Tag
Copyright© 2025 by A Well Traveled Man
Chapter 12
2 a.m. Saturday, Tag was in the kitchen drinking his brew. Then he headed to the gym, dressed in black with his backpack, and did his off-day routine. Tag went to the woods, closed his eyes, and swiftly moved through them until he was running. Tag used the trees as a turning point, like running 5 feet off the ground in a big circle. When he moved to the edge of the tree line, it felt like he blended into the background.
Tag went to an SUV parked at the end of the street and walked around the SUV 20 feet away, taking pictures. The agents acted like no one was there. He returned to the house, showered, sat nude in the lotus position, and centered. When he came out, it was 7 a.m. he got up, stretched, and went downstairs to get breakfast. After breakfast, he returned upstairs, routed through four servers, searched for camera stores, and found one 20 miles away that looked huge in the photos. They claimed to have everything from the amateur to the professional in stock. They will express ship at no additional cost if it’s not in stock.
Well, with that statement, a road trip was required. Tag dressed, set his deadman’s switch in the closet, armed the system, went to the tunnel, and exited in his new house’s garage. He hopped in the Cuda and cruised to the camera shop. Now he had a way to get out, he needed to stretch the Cuda’s legs more often. He arrived early, and it was not open, so he window-shopped. The area looked like an older part of town, but had larger-than-usual stores on the street, and there was a pawn shop that he wanted to visit after the camera store.
When he returned, they were open, went inside, and weren’t lying. It looked like the camera’s lover’s wet dream. He went to the sales counter and asked for help selecting a camcorder, and Bob, the sales clerk, walked him to a section and pointed out the pros and cons of each model. Tag asked him if money was no object and what one he would buy for himself. Surprisingly, Bob chose a model several times below the most expensive model. He said it had all the features you need and not a lot of crap attached (he added in a low voice) that you don’t need. Tag selected it, and extra memory with a stand and bag was used to carry everything.
He started to grab a remote control, but Bob said it came with one. Tag then told Bob about the camera he received as a gift and asked what Bob thought of it. He said it would do anything short of the effects of the professional model. Tag asked what lenses he would recommend for a growing amateur, and we walked around the lenses. Bob pointed to a long-looking lens and said If you can afford it, this one he would choose. The store has demos from all manufacturers; he used it one weekend and fell in love with it. It’s not top-of-the-line, but lens clarity, focus, and feel is superior to this model. Bob pointed to the same focal range but twice as much. Tag picked it up with a fish eye lens, and he said he should be set. We checked out, and Tag slipped Bob $100 for the welcome advice.
Tag put the purchases in the Cuda and drove to the pawn shop. Man, you could almost get lost in here. They only carried quality, good-looking, clean products, and their shelves were filled. He was like a kid in a candy store and will definitely come back again. He saw a rolling Snap-on toolbox double stack. Tag pulled out the drawers and saw that all were filled. A counter person said some guy purchased it and had it in the garage, but never used it. His widow brought it here to sell on consignment. She said he had to have it, but he was never good at working with his hands. Tag asked for the price and purchased it with a compressor and all the attachments. He asked if he could pick it up later today. He said no problem, and Tag paid for everything and drove to the new home.
He hasn’t described the fence and gate I put in. The new house sits on a deep corner lot. The house faces a different street from the garage. The house has a large U-shaped drive at the front. Around the corner is the driveway to the garage. That was a major selling point for him. It looked like a barn, but it had two large overhead doors. It was wide and deep. What the previous owner had in mind for this, I don’t know. But he has plans for it. The previous owner had a 6ft fence and gate, and he replaced it with an 8ft fence with an electric gate opener. It is sweet; it opens and closes with a remote control.
Tag pulled in, closed it all up, entered the tunnel, and entered his house. He went upstairs to his closet, turned off the bomb, and put his purchases away in the stash. He picked up more cash, closed the stash, reset the bomb, went downstairs, and armed the house. Tag hopped in his truck and jetted out of the neighborhood. He made several turns, pulled into a strip center, drove around back, and waited 15 minutes. Then he left, making several turns, and took the scenic route to the pawn shop. He backed up to the loading dock, dropped the tailgate, and went inside. Everything in the back was being prepared for sale.
Sitting in a corner was a Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide wrecked. Tag was loading his purchases into the truck with a helper and asked what was happening with the Harley in the corner. He said the owner wanted out of his garage and gave it to us to sell for parts. Tag asked if they would consider selling it. He was looking for a project to occupy his time. He now has the tools and just needs a starting project. The helper took him to the owner, and $2400 later, it was loaded, and they gave him a dozen tie-downs and a pair of ramps.
Tag went home, driving the scenic route. He entered the garage in his new house, closed the garage door, and lifted the top tool out of the pickup using TK. He did the same with the bottom box and then the Harley. Dam, all the working out paid off. After locking up, he went through the tunnel, entered his house, went out the back, and looked down the street. The FBI agents were still there. He armed everything and went through the tunnel to the garage. He pulled out in his truck, closed everything, and cruised to the deli downtown. Tag picked up a resupply of meats, cheeses, and bread and headed home, driving past the feds. Boy, they must be pissed, and it reminded him to see what’s on the dark side.
Tag put everything away, went upstairs, shut off the bomb, and got his laptop out of the stash. He routed through six servers and entered the dark side. He found a wand to detect trackers and purchased it with two more bombs like the one in his closet. Shipping to a drop house shuts it down. Tag routed through a few foreign servers, searched the web for a Harley Dyna Wide Glide, and found a complete repair manual that looked like a dealer’s guide. It was in a metal frame and opened like an auto parts store part catalog. It was 30 inches wide and was listed as a complete guide. He purchased it and had it shipped to the new house. Then he looked for a motorcycle work stand. It looked perfect for what he needed and was in stock at the Tractor and Trailer Supply Store south of town. He was about to order it, but saw metal workbenches and decided to drive to the store tomorrow. He had an idea that would work, but he needed a copy of the judge’s order. Tag turned everything off and went downstairs for dinner. While eating, he had another idea that would have to wait, and he drank the brew. Then Tag headed to the gym and did his off-day workout, beat the hell out of the heavy bag, and finished with the speed bag. He took a hot shower, sat nude in the lotus position, and centered. He woke up in the morning.
2 a.m. Sunday, Tag drank the brew and went to the gym for the off-day workout. Then he dressed in black with his backpack and long-range lens and went outside for an hour of ninja practicing. Returning home, he went around the agent’s car, taking photos unobserved. He walked up to the car and read them, and they were newly assigned to this office. Tag got their name and got a gift. The FBI agent in charge of allocating them had a meet and greet at his home. He now had an address. Tag disappeared, and he went home, showered, and centered.
When he came out at 7(like clockwork), he had breakfast, dressed, and set the closet bomb and alarm. He went to the garage, coasted the truck into the street, started the motor, and drove past the FBI agents. He made some turns, parked at an apartment complex, and waited 15 minutes. Then, he took the scenic route to the supply store. This place has a lot of things he needed. Tag got the motorcycle lift, four 4x10 metal workbenches, and parts sorting bins. He also picked up a parts washer with 5 gallons of cleaner. He’ll be back to finish my workshop. Tag stopped at Coco’s, had a hamburger and fries, drove to the new house, and unloaded the truck. He checked the house and locked it.
Then he went home, passing the agents. He locked the garage and went upstairs to program Vol 3 France; it is progressing great. He had dinner, worked out in the gym, showered, and centered. He woke up in the morning.
Early Monday morning, Tag was in the kitchen drinking the brew and hit the gym with Sensi and a weights workout. Then, dressed in black, he grabbed his BE backpack, hit the trail on his BMX bike, and arrived at the FBI agent in charge’s house. Tag scanned the area, and it was ok. He sensed where the agent was, and by the window, he read him. His name was Nolan Sundel, and he was also on the take and had a safe. Tag got the code and gathered some more information from Nolan. He ran a black op off the FBI books. They had a warehouse with all the tools and vehicles. Tag had the warehouse address, searched for their funding supply, and found a bank account and access codes.
He put Nolan into a deep sleep and picked the patio door lock. Tag went to the safe. Nolan had a small amount of cash, guns, and some files. He took photos of the files, put everything back, and left. When Tag got home, he took a shower and centered. Coming out, he dressed, had breakfast (look up cooking classes), locked the house, and went to the garage. Tag hopped on his moped and rode in circles until he finally arrived at his lawyer’s office. Jim Shaffer just walked in when he did, and we went to his office. He said the attorney general is slow walking our case with delays and anything they can. Tag asked for some copies of the judge’s order. Jim looks at him, and Tag says it’s perfectly legal. He gets his copies, heads to a coffee shop, gets a newspaper, and looks for buildings for lease. Tag puts the newspaper in the backpack and rides home.
Tag opens the stash, reads the tracker detector manual, charges the batteries, and scans the classified section for industrial/warehouse space available. He saw a 50x100 for lease or sale, 7 miles from his house. Tag called the sales agent, saying he could meet in an hour. Tag goes to the stash, grabs the makeup kit, and goes to his bath. He applies a beard and aging gel on his face, picks a pair of glasses, grabs one of his alias IDs, and puts everything back in the stash. He sets the closet bomb, sets the alarm, and hits the tunnel.
He drives the Cuda and meets the agent. Tag reads him, and he’s desperate to sell this property. He’s had it for two years and can’t move it. Tag sees what it can be had for and offers that amount. The sales agent says that’s too low, and Tag starts walking back to the car, but he yells It’s a deal. We go to his office and complete the sale using his alias. Tag received the key and asked the sales agent if he knew someone with a box truck for sale w/lift gate. He said there was an auction tomorrow and gave Tag the address. He said all of the equipment is for sale.
Tag thanked him, left with the title and keys, and headed to the new home. He put the Cuda to bed and went through the tunnel home. He used the makeup remover and washed his face. Then Tag programmed his new game until dinner. After dinner and drinking the brew, he heads to the gym, does his night routine, then goes wild on the heavy and cools down on the speed bag. Tag showered and sat nude in the lotus position and centered. He started to wonder why he had a bed and woke up in the morning.
2 a.m. Tuesday, Tag was in the kitchen drinking the brew and heading to the gym for the off-day routine. He dressed in black, put on his backpack, and hit the woods. He moves so fast that he flies from tree to tree, flipping between trees. He walks out of the woods right up to the agents. Tag took photos of the SUV and FBI agents while reading them. They were new agents just out of training, so he sent them his standard commands and returned home.
He took a long, hot shower, sat nude in the lotus position, and centered. Then he came out at 7 a.m., dressed, had breakfast, and applied makeup with the beard and aging cream. Tag puts on the special glasses and hat and returns the makeup kit to the stash. He grabs a backpack with $70k, his alias ID, sets the bomb and alarm, and takes the tunnel to the Cuda. Tag arrives 30 minutes before the start of the auction. He paid a $100 registration fee and received a bidder’s card and a list of items for sale.
He browsed the list of items for sale and read other bidders’ value estimates, and the bidding started. Tag ended up with a box truck, forklift, industrial shelving, and a huge commercial vault, 10x15 ft. He pays the receiver, gets the paperwork, and is informed it must be out of the warehouse by 5 p.m. The forklift starts, gets the safe loaded in the truck with the shelving, removes the forklift forks, and pulls it back. He closes the door, drives to his warehouse, backs the truck inside, and locks up everything.
Tag calls a cab and returns to the auction. He was walking to the Cuda, and the receiver yelled at him. Tag walks over, and he says there was a screwup. There is more stuff in the back room. We look, and Tag can’t believe what he is seeing. There are four motorcycles in some disrepair. One looks whole and parts on the shelving. The guy said to make me an offer, and Tag said $5k, and he took it. Tag had all the paperwork, so he called a cab again and returned to his warehouse.
He used his TK to unload the truck, return it to the auction, load everything in the backroom, and return it to his warehouse. He called a cab on the way to the warehouse. Tag parked the box truck inside, locked everything, took a cab back to the auction, picked up the Cuda, and drove to the new house. He parked in the garage, locked it up, and went through the tunnel home. Man, what a day. $50k and all that. He’ll have fun for a while. Tag removed the makeup and turned off the bomb. He put all the paperwork, disguise, and alias ID back in the stash and locked everything up. He ate dinner and drank the brew. Then he showered, sat nude in the lotus position, and centered. He wakes up the next morning.
Early Wednesday morning, Tag was in the kitchen drinking his brew. Then, he goes to the gym, does Sensi’s exercises and weight training, and goes down the tunnel of doom. Tag walks into the kill room, looks around, and turns off the lights. Then he’s kicking, hitting, walking walls, flipping, and throwing knives. Then, calm comes, and he turns on the lights. He pulls the knives from the dummies and closes the room. Tag goes up the tunnel to the shower and center.
He wakes, eats breakfast, gets dressed, and rides his BMX bike to the warehouse. He drives the box truck to the new house, unloads the motorcycles and parts, and then returns the box truck to the warehouse. He rides the BMX bike home, does game programming until 4 p.m. Tag, eats a deli sandwich, and rides BMX to the apartment. He unlocks and rides the Harley to the actor’s workshop.
Tag tells everyone about the game being played at Universal Studios. Everyone was spellbound as he described the reading and receiving the “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” and the emails. Tammy said she heard there was a mass firing in the office. No one knew why, but now we do. How did you find out? Tag explained that after the second reading, they started to say the same thing. He stopped them and said thank you for reading, but he couldn’t do the part and left. Later that night, another invitation to read pissed him off. The next day, he entered Universal Studios’ offices and demanded to speak to someone high up. They tried to dismiss him until he threatened to call the actor guild, and a suit appeared. You know the rest. Oh, Universal paid for his time and expenses. Tammy said they deserved to be fired. Acting is filled with rejection, and one deserves to laugh in our faces. And we did our thing, and he left and rode to the apartment. Tag locked up everything and rode the BMX home. He had a late dinner, drank the brew, did the night workout, showered, and centered. When I woke up, it was morning.
At 2 a.m. on Thursday, Tag was in the kitchen, drank his brew, and did his off-day workout. He dressed and rode the BMX bike on the trail through the woods to the FBI agent in charge’s house. From outside, he sent him directions on what to do. He was to complete this task today and go on a life-changing trip. Tag left, rode to his warehouse, got the box truck, and drove to the off-the-books warehouse. He picked the lock and backed the truck inside. Tag used his TK to empty everything off the shelves and put it into the truck. He even stole the CCTV cameras and recorder, the safe, and stripped the office bare. Tag left the overhead door open, went 10 blocks away, stopped, and removed the license plate covers. Then he returned to his warehouse, parked the truck inside, locked it up, and rode the BMX home.
Tag showered and centered. After waking, Tag ate breakfast and headed through the tunnel to the garage. He spent the rest of the morning organizing his find. The soft tale Harley was complete, and he checked the fluids, then started it up, ran it, and shut it down. Tag locked up everything and ran back to the house. He opened the stash, got an empty backpack and the camcorder, and loaded a memory card, a fresh battery, and some money.