Chapter 12

Waking up at 2 am, Barrett did his exercises, then took Zeus and Hera to the park to do Sensi’s exercises. They stopped by their special place when he finished, got energized, and returned home. After he showered and dressed, Barrett checked his stocks and the market. Cummins Energy increased to $72.25 per share. Then he checked the gold price, which went up by $1.35, so everything was good.

Then he logged into Cheryl’s husband Ben’s computer at Excelsior Investments. Barrett checked Ben’s emails first, and there was another cryptic email from his friend. So he checked Ben’s personal email account and found the email he was looking for, which recommended that Ben buy Hardin Pharmaceuticals. Barrett found Hardin Pharmaceuticals selling at $22 a share, so he bought 1000 shares and shut off his computer.

Then he hooked up his hacking laptop and, using a neighbor’s WiFi, he logged in to his fictitious name cloud account. Barrett saw he had Fredrick Cook and the other five department heads computer files, so he downloaded them to his portable hard drive. Then he shut off the laptop, put everything away, and went to the kitchen for breakfast. He asked Nana if there was another delay, and she laughed and said no, that we were going today.

After breakfast, they took the train to New York and then took a cab to the garment district. First, they shopped for Nana’s dress for the State Dinner, which required going to several designer shops. Then they went shopping for his winter clothes and finished four hours later. They were loaded down with bags when returning to the train. On the train ride home, Bob called, inviting them to Kimberly’s 18^th birthday party on Saturday.

Barrett asked Bob what Kimberly’s dress and cup size were so he could get her something. Bob laughed and asked Kimberly what her dress size was. She said it was size two and asked why. Bob said Barrett wanted to know to get you something for your birthday. Bob told Barrett to size two and a C cup like her mom. Kimberly yelled NO, don’t tell him. He’ll get something to embarrass me. Barrett asked Bob if Kimberly liked leather, and Bob said she loved leather, laughing as he hung up.

Nana asked Barrett if he would get Kimberly something in leather, and he said he probably would not. He wanted to get Kimberly riled up, and they laughed. When they arrived home, sorting through the clothes was fun. What could be washed was in one pile and dried cleaning in another. When they were done, Rosa had dinner ready and joined them at the kitchen table.

Dinner at the Conner house wasn’t a pleasant affair. Marcus had taken Jaycey to the airport that morning to go to Indiana and live with her aunt and uncle. Jennie tried to talk Marcus out of divorce during dinner, but he shocked her again. Marcus said for almost two years, you’ve been getting your jollies with our daughter while he suffered from neglect. Now you’re caught, and you think he should forgive and forget. Marcus said there was not a chance in hell of that happening.

The next morning, after breakfast, Barrett went to his dog training appointment with Sonya Vargus and her one-year-old Doberman Diego. Soyna and Diego greeted Barrett. She said her ex-husband, Luis, tried to force his way into the house on Saturday. Diego barked and growled, showing his teeth, and Luis left quickly. Soyna said she thought he had peed his pants, and they laughed.

Barrett trained Diego to attack using one of his attack dummies. Then, he had Soyna give Diego the commands of attack and release. Barrett warned Soyna not to let Diego go too far, or she and Diego would be in serious trouble. When he finished the lesson, Soyna hugged and kissed him goodbye. Walking home, he hoped the attraction was over and would know for sure next week.

Arriving home, Barrett welded the casters onto the frame, then lowered the wreaked Silverado onto it. Then, he welded the rolling frame to the Silverado truck frame. Now, Barrett could call the salvage yard to pick up the truck. After lunch, Barrett called the salvage yard and ordered a vehicle pickup. He told them a flatbed tow truck was needed because of the vehicle’s condition. They told Barrett it would cost $300 to haul it away and scheduled a Friday morning pickup.

Barrett spent the rest of the day looking at the computer files of Daniel Hurr’s department heads. Fredrick Cook was giving information to Senator George Sapp. He found that another department head, Alan Newson, was emailing information to a reporter named Charlotte Ray. Alan and Charlotte were engaged in a sexual relationship, according to photos on Alan’s computer.

Barrett determined it was sex for information because Alan was balding and overweight, and Charlotte was a good-looking woman. During dinner, Barrett asked Nana when they were going to Benard’s to pick up his tux the next day. She said we’d go around 10 am to avoid rush hour traffic and be home around 1 pm. After dinner, Barrett texted Daniel that his final offer was one goat and two chickens per daughter.

Daniel was eating dinner with his wife, Katherine. They were discussing their daughter’s grades in college. Kim, their oldest, had a 1.7 GPA. Kristen, their youngest, had a 2.1 GPA. Daniel told Katherine he wasn’t paying for them to party anymore. If their GPA is below 3.0 this semester, they will come home and get jobs. Then, they can go to community college before or after work. And not cookie-cutter classes, either.

Katherine said that’s ridiculous, and Daniel said, ok, have them come home now, and he’ll stop depositing money in their accounts. In case you forgot, Daniel said he maintained a 3.9 GPA and worked two nights a week and on weekends. Then he added that Barrett Thompson was fourteen and pursuing his second bachelor’s degree.

Daniel told Katherine he wanted a firm commitment before more money was handed out. Then Barrett’s text arrived, and he told Katherine not to challenge him on this, or she could move in with them to an apartment. Then they could get a divorce, and he’d sell the house. They would split everything, and she could fund the party girls. Katherine was shocked at Daniel’s statement and knew she and the girls had pushed him too far.

Katherine called Kim and Kristen on a conference call. They were happy she called because they needed some extra money to go away this weekend. Katherine laughed and told them about her conversation with their father. Kim told her mom to give Dad some nighttime attention and that they would sweet-talk him. Katherine said not this time, girls. It was his way or the highway, and she didn’t want a divorce, shocking them.

Barrett woke up at 2 am, did his forms and tai chi, and then went to the park with Zeus and Hera. They practiced the ghost walk on the way, and then he did the special exercises Sensi gave him. Barrett noticed an improvement in his leaping and wall-walking. Those caused improvement in his summersaults, and his legs became stronger. Then, on the way home, they stopped at their special spot to energize.

Arriving home, Barrett showered, dressed, and then went to Denny’s to meet Daniel Hurr. He arrived 20 minutes early and watched the parking lot and street to see if there were watchers. Right after Daniel arrived, another car was parked on the street 25 feet away from the restaurant. Barrett waited until he exited his vehicle and walked toward the restaurant. Then, Barrett Ghost Walks to the man and knocks him out with a kick to the jaw.

He took a picture of the man with his phone, gave him three hard kicks to the balls, and stepped on his hand, leaving. Daniel welcomed him, and Barrett showed Daniel the picture of the man following him. Daniel said that it was Fredrick Cook and asked where he was now. Barrett said he was knocked out in the parking lot under a truck, and now Daniel can interview Kenny and Fredrick in the hospital, and they laughed.

Barrett told Daniel that Fredrick was reporting to Senator George Sapp. He was still looking for how George financed and paid Fredrick and Kenny. However, he also had another leak from the department head, Alan Newson. He was emailing information to a reporter named Charlotte Ray. Alan and Charlotte were engaged in a sexual relationship, according to photos on Alan’s computer. It appears the relationship was sex for information. Also, there are some disgusting photos on the other department heads computers.

Barrett said that he completed his report and recommended going after Kenny first. Then, take care of Fredrick and deal with Senator Sapp last. Alan Newson will roll over like the Pillsbury Doughboy he is, and they laughed. The reporter should be outed to her editor or employer. Barrett told Daniel he’d recommend going to the Senate’s Majority Leader to report George Sapp’s actions. Daniel thanked Barrett, and they left Denny’s.

Barrett got home in time for breakfast. The paint shop called and said the Silverado was done and that it was at the upholstery shop. Barrett asked about the balance and said he would come by this afternoon. Then he called the upholstery shop and asked if a truck could pick up the interior parts at his house on Friday morning. Brad, the owner, said that wouldn’t be a problem and that he would see Barrett on Friday.

Barrett went to his closet and got cash from his stash for the paint shop. Then they took off for DC and Benard’s Tux Shop. When they arrived, Claude welcomed them, and Barrett tried on the tux. Claude and Nana approved the fit, so they thanked Claude for his help and headed to the paint shop. Bob was happy to see Barrett and happier to get paid cash.

Then they went next door and saw the Silverado, and Brad, the owner, came out to greet them. He said the truck had a mean look, and Barrett said that was the look he wanted. Then they went inside, and Nana and Brad picked the leather interior and carpet colors. Barrett told Brad he’d have the cash deposit tomorrow morning, and they left for home.

Barrett saw a Gag gift store and asked Nana to stop. They went inside and looked around, and he saw the perfect gift for Kimberly. It was a huge condom that looked like it fit a horse, so Barrett bought six. Nana asked why he got those, and Barrett said they were for Kimberly when she dated at college. She could pull out one and tell her date if the sleeve fits. You’re getting lucky, and they laughed. Barrett said he was also buying her some pepper spray, and Nana said that was a wise choice.

It was well after lunch by the time they got home, so Rosa made them a snack to hold over until dinner. Then Barrett went to his bedroom and hooked up his hacking laptop. Then, using a neighbor’s WiFi, he checked his fictitious name cloud account and found that he had Senator George Sapp’s computer files. Barrett downloaded the Senator files to his portable hard drive and turned off the laptop.

Then he checked the computer files and saw Senator Sapp had a Cayman Island Bank account with his login and password saved in the banking app. Barrett changed that first, then checked the deposits and saw large sums deposited from individuals, businesses, corporations, and even the US General Accounting Office. Then, he logged off the banking site and needed to research setting up offshore bank accounts.

Fredrick Cook’s day didn’t start well and got much worse. First, he had to tail US Attorney Daniel Hurr to Denny’s because Kenny was hospitalized. Then he woke up under a pickup truck with his balls hurting and swollen, and so was his right hand. So he went to the hospital emergency, and they rushed him to surgery. Now, he was in the ICU after having his testicles removed, and his right hand needed extensive surgery to repair the broken bones. The doctor said they couldn’t do that until the swelling went down.

The atmosphere at the Hurr house wasn’t good either. Kim and Kristen skipped classes and came home to talk to their dad. He laid down the law to them and said to maintain a 3.0 GPA, take real courses, or come home and get a job. They were on a strict allowance and had to get a part-time job if they wanted more. Their mom, Katherine, sat meekly by and said nothing to support them, so they knew she was on thin ice, too.

Then their dad said they would be charged rent to live here if they came home because they couldn’t keep up their grades. They were adults now and had to act like one and take responsibility for themselves. Daniel told them he paid for college to allow them to get a good job and career, not to party and spend his money. Kim and Kisten left to return to college shell-shocked.

The next morning, Barrett exercised, showered, dressed, and checked his stocks and the market. Cummins Energy increased to its sell point of $90 per share. So, he had 250k to reinvest after commissions and fees. Hardin Pharmaceuticals went up to $25 a share, and he purchased another 500 shares, giving him 1500. Gold was up, so Barrett invested another 100k.

After breakfast, he got $2800 cash from his stash and went to his work garage. The auto salvage tow truck showed up first, and the driver was surprised by the cart supporting the wreaked Silverado. But they rolled it out of the garage and loaded it onto the flatbed tow truck. Barrett paid the driver $300, and it was gone. Brad showed up next, picking up the Silverado interior and the $2500 cash deposit.

Then Barrett cleaned the garage and went to the YMCA for his swimming workout. When he finished, Barrett saw Natalia and Cheryl leaving aerobics class. Their nipples were hard, printing their tops, so he asked if they were glad to see him. They laughed and said the instructor had the A/C turned up, and it was cold. Barrett offered to warm them up, and they laughed again.

Then Cheryl caught Barrett up to date on her husband, Ben. He found out she had taken half of the money from his bank account and had gone ballistic. Then Cheryl said Ben didn’t look good when he came to the house to complain about the money. Barrett said maybe Mistress Marla found out about the divorce and made him her pussy boy. They both said oh shit simultaneously and laughed.

Cheryl said they needed to follow Ben after work to find out what was happening, and Natalia agreed. Barrett told Cheryl she needed help coping with the stress and offered his therapy services. They laughed, hugged, kissed him goodbye, and left. Walking home, Barrett saw Brianna walking home from school, and she offered him a cold drink at her house.