Chapter 9

Monday Morning, Cindy and I get off the bus and head into school. The rest of the weekend went without incident. Cindy told mom, dad and I what happened Saturday night. Apparently, Megan’s boyfriend disappeared. Megan went looking for him and found him in Amy’s room with Amy having sex.

Megan ran out into the front yard and started crying. After getting dressed, Greg followed her out, where she started yelling at him. Apparently, someone had called the police, because they pulled up as Greg and Amy were trying to calm Megan down. And of course, the officer called for backup, because he smelled pot smoke coming out of the house. Amy and Megan were put into a police car and Greg was cuffed and sat on the curb until two other police cars showed up. Everyone was rallied outside and searched. Andrew and Greg were found with Marijuana and other drugs.

“Courtney and I were so scared,” Cindy explains, as mom and dad gave her the look. “We ran upstairs and hid in the closet.”

“Why did you hide,” mom asked, getting into Lawyer mode. Cindy knows that mom is a lawyer, but Cindy never learns. I smirk as Cindy bows her head. “I smoked some pot.”

So my life is a living hell, because Cindy is grounded for a month and I’m suppose to keep her out of trouble. That is an impossible task.

Amy is also grounded for having a party while her parents were gone, and letting people smoke pot in the house. I don’t know and don’t care what happened to Greg an Andrew, however. I am concerned about Megan. Yes, she betrayed me but I still care about her.

We walk into school as Cindy and I head to our lockers. Everything seems normal. But, this is a big school and rumors don’t spread as fast as in smaller schools. I see Courtney standing by my locker.

“Hi Joe,” Courtney gushes. This is not what I need. I saved Cindy and Courtney from being arrested along with everyone else. “So ... Good luck at basketball tryouts today,” Courtney finishes, trying to act shy.

She grabs my hand and we walk to our first class as I see Megan look at us and start crying.

“Did you hear about the cops arresting Greg and Andrew for drugs at Amy’s party,” Sheila asks. I wanted to ask Bailey about her brother, however she skipped lunch to study for a test. And we don’t have any classes together. “They’re in juvenile detention.”

“Have you talked to Megan,” I ask Sheila. She was absent in one of my classes, so I’m assuming she went home.

“I tried talking to her this morning,” Sheila answers. “But she won’t talk to me.”

I make a mental note to ask Damian how she is doing.

After school, I head to Basketball tryouts as someone walks up beside me.

“Good luck,” Bailey gushes.” She is already in gym clothes, heading towards the old gym that is in the main school.

“Good luck to you,” I return. I don’t have time to talk to her as I head out the door and to the main gym.

I change and head out to the court. I see that there are not a lot of students trying out. It looks like the same amount as last year, where some JV players will also need to play varsity as second string. I see Coach Taylor talking to the other coaches. We are sent upstairs to the indoor track to run ten laps I remember Coach Taylor making a comment that we have the best training facilities, but no one wants to play sports.

After our laps. Coach Taylor tells us that he is disappointed in the turn out, but he will ensure that we are placed accordingly.

We are split into two groups, where one group practices ball handing as the other practices shooting. After thirty minutes, we switch. After practice, I feel good at how I played

After practice, Damian offers to drive me home since mom said that she and dad were going to be busy. I dread the ride home, knowing that Damian is going to talk about Megan.

“Megan is a wreck,” Damian informs me as we drive towards my house. He and I knew this was coming. Damian’s concern was that if I was going to be Megan’s friend or not. “The only thing that she talked about was how she screwed up by leaving you.”

“That was hurtful,” I admit as I remember her not talking to me and flirting with Greg. If she would have told me that she didn’t want to be with me, I would have been fine. Andrew nods. “I will never take her back. She didn’t even tell me that she didn’t want to be with me anymore. And I really didn’t want her to go through the heartbreak that she put me through. The best that I can do is be her friend.”

“That’s all I ask,” Damian smiles.

I get home and drop my book bag on the table leading to the stairs. I want to go to the basement and meditate before dinner. I hear the vacuum going in the family room so I’m assuming mom is home. I walk in the family room and see mom sitting at the dining room table reading the paper. I look in the family room and my heart stops as I see Cindy vacuuming the living room.

I grab my heart and fall to the ground. I try to act like I’m having a heart attack as mom laughs and Cindy smirks. Cindy gives me the one finger salute as mom adds another week to her punishment for being rude.

“Welcome home,” mom gushes. “Mom seems to be in a really good mood today. She is always in a good mood, but today there is something different. “I ordered pizza and chicken wings. Go down stairs and do whatever you do and your dad is on his way home.

I get to the basement, remove my shoes, and flip the light switch. The light doesn’t turn on so I get into Zen. I feel someone crouching in the far corner. Mom said that dad was on his way home. I can tell that whoever is in the corner is not dad.

I walk onto the mat as I feel a spear thrown at me. I drop and roll to the corner. I am in Zen and my senses are on full alert. Whoever is in here is not dad. I can tell, because he is sloppy. He isn’t quite like dad, I feel him run to me and send a combination of kicks as I block them all except one that caught me on the chest, however I made my body like steel the way dad taught me. This person is fast, but not as fast as dad. We exchange punches and kicks as I got a good kick to the side of my head, but I got some good kicks in myself.

He jumps and sends me a spin kick as I drop to the floor and disappear behind him. He turns as he is confused and throws a punch at me. I put his arm in an arm bar and take him to the floor as I hear someone come down the stairs. I have the guy wrapped up as the lights come and I hear the familiar words.

“Release,” dad orders in Chinese. I see a proud look on his face. I release the person and stand back. The guy stands up and I figured out why mom was in such a good mood.

“It was an honor fighting with you,” Bao said bowing to me as I bow back. I remember mom saying that her brother was coming soon, but I didn’t know he arrived here today. “You great warrior.”

We sit down and talk for a bit. Apparently, Bao and his new wife will be staying for a while until things cool down with the Triads. Apparently, the Triads are trying to figure out who took out their two top men and what happened to Bao, who was undercover with another name.

“They think that I’m either dead or left the Triads,” Bao reveals in Chinese. “So far they do not think I’m undercover detective.”

We get upstairs and see that the food is here. Mom’s eyes light up as she sees her twin brother. I also see another lady there. I’m assuming that she is Bao’s wife, because she looks Chinese. She is 5’10”, tall for a Chinese woman, but she is very skinny.

“Joe, this Bao’s wife and my sister-in-law and your, Aunt,” mom points to her. “Chunhua.”

“Welcome to our home,” I welcome her in Chinese, which surprised her. She bows and I bow back and then embrace her in a hug. “I am proud to have you as my Aunt.” I release her as she smiles.

“You speak very good Chinese,” Chunhua informs me in very good English, which surprise me. “I teach English at the local university, but have never been to America until now. Did you do that to my husband?” She points to the cut Bao’s chin.

“He started it,” I whine as everyone laughs. I pull my long hair back and show her the cut on my on my temple. “Everyone laughs as we sit down to eat.”

“Hi Joe,” Courtney chimes walking into Home Ec and sitting across from me at our table. It’s Friday and the week went without incident. Greg and Andrew are back at school, however both of them are not allowed to play sports. Rumor has it that they got thirty hours of community service and the conviction is off their record after they graduate high school.

Greg and Amy is officially a couple even though Amy is grounded. Knowing Amy’s reputation, I don’t think that relationship will last long.

I haven’t seen Megan all week and Coach Taylor and Damian have told me that she wants to go to another school rather than face the friends that she betrayed to be with Greg. I haven’t had a chance to call her, but I plan to visit her this weekend.

“Did you make the team?”

“The roster is up today,” I answer. “But I haven’t had a chance to look at it. Coach said that everybody made either JV or varsity.”

“I bet you made varsity,” Courtney observes. I look at her as she is staring at me and smiling. “Want to hang out this weekend?” I am saved by the question when class starts.

After class, I head to the back door down the shortcut hall that few people use after school. There are no lockers and a stairway that leads up to the second floor that is close to the school library. At lunch time, it is used as a make out area. I round the corner and hear a familiar voice.

“Come on Emily, we can get you out of those ugly clothes,” Greg begs. He has Emily pinned up against the wall. “You don’t have a boyfriend and I can make you feel so good.”

Emily looks over his shoulder, sees me and smiles. I cringe as she smiles and I see her green eyes turn red.

“I don’t have a boyfriend,” Emily smiles an evil smile. “But I have a Soul Mate.” She points over his shoulder as he turns around, sees me, and grins. I don’t know what came over me as I grab his neck and shove him against the wall. I am so angry that he would try anything with Emily. I know she isn’t my girlfriend, but I do feel a connection with her. “Now you know that I have someone that will look over me for all eternity.” I look at her fire red eyes as she smiles and walks away.

“You do not touch her again,” I order still holding him against the wall. “If you touch her again, not even god or Satan will find your body or soul.” I let him go as he runs away in fear.

What just came over me?

I snap out of it as I get to the locker room, look at the basketball roster, and see that I made varsity. Shooting Guard, first string. Wow, I made varsity first string. Willy, who is a senior is Point Guard and Damian is varsity Center.

Everyone is hyped up and ready for practice. The first game is the first Friday in December after Thanksgiving, and everyone is excited. Coach Taylor gathers everyone around on the court.

“Okay men,” Coach Taylor starts. “Everyone knows their positions. We are going to win state this year and finally get some colleges to start recruiting from this school. We have the talent this year. The only thing we need to do...” Coach Taylor pauses for effect. “Is win!” Everyone is shouting our school name. “Now give me twenty laps!”

After our laps, we are separated into groups and practice our positions. The coaches cheer every time I make a three-pointer.

“He never misses,” Coach Taylor brags.

I head out for my morning run as Uncle Bao follows me up the mountain trail. It is Saturday before Thanksgiving. Basketball practice is going great. Megan returned to school last week, but will not talk to her friends or me. During lunch, she sits at the rich kid table and is trying to join another clique.

It started snowing last night. And is still snowing. We get to the first cliff and sit down to meditate.

“You should be police detective here in America,” Uncle Bao startles me after thirty minutes of meditation. I never thought about what I want to do when I graduated from high school.

“What’s it like,” I ask Uncle Bao.

He stares across the valley as if he is thinking. “Very satisfying taking bad people off the streets. The world is better place without bad people. You do good as policeman. A lot of law enforcement in America. You do good in FBI or CIA.” I look at him surprised. “I am policeman, I know America law enforcement.”

I think about it as we run back down the mountain. I make a mental note to look into a law enforcement career.

After breakfast and a shower, I decide to walk over to Megan’s house and talk to her. Dad had to run into work and mom and Cindy took Bao and his wife to see some of the local shops. Mom took Cindy along after I told her that I was walking over to Megan’s house to talk to her. Cindy is still grounded and mom knows what would happen if she left her home alone.

I get to Megan’s house and am surprised to see a ‘For Sale’ sign in front of her house and a moving van in the driveway. This surprises me, because Damian never mentioned to me that they were moving. Then I see Candice walk out carrying a box. I remember meeting Candice last year. I smile as the memories came back to me. Coach Taylor met her last year after advising her to put her juvenile delinquent son in a private reform school.

“Hey Joe,” Candice greets. “Go grab a box and load it on the truck.” Why do I get the feeling that I’ve been recruited?

I walk in the house and see Damian packing some boxes.

“Hey Joe,” Damian greets me. I pick up a box as Damian chuckles. “Candice recruited you huh?” I give him a confused look as he explains what’s going on. Candice and Coach Taylor are getting married and they are selling the house and moving in with Candice. Damian is moving into the mini-apartment since he is a senior and Tommy, Candice’s son is a senior and is only home during holidays and summer. “Candice will probably kick him out after he graduates since he hasn’t grown up yet and still acts like he always did.”

“Where’s Megan,” I ask. Damian points to her room.

“She’s not taking the sudden change well,” Damian explains. “She’s been acting like a real bitch lately. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”

I grab a box and take it out to the truck. I pass Coach Taylor on the way back in the house as he is carrying a box out of the house.

“Hi Joe,” Coach Taylor greets.” Thank you for the help”

“I didn’t have much of a choice,” I whine as I point to Candice, who smirks at me.

I get back into the house and see Megan carrying a box down the stairs. She sees me and freezes.

“Hi Megan,” I greet her. I wait for her to say something, but she says nothing. She drops the box, which rolls down the stairs in front of my feet as she runs in her room. I grab the box and take it out to the truck. Coach Taylor gives me a light smile and shrugs.

“You need to stop acting like a bitch,” Damian shouts through Megan’s door.

“Get him out of here,” Megan shouts through the door, obviously crying. I grab another box and take it out to the truck. I put it on the truck as Coach Taylor and Candice look at me.

“I guess I’ll leave now.”

“I’m sorry, Joe,” Coach Taylor sooths. “That dumb-ass Greg really did a number on her.” I smile and decide to head to Saturday Karate practice early.

I take the bus since it is too far to walk. I keep my Karate uniform at the Dojo since I really don’t like bringing it home ... Since things didn’t work out, I decide to take the bus. I am getting bored with Karate practice. I’m not learning anything that I don’t already know. Coach Marcos only wants me so that I can win the competition under his Dojo’s name. The only thing good about it is that Greg no longer attends since his parents took him out after he was caught with drugs.

I get off the bus and walk the two blocks to the Dojo. I walk in and the place is empty. The only classes that are conducted today is for everyone that will compete in January.

I see Coach Marcos’ office door open so I walk in to tell him that I am here early. I walk in and see that it is empty. I have been in Coach Marcos’s office before to use the phone. There is a window that I can see out front and a window on the side that is the side of the building. The office is the same as before except for a large filing cabinet that is pulled away from the wall. Behind it is a small door. 4’ tall with light coming out of it.

Curiosity killed the cat as I bend down and enter the door. The room is large with shelves of clear plastic bags full of what I’m assuming is Marijuana. There is another shelf with bags of powder. I know that I’m a dumb teenager, but I know what drugs are and I know a lot of kids at our school take drugs I am standing in the source of their supply. This is how a shop teacher keeps his Dojo and has a large house.

I freeze as I hear someone walking in the office. I hear them talking as I recognize the voices. Coach Marcos and his son Andrew. The two voices that surprise me are Greg and Tommy. Tommy, the drug dealer, Candice’s son who is probably home from reform school for the Thanksgiving hoiday. Now I know where he received the drugs that he sold.

I don’t have time to think about Coach Marcos as a drug king-pin, because they entered the office. The door is too small to hide behind. I don’t want to fight them and lose the chance of turning them in. I look up and see ceiling tiles. I think fast and walk up the wall and push through a tile. I grab a pole and slide the tile back into place just in time.

“You guys are falling down on your job,” I Hear Coach Marcos complain. “Get your shit together. I teach you Karate so that you can sell. If you don’t want to do, it anymore then let me know and I can terminate you.

“Woe,” I hear Greg complain. “I’ve been grounded.”

“You know my situation,” I here Tommy complain. “Give me what I need to sell for the week and more to sell at my shitty school.”

I hear them filing bags and they leave as I hear the door close and the filing cabinet pushed up against it. I wait for a while until I hear the class practicing. I work my way over to a tile that is over the office. I open the tile and jump down into the office. I grab a chair and place the tile back in place

“Where the fuck is Wang,” I hear Coach Marcos shout as I slip out of the window.

I run down the side of the building and into the alley as I’m grabbed from behind. I see the Chinese guy standing in from of me as I flip the guy over my shoulder and get my arms ready to snap his neck.

“Joe, NO!” The guy from the Zoo orders. He has no Chinese accent so I’m assuming he is Chinese American. “Releas him. We’re on your side”

I let him go as I see that he is wearing a black jacket with yellow letters that say, ‘FBI’. I notice several cars and a lot of FBI agents surround the building.

“My name is Gary,” the guy from the Zoo introduces.

“Come on Joe,” Gary continues. “Let’s let the FBI do their job while we go for a ride and talk.” He motions me to a car as I hesitate. I don’t know what he wants with me and I do not trust him. Does he think I’m in on Coach Marcos’s drug selling business. “Relax Joe. I’ll explain everything when we get out of here.” I give in and get into the car.

We drive out to a mountain road that leads up a canyon. I am really getting scared at this point, however Gary reassures me that we need privacy. We get to a lake and drive across the dam and park in a small rest area. I follow him up to a small ledge and he sits down.

“Relax,” Joe, Gary assures me as he motions for me to sit down. There is snow on the ground and it is cold. I start to ask a question, when Gary cuts me off. “We can’t talk in the car in-case it is bugged.” Now I am really wondering what’s going on.

The view is nice from up here. I can see the whole lake from here. It is frozen and I see people out on the lake ice fishing. On the other side of the lake, I see the ski resort with multiple ski lifts and people skiing down the slopes. I’ve never been skiing before. I make a mental note to ask mom and dad to take me skiing.

“We’ve done a full back ground investigation on you,” Gary starts to explain, which startles me. An investigation on me? And why? “There is no birth certificate for you, your twin sister, or your birth parents. In fact there is no record of your past from the time you and your sister were found in the woods.” I start to interrupt when he cuts me off. “The murder is still unsolved and there is no record of who you are or where they come from or even if they were your parents.” I’m silent as I think about that night and shiver.

“So...” I start, trying to figure out what he wants from me. “Is that why you want to talk to me?”

“No,” he smiles. “I didn’t get interested in you until I saw you catch a bullet in your bare hand.” I look at him surprised as he continues. “Before I say anything else, I want to let you know that I work for the CIA.” I look at him surprised. I’ve learned about the CIA in school and watched television shows. “I was assigned to get intelligence on a Charles Buckner.” I remember that name I saved his daughter and my cousin from being kidnapped while I was in China.

“Mr. Buckner is a very bad man...” Gary pauses to let me think. “We knew your Uncle was undercover, but we didn’t know about you and your mother’s relationship to him until later. Most of Mr. Buckner’s money comes from national gangs such as the Triads. He arranged for his daughter to be kidnapped along with your Uncle’s daughter. The scam was for your Uncle to turn over his business to the Triads and have Mr. Buckner take it over.” This really sounds like something from the movies.

“But...” He pauses for effect. “You interrupted his plans. I didn’t know where you learned to fight like that, until I looked into your fathers past. I know that scum-bag Marcos didn’t teach you.”

“Okay,” I answer trying to figure out what’s going on. “You know everything about my family and I. But what do you want with me.” Gary smiles.

“You’re a smart kid,” Gary smiles. “Exactly what we need in the CIA.” I start to protest, when Gary stops me. “You know Chinese,” Gary startles me speaking perfect Chinese. “Mr. Buckner offered you an internship at his company for this coming summer.” Before I can ask how he knew that. He cuts me off. “We are the CIA. We know everything. We also know that Brittany Buckner fancies you enough to have a little fling with you.” I blushed as Gary laughs. “Sometimes CIA agents have to take one for the team. We also think that Brittany knows more about her father’s business than she lets on. Her brother is being groomed for the business.”

“You are still not telling me what you want from me,” I whine getting impatient with him. I really just want to get out the cold and get home.

“Okay,” Gary finally gives in to my question. “It is obvious that you can handle yourself and have many skills. Mr. Buckner funds a lot of the national gangs for protection,” Gary continues seeing my frustration. “He is into a lot of illegal activities that are unknown. He has been deemed a national threat. Even his own country knows and can’t bring him down.” I’m still getting frustrated waiting for him to make his point.

“We need you to accept the summer internship,” Gary continues finally making his point. “Befriend his son and daughter and gain Mr. Buckner’s trust. And gain as much information on him as you can.”

“Like an undercover cop,” I bud in.

“No! Like a CIA agent,” Gary adds sternly. “We gather information and let the law enforcement take him down. Mr. Buckner will probably have you investigated, if he hasn’t already and he will gladly let you into his business. So what do you say?”

What do I say? I’ve been wondering what I wanted to do with my life. Will this lead to something? Was I meant to do this. A million questions are running through my head, but if this Mr. Buckner is a bad man, then I should help.

“I’m in,” I answer as Gary smiles.

“Great! Remember this conversation never happened. You don’t tell anyone. All conversations between you and I will occur in only a secure room or where no one can bug the conversation. Continue your life as normal. We don’t need Mr. Buckner or anyone else getting suspicious. I’ll contact my boss and let him know. Call Mr. Buckner and let him know that you accept the summer internship. It would probably be a good idea to start talking to Brittany Buckner. We will be in contact with you.”

He stands up and I follow him back to the car.

Gary drops me off at the entrance to our neighborhood and I head home. It’s almost dinner time when I get home.

“Joe!” Mom screams running to me and hugging me as I walk through the door. I wonder what is going on as she sighs in relief. “We thought you were at Karate practice.” I look at her confused. Then I remember the FBI agents. “It’s all over the television. Coach Marco’s business was raided by the FBI. They found a room full of drugs and Coach Marcos is under arrest for drug trafficking.”

“Oh. I got there late and saw all the police cars so I walked home,” I lie as she squeezes me tight.

We eat dinner and I head upstairs. It’s been a long day. Megan won’t talk to me and I’ve been recruited into the CIA.

It is the first Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday break. We are getting our pep-talk from Coach Taylor after the JV team lost 48-22, before we head out to face the varsity team. Coach Marcos is in jail facing drug trafficking charges. I’ve talked to Bailey and she and her mother are surprised that Coach Marcos was a drug trafficker. Apparently, he was working with a larger group. Andrew, Greg, and Tommy weren’t on the FBI’s radar so they were never questioned. Andrew and Greg are running scared not knowing if the FBI are going to find out that they were selling for Coach Marcos.

Megan is still not talking to her friends or me. It’s like she is blaming us for her mistake with Greg. Damian said that she has changed. I haven’t told anyone about the CIA as ordered. I called Mr. Buckner’s office and left a message with his secretary that I will accept the summer internship.

“We have a chance to become champions this year,” Coach Taylor starts as we listen. The practices have been intense and I think we have a good team. I feel confident with my playing and I hope that I can contribute. “Remember, teamwork and execution is the key to our success.” “Now, get out there and show the Darts that we are the new state champions.” We head out ready to fight.

The bleachers are packed and the cheerleaders from both teams are getting the fans hyped up. Apparently, word got out that we might have a winning team this year so people are actually coming to watch. We walk out on the court as we get ready for the game to start. The Darts were in the playoffs last year, but lost in the second round.

We head out for the tip-off. I look in the bleachers and see Uncle Bao and his wife, along with mom and dad who are smiling at me. My heart stops when I see Eve jumping up and down cheering us on. I forgot that it’s our weekend together. I smile and wave at her as she waves back.

The Darts look like they have some tall players. The center looks to be about 6’5”. Over the summer, I grew to 6’1” weighing 160 pounds I am thin, but my body is hard and muscular, because of working out with dad.

The Darts center out jumps Damien and tips the ball to their point guard as we head down the court and get into position, however the point guard passes it to their forward who lays it in for the first score of the game.

I pass the ball into play to Willy and head out. I get into position as Willy gets to half court and passes it to Damien. The Darts have our basket covered as he passes it back to Willy, who sees me open as I pull my elbows in and put the ball in the basket for a three. I get a standing ovation. I look up and see dad smiling at me with pride.

At halftime, we are behind 37-32. The Darts are a good team, but we are holding our own, which surprises them. We get out of the locker room and are back at our bench, when I feel someone grab my hair. I turn around and see Eve.

“Stand still,” Eve orders. “Your hair is getting in your eyes out there.” She is right, my hair is long and down to my shoulders. As long as I can remember, I have had long hair. Most foster parents would try to drag me to the barber with me kicking and screaming. Mom doesn’t care. She asks me to keep my hair parted in the middle and asks that I keep it trimmed, which is fine with me.