“We aren’t in Chicago, Ted. We’re in Vegas, where Cosmo Cricket got shot, so we have to work with what we have. Early on, Abner came up with a theory, and I think he’s spot-on. To join any of these gangs, you have to be initiated. Gangs like the Scorpions, the Rats, and the Snakes are small-town-gang terrorists hankering to join the big boys, have their own cells. If you can’t pass the initiation test, then you might as well pack up and leave town. You lose face, and no one fears you. That’s how they survive, through fear. Their motto is, rape, kill, control.

“The Lobos gang is known for cutting off limbs, murder, and drug trafficking. Right here in southern Nevada, they are actively recruiting, and every member of the Scorpions has applied for membership. In anticipation of being accepted, they’ve all gotten Lobos tattoos on their chests. Looks to be maybe around eight thousand Lobos members in Nevada, and they’re ready to branch out by recruiting from other gangs. While they’re the deadliest, the Mexican gangs recruit more actively.

“Their weapons of choice are firearms, heavy chains, machetes, and clubs. Their favorite targets are middle school and high school students.

“I think that’s enough background for now. We can beat it to death later, when we fine-tune it all for background. Right now, this is what we all need to know. As I said earlier, Abner has a theory he’d like to share.”

“I think—and this is not just my opinion but Phil’s as well—we think killing Cosmo Cricket was the Scorpions’ initiation exercise and they botched it. The Scorpions have lost face among the various gangs. In other words, they aren’t worthy of being invited to join the Lobos, which was and probably still is their goal.”

“Are the Lobos here? I mean here in Vegas,” Jack asked.

“We think so. They’re swallowing up the smaller gangs, indoctrinating them, and still actively recruiting,” Snowden said.

“Phil thinks something else is going on. The missing tenants. Avery and I didn’t think so until he took his search down to the bottom level. We have the pictures that he took.”

“What does that mean?” Maggie demanded. “Do you mean two separate gangs working at cross-purposes? What?”