Before Sean could secure a job with the security company, Wells invited him to play golf.
As soon as they arrived at the course, Wells tossed a file at Sean, its cover marked ominously in black.
Opening it with a puzzled expression, Sean found a report detailing a robbery that had occurred the previous afternoon. Two robbers had targeted a jewelry store, making off with items worth tens of thousands of dollars. In the ensuing chaos, a fierce gunfight erupted with the police, resulting in two officers and three bystanders injured, and one tragic death.
Sean couldn't help but scoff at the police's ineffectiveness when he heard about it yesterday. It seemed ridiculous that over a dozen officers struggled against just two assailants, leading to injuries and fatalities among their own ranks. Even if Tom had been in their place, it wouldn't have been enough. What a waste!
Unbeknownst to him, this incident was precisely what Wells wanted to discuss today.
"Wells, you know me. If I were involved, none of those policemen would have survived," Sean said, setting down his file bag and distancing himself from the situation. "Besides, I'm not interested in petty jewelry crimes."
"Nonsense! Of course, I know it wasn't you!" Wells snapped, visibly annoyed as he pointed at Sean, momentarily lost for words.
After a brief pause, he regained his composure. "What I mean is, the underground forces in Newark are supposed to be under your control. So how could you let something like this slip through? It makes my job much harder!"
Sean wanted to retort that the police were completely useless, unable to do anything but extort money from gangs while remaining inept in their duties.
"What do you want me to do?" Sean finally asked.
"Find me the culprits!" Wells replied, frustration evident in his voice. The case had made the police look foolish.
After some deliberation, Sean agreed. It wouldn't harm him to investigate.
"Crack!" Sean slammed a stack of photographs onto the table as he entered the meeting room. He scanned the faces of various gang leaders adorned with flashy gold chains and watches. "Look at this! These fools are flaunting their crimes right in front of the police! It's disgusting!"
"Rabbits know not to eat grass beside their nests!" he added angrily.
"Two people, right in front of the police, and they even let someone record it! How ridiculous!" Sean continued, his voice rising. "I operate at night for a reason! Can't you even spare a few bucks for your subordinates? Buy some fakes if you have to. Those guys might not even recognize the difference!"
His frustration was clear. "Just one word: disgusting!"
Jonas pulled out a chair, and Sean took a seat, eyeing the twenty or so gang bosses present. Many were seeing him for the first time.
"Let's get to it. Who did this?" he demanded.
"Brother, you know me well. I don't deal in small change," Jonas chimed in.
"Brother, you know me well. I only sell fans and girls," Dart added quickly.
"Brother, you know me well. My crew is all black, but there's one white guy in the mix," Camilla raised her hand.
"Brother, you know me well. If I was involved, it wouldn't just be two people," another gang leader claimed.
Once everyone had voiced their thoughts, Sean surveyed the room. "I won't tolerate lies. Whoever did this needs to be handed over. Give the police a proper explanation and some compensation, and we can put this behind us. But if I find out someone is trying to deceive me, don't blame me when I send your entire family to sea!"
Everyone shook their heads vigorously, panic evident. Sean glanced around, noting that no one seemed guilty.
"Brother, it could have been passers-by or those who didn't know what they were doing," Jonas whispered. "Last time, you told everyone to keep a low profile, and they have been much more compliant."
Sean nodded slightly. "If you're all certain it wasn't your people, then find out who it was!"
With injuries to police officers, Wells was furious. He had set up checkpoints at all Newark exits to search vehicles and pedestrians. "I want photos of everyone involved, especially from second-hand stores and pawn shops. Keep a close eye on them to see if anyone tries to move stolen goods."
"I'll give you two days to scour Newark, including the pier and even the sewers. I want to know if these mice are male or female."
"It's hard for us to go into the richer areas," Dart interjected.
"The rich areas are the police's responsibility. This was established long ago. Are there any questions?" Sean asked, ensuring everyone understood. After confirming no one had objections, he continued, "In two days, I want to see those two criminals in the police station. Whoever finds them will have their fees waived for a month."
As he offered the incentive, Sean added a stern warning: "If you can't find them in two days, it simply means one thing: you're incompetent. And I don't have a use for incompetence."
Once everyone left the room with their photos, Jonas and a few others approached Sean. "Why are you still keeping them around? Honestly, I don't see the benefit," Jonas asked.
"Yeah, we can manage these territories ourselves. We have plenty of contacts among the black community. We could recruit as needed," Sam chimed in, agreeing with Jonas.
Sean, who had retired around the same time as Sam and had a similar background, smiled at them. "Of course I know what you're thinking. But do you understand how to hide a drop of water?" he asked playfully.
"Put the water in the ocean," Sam replied, recalling a previous conversation.
"You've memorized it but not understood it!" Sean pointed at him, shaking his head. "Sure, we can manage the gangs around us, and we can do it better. But does that mean everything becomes legal? Does it mean those in the community will stop causing trouble? Will there be no more robberies, no more thefts, and no more predatory sales?"
"Tell me!" Sean demanded, tapping the table for emphasis.
Jonas and Sam exchanged glances, shaking their heads. They understood that these issues were not simply about who was in control.
"Look, if we manage the gangs ourselves, these problems will still persist. So what's the difference?" Sean continued, gesturing toward the door. "Right now, if something happens, the police suspect those guys first, not us. Why?"
"Because they're worse—less qualified and without a moral compass. Our role is to ensure they don't interfere with the police. We keep them in check and make them more compliant. We're on the side of justice."
Sean's tone shifted as he pointed at them. "If we take over directly, you two will be the first ones they blame when something goes wrong. Because the real troublemakers are still out there. Don't isolate yourselves!"
"Always align yourself with justice!" he concluded firmly.
"Okay!" Jonas and Sam nodded, quickly realizing the wisdom in Sean's words.
"Don't be afraid to think critically, but I worry you're not using your brains enough," Sean said, flashing a smile as he patted both of them on the shoulder. "Now, let's get to work. Don't rush, but be efficient!"
As he watched them leave, Sean felt a nagging concern. Those older gang members might become restless and seize the opportunity to cause trouble at any moment.
"I can't afford to let them slip through the cracks and create more chaos," he thought.
"Don't worry, I'll go find Bill later. We'll spread out and patrol the area systematically," Jonas assured him as he exited.
"Great idea," Sean replied, pleased.
Once they were gone, Sean leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette, reflecting on the day's events.
What had happened inspired him. Why couldn't the security company expand its business?
The core problem wasn't reputation or a lack of connections; it was that security had to be effective.
"If people are robbing banks daily, killing, and stealing large sums, it's clear the security isn't doing its job," he mused.
As he smoked, a plan began to form in his mind. If they could improve the perception—and reality—of security, perhaps they could change the game entirely.