"Not real y. A year after the Hel s Angels adopted the Popeyes, a Montreal group cal ed Satan's Choice became the first Outlaws chapter in Quebec.

They've been kil ing each other ever since."

Roy indicated a gaunt man squatting in the front row of the photo.

"War was declared when this Hel s Angel kil ed an Outlaw in a drive-by. For several years after that it was open season."

"'God forgives, the Outlaws don't.' That's their slogan." Sipowicz wrote his name, "Kuricek," on a notebook as he spoke. I wondered how many people cal ed him Sipowicz by mistake.

"True. But the Quebec Outlaws have suffered a severe reversal of fortune since then. Five or six are now in jail, and their clubhouse was burned to the ground a few years ago. The present war real y involves the Angels and a Canadian group cal ed the Rock Machine, and their puppet clubs."

"Classy guys," offered Sipowicz/Kuricek.

"But the Rock Machine also fel on hard times," Roy continued. "Until recently."

He clicked to a slide showing a man in a beret embracing a leather-jacketed comrade. Centered on the embracee's back was a cartoon-like Mexican bandit, knife in one hand, pistol in the other. Red and yel ow crescent-shaped banners above and below the figure identified the wearer as the national vice president of the Bandidos MC.

"The Machine was on its last legs, but appears to be undergoing a major resuscitation since members have recently been spotted wearing patches identifying them as tentative Bandidos."

"Tentative?" I asked.

"The Machine has been granted hang-around status while the Bandidos decide if they're worthy to prospect."

"I can see the advantage to the Rock Machine, but what's in it for the Bandidos?" I asked.

"For years the Bandidos were satisfied with local meth and narcotics sales, and a few bucks from prostitution. The national organization ran a pretty loose ship. Now power has shifted, and the new leadership recognizes the advantage of expansion and tight control over member chapters.

"Check out the bottom rocker." Roy pointed to the lower banner on a jacket in the background. "Quebec has been changed to Canada. That's a pretty clear indicator of where the Bandidos want to go. But it may not be that easy."

New slide. A formation of bikes on a two-lane highway

"This was taken in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a few weeks ago. The Bandidos were on their way to a run organized by the Oklahoma chapter. When police pul ed over some of the boys for traffic violations, the club's international president was among them, so investigators took the opportunity to query him about al the new faces. He admitted the Bandidos were checking out wanna-be clubs around the world, but refused to answer when asked about the Rock Machine.