The Mistake
Copyright© 2026 by A Well Traveled Man
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.
Li drove the SUV to the road behind their property and parked it off the road in the trees. He searched it and found they purchased it used, and the paperwork was still in the glove box. There was nothing else in front, so he checked they back, and they had two duffel bags of supplies. Li put their handguns, keys, IDs, and cell phones in the duffel bags and took them to the bomb shelter. He dropped them off, keeping their wallets, and returned home.
Arriving home, Li searched their wallets and found the hotel key cards. He planned to visit their hotel tomorrow after his golf training session. One interesting thing was that they both had black American Express credit cards. There were no names on them; just the company name, Unique Logistics. Li switched and went online to search for alarm companies in the area. He called three and got a starting price for their home.
The starting systems were basic with two doors, one interior sensor, and a keypad. Of course, they offered to have a salesman visit to give them a proper evaluation of their security needs. Li researched security systems online and planned to install one himself. They could save the monitoring fee and have it report to their cell phones. Mom arrived, so he shut off the computer and went to the kitchen.
While they ate, Mom asked about the camera system, and Li said it was installed. He told her the receiver/recorder was in his closet, so it was safe and backed up to the cloud. Then she asked about the alarm system, and Li gave her the results of his research. Then he quoted her the price for a system he could install that would report to our cell phones instead of a monitoring service. She asked about the difference, and Li quoted the monitoring fees and the required police permit.