“We have a tradition here,” spoke the instructor. “We challenge one member of the class, chosen by his peers, to a contest.”
The other students cheered, provoking Brad to take the challenge. But Brad suddenly became unsure of himself. After all, the instructor had been trained in all types of fighting skills. However, Brad did not want to back out of the challenge and appear weak or cowardly to his classmates and instructors alike.
“I’ll take that challenge!” shouted Brad. An enormous cheer erupted in the gymnasium.
An hour later, the two men, along with other students and numerous spectators gathered in the gymnasium. Brad shook the hand of his instructor, who was now his worthy opponent, and then they walked to opposite corners of the competition area. As the bell rang, the men met in the center of the ring. With cheers from the onlookers, the two men faced each other. Brad pulled the instructor down. The instructor then grabbed Brad’s leg and pulled him down as well. For ten minutes the two jabbed, poked and threw each other around like rag dolls. In attempt to make a quick end to the contest, the instructor put Brad in a headlock, and then tossed him onto the floor.
He walked over to help Brad stand up as he was not yet done with the fight. Brad’s eyes became blurry from the sweat on his face. He looked at the instructor’s arm, and then stopped still for a few seconds as the memory of that terrible night returned to his mind. The instructor had a bruise on his arm that Brad pictured as a six pointed tattoo! Brad pulled his arm away and jumped to his feet. Adrenaline pumped through his body as he lifted the “intruder” and tossed him half way across the mat. He walked over and stood over who he pictured as the intruder, ready to give him the full force of his rage. The crowd looked stunned at the sudden wealth of strength that Brad had obtained.
Brad stood still as the instructor stood up. He put his hand out towards Brad. “I will tell you what son; you have got one fantastic take down!”
Brad’s face turned red as he realized what he accomplished. The instructor shook Brad’s hand and declared him the winner. Tired, and sore, Brad smiled, thanked him, and walked towards the showers.
***
The second semester ended. His grades were among the best in his class. After two weeks off, the new classes would begin. Brad lay awake until the late hours of the night, thinking of the extra summer classes. “Advanced Judo would be good,” he thought. Brad remembered his arm being twisted by the intruder’s hand. “Yes indeed,” he said to himself. “Advanced Judo combat techniques might just be my ticket to success!”
Brad walked into the new chemistry class as the other students who remembered Brad’s triumph again applauded him for his self-defense skills. Brad shrugged it off, and then shook hands with the many returning friends he had made during the past term.
After the first two weeks of the chemistry class, Brad found it much harder than he anticipated. However, he needed to take the class in order to carry out his plan. Brad lay awake into the depth of the night, detailing over and over again the best way to get revenge. Now the chemistry class became not only interesting, but a great source of information on lethal chemicals as well as how to administer them.
Brad was eager and getting along well with his professor. He studied harder, which once again rewarded him with high grades. He often stayed in the classroom after hours, privately reading up on chemicals and death row techniques. His instructor, a knowledgeable and friendly woman named Ms. Collins, admired Brad for his devotion to become a law enforcement officer.
Brad helped his classmates and new students during off hours tutoring. Having gained the trust of his professors, it also gave him free reign, during those after hours, into the otherwise locked classroom. Soon, Brad had a long list of chemicals, in particular, those used in injecting the convicted criminals on death row.
Getting caught stealing any chemicals would mean suspension from the academy and possible prison time. He became extra cautious in his research, and accumulating the chemicals he needed. Brad chose Potassium Paralytic. It was his choice because it was the lethal injection given to convicted prisoners on death row. It was also used to euthanize rabid and dangerous wild animals. This was occasionally done by the academy, along with local law enforcement officials working with the local animal control shelter.
The drug was under lock and key in the campus lab. Being a trusted student, and tutor, Brad had off hour access to the laboratory. So as not to be suspect, he took tiny amounts, just one drop a week, from each of the vials of Potassium Paralytic. He stored it in his own vial and then in a double lined stainless steel container which was inside another strongbox. He hid the small case in his gymnasium locker that was also under lock and key. Brad had the only key and felt confident of not being detected.
The semester would end with graduation only a few weeks away. Brad was confident that he had gained enough knowledge from the classes, not to mention, the deadly toxin hidden safely away until he needed it.