I went to the dead end and noticed a door-shaped split in the wall. At the bottom was a
small pedal, which I assumed would open the secret way. In the middle of the frame was a dime-
sized eyehole. I slowly brought my face forward and peered through.
Over a dozen people talked over each other in a bright room. There were darkened windows on the
opposite wall, and I could see cars, SUVs and motorcycles outside. In the middle of the room was
a large, rectangular glass table. Cameron was calmly seated at the head, engrossed in paperwork,
while the others slowly found seats.
It was a mind-boggling assortment. Sitting next to each other around the table were over a dozen
men and one woman who looked like extremes of each other—people of all shapes, sizes, and age—
some were dressed in three-piece suits, while others had lopsided ball caps and gold chains or
full leather outfits … rival gang bosses, together, in one room, acting like normal people.
The seated members, the bosses, were noisily talking among themselves and each had one man
standing guard behind them, each man looking fiercer than the other. Spider stood behind
Cameron.
When Cameron lifted his head, the table immediately went quiet. “We have several items on the
agenda today. I thank you again for making the trip out to attend this meeting. I can assure you
that we will pursue our meetings in the city as soon as feasible for me.” The room stayed very
quiet. “Let’s try to keep on topic today so that everyone can get out of here at a decent time
for once.”
Cameron’s voice was intimidating and very businesslike. Everyone inside—and outside—the room
remained captivated. “The most pressing item is an apparent breach of territory lines which has
led to hostilities between two of our branches and the loss of some of their members. This
conflict has also brought coverage in the news, and our suppliers have expressed concern over
media attention.”
Cameron eyed one of the suited men sitting at the table. “Johnny, I understand that this
started after some of your boys tried to distribute product in California.”
A man who was wearing a blue bandana around his head piped up. “They didn’t just try to
distribute. They were trying to undercut me and take over my territory.”
Cameron calmly lifted his hand in a motion for silence. “Viper, you will get your chance to
speak. Johnny, my sources support what Viper has just said. Can you explain?”
The gel-haired Johnny looked nervous. “Listen, some of my boys went on a road trip and got a
little carried away. It was a misunderstanding. No disrespect was meant.”
Cameron turned to Viper. “Viper, you have heard the explanation. Do you have anything to say?”
Viper mumbled. “Just that it’s total bull.”
Cameron continued, “Johnny, I believe that a ten percent contribution of your branch’s
earnings last month should be sufficient to settle damages to Viper. Do you agree?”
Johnny nodded, begrudgingly.
Cameron turned to Viper. “Viper?”
Viper nodded, cheerfully.
Cameron glanced around the table. “Any objections?”
Everyone remained silent.
Cameron wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to Spider. “Johnny, next time your
boys want a road trip from Chicago to L.A., make sure they leave the business at home, all
right?”
Johnny sulked in response.
I was entranced as an officious Cameron led the meeting and methodically went through a list of
agenda items: new products coming onto the market, competitors, price listings, FBI reports and
sightings, and other bad blood that had developed between the members’ gangs. Spider hung back
and collected the paperwork that Cameron handed him as topics were discussed. It didn’t take me
long to realize that Cameron didn’t just sit on the crime bosses’ board of directors—he was
their CEO.
After two hours, my legs were like jelly, and Cameron finally stopped the meeting for a break.
Everybody stretched out and slowly walked outside of the room as Cameron and Spider went through
the collected paperwork. When the room was emptied, Spider took the paper stacks and walked
straight for the trapdoor, and me. I struggled to wake my legs up, and I ran back to the office
like a baby deer wiggling into its first steps. I had barely had time to duck my head under the
desk when Spider stepped through the doorway.
Like Carly, he kept walking across the room to the metal door. When he got to it, he realized,
as I had, that the door was stuck. He backed up and rammed his whole body into it. The door
finally burst opened, and, cursing under his breath, he disappeared, leaving it ajar.
My heart jumped for glee as I realized that I would finally be free.
I waited a few minutes more to make sure that Spider wasn’t coming back right away and crawled
out. And then I heard voices nearing from the passageway again. I banged my forehead on the desk
as I hurried to crawl back under.