Meadows wondered if their computer expert with the straggly hair had found all of his stashed funds. If he could get away safely, there was still a chance he could live out his days in relative comfort, providing they hadn’t found his nest egg. If. Right now, that little two-letter word was the most powerful word in the English language.

“I just sent off a text to the Scorpions’ supreme leader, telling him that Meadows would be at the house no later than nine o’clock tonight and they all needed to be ready to go. Then I added a P.S. saying he was bringing the money he owed them and the money for the new job he had for them. Then I added a P.P.S. telling them to make sure that Javier Vincente Rodriguez, the leader of the local chapter of the Lobos, was there too.”

Meadows’s eyes popped wide. How the hell did that smart-ass kid get all that information? If his hands were free, he would have smacked himself upside his head. His cell phone, of course. He fought the urge to vomit as his mind continued to race.

With people like the Scorpions and the Lobos gang, there was no such thing as honoring a promise. All they cared about was money, killing, maiming, raping, and dismembering anyone who got in their way. How stupid he was to ever think he could control those devils. Now he was going to pay the price. He closed his eyes, wishing he could go to sleep and wake up someplace like Trinidad, where he could live like a king.

“Okay, we’re getting a response,” Dennis shouted ten minutes later.

The room went tomb silent as they all waited for Dennis to read off the incoming response to his text.

“Okay, here we go,” Dennis said gleefully. “Nine tonight. Come alone. Carry nothing but the bag of money. Rodriguez transports you to private airfield you requested. Chartered plane and private pilot will be fired up and ready to go.”

The gang looked at one another, then down at Zack Meadows, ugly expressions on their faces. Meadows once again squeezed his eyes shut.

Maggie broke the silence. “What do you suppose would happen if this piece of human garbage fails to show up tonight at nine o’clock?”

No one had an answer to Maggie’s question. Once again, all eyes turned to Meadows for the answer.