My First Apartment Chapter 23

The morning after Rianna and John left, I went to the bathroom and started getting ready. I read Rianna's diary every chance I got. Six days in coma, she was resuscitated twice. The injuries she suffered were horrific! Mutilated genitalia, punctured lung, 3 broken ribs, broken nose and a dislocated knee! Not to mention getting waterboarded in a toilet. All of it at the age of 13.

I went downstairs, I sipped coffee with May. Hank has already left for work. We had scrambled eggs and a slice of ham.

Are you ready to begin your training? May said.

Yes! I said.

Get your exercise clothes on and meet me in the living room. May said.

Be right back!

I put on my leotard and leggings and my sneakers

May and I started with meditation. Clearing my mind of everything while trying to slow my heart rate and breathing. In through the nose and out of the mouth.

Up next was stretching, this was a little like my yoga class but much different. After stretching she introduced me to Kata. It looked like Tai chi. This was also very different. I started to feel like Daniel from the karate kid movie.

May worked me slowly through every step and position. We did this for over two hours. I found myself more mentally drained than physical. After lunch we started basic blocks and strikes. Each one was from the Kata.

After the block and strike drills we went for a run together. May had to be at least 60 years old, but she didn't look like it. She was very fit. I like to think I was in decent shape, but it was all I could do to keep up with her.

We quit about an hour before dinner. We cleaned up and I helped her in the kitchen.

I was May's student! She was my "Sabomnim" or master. I actually enjoyed the exercise and routine. It kept my mind off a lot of things. I read Rianna's diary every night. There had to be over a thousand pages. I'd been reading it nightly for a week now and I wasn't half way through it.

The first three weeks in the hospital for her were emotional and crushing. Then being alone, stuck in her trailer at the trailer park afraid to go outside. It was a very emotional read for me.

Week after week of training with May was great but as the weeks progressed, so did the intensity of her training. May was pushing and motivating me to push myself. I could do the splits now. I was able to run the perimeter of the property with ease. May, even had me run a long narrow trail up the mountain.

5 weeks into my stay, May decided it was time to spar. I wasn't sure I was ready. She called out each attack in Korean. I understood each one. May's training was working. Every movement, every position felt like second nature.

I spent the weekends studying the Rosetta Stone kits Rianna left. My Spanish wasn't bad. But Korean was a lot harder. It helped that May spoke it all the time. I started catching on. May and I spent a lot of time together.

About 6 weeks in, when May went to the grocery store. I gave her a list of things I wanted. I had her get everything I needed for my Hawaiian Pork Ribs. Hank heard ribs and got excited.

I spent Friday night prepping everything. Saturday after breakfast I started baking them. May was my student for the day. I showed her how I made the sauce and prepped ribs the night before.

I was feeling a bit isolated, but spending so much time with May was great. She might be a housewife, but she was so much more! Rianna said this place was her favorite place in the world. I could see why, it wasn't the sunsets or fresh air or even the wine. It was Hank and May!

I was better than 3/4 of the way through Rianna's diary. The amount of challenges she faced getting to where she is was incredible. She was given a lot of support from her aunt Vanessa (I want to meet her) and the friends she made along the way.

Like me, she moved away from her mother to start fresh. Her father left her when she was 3 years old and was forced to transition into a girl to lead a normal life. Very slowly, over 15 years she rebuilt her life and built a family for herself. She supported by her personal "Lancelot" (John) through Two international Karate championships and a Division 1 national championship in football.

Every step forward, every obstacle she conquered. She used her head and her heart. What really defined things for me was that she wasn't afraid to ask for help. She never backed down. I knew she was smart and tough, but her diary gave me something to aspire to!

She could have told me her story in detail, I probably would have admired her for it. But reading it in full unedited form explained it so much better. Now I know why she cares so much. I'm my own version of Rianna. This is my story, I can fight or run.

I'm choosing to fight, like Rianna did, I'm not just fighting to go back to my life, I'm fighting for a better life! Bunny is my Lexi, Chloe is my Aunt Vanessa, and Charlie is my Lancelot! My father supports me from a distance, but he's on my side. I had everything I needed to win.

10 weeks went by, I heard nothing. At the beginning of the 11th week May got a box in the mail. There were several letters inside it all addressed to me. A couple were from my Dad, a couple from Chloe and Bunny, one from Dana. Tony sent me a letter and a couple of cards. There was a fairly large envelope from Rianna. Another from Amy Rutherford. What surprised me the most was the 8 letters Charlie had written.

I was overdue to return. I almost felt like I was forgotten! The mail cheered me up. I read through the letters a dozen times each. I read through Charlie's letters at least 20 times.

May and I were training 10 and 12 hours a day. I was keeping up with May at almost everything. She was showing me new things everyday. I learned to focus on the big picture and the immediate goal in front of me.

Meanwhile

In San Diego over the last 12 weeks a joint investigation involving the City of San Diego and FBI and ATF was in full swing. Amy Rutherford was working with Cheryl Fountain a brilliant federal prosecutor with a track record that was unparalleled.

Detective Perez was working closely with Julius Rowe of the ATF and John Park and Blake Collins of the FBI. Together they had served multiple warrants, seizing hundreds of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition. John and Blake were able to connect Lou's Family to several different street gangs and Smuggling groups.

The investigation revealed several smuggling routes from Oceanside and Carlsbad all the way to Tijuana, Mexico. They were making excellent progress on the investigation. They had one very big problem.

Blake's rookie FBI partner Carl Brothers was murdered by Louis Beckham Sr.and his during a Warehouse raid. Blake watched it happen and wasn't able to prevent it! Blake was the only witness. Because they couldn't find the gun and there weren't any other witnesses, they couldn't prosecute.

Detective Perez and the Feds were working around the clock. Lou Beckham and his son were prime suspects in the murder of two San Diego patrol officers. The evidence was mounting against them, but they needed time to collect the evidence and time was running out.

The defense requested for a continuance for 4 weeks to build their defense of the current charges. The Beckham family dressed grungy, but they owned millions in property across California through shell corporations under the names of innocent people that weren't aware of the contracts they signed.

Search warrants for all of Beckham's properties turned up plenty of evidence, however no gun. The gun in question was linked to all three homicides and several others. The gun could put all three of them in prison for life, possibly death row in federal prison! They had to find that gun.

While John and Blake were using and abusing all of the resources the FBI had, they still had nothing. Detective Caesar Perez had been working closely with Julius. Julius liked Detective Perez. The young detective was smart, honest, professional and ambitious.

Agent Rowe, I have a hunch about where the gun might be, but it's a long-shot! Caesar said.

I'm open to anything right now! Julius said.

We searched every property they own or visited, correct? Caesar asked.

Twice! Julius said firmly, cars and trucks too!

He escaped on foot initially, correct? Caesar asked, trying to confirm his hunch!

Correct! Julius said.

He was too far from water to throw it in a body of water. We checked all the trash in the first 4 block area of his escape, correct?

That's right! Where are you going with this, Caesar? Julius asked.

Humor me! Let's go for ride! Caesar said.

Okay let's go! Julius said.

Caesar drove Julius back to the scene of that horrific day.

What are we doing here? Julius asked

Testing my hunch! Caesar asked

We searched this entire area! Julius exclaimed.

Not everything! Caesar said, tapped his foot on the storm drain.

You want to search every storm drain in 4 blocks? There has to be over hundred drains? Julius exclaimed.

82! Between his escape and the car he drove away in! Caesar said.

That's a lot of drains! Julius said.

Do you have anything else to do? Caesar asked with a smile.

I guess we better make some calls and get to work. I'm going to need coveralls boots and gloves! Julius exclaimed.

And a mask! Caesar said.

Four days later.

Julius, Caesar, Blake and John were searching all the storm drains with no luck at all

Caesar was less than 20 yards from Lou Beckham's drop car location. The city municipal workers under Caesar's supervision dumped a large pile of debris on to a large tarp. The debris smelled like raw sewage!

The young Detective searched through foul stench! Even through the facial mask and the air filter was enough to water the detective's eyes.

Caesar steadyeed himself as carefully combed through the debris. Clunk!

Caesar carefully cleared away the debris and there it was! A nickel-plated Colt .45 long slide. An exact description of Blake's statement. Caesar carefully bagged the gun and documented it according to protocols.

Caesar called Blake Collins first.

Blake, I found it! Get the boys over here! Caesar said.

We're five minutes out! Great work Caesar! Blake said.

The four men headed directly to the crime lab. Three hours later after the gun processed, printed and cleaned and test fired. It was confirmed, they had the murder weapon of two law enforcement officers and a federal agent.

The gun was also linked to a batch of weapons that went missing from the federal furnace inventory. This was Julius' part of the investigation and the beginning of the entire investigation. As the investigation began to expand, that's when Julius requested John and Blake. They were from outside offices and the only agents he trusted completely.

Caesar Perez, proved himself to be a valuable local resource and exceptional detective. The three veteran agents were very impressed with his performance!

Two days after the gun was processed and submitted into evidence Amy Rutherford and Cheryl Fountain filled additional charges for 1st degree murder of the two Patriotmen and a Federal agent.

Additional arrest warrants were issued as friends of Louis Beckham Jr. They confessed to everyone involved to avoid the death penalty in federal prison.

Louis Beckham Sr. and wife Patricia Beckham pled guilty to all state and federal charges to avoid the death penalty. Patricia turned out to be the getaway driver in death of FBI agent Carl Brothers.

After the plea agreements were signed and filled in state and federal courts John invited Amy and Caesar to join Cheryl, Rianna, Blake and Julius to dinner to celebrate. The dinner provided some closure to the tragic death of two of San Diego's finest and Blake's former partner Carl Brothers.

It's been 14 weeks since I was arrived at the vineyard. My body developing quickly. My mind and spirit feel almost completely healed. I haven't had any reactions like I did that morning in my Kitchen with Charlie.

May has taken me under her wing. I feel stronger and more confident than I ever have! I felt a motherly love towards May. She taught me so many things. She reminded me of my own mother in so many ways. Her inner strength and confidence was something I sure to remember from now on.

Hank was great! He loved my ribs. He taught me how to use a hunting rifle and a handgun. The proper way to taste and appreciate wine and how to pair each type of wine to different foods. I learned a lot of things living with them in mountain valley. As much as I was enjoying my time here, I was anxious to return home.

It was Friday morning, May, Hank and I just finished watching another spectacular sunrise when we heard a car coming down the driveway. May and Hank smiled at me.

We better see who it is! Hank said

The three of us got up together and went to the front door. It was John and Rianna!

My heart lept from my chest! I rushed to hug Rianna immediately

Ohh my gosh! I missed you guys! I said.

It's over, Lana! We got em! John said.

All of them? I asked.

And more! They won't be bothering you or anyone ever again. John said confidently.

When can I go home? I asked

Sunday morning, but first John and I want to try these ribs my grandpa has been bragging about! Rianna said.

We need go shopping! May said.

Maybe a quick trip to Betty's Boutique, for our girl here! Rianna said.

Sounds Fun! May said.

Betty's, What? I asked.

You'll see! May said trust me, you're going to love it!