Inside Building One, Santiago raised the meat cleaver and waved it in the air for silence. The crowd instantly went quiet. “Okay, guys, listen up. We have fifteen minutes until our guest arrives. It’s not going to be a pleasant meeting. We were paid only half the money promised, but that’s on us, and Mother Nature. The other half was to be paid to us today. Since we failed to complete the job to Mr. Hot Shot’s satisfaction, there might not be a payday today unless I can convince our employer otherwise.” Santiago pointed to a metal box with a padlock, which was simply called the money box.

“See that! Inside our money box is a measly six dollars. Our food supply is almost gone. The last time I looked, which was an hour ago, there were two boxes of Cocoa Puffs, one can of Spam, and two cans of tuna on our food shelf. Since we share and share alike, that means no one eats until there is enough for everyone. That means Team One has to hit the streets and bring back either food or money. Go now!” Six gang members broke ranks and left the building.

Santiago’s second-in-command, a twenty-something named Miggy, stood up, and asked, “So what’s the plan once Mr. Hot Shot arrives? Why is he even coming here? I thought we were done with him. . . .” He looked around to see if everyone was listening, and said, “And his other project. Does he think we owe him a second chance? What?”

“I don’t know. I don’t like it when I don’t know something,” Santiago snarled in return. “I have it on good authority—and by that I mean Hot Shot himself—that several strangers showed up at Happy Village and were asking questions. He called a little while ago. I think that’s the main reason he’s coming here today, since he does not like people sticking their noses in his business. I want to know who those strangers are and what brought them nosing around Happy Village. That means Team Two needs to head out there right now. And don’t come back until you have the answers I want.”

The leader of Team Two, a scrawny teen named Juno, jumped up and demanded to know why they were being sent out in broad daylight, because that just meant they were looking for trouble. Then he grew bolder, and said, “If you’re planning on forcing Hot Shot to pay the balance, why should we risk going to Happy Village?”

The meat cleaver swung back and forth in the stifling air. “Because I said so, that’s why, and do not ever question my orders again. Go now, or this cleaver will be sticking in your back. Clean up a little before you go.”

“Like we have running showers here with tons of hot water,” Juno grumbled as he scurried after the other four members of his team.

Santiago looked around. With eleven members now gone, there were only the five members of Team Three left plus Miggy. He looked down at the knockoff Rolex on his wrist. Five minutes until he had to play host to his employer, Mr. Hot Shot himself.