe got another tutor. Kim didn’t report Joe because she couldn’t risk her uncle finding out and having to deal with the embarrassment.

After missing her period for the third month, she went to the clinic and had a pregnancy test. It confirmed her belief she was pregnant, and she cornered Joe after football practice. He denied he was the father, knowing better. Kim said Fine, I’ll wait until the baby’s born and then sue your ass for support. It will look good, dogging your responsibilities when you come up for the draft. Joe didn’t have a choice and called his parents.

James and Joan King were irate at Joe for getting a Chinese girl pregnant. Their family couldn’t have their name associated with such disgrace and hired an attorney to settle it with Kim Lee. Kim was overwhelmed by the attorney’s pressure and sought legal aid from the university law school. It turned out that she got one of the professors because she was pursuing her doctorate. Professor Ryan Flynn put the screws to the King family, securing an excellent settlement and a trust fund for the baby.

Kim Lee delivered a baby boy, whom she named Li Yong Lee, and didn’t list the father. But Li developed an immune deficiency like lupus, and there was no cure, but a bone marrow transplant was the best hope. Kim wasn’t a match, and Joe’s parents refused to let Joe get tested or donate. Li’s condition worsened, and Kim was desperate. The hospital couldn’t locate a donor, and she didn’t want to lose her son.

Then she remembered working in Professor Alvin Beck’s lab during the summer. He was working on a classified government project and couldn’t tell Kim about it. But while mixing compounds and analyzing them, she figured out it was a performance-enhancing drug. She used her key late at night to enter Professor Beck’s lab and search his computer files. The professor could remember his passwords, so he wrote them on a piece of paper under his desk blotter.

Kim copied the formula and notes to a USB drive, then read the professor’s notes. The drug was intended to enhance performance, mental acuity, and resistance to viruses and nerve agents, thereby creating a super soldier. The goal was to alter the DNA’s genetic structure to ensure superior performance. The formula improved the performance of young lab animals, but some things couldn’t be tested on them. The only hope was to conduct underground human testing to gauge the formula’s full effects. Professor Beck was reluctant to do it, but he had no choice.

Kim retrieved the key for the refrigerator/freezer from the desk and located the serum. She estimated Li’s weight to be that of the lab animals and withdrew the serum in a syringe. Then she added a small amount of saline to aid drug distribution and absorption and mixed it. Kim had unknowingly found the link that made the drug work. She rushed to the hospital and to the pediatric intensive care unit. Kim kissed Li on the forehead, said I love you, blocked the camera with her body, and injected the serum into Li’s IV.

Li went into convulsions, then his heart stopped. A code blue was called, and doctors and nurses rushed in and shocked Li’s heart twice, and he resumed a normal heartbeat. Kim thought she had killed Li and was outside the intensive care unit crying when a nurse informed her that Li was alive and ok. She went back inside, and the doctor said Li’s vitals had improved and that, if they continue to improve, she could take him home soon. Kim couldn’t believe it. She kissed Li goodnight and returned to her graduate apartment. Exhausted from the ordeal, Kim undressed and crashed.

The next morning, Professor Alvin Beck entered his lab, hungover from drinking his problems away the previous night. His CIA case manager, Mark Bland, gave Alvin an ass chewing yesterday and said if progress wasn’t made, his contract soon would be terminated. Alvin was worried about what termination meant and suspected it meant the project and him. He made coffee and added a bit of bourbon. Then he turned on a burner, forgetting to light it, and opened the refrigerator/freezer to get a serum sample.

The phone rang, and he answered it while sitting down at his desk. It was Mark Bland saying he would be by this afternoon to check on the program’s progress. Alvin said shit and lit a cigarette. The lab exploded, killing Alvin, destroying his computer, and all the serum samples. The fire alarm went off, and the sprinkler system activated, saving the building, but nothing remained of Professor Alvin Beck or his lab.

A week later, Kim brought Li home to her apartment, and he was alert, active, and inquisitive. Li would point to things and ask what they were. At three months, he began to speak and showed no interest in children’s books or stories. Kim had no trouble finding babysitters, as everyone loved Li. She resumed her doctoral studies and got her degree.

Li was two when she accepted a professorship from the university, which allowed her to spend more time with Li. Li began reading with his babysitters, unknown to Kim. They were all graduate students, so Li had a wide variety of reading material. Kim got an apartment near campus, and Li would be babysat in the graduate student dorms. It was convenient for Kim as she could easily drop off and pick up Li.

It also prevents her uncle from finding out if he visited. She always visited him because he was too busy to bother coming to the university. Kim also kept him in the dark about her becoming a professor at the university. If she told him, he would cut her allowance, even though she didn’t need it with her salary. The allowance went into a savings account for Li and her in case of an emergency.

Kim also continued the serum injections for Li every six months. She had the formula, made it as necessary, and adjusted the dose to his weight using saline as the distribution agent. Li also learned Chinese from her, and they spoke it when they were alone in the apartment. She told Li it was important to know the language of his heritage, and she would soon teach him how to write in Chinese, too. Then one day she arrived at Jackie’s apartment to pick up Li, and he was reading Moby Dick with her.

She asked Jackie how long Li had been reading, and Jackie said six months. Li told Mom not to get upset; he reads with most of his babysitters. Kerry teaches me math, and Olivia teaches me science. Carmen has been teaching me Spanish, too. Jackie told Kim she needed to get Li tested and into a home-schooling program soon. He also needs to do something physical to burn off energy.

Kim picked up Li and began tickling him, saying You’ve been holding out on me and they laughed. When they got home, Kim looked up homeschooling tests online, hoping they could take them that way. She wanted to avoid physical testing that would bring unwanted attention to her and Li. Kim knew about what people do when they find out you’re gifted, and she didn’t want it for Li. She found a website for a homeschool supplier that offered testing to place students in the right grade.

While they ate, Kim told Li not to tell anyone about their education or how advanced they are. They will take advantage of you and force me into a difficult position. Li promised to keep it a secret and to let the babysitters continue teaching him new things. Kim asked Li what he wanted to do for exercise, and he said he wanted to do martial arts. They get to run, jump, tumble, and roll, and they laughed.

Joe King wasn’t doing well after college. He was drafted in the fifth round, cut from the team, put on the practice squad, and then released. He tried out for two other teams, but his training was poor, and he struggled to learn the playbook. Finally, his father and mom put their foot down, and he went to work as a trainee investment banker at his father’s firm. After two DUIs and getting another girl pregnant, his parents gave him a choice. Enlist in the military, or you’re on your own.

Joe enlisted to keep from being disinherited. It didn’t go well for him as he didn’t take orders well. Being one of the lowest-rated recruits and the oldest, he was assigned to the motor pool and assigned to drive a truck. One day, he was assigned to drive the fuel truck to the depot, fill it, and deliver it to the airfield for refueling the aircraft. He did as ordered, but forgot to put the cap on the tanker after filling it.

The fuel was splashing out at every turn and stop. When he finished his cigarette at a stop, he threw it out, igniting the spilled fuel, then the truck. Joe King died in the explosion, and there wasn’t much to identify. Although the army knew Joe had been assigned to drive the truck, they conducted DNA testing before notifying his relatives. James and Joan King were devastated that their only son had died and regretted not being firmer with him growing up.

After the funeral, James and Joan discussed Joe’s son Li with the Chinese girl. He was their last relative, and they signed away any rights they had to the boy out of disgust. They consulted an attorney, who told them the agreement was ironclad. If they opened up litigation, all their actions would be exposed, and it would be disastrous to their reputations. So, James and Joan hired a PI to keep tabs on Li Lee. He would check on him two or three times a year and get photos for them.

The next day, Kim went online and signed up for a homeschool program. Li took the test and scored at the fourth-grade level. She ordered the fourth- and fifth-grade programs, thinking it would be good to have both for the Li. The way he was advancing both programs made sense. The next thing was a laptop for his studies, and she got him a mid-range one.

The last thing was locating a martial arts dojo that would train Li privately. She didn’t want Li competing with other children or to be observed by their parents. That would be a challenge, and she searched online for dojos in the area. Kim found six, and only two offered private lessons. She visited both and chose Sensi Chen’s dojo. He was shocked to see how coordinated Li was and that Li spoke Chinese. Kim told Sensi Chen about her family issues, and he promised to keep everything confidential.

When Li turned five, he was 4’ tall and weighed 60 pounds. He was growing so fast that they were regulars at Goodwill. Kim shopped there because no one asked questions, not because of need. They would go to the department store in the mall for items unavailable at Goodwill. Li’s education was advancing at a fast rate, too. He was taking courses as a high school freshman.

At the dojo, Sensi Chen told Kim Li that he was at a black belt level and could defeat opponents ten years older if he competed. He’s even doing things like wall-walking and attaining chi that my advanced students can’t. His reflexes are lightning-fast, which enhances his martial arts skills. Li is ready for advanced training, and we are adding to his workout routine every week. Kim was shocked and pleased that Li was doing so well.

Sam Ridley, the PI the King’s hired, delivered his bi-annual report on Li Lee. James asked why there was so little information on Li. As you know, Sam told them that Kim Lee is a professor at the university. She has graduate students babysitting him, and I assume he is being homeschooled because he doesn’t attend a regular school. Li trains at a dojo three times a week, and from what I saw, he’s very good. He’s 4’ tall now and approximately 50 to 60 pounds.

Joan asked Sam if they could get more information on Li’s education. Sam said not without breaking the law and risking exposure. The fact that graduate students babysit him means you have to assume they are also teaching him. With his mother, a professor, she wouldn’t let his education slip. If anything, he’s far beyond his peers on the education front.

He also acts more mature than his age when they go out shopping. He has conversations with his mother and the store clerks that a ten-year-old wouldn’t do. I watched him question the quality and fit of a shirt that an adult would ask. He also selects his clothes without much assistance from his mother. One thing you should know is that Li is aware of his surroundings. He spotted me fifty feet away and kept an eye on me. He’s also protective of his mother and stays by her side. God help the fool who tries to hurt her.

James and Joan thanked Sam Ridley for the report and left. James said we need to figure out a way to get back into Kim’s good graces. From the way Sam talked, Li would follow his mother’s advice. We tried using a heavy hand when she was pregnant, and Kim got a law professor who made our attorney back off. Joan said, “Let’s try a chance meeting and say hello to break the ice,” and James agreed.

Li noticed changes, both mental and physical, in his body that he was afraid to tell anyone, even his Mom. One day, Mom came home looking worried, and he asked if there was a problem. She said it was nothing, but he stared at her and read her thoughts. A fellow professor was making unwanted advances towards her, and no matter what she did, they continued. Li thought she should tell him to whip it out and show what he has, and if it is less than 8”, she isn’t interested. Mom giggled, and her mood changed.

So, he could read thoughts or minds if he concentrated on the person and relay or project his thoughts to them. Li wondered if he could command or tell someone to do something. He found he could with his babysitter, Jackie, when he sent her a message that her right breast itched and she scratched it. It scared him at first, then he thought it would be better to experiment on people he didn’t know. It would allow him to test it thoroughly.

Then there were physical changes, and he noticed them while training in martial arts. Before his training session with Sensi Chen, he warmed up, stretching and hitting the heavy bag. Someone called him, and Mom Gooks as they drove to the dojo. Mom told him to ignore it, but it pissed him off. So, he took it out on the heavy bag, and it was swinging wildly when he finished. Li looked around and was glad Sensi wasn’t around to see it. He’d never punched and kicked with so much power before, and needed to be careful.

On the way home, Li asked Mom why she never talks about his father. She said he was a self-absorbed asshole star jock, but in his defense, his family was assholes, too. She tutored him for two semesters to keep him eligible to play athletics. He got hurt, and she helped him stay eligible. He took advantage of me, and it lasted a few minutes. You were the best thing that came out of our brief relationship. The only thing you got from him was height and build. You got lucky getting your looks, skin tone, intelligence, and wonderful personality from me, and they laughed.

When Li turned ten, he was 5’2” tall and weighed 125 pounds. He was also taking college courses online, having graduated from high school at eight. Li spends most of his time at the university auditing classes and reading e-books and textbooks in the library. That was where he acquired his computer programming skills. Eric Peters, a graduate student, was there and showed Li the basics. When he realized Li was gifted, he took him to the computer lab and taught Li everything he knew.

Eric introduced Li to Professor Douglas Stanton, and he knew his Mom but promised to keep his programming confidential. Li got a key card to the computer lab and audited Professor Stanton’s classes. Now Li does programming assignments for the professor and earns spending money. Li also acquired his hacking skills from Ted Copeland, a senior majoring in computer systems. Ted gave him a login to a hacker’s online forum, chat room, and the dark web.

With him spending so much time at the university, the need for babysitters was eliminated. If he didn’t have anything to do, he helped his Mom in the lab, office, or audited her classes. That isn’t exactly right. Li planned to spend time with Mom three times a week. So, with his university studies and going to the dojo three times a week, his schedule was full.

Li discovered a PI following him, and he confronted him. Sam Ridley was the PI’s name, and his deceased father’s parents, James and Joan King, hired him to keep tabs on Li. They shared what they knew, and Li downplayed his educational achievements. Sam found out how badly the King’s treated Kim Lee and promised not to give them too much information. They agreed to meet biannually, and that made Sam’s job much easier.

Unknown to Li, the Kings had met Kim in passing at various locations, such as the mall, gas station, and market. Their meeting went from hostile to cordial. It would take a lot to be friendly with them or to associate with them. Kim found out about Joe’s life after college and his death while in the army. The Kings inquired about Li, but got more information about him from the PI than from Kim.

Li’s gifts or skills improved, too. His mind-reading has advanced, and now he can quickly glance at someone and know what they are thinking. His hearing, eyesight, sense of smell, sense of taste, and sense of touch also improved. He can sense people around him, and if in a building like a house, he knows if someone is there. Li can also control Chi better and loses it only when studying. He also acquired a photographic memory and has instant recall.

Projecting thought and commands improved, too. Mom’s stocker wishes he had never met Kim. Every time he sees or thinks of Kim, he has to masturbate to climax. Professor Richard Bonner spends a lot of time in the bathrooms. His martial arts skills improved to the point that Sensei Chen has brought relatives from China to teach Li their family martial arts secrets. One of the things they taught him was the “Ghost Walk.” It allows him to move unobserved, giving Li an upper hand in his defense.

Kim also gained control of her parents’ trust from her uncle, Jon Lee, two years ago. She had to sue him because he refused to relinquish power. An audit of the books showed he had been skimming money for his business. Jon had to take out a loan on his business to repay the funds, interest, and attorneys’ fees. Jon and Kim rarely spoke before, but now Jon disowned Kim, and she was glad. Kim Lee was also promoted to department head, becoming the youngest to hold that position at 28.

The promotion got them a three-bedroom house rent-free. They are perks for department heads and senior faculty. They also had to upgrade their wardrobe, but with rapid growth, he now has only two suits and unhemmed extra pants. They are now shopping at the mall because it wouldn’t look good to be seen at Goodwill. Besides, the type of clothing needed wasn’t carried there, but they now donated instead of purchasing.

When Li turned thirteen, he was 5’8” and 155 pounds. He had graduated from an online college with dual bachelor’s degrees in math and science and was working on his master’s degrees. Computer science Professor Douglas Stanton helped Li obtain copyright and patent several programs he wrote. Professor Stanton said an international patent would protect him from the government, so they registered it in Canada.

Unfortunately, he had to set up an LLC and a bank account for the revenue and potential sales. So, mom had to be told, and she was shocked that Li was so advanced in computer programming. They set up an LLC, LKL Services, registered in Delaware, for her and Li’s patent and copyright work. Kim used the same Barrister in Canada. She had several processes and findings to publish, but wanted to protect them before release.

One of the processes Li actually discovered while assisting Kim in her lab. It was Kim’s project, and he happened to find the breakthrough. She was ecstatic and said we have to keep this secret until it is copyrighted and patented. The risk of theft was too great to send it to the Barrister, so they delivered it to him in person. Kim had gotten their passports because of invitations to speak at universities in Europe and Asia.

Li’s martial arts skills had improved to the point that Sensi Chen had leased a warehouse behind the dojo and set up a gauntlet of sorts. Sensi set up 12 stations to challenge Li, and he kept changing them so Li couldn’t predict what would happen. Sometimes the lights would be on, and other times it would be dark. Sensi Chen even blindfolded him on some stations. Li’s senses improved with the challenges, and he could attack and defend himself in all scenarios.

Kim’s relationship with James and Joan King improved, and she agreed to let them meet Li for lunch. They were impressed with Li’s knowledge and refinement. He kept them off balance, asking questions to limit theirs. When Kim and Li left, James told his wife they hadn’t gotten much information from Li. Joan laughed and said Li turned the tables on us. He purposely asked us questions to divert attention from him.

Joan asked James if he had noticed that Kim let Li control the conversation. She was smiling as Li diverted attention from him to us. Please make no mistake, Li is extremely intelligent and aware of his surroundings. While he spoke with us, he watched everyone around us. Joan told James that we need to be cautious because Li will anticipate our plan and defeat it.

Their campus life was getting difficult. A new professor was hired for the Political Science department. Thomas Paine was anti-DEI and didn’t like immigrants and minorities. Verbal abuse increased not only for them but also for all different ethnicities. Then the graffiti started, and no amount of complaining could get the administration to take action. When Kim was attacked, the administration recommended she take a leave of absence.

Li was pissed and went on the counterattack. The thugs who attacked Mom ended up in the hospital with severe injuries. He hacked Professor Paine’s computer and found he liked child porn. He sent an anonymous email to the police from the administration department asking them to investigate Professor Paine for showing child porn to students. The police got a warrant, seized Professor Thomas Paine’s computer, and then arrested him.

The verbal abuse died down, but was still there. The graffiti stopped, but the damage was done. Kim received an offer from Oxford College in England, along with several job offers. The patent and copyright for her discovery were approved, and she sent it to the International Science Foundation in Sweden. Kim and Li discussed sending it to the American Science Foundation, but they frowned on genetic research.

Kim and Li discussed moving to England, but they were hesitant. Then, Sensi Chen became ill and returned to China for treatment. With the turmoil at the university and Sensi Chen gone, they decided to move and accepted the Oxford position. It was for next term, so they didn’t tell anyone immediately. Kim said they could make her life difficult and even tarnish her record out of spite.

They spent all their free time preparing for the move. Kim kept meticulous records of her time in the lab and the supplies she purchased. The university frowned on department heads spending time doing research. So, she rented a lab and bought her own supplies. That turned into a godsend when they made the discovery. The university couldn’t claim any credit for Kim’s patent, copyright, or discovery.

Thirty days before the end of the semester, Kim got a notice from the Nobel Peace Prize Committee that she was being considered for the Chemistry Award. They asked her to keep the nomination confidential until they release the results. Kim immediately got copies of her transcripts from the administration. She told them it was for a summer guest lecture tour. When Kim had her transcripts, she submitted her resignation from the university.

The university knew they were losing one of their best professors and a leading mind in the science department. It was their fault for being afraid to confront hate speech, bigotry, and racism. Seven additional professors also submitted their resignations, and the university was in trouble. Someone leaked the exodus of professors to the news media, along with the reasons behind it. New student enrollment dropped, and there was a flurry of transfers.

Chapter 2

Kim had rented a storage unit for their furniture, her personal items in her office, and items they couldn’t bring to England. They were staying at a hotel the last week of the semester. A notice to vacate the house was served after Kim submitted her resignation. The staff and fellow professors gave Kim a going-away party, but neither the board of regents nor the chancellor attended.

A week after arriving in England, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee announced the finalists across all categories, and Kim Lee was named a finalist in the Chemistry category. Oxford was ecstatic to have a Nobel Peace Prize finalist teaching at its university. Their old university was pissed because they knew nothing about Kim’s work and looked like idiots. Then the reason Kim Lee left the university was revealed, which made matters worse.

The university tried to sue Kim Lee to obtain recognition of her work and a share of the prize if she won. Kim hired a lawyer and counter-sued for emotional distress, harassment, providing a hostile working environment, and claiming false enrichment. When the press found out, they crucified the university, and they settled quietly for two million. The Chancellor and the Board of Regents resigned, and new leadership took over to right the ship.

They settled in a tiny two-bedroom apartment by the university. It was within walking distance, so they didn’t have to purchase a vehicle or learn to drive on the wrong side of the road. The cost of living was also higher than at home. Mom said,” Let’s see how it works out here, and if we like it, we’ll lease a house and get a vehicle.

Li finished his master’s studies, and Kim continued his biannual injections. He arranged with the apartment manager to set up a heavy bag in the basement to practice his martial arts. They decided to delay his doctorate until they decided whether to stay or move back to the US at the end of the term. Li was still auditing classes, tested out of computer programming, and received a bachelor’s degree.

Kim won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and offers rolled in from around the world. Universities and corporations sent her employment offers, and the benefits were shocking. They evaluated the offers and decided to check out the one in La Jolla, California. Scripps Research Institute offered Kim a moving allowance, a salary of 400k, and reduced-rate housing. The cost of living was higher than where they lived before, but California didn’t have anti-Asian prejudice.

At the end of the term, Kim and Li flew to San Diego, met with the recruiter Jan Wallace at Scripps, and toured the facility. Then they met with the CEO and the Vice President of Research they made a ten-year employment offer. It was too good to pass up, and Kim accepted it. Harold Brock, the CEO, inquired about Li’s education, and they were shocked to learn he had a master’s degree in genetics and a bachelor’s in computer programming. George Whittingham, the VP of research, offered Li assistance with his doctoral studies at the University of California, San Diego, and also offered him employment.

After signing the contract, Jan took them to look at houses. The first one was a former professor who passed away. It was a Spanish hacienda style with a tile roof, four bedrooms, three baths, and a pool. It was at the end of a cul-de-sac that backed up to a hillside. They loved it, but it was too large for their needs. When Jan quoted them the price, they couldn’t refuse and agreed to purchase it. Jan told them it came with the furniture, and all the professors’ personal belongings had been removed.

Kim signed the purchase agreement, and there were no realtor fees because Scripps handled the sale. Returning to the hotel, they were excited about their new home and work. They ordered room service and discussed everything that needed to be done. Kim told Li they would return to London and that she would notify Oxford of her resignation. The move should be easy because they didn’t have any furniture, just clothes and personal belongings.

Li asked about a vehicle and the furniture in the house. Kim said they would get a vehicle when they returned, then they would tackle the house needs. She asked Li about attending the University of San Diego for his doctoral degree. He said it’s the most convenient, but they needed to take a tour and meet the administration. Kim agreed and said we’ll ensure they don’t try to exploit you for personal gain. After dinner, they said goodnight and went to bed.

The next day, they returned to England, and Kim notified Oxford University that she was leaving. They were sad to see her leave but wished her good luck in her new job. They packed what was immediately needed and shipped the rest. A week later, they were back in La Jolla, California, finalizing the purchase of the house. When that was done, they went car shopping. Kim bought a 2-year-old Toyota 4Runner 4WD. The salesman was glad to see them leave after Li got done with him.

Li read his mind and got the lowest price they would accept. The poor salesman made a commission, but not what he expected. Then they closed on the house and began moving in. Kim hired a moving company to ship their things from the storage, and they began inspecting the house. Kim took the master suite, and Li took the mother-in-law bedroom. They were almost the same size, but Kim’s had a nicer bathroom and a bigger closet. Li’s had a mini kitchen and a nice walk-in closet.

One bedroom was already set up as an office, so Kim claimed it. That left one bedroom for guests they didn’t plan to have. Li discovered the house had a basement, but the door was locked. They called a locksmith to rekey the house, and he opened the basement door. There were years of crap: the previous owner, a deceased professor, had stored it in boxes and on shelves. Li volunteered to clean it out and make it a gym.

The garage was locked too, and the locksmith opened it and reprogrammed the openers. To their surprise, there was a Ford F150 4x4 and a Harley lowboy parked inside. Li said they were his, and Kim laughed. She said you’re only fourteen and can’t drive yet. Li told her not to sweat the details, as if there’s a will, there’s a way, and they laughed. The garage also had a riding mower and all the lawn-maintenance tools.

There was a workbench and a tool chest so they could perform maintenance on anything. There were also the pool tools, and Kim told Li he needed to learn how to maintain the pool. Luckily, it was a three-car garage, so there was room for Kim’s 4Runner. She also told him the lawn was his responsibility, too. He said it seemed like he got the short end of the stick, and they laughed. Then they checked out the backyard and hillside behind it.

Li said he’d check out the trail and see what’s on the other side. There was a fence along the sides and back, but a gate in the rear. The driveway also had a gate with an electric opener, so the grounds were secure.

Kim started work at Scripps Research Institute, and Li was hired as an assistant researcher. George Whittingham, the VP of research, set up a meeting for them at the University of California, San Diego, for his doctoral studies. They met with the University Chancellor Ben White. Apparently, George Whittingham gave him a thorough report on Kim Lee and her son Li. Chancellor White said he was privileged to meet a Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry.

He quizzed Li on his goals and said the university would offer him a scholarship for his doctoral studies. Kim told Chancellor White that Li didn’t want any undue attention, and Chancellor White assured them that it wouldn’t happen. Then he escorted them to the admissions building, where they met the Director of Admissions, Robert Reed. Also, there were the Dean of Chemistry, Elisabeth Conroe, and the Dean of Computer Sciences, David Brown.

They offered Kim and Li the scholarship covering their doctoral studies and his master’s in computer programming. Kim gave it to Li, shocking the group, and Li read it, then marked several items off. He said these are unacceptable, as I will not allow the university to market my name, image, and likeness. Otherwise, it’s an acceptable offer, and Robert Reed said that’s not acceptable to us. Li told them they would pay sports players and give them a free education.

But you want to make money off my attendance, pay me nothing, and offer some classes. Now add a few million dollars to the offer, and I would consider it. But as it stands, it’s a one-way agreement, so I will respectfully decline your offer and pursue my doctorate elsewhere. They were shocked and asked Kim Lee what she thought of the offer. Kim said Li makes his own decisions, and I agree. They got up and left the conference room.

They made it outside when Kim’s phone rang; it was Chancellor White, calling to ask them to return. They returned, and the university agreed to their terms. Li warned them to please honor the agreement, as he’d hate to seek a remedy that wouldn’t be pleasant for the university. While Kim signed the revised scholarship agreement, Li read their minds. He knew what they planned and would take preventive measures foil their plans.

He tagged their phones with an app he developed that would send a worm to their emails. Soon, he’d have access to the university’s computer and their personal computers, too. When the paperwork was done, they gave Li a welcome packet. It contained his student ID, a credit card for the bookstore, and food at the cafeterias. They shook hands goodbye, and on the way home, Kim asked Li what he thought. He said they would violate the agreement.

Kim asked what he would do, and he said not attend. It’s the start of the semester, and everyone has already selected their classes and is attending them. So, he’ll get the e-books for the courses I want to take, then test out of the courses. There’s also the issue of working with you at Scripps. Technically, anything I do, they could want credit. Kim said shit she didn’t think about that and will talk to George Whittingham, the VP of research.

Li said, “Let’s be honest. I could pass any test on genetics or computer programming.” But to get my doctorate, I need to take their courses, submit a project, and defend it in front of them. I’m going to research getting a doctorate degree online and skip the bullshit. They returned home, and Kim made dinner. While they ate, she told Li not to make any rushed decisions until they had all the information. Li agreed, and when they finished dinner, they said goodnight.

When Li reached his room, he went online and checked his cloud account. He had access to the University of California, San Diego’s computer. He also had the personal computers of Chancellor Ben White, Director of Admissions Robert Reed, the Dean of Chemistry Elisabeth Conroe, and the Dean of Computer Sciences David Brown. Li checked Robert Reed’s computer first, and as he suspected, he was emailing Elisabeth and David about him.

Robert told them we need to get Li attending classes, then we can capitalize on his attending our university. Elisabeth responded that it’s risky given our agreement. David replied that we have him over a barrel. Everything he does, we can claim a piece of if he doesn’t cooperate. Li logged off the computer and would need to figure out a way to make them pay discreetly. He turned off the computer and went to bed.

The next day, Kim went to work, and Li tackled the basement. The previous owner, Professor Martin Blake, was a chemistry professor, and all his files were stored in the basement. Li was amazed that Martin Blake worked for the government on projects on the side. It was no wonder that the basement was locked. That raised the question of why his files were down here, and his office was upstairs. Li spent the day sorting through the files and junk, filling 20 trash bags.

Once there was an order to the room, he saw that it didn’t look right. It wasn’t the full length of the house, and he knew something was wrong. Li found a secret door behind the shelving and was shocked to discover a fully equipped lab and office. He quickly moved the files into the lab and stacked them against a wall. He would need to spend some time in the secret room. After closing the door, resetting the shelving, Li carried the trash bags outside.

Kim arrived home with pizza, and while they ate, she told Li about her meeting with George Whittingham. She said George was concerned about what you said about the university taking credit for your work at Scripps. George said he would call Chancellor Ben White in the morning and get a letter of understanding. All your work done off campus isn’t the university’s property. He also said he would make some calls concerning your doctorate.

Li thanked Mom for the information and told her what he accomplished today. She said that’s good, and we can go shopping for your gym supplies this weekend. Mom asked Li to come to work with her tomorrow, and he reluctantly agreed. He wanted to scope out the lab and Professor Martin Blake’s computer. Kim also had information on the F150 and Harley in the garage. Since we bought the house as is, they were included, so we’ll have to have the titles changed. They finished dinner and went to bed.

When they arrived at Scripps, Li was taken to get his ID. His thumbprint was also taken along with an iris scan. Then Kim showed him her lab and office. His office was across the hall and suitably sized for an assistant. Li helped Kim in her lab the rest of the morning, and they went to the cafeteria for lunch. While they were eating, George Whittingham came by and asked Li if he played baseball or golf. Li said no, he only practices martial arts.

George said we have a company baseball and golf team that needs more talent. He said I’ll arrange some training for you, and with martial arts skills, you’ll pick it up in no time. He left, and Li said he was being set up, and they laughed. After lunch, there was a network issue, and Li helped troubleshoot and fix it. On the way home, Li said he had no interest in baseball or golf. Mom told him to give it a try, and if it doesn’t work out, then you’re off the hook.

The next day, he got out of work by saying he had chores to do at the house. He quickly mowed the lawns and treated the pool per the instructions online. There was a chemical test kit, and all that was needed was chlorine. The pool had an automatic pool sweep, so he emptied the debris and skimmed the surface with a screen. After lunch, he went to the basement and inspected the professor’s computer. Professor Martin Blake had all his formulas on the computer, and several caught his eye.

One was a truth serum administered as a spray mist. It would incapacitate a target, make them susceptible to suggestions, and compel them to tell the truth. It was almost like hypnosis, and he wanted to try it. Li examined the lab and found a supply room with a refrigerator/freezer. This was larger than the house, and it had to be custom-built. He found the chemicals for the spray and a small spray bottle. So, he mixed a batch and cleaned up the lab.

Returning upstairs, he put the spray in his room and went for a swim. Mom came home and saw him swimming nude and yelled at him. Li said,” Well, he didn’t have a swimsuit, and he needed to test the pool. Mom laughed and said that’s something we’re going to solve this weekend, too. While eating dinner, Mom told Li that he had an appointment with Padres trainer Carl Jones tomorrow morning.

He groaned as Mom gave him a sheet of paper with the training details. He was to go to Petco Park, go to the employees’ entrance, and ask for Carl Jones. Li asked how he would get there, and Mom said to order a Lyft ride. He said driving the F150 would be more convenient, and they laughed. She also said that George called Chancellor Ben White, and he wouldn’t agree to a letter of understanding. So, George recommends not attending until the details are resolved.

Li told Mom to draft a letter stating he was disenrolling from the university, effective immediately. State the reason as failure to live up to the scholarship agreement. Say we were not interested in attending the University of California, San Diego in the future. If that doesn’t get them off their asses, nothing will, and Mom agreed. She said she will send it by certified mail tomorrow. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed.

When Li got to his room, he logged into his cloud account. He checked the Dean of Computer Sciences, David Brown’s, computer files and looked at his photos. David had dozens of pictures and videos of young girls in sexual situations with him. Li checked his emails, and David had his wife listed in the contacts. He copied the four most recent photos and videos and emailed them to his wife using an anonymous Hotmail account. The subject said David is working hard tutoring his students. Li turned off the computer and fell asleep.

After breakfast the next morning, Li’s Lyft ride dropped him off at the employees’ entrance of Petco Park. He asked for Carl Jones, and he was given a visitor’s pass and directions to his office. When Li arrived, introductions were made, and they went to the equipment manager’s room. Li was measured and outfitted with everything needed from head to feet. Then they went to the locker room, and Li changed. From there, they went to the field, and Carl explained the basics of baseball.

They started by throwing the ball at ten feet and gradually moved back. At 60 feet, Carl told Li to increase his throwing speed. He was surprised at Li’s ability to throw the ball so hard, and they increased the distance until they were 325 feet away from each other. Carls’ throws were bouncing, and Li’s were hard with a slight arc. Then they moved to fielding the ball, and Carl threw grounders to Li. He corrected Li’s mistakes and showed him the proper way to field the ball.

Carl explained how to judge the bounce and whether to charge or back up. Then, Li had him moving while fielding to his left and right. When he was satisfied, they took a break for a sports drink. Carl told Li he did well for a first timer, and they went to the batting cages under the stands next. After being outfitted with a helmet and bat, Carl showed Li the proper stance and swing. He demonstrated it in the batting cage with the machine throwing balls at him.

Then it was Li’s turn, and Carl started him off with 40 mph throws. After dozens of misses and tips, Li finally made solid contact. Carl corrected Li’s stance and swing several times, then showed him how to adjust his swing to hit the ball to different areas. Once Li had it down, Carl increased the ball speed, and they stopped at 90 mph for lunch. They ate while watching a ball game, and Carl explained what was happening and replayed several plays, pointing out mistakes and good plays.

After lunch, they took the field, and Carl hit grounders to Li first, easy, then increased the speed. They started with the infield, and Li was at second base. Then he moved to short and finally to third base. When he was satisfied, Li moved to the outfield, and Carl had an assistant hit the balls while he coached Li on his movements. They ended the training at 3 p.m., and Carl gave Li three baseball books and a stack of DVDs to watch.

Arrangements were made for Li to return in two days, and they shook hands goodbye. When Li arrived home, he went to the basement and measured the area. Then he went online and searched for gym supply companies in the San Diego area. He needed floor mats and different sizes of punching bags. He found one in downtown San Diego, and they had everything he needed. Mom arrived home, so he turned off the computer and went to the kitchen.

While they ate, Kim asked Li how his training went today. He said I threw, hit, and chased balls all day, and they laughed. She asked how his trainer was, and Li told her Carl Jones was a good instructor. They covered the basics, and he has another training session in two days. Kim told Li she had mailed the letter, so they should have it in 2 or 3 days. Li told Mom he found a gym supply house in downtown San Diego, and she agreed to visit it on Saturday. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed.

David Brown wasn’t having a good day. Someone emailed his wife, Sandra, photos and videos of his latest conquest. She kicked him out of the house and was filing for divorce. They have two daughters, and it will kill him with alimony and child support. But the major problem was that his side company was in her maiden name. Wayland Technologies was the front company he used to sell and develop projects turned in by his students. The students also worked there for better grades and a little pay.

Sandra had him by the balls, and he screwed up getting caught a second time. Actually, it was the third time, but the first time was while they were engaged. They went to marriage counseling, and Sandra warned him she wouldn’t forgive him again. Now Sandra controls his company and holds his career in her hands too. If the university finds out about his affairs and his side business, they would terminate him immediately.

The next morning, after breakfast, Li took a Lyft to the University. He went to the bookstore and got 12 e-books for the courses he was interested in. Returning home, he checked out the hillside behind their home. It was rough terrain, which was good for his training. He could run and train without anyone observing him. There were over 50 acres, and he’d only begun to explore them. He could see why it wasn’t developed, and he guessed the environmentalists wouldn’t let them destroy it.

Returning home, he stripped and went for a swim. While doing laps in the pool, he thought about the major changes in their lives. They now had a house, worked close, and he had a university nearby if they could resolve the issues. Then there was the sports thing, and he wondered what would become of it. Baseball and golf didn’t interest him, but it wasn’t football, thank god. Mom would blow a gasket if he took it up after what his dad did to her.

He got out and lay on the lounge drying off. He thought about his grandparents and wondered what they were doing. They hadn’t seen them in over a year since they moved to England. He hadn’t seen or heard from Sam Ridley, the PI, his deceased father’s parents, James and Joan King, had hired. He was now over 6 feet and weighed 175 pounds. When he had dried, Li walked nude into his room, showered, dressed, and turned on his laptop.

Li logged in to his cloud account and opened the computer files of Dean of Chemistry Elisabeth Conroe. Elisabeth was married to US Congressman Mark Conroe, who sat on the House Homeland Security Committee. Li checked the emails and then the photos. With her husband’s extended absence, Elisabeth was having an affair with another woman. Well, actually, it was one of her graduate students. Li couldn’t blame her and figured her husband, Mark, was doing the same thing.

Then he had an idea and began writing a new program. It was an email program that would attach his worm to all emails sent by the user. He called it “Friends with Enemies,” and when it was done, he hacked into Elisabeth’s laptop and installed it. The worm gave him access, so he also installed it on Chancellor Ben White, Director of Admissions, Robert Reed, and the Dean of Computer Sciences, David Brown’s laptops.

He realized it would take a lot of maintenance, but he’d gain valuable knowledge. Especially from Elisabeth’s husband, Congressman Mark Conroe. Then he thought of building an AI to manage it. Li read the baseball books, and Mom arrived home. Li turned off the computer and went to the kitchen. While they ate, Mom told Li about her day, and he told her about his. He left out the part about his computer hijinks, but told her about getting e-books from the University.

Kim asked for his help on a project, and Li told her that tomorrow was baseball training, but he could do it on Friday. Mom said Friday should be interesting as her letter should be delivered by them. Li said he hopes it works out, but he doubts they will honor the agreement. Mom said that with the signed letter of agreement, it would be easier for us to sue them. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed.

He signed in to his cloud account and was surprised by the volume of files there. Li spent time reviewing them and deleting those that didn’t provide high-quality information. He saw that Congressman Mark Conroe’s computer files were there, and he looked at the photos and videos. Mark was having an affair with a young woman, probably an intern. He’d bet Mark had hidden cameras in his apartment to get the quality and quantity of photos and videos.

Li thought he needed to create a file containing incriminating evidence for each subject to make it easier to access the information. Almost all the professors’ computer files at the university were on his cloud account. Also, numerous administrators’ computer files were there. The need for an AI became urgent, and he shut off the computer and went to bed.

On Thursday morning, after breakfast, Li’s Lyft arrived and dropped him off at Petco Park. He went to Carl Jones’ office, and he welcomed Li. He asked whether Li had read any of the books and watched any of the DVDs. Li said he read the books but hadn’t watched the DVDs yet. He’s planning on watching some this weekend, and they headed to the locker room. Li changed, and they went to the field. The first thing was batting practice with a live pitcher.

The pitches started off slowly and picked up speed. Carl was calling for him to place the ball in left and right field. The pitches changed, too. There were fastballs, curveballs, change-ups, sliders, and even knuckleballs. Soon, Li was hitting big league pitching speed, and they took a break for refreshments. Carl told Li to hit the next series with power to see how he does. It took some time adjusting from making contact to driving the ball.

But Li finally started driving the ball with power, hitting several home runs. They changed, and Li went into the field and fielded balls in the infield. He started at second base, then moved to short, and finally to third base. The balls were hit slowly, then the speed increased. Line drives and short hops were hit at him and to the left and right.

Then he went into the outfield and caught fly balls. Then he was chasing balls and throwing back to home plate. When the exercise ended, Li was tired, and they got lunch and watched a film while eating. Carl pointed out why and where the players moved on each play. After finishing lunch, Carl said, “That’s it for today, but plan on Tuesday and Thursday next week.” They shook hands goodbye, and Li ordered a Lyft ride home.

He went to the basement and opened the hidden room. Something wasn’t right, and Li looked at it closely. The supply room and refrigerator freezer unit didn’t extend to the lab and office depth. So, he looked at the shelving behind the desk. It wouldn’t move, and he pulled out books on each shelf. There was a lever behind books on the third shelf, and he pulled it. The shelving unit moved, and a door was behind it. Li opened the door and said, “Holy shit.”

There were enough firearms and ammo to start a war. They lined one wall with pistols, rifles with scopes, shotguns, and many other military weapons. The second wall had a shelf with tools a spy or an assassin would use. The rest of the wall had swords from Japan, China, and the military. The last wall had shelving, stacked with cash, gold, and silver coins and bars, artwork, and jewelry. Li said shit Professor Blake had to have another source of income.

Ly took 20 thousand in cash, closed the room, and reset the bookshelf. Then he turned on the computer and looked for hidden files. He found two, and one had details of his work for the CIA. The second one had his offshore bank account, and Li logged in to it. He said,” Oh my god, seeing a 20 million balance. He changed the login and password, then shut off the computer. He left the lab, reset the shelving, and went to his room.

He hid the cash, then, when Mom arrived home, he went to the kitchen. While they ate, Li told her about his baseball training. There was more training scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday next week. Mom told Li about her day and her meeting with George Whittingham, the VP of research. George was excited about the reports he’s gotten from your trainer, Carl Jones. Li said he hoped his training was worth it because it had to be expensive. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed.

Chapter 3

Kim and Li went to Scripps on Friday morning after breakfast and to her lab. Mom had dozens of samples to analyze, and the findings were logged into the computer. Li got to work while Kim continued with her experiments. While taking a break, Li asked Mom why she was so backed up. She said there were clicks and that lab techs preferred to work for one scientist. He said, “Don’t worry, Mommy, I’ll be dedicated to you,” and they laughed.

At lunch, they went to the cafeteria, and a man approached Li. He introduced himself as Dr. Thomas Croft and asked for my help in his lab. Li tagged him on the phone while thanking him for the offer, but he was buried in work with Dr. Lee. He stormed off, and Mom said he already has two lab techs dedicated to him. After lunch, they returned to the lab, and Kim was called into George Whittingham’s office, the VP of research.

Li went with her, and when they entered, Dr. Thomas Croft was there too. George asked Kim why Li wasn’t available to the other researchers. Kim said he is, but the bigger question is why no one is available to me. Dr. Croft already has two lab techs, and they won’t work with anyone else. As a matter of fact, many researchers are occupying all the lab tech positions. So, when Li works part-time, he helps me with my research, and Dr. Croft can play with his own group.

George asked Thomas if it was true that he occupied two lab techs full-time. Thomas said yes, but they do more than assist me in the lab. George told Thomas they are paid to be lab techs, not your personal servants. So, as you treat them as such, you can absorb their salaries within your lab budget. Thomas called Kim a bitch and tried to slap her. Li caught his arm and twisted it up behind his back. He screamed in pain, and Li told Thomas to kneel and apologize to Dr. Lee or lose use of his arm.

Thomas kneeled and apologized, so Li let go of his arm. He got up and punched Li in the face. Li responded with a kick to the balls, then knocked him out with an uppercut. Thomas fell face-first to the floor with a thud, and Li stepped on his hand to be sure he was knocked out. George said he’s never seen such a rude display by a researcher before. Kim told George to let Thomas know when he wakes up that he should avoid us at all costs.

Li said today he got a warning, but next time he’ll need rehab, and they left George’s office. Thomas woke up moaning that his jaw and balls hurt. George told Thomas he picked a fight with the wrong person and had better stay clear of Dr. Lee and Li. George also warned Thomas that any more incidents would result in his termination. Thomas said that bitch and George told Thomas to shut his mouth. Dr. Lee won the Nobel Peace Prize for Science. What have you done?

George told Thomas to be prepared for an audit of your work. He said you were on thin ice before, but now, with two assistants, your work had better support occupying them full-time. Thomas stormed out of George’s office, pissed that he was called on the carpet. One assistant is his girlfriend, and she doesn’t even show up to work. The other one does his work so he can play online poker. An audit will definitely result in his termination.

They returned to Mom’s lab, and Li said it felt good to get some exercise after lunch, and they laughed. Mom said there was something wrong with Dr. Croft, and they resumed their work. Li finished analyzing the samples and logging them into the computer. He showed Mom two that had issues, and they made adjustments. She said those were delaying her experiment and thanked Li for his help. They were finished for the day and cleaned up the lab.

Leaving the building, Li felt danger as they passed a row of parked cars in the parking lot. They were about to move to the second row when Li pulled Mom back as an SUV sped past them. It tried to stop at the end of the parking lot but lost control and crashed into a tree. They got into the 4Runner and passed the crash site. The driver was Dr. Thomas Croft, and several people were near the vehicle, so they left.

Li said Dr. Croft tried to kill us today, so he’s fair game. Mom said yes, he did, but be careful and do it where there are no witnesses. That surprised Li that Mom would approve of him beating the crap out of someone, but he said, “Yes, Mommy,” and they laughed. Arriving home, Kim made dinner, and while they ate, the phone rang. It was the University of California, San Diego, Chancellor Ben White. He said we received your letter today and wondered why you’re disenrolling.

Kim told him that you’re aware of the letter George Whittingham, the VP of research at Scripps, sent you. Well, since you refused to sign the letter of understanding, we had no choice but to have Li attend another university. Chancellor White said the letter is redundant to our scholarship and isn’t necessary. Kim told him,” If that’s so, sign it, and Li will attend. But you know that’s a loophole in the agreement, and Li will agree to attend without it.

She thanked Chancellor White for his consideration on the matter, then hung up. Li said those assholes want to control my life while I attend their university. If they call back, let’s seek legal advice and draft a new agreement. Mom said that’s a good idea, and they finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed.

Kim and Li headed to downtown San Diego after breakfast on Saturday morning. When they arrived at The Athletes Warehouse, Li told the salesman what he wanted, and he wrote it up. Mom was shocked at the price, but Li said it was wholesale, and Li paid the bill with his debit card. He chose the free delivery, and it would be delivered by 5 p.m. today. On the way home the saw a yard sale and stopped.

Mom went to the tables to explore the goods, and Li checked the things on the ground and in boxes. He bought two boxes of computer parts and three boxes of books. Mom bought a necklace and a sweater. They loaded their purchases and drove home. Li took his things to his room, then the phone rang. It was George Wittingham, and he told Kim that Dr. Thomas Croft had an accident in the parking lot after work yesterday.

Kim said we know he almost hit us speeding through the parking lot. George said Thomas was in the hospital in serious condition due to his driving without a seatbelt. George said he wanted to use this opportunity to audit Dr. Croft’s lab and asked if Li could assist him on Monday. Kim said, “Sure, Li can do it,” and they said goodbye.

While eating lunch, Mom told Li to be thorough when doing the audit. She suspected Thomas was doing something off the books or doing creative accounting to justify the two lab techs. After lunch, the delivery truck arrived and unloaded a ton of equipment. Li moved the floor pads to the basement first, then brought down the boxing bags. Using the Dewalt cordless drill in the garage, he mounted the bags to the ceiling.

When he was done, Li tested each bag with punches and kicks. They passed the test, and he cleaned up the area before returning the tools to the garage. Returning to the kitchen, Mom had dinner ready, so they sat and ate. During dinner, Li asked Mom if she heard from his grandparents lately. She laughed and said yes, they called today and wanted to have lunch tomorrow. Since we’re going shopping for swimwear, I agreed to meet them at a Mexican restaurant in the mall.

Li groaned, and Mom laughed and said,” It won’t be that bad.” He said that’s what you always say before going on a shopping spree. Mom said maybe, but this time we have a lunch date, so our shopping will be limited. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Li didn’t go to sleep, and he looked through the boxes of books. Knowing his time would be limited for the next week, he checked each box. One box had spy books that looked like training manuals an instructor might use. Li stayed awake and read three books before falling asleep.

Early Sunday morning, Li watched three baseball DVDs. There were about six or seven more, and he wanted to finish them before his training on Tuesday. The spy book piqued his interest, and he should have been watching the DVDs. He would work both in his free time and went to the kitchen for breakfast. Mom disapproved of his jeans, calling them too short. Li groaned and said they’re all too short. They finished breakfast and headed to the mall.

The swimwear was quick, and he got a pair of Speedos and a pair of board shorts. Then they went to the department store and bought new jeans and dress slacks. Since the dress shirts were on sale, they bought six and headed to the restaurant. James and Joan King were waiting and were surprised at how tall Li was. Kim said they had just finished shopping for new jeans, slacks, and dress shirts. Li said, “Don’t forget the swimwear because Mommy doesn’t want me to skinny dip,” and everyone laughed.

James and Joan congratulated Kim on winning the Nobel Peace Prize for Science. She thanked them, and then they asked how Li was doing in school. Kim said this is confidential, so please don’t repeat it to anyone. Li has his master’s degree in genetics and a bachelor’s degree in computer programming. They were shocked, and it took them several minutes to respond. Joan asked Li what he was going to do now, and he told them he would pursue a doctorate in genetics and a master’s in computer programming.

Kim told them that both work at the Scripps Research Institute and are trying to get into the University of California, San Diego. But they want to market his name and image and take a part in everything he does outside of the university. So, we’re at a standstill until they agree, or we’ll find another university for him. Scripps supports his continued education, so that’s a plus. James asked Li if he was involved in any sports.

Li said yes, and Mom’s boss arranged private baseball training at Petco Park. A Padres trainer is teaching me baseball, and then when I’m done golfing, it’s next. Kim said Scripps plays other businesses and wants Li’s help to improve their performance. James said they are paying a lot for your training for inter-company games. Kim said it’s more of a pride issue, and they are tired of losing.

Lunch arrived, and while they ate, Joan invited them to visit them for a week this summer. Kim said she would have to check because she just started. Then she asked how racism is there. Li said that’s why we moved to England. Mom was assaulted on campus, but the administration would do nothing about it. They were shocked, and James said there won’t be an issue. They exchanged emails, and Kim said she would let them know after checking with Scripps.

After hugs and handshakes, they left, and Mom asked what he thought. Li said he senses they want us to become family. But I’m leery of going by myself, so if you can’t go, then neither will I. Mom said those are my thoughts, too, and I’ll find out what the leave or vacation situation is on Monday. When they arrived home, Li hung the slacks in his closet, and Mom put his jeans in the washer. He spent the rest of the afternoon watching baseball DVDs.

During dinner, Mom asked Li what he wanted to do about the University issue. He said nothing, and he’ll research doctoral degrees online. If he has to take a semester off, he will continue working toward his master’s degree in computer programming. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Li got out the spy books and read four more books before falling asleep.

Li woke up early and went to the basement. He practiced his martial arts, and it felt good getting a workout again. After showering and dressing, he went to the kitchen. They ate breakfast and then went to Mom’s work. When they arrived, Mom went to her lab, and Li went to George Whittingham’s office. The door was open, and two men in suits were standing in front of his desk. One man said they wanted Professor Martin Blake’s files.

George told them his office had been cleaned out over a month ago, and that any files belonging to Scripps had been put into storage. Everything else was destroyed, and one man took out his Glock and said,” Give us those files or die.” Li entered and knocked the man with the gun out. Then he went to work on the other man until he was unconscious, too. Li went back to the gunman and kicked him several times in the head and balls.

Li asked Mr. Whittingham if he was ok, and he laughed, saying he was now. George told Li he arrived just in time to save an uncomfortable situation. Li asked who the men were, and George said they only told him they were from the government. Li tagged their phones and checked their IDs while George called the police. They took George’s statement, but Li refused, saying he was a minor and couldn’t without a parent present. But he said his view of the events matched Mr. Whittingham’s.

They arrested the men, and they went to Dr. Thomas Croft’s lab and office. His lab assistant was there, and George asked where the other one was. He said I’m the only one besides Dr. Croft. His girlfriend visits occasionally but not often. George told him to carry on, and they went into Dr. Croft’s office. The files were a mess, and it took all morning to figure them out. Li bumped the mouse on the desk, and a poker game appeared on the monitor.

George found Scripps was paying for three Lab techs, but only one worked here. His supply room was almost empty, yet Thomas purchased thousands of dollars’ worth of supplies. For all the labor and materials, Dr. Croft produced little revenue. Leaving the office, George told the lab tech to enter the queue and work for someone else. This lab was closed effective immediately. The lab tech left, and George locked the door behind them.

He thanked Li for the help, and they parted ways. Li went to Mom’s lab and said I’ll bet your day was more interesting. They laughed, and Mom said she heard about the issue in George Whittingham’s office. Li told her he arrived as one man pulled out a gun threating Mr. Whittingham. They wanted Professor Martin Blake’s files, and Mr. Whittingham told them they belonged to Scripps and were in storage. Would you believe he vaulted over the desk and knocked both men out?

Mom laughed and said, “Not for a minute.” She asked if he had given a statement to the police, and Li said no. He told them he was a minor and couldn’t give one with his parent. She said, “Good, because we don’t want to be involved with government agents.” They went to the cafeteria for lunch, and there were workmen installing additional security in the lobby.

While they were eating, George Whittingham sat at their table and thanked Kim for bringing Li to work today. Those men had fake FBI IDs and got past the guards at the entrance. If Li hadn’t entered my office when he did, I’m not sure they wouldn’t have shot me. We’re beefing up security, and no one who isn’t an employee isn’t allowed past the lobby without my approval. We’re warning all employees to be cautious of vehicles following them. It’s best to pull into a mall or crowded restaurant and call the police.

George left, and Mom said she hoped whoever they were didn’t find out we purchased Professor Blake’s former home. Li said they won’t walk away if they attack us at home. Except for baseball practice, I’ll go to work with you. Besides, I doubt the two men today will return anytime soon. They finished lunch and returned to Mom’s lab. Li helped her run experiments for the rest of the day.

On the way home, the University of California, San Diego, Chancellor Ben White called again and asked if they reconsidered their position. Kim said no, and as a matter of fact, was meeting with USC and UCLA to gauge their interest. So please lose our phone number, and have a good day. She hung up, and they laughed. Arriving home, Mom cooked dinner, and while they ate, Li told her to adjust her schedule when he wasn’t with her. Leave earlier for work and come home earlier.

They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Li didn’t go to bed; he watched the remaining two baseball DVDs, then fell asleep. Then he had a dream or a vision, and he was in a warehouse with a dozen men. They were wearing black clothing and had on bulletproof vests. One man was at a whiteboard, where a drawing of our street and house was posted.

He said we take down the targets tonight at 1 a.m. Search the house and gather any files, computers, or any evidence, then burn the house down with the target inside. The dream ended, and Li awoke, seeing it was midnight. He dressed in black and went to the lab in the basement. Opening the room behind the bookshelf, he gathered the spray knock-out drug, a Glock 9mm with a silencer, and a Bowie knife. After closing up everything, he went outside and hid in the bushes by the driveway.

Thirty minutes later, a box van arrived and parked at the end of the street. He “Ghost Walked” behind the van, and when the door opened, Li jumped inside, surprising the men. He went into an attack mode and fought them while spraying everyone with the knock-out drug. Then the driver came in the back, and Li sprayed him with the knockout drug too. Li got into the cab and drove the van behind the vacant acreage, behind their property.

He unloaded the van and its contents fifty yards from the road. Returning to the van, he read their minds, and they were contractors hired by a blind email. There was a 5-gallon can of gasoline. He poured it over everyone, then drove the van behind a warehouse and put their handguns in their hands. He made it look like a shoot-out, then he set the van on fire and ran home. It was over 5 miles, and he took a quick shower and crashed.

Li woke up late, took another shower, quickly dressed, and met his Lyft driver in the driveway. The drive to Petco Park was filled with thoughts about what happened last night. Then he thought about tagging the phones of the two fake FBI agents, and he needed to check them when he got home. Li got out at the employees’ entrance and went to Carl Jones’ office. There was a note on the door for him. It said Carl had the flu and his training would resume on Thursday.

He was thankful for that and ran to the entrance, and Luckly the Lyft driver was still there. The drive home was a relief, not having training today after the workout he got early this morning. Upon arrival, he put the clothes from last night in the washer and went hiking behind our property. About 25 yards from the fence, he saw the sun shining on a metal object, and he checked it out. It was an empty bomb shelter and a perfect stash place.

Li carried all the equipment from the van to the bomb shelter. It took him five trips with all the gear they had in the van. Then covered the door with dirt and bushes. He would do a better job of camouflage later and return home. He ate lunch and read the local news online. There was an article about a box van catching fire behind a warehouse with casualties inside, but there were no details. Li put his clothes in the dryer and lay down for a nap.

He woke up, checked the time, said shit, and got his clothes from the dryer. Returning to his room, he put the clothes away and read another two spy books until Mom arrived home. While they ate dinner, she asked about his day, and he told her that his training had been canceled. The trainer had the flu, so he toured the ballpark and watched the players practice, then he came home. Li asked about her day, and she said everyone was on edge, wondering what would happen next.

Li didn’t feel bad about lying to Mom about his day or keeping the early morning event to himself. She had enough to worry about without him giving her more. Mom asked if he was coming to work tomorrow, and Li said yes. But he has training again on Thursday. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Li was still tired from the early morning event and crashed.

Li was in the basement on Wednesday morning doing his martial arts workout on the heavy bags. There were six of varying sizes, which allowed him to practice many scenarios. Like the van with a team of men, he attacked with no holds barred. Finally, he returned to the shower, dressed, and went to the kitchen. Mom arrived, and they ate breakfast, then headed to work.

Upon arrival, Li noticed the increased security, with two guards manning the entry and an ID and fingerprint scan required to open the door. When they arrived at Mom’s lab, there was a memo from George Whittingham, the VP of research. It said the security issues were caused by a researcher doing off-the-books jobs for outside concerns. Please be aware that anyone doing such work will be terminated immediately. Also, lab techs and assistants will be charged to your lab budget. So, use them wisely, and when not needed, have them assist other researchers.

Mom said,” Wow, that was overdue, and will make researchers think twice about hoarding them.” Li said Dr. Thomas Croft had three lab techs on the books but only one working in his lab. He also spent thousands on supplies, but the storeroom was empty. Mr. Whittingham closed his lab when we left on Monday. Mom said that’s good news. Thomas was an asshole, and I’m glad he’s gone.

They spent the next few hours doing inventory and ordering supplies. Then Li assisted Mom with her experiments until lunch. They went to the cafeteria for lunch, and the mood was noticeably better. Several people stopped by and said hello to Kim. Li asked if his position as her assistant was in jeopardy, and Mom laughed and said no. She said the clicks are still there, but now with the changes, they will be more careful.

After lunch, they returned to the lab, and Kim ran experiments, and Li assisted her. Then he analyzed the results and entered them into the computer. At the end of the day, they cleaned the lab and headed home. On the way home, Mom said we need to increase our home security. Li said Sams had a CCTV system with eight cameras and a receiver/recorder for a reasonable price. She said we’ll check it out this weekend.

They arrived home, and while they ate, Mom told Li to check into a home security system this week. The video system will record the intruders, but an alarm system will notify the police. Li agreed and said he would do the research. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Li stayed up and read two more spy training manuals, then fell asleep.

Li’s Lyft driver picked him up at the end of the driveway, and they went to Petco Park. He was dropped off at the employee’s entrance, and Li went to Carl Jones’ office. Carl greeted Li and apologized for missing the training session on Tuesday. They went to the locker room, and he changed, then they went to the field. Li started at second base, and Carl hit grounders to him, and he returned them. He did the same at short and third base.

After a refreshment break, the outfield practice began. Carl was hitting fly balls and line drives. He had to catch or field them and return the ball to home plate. They took a lunch break and watched game film while they ate. Carl told Li he was making excellent progress, and he had a strong arm. The outfield would be a good position for you to play.

When the film session ended, they went to the field, and the team was having batting practice. Carl told Li he needed to see live pitching, and they waited for his turn. Li put on his helmet, grabbed his bat, and stepped into the batter’s box. The first pitch was a fastball at his head, and he ducked. Carl told the pitcher to knock it off, and Li got into the box again.

It was an inside fastball, and he let it pass. The next pitch was a curveball, and Li hit a line drive to right field. The next pitch was a fastball over the plate, and Li hit it out of the park. He got a dozen more pitches, and the batting practice ended. Carl had him go to the outfield to catch live batting practice. He started in right field, then moved to center, and finally left field. Batting practice ended, and Li saw Carl speaking to a man in a suit.

They returned to the locker room, and Li changed, then they went to Carl’s office. Carl told Li his training had ended and he was ready to play. He recommended that Li sign up for an amateur league and gain the experience he needed. Carl gave him a list of leagues in the area, and Li thanked him for the training. Lyft gave him a ride home, and he was glad the training had ended.

Mom arrived shortly after him, and they ate dinner. Li told her about his training and Carl’s recommendation of joining a league. Mom said that would require a lot of time with practice and the games. Let’s talk to George before we make any decisions, and Li agreed. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Li stayed awake and checked the local news online. There was nothing about the van fire or the twelve bodies inside. So, he shut off the computer and fell asleep.

After breakfast on Friday morning, they went to the Scripps Research Institute. Li used the knowledge he acquired from the spy training manuals. He watched through the side mirror for a tail. They arrived at the Institute and went to Mom’s lab. They were setting up, and George Whittingham, the VP of research, entered. He congratulated Li for completing the baseball training. He said Carl Jones gave him high marks and wished you were old enough to draft.

Li thanked Mr. Wittingham for the compliment. Kim told George about Carl’s recommendation for joining an amateur league. George said he was aware of Carl’s recommendation, and they spoke about it in detail. But Carl works for the Padres and is looking out for their best interests. That’s your choice, but I would recommend taking golf lessons. You can do both, but baseball requires practice three to four times a week, plus games and travel.

I’ve arranged for you to take lessons with golf pro Ben Carpenter at Torrey Pines Golf Course. We’re a member there, and Ben will get you set up with equipment. Your training starts Tuesday morning at 8, and George left the lab. Mom said, “Well, that settles it,” and Li agreed. Li told Mom that joining an amateur baseball league would require too much of his time. She agreed, and they began running experiments and testing the results.

Mom said it was lunchtime, so they headed to the cafeteria. During lunch, Mom asked if he knew anything about golf. Li said, “Yes, you hit a ball and chase it around the course.” They laughed, and Mom told Li she wondered what was happening with the university’s position. Li told her they are holding out, hoping we’ll agree to their terms. But we should hear something from them shortly. Our threat to go to other universities has to make them worry.

After lunch, they returned to the lab, and Mom got a call from University of California, San Diego Chancellor Ben White. He said, “We accept your offer,” and Li said, “That’s great.” But USC and UCLA offered some things that we can discuss when we meet. Mom told Ben it had to be Saturday because I’m involved in a special project and can’t take off work. They agreed to meet on Saturday at 9 a.m., and the call ended. Mom asked Li what he wanted to add.

He laughed and said an agreement on the projects he submits for review or grades. The university can claim a percentage for providing my education. But I want to make sure the professors don’t steal my work for personal gain. Mom asked if they really do that, and Li said yes. Some have thriving businesses using their students’ projects. They even go so far as have their students work for free or minimum wage for better grades.

At the end of the day, they cleaned the lab and headed home. On the way, Mom asked what he would do if the Chancellor didn’t agree to your terms. Li said he’s thought about that, and he’ll prepare projects in advance, then copyright them before submission. Upon arriving home, they ate dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed. Li stayed awake and read two more of the spy training manuals, then fell asleep.

Chapter 4

Saturday morning, after breakfast, they drove to the university. Chancellor Ben White welcomed them, and everyone sat down. Li said those photos on the wall are impressive. Are you a good friend of the Governor and President? Chancellor White said yes, I’ve been able to avoid the politics and try to get along with everyone. He gave them the signed letter of understanding and asked whether they had any other issues they wanted to discuss.

Li said your universities up north offered to get me a driver’s license so I could commute. They said the Governor could make it happen for special circumstances. Chancellor White said he could make some calls and get it done. Li said the central issue is the projects he submits for review or grading. What are the rules for the work product I turn in? Chancellor White said, “Well, if it’s of value, the university claims 30% if it goes to market.”

Li said, “Great, I have no problem with that, but what about professors stealing my work and claiming rights and profits from its sale?” Chancellor White said that won’t happen because it’s against the law. If the professor refines the product, he can claim credit, but you’re listed as well. However, the sale must go through the university, and after our percentage, you and the professor will share the remaining funds. Li said, “Great, could you put that in writing, please?”

Chancellor White stuttered and said That’s not possible. That would be a legal issue the lawyers need to review. Li said, “Ok, I’ll deal with it if and when a problem develops.” They shook hands, and Li asked Chancellor White to get the license issue done so he could start attending classes. The Chancellor assured them it would be done quickly, and they left his office. Walking to the 4Runner, Mom told Li, “You know, there will be issues.” Li said yes, but he expected the Chancellor to reject putting it in writing.

On the way home, they saw a yard sale, and Mom stopped. There was a Chinese lady selling the item, and they spoke to her in her native language. Her husband recently passed, and she was going back to China to live with relatives. Li bought two boxes of books and a desk lamp. Mom was still shopping when he paid the lady, and she gave him a medallion that belonged to her husband. She said it brought him luck, so wear it and have good luck too.

Li thanked the lady and paid her, then waited for Mom. She bought two framed pictures and a jewelry box with a temple carving on top. Returning home, they unloaded their purchase and put it into their rooms. Of course, he was summoned to mount the pictures in Mom’s bedroom. It took twenty minutes to get them properly positioned and mounted on the wall.

During lunch, Mom asked when he would sign up for courses at the university. Li told her as soon as Chancellor White arranges a driver’s license for me. If I do it before, then he won’t follow through with his promise. Mom asked about the work product you turn in. Li said he’ll talk to his guidance counselor or graduate students about when major projects are due. Then he’ll do them, register them for copyright, and submit them. Ideally, I’d like them done before the course begins.

After lunch, Li went to the bomb shelter and checked what he had gotten from the van. There were 12 AR-15 rifles with 48 clips, 2 cases each of smoke, flash bang, and teargas grenades. 6.308 rifles with infrared scopes. 8 cases of ammo and their handguns went up in flames with the van. There was a door breaching tool and a case of C4 with detonators. Li thought shit: if all this had gone up with the van, it would have made a beautiful fireworks display.

Li locked the storm shelter door, camouflaged it, and returned home. He looked at the medallion the Chinese lady gave him, and it had symbols and writing he couldn’t understand. It was the size of a silver dollar on a gold chain. Li put it on, tucked it under his shirt, and passed out. When he woke up, Li was on the floor and confused. Finally, he remembered putting on the medallion and looked for it, but it was gone. He took off his shirt, and the medallion and chain had absorbed into his skin.

He could see the chain mark around his neck and the medallion in the center of his chest. Li wondered what the Chinese lady had given him and looked at the boxes of books. They were written in Chinese (Mandarin), and suddenly, he understood what they said. He didn’t read Chinese before, so he was confused. He could speak it fluently, but Mom never got around to teaching him how to read and write Mandarin. He thought she didn’t know it and was afraid to admit it.

Mom called him to dinner, so he put the books away and went to the kitchen. While they ate, Mom said we got sidetracked today and didn’t go to Sam’s. So, we’ll go tomorrow morning, and Li agreed. Mom said the Chinese lady at today’s yard sale was nice, and Li agrees. She said it’s sad her husband passed and has to go back to China. Li asked why, and Mom said her family ordered her home. They finished dinner, said goodnight, and went to bed.

Li undressed and looked at his chest again. The marks were fading, and he wondered what the effects would be. He felt his chest where the medallion was, and it was warm. Li thought about the Chinese lady and wondered if she was supposed to return the medallion to the next in line. He somehow knew she gave it to him to spite her husband’s family. Li read two more spy training manuals and then fell asleep.

David Berk, CIA Section Chief for new product development, was pissed. Dr. Martin Blake had died in a car accident, and all their research was gone. Also, the millions the CIA fronted to Dr. Blake were missing, too. The project he was working on was to enhance a person’s strength, reactions, and mental acuity. He had tested on lab animals, and it was read for human testing per his last report. The CIA leased a warehouse and set it up like a doctor’s office. Then the accident happened.

The two agents he sent to Scripps Research Institute to get the doctors’ files failed and were caught using fake FBI IDs. Then the assault team he sent to search Dr. Blake’s old home for his files and computers died in a box truck fire. Authorities said there was a shootout in the back, which ignited the fire. Now he’s on the hook for explaining the missing funds. The project was a dark op, and he borrowed funds from other projects because it wasn’t approved. He needed to come up with a plan to recover the funds, or he’s up shit creek without a paddle.

On Sunday morning, after breakfast, Kim and Li go to Sam’s. They got the CCTV system, but while they were there, more shopping was needed. Li got a cart when they arrived and had to get another one to hold all their purchases. They checked out, then they needed gas, and when they finally arrived home, it was lunchtime. They put the groceries and supplies away, and Mom made lunch. While they were eating, Mom asked Li if he was going to install the CCTV system.

He said yes, but he will need some things from Home Depot. Mom said to take Lyft to Home Depot tomorrow and install it. I can do without you for a few days, and we need to get it done asap. Also, don’t forget to make some calls on a security system, and Li promised he would.

After lunch, Li went to his room and checked the phone tags of the fake FBI agents. According to their texts, they were at a Holiday Inn Express and texted someone in Virginia. He assumed it was Langley, Virginia, at CIA headquarters. Li downloaded his “Friends with Enemies” to their phones and attached his worm. Then he checked their contacts, and David Berk, the CIA Section Chief for new product development, was on their contact list.

There wasn’t much Li could do as he lived with Mom and had no transportation. Hopefully, the transportation issue will be resolved soon, but he still can’t be away for an extended period. While he was monitoring their phones, another text arrived from a Virginia number, telling them to visit Sam and listing an address. He said to get new IDs for detectives at the police department this time. He warned them not to screw it up again, or don’t bother coming back.

Li thought about the situation, and there was no way to avoid it. He would have to drive the F150 to the Holiday Inn Express, but he didn’t have a room number. That was solved by reading previous texts, and idiots texted David Berk their hotel name, phone number, and room number. There was still a problem because he couldn’t leave before Mom left for work. Mom called him to dinner, breaking his train of thought, and went to the kitchen.

During dinner, Kim told Li she had forgotten to tell him she had spoken with George Whittingham about taking a week’s leave or vacation. He said there wasn’t a problem taking a week off if proper notice was given. I’ve built enough personal time so it won’t affect my pay. Li said that’s good news, and I’m curious what my loving grandparents have for us, and they laughed. They finished dinner, said good night, and went to bed.

Li stayed awake and read two more spy training manuals, then fell asleep. Then a dream or vision started, and he watched the two CIA agents meet Sam, the document forger, and get their fake police detective IDs. Returning to the Holiday Inn Express, they planned the assault on the Lee residence. They would stake out the house and wait for Kim Lee to return home from work on Monday evening.

Then ring the doorbell, show their IDs and badges, say they were investigating a burglary in the area, and get invited inside. Once inside, they could easily pull their guns, shoot Kim and her son Li, and search the house for Dr. Blake’s files, computers, and funds. Li’s dream/vision ended, and he drifted into a deep sleep.

Li was in the basement, attacking the boxing bags with his martial arts skills early Monday morning. He envisioned the two CIA agents, and he thoroughly beat them to a pulp. Returning to his room, Li showered, and while drying off, he saw the medallion illuminated on his chest. He knew the books he purchased were important, and he needed to read them soon. Li dressed and went to the kitchen.

Mom arrived, and they ate breakfast. When they finished, she said to have fun installing the camera system and left for work laughing. Li got into the F150 and drove to Home Depot. His plans changed after his dream/vision last night. He would wait and attack the CIA agent when they arrived for their stakeout. Then he would visit their hotel room and gather their things. Oh, and he would visit Sam the document forger later to say hello.

Arriving at Home Depot, Li purchased a multi-use ladder, a DeWalt combo kit, drill bits, a bucket of roofing tar, and a cheap paintbrush. Going to the checkout, he saw tarps on sale, so he got two brown ones and checked out. Returning to the house, I put the first battery on the charger, then took the roofing tar and paint brush to the bomb shelter. Li cleaned up the door, coated it with tar, and put on bushes, rocks, leaves, and finally dirt.

The door blended into the hillside perfectly, and no one would notice it. He returned to the garage and put the second battery on the charger. He got the ladder, drill, and drill bit and began drilling holes for the cameras. Li planned for two on each side of the house. Once the holes were drilled, he ran the wires through the attic and placed the recorder/receiver in his bedroom closet.

After lunch, he hooked up and mounted the cameras, then made the connections to the receiver. The final step was connecting it to the WIFI and it was done. Li went to his desktop, downloaded the software, and viewed the cameras. They covered the entire property, including the street in the front and the hillside in the rear. Li stripped, dove into the pool, and swam laps to cool off and relax. He got out, showered, dressed, and got the spray knock-out drug.

The CIA agents arrived at 3 p.m. and parked at the end of the street. Li “Ghost Walked” past the SUV, hopped into the backseat, and sprayed both CIA agents. Once they were knocked out, he pulled them into the back seat, drove behind a strip mall, and parked by the trash bins. He pulled them out, searched them, removing their wallets, IDs, keys, guns, and cell phones. Then he beat them severely and threw them into a restaurant dumpster. The smell was terrible.