While most of the gang leaders were fairly attentive, one rather ugly specimen had already nodded off, and was soon facedown on the table. A phone chimed, and its owner stood up and walked some distance away in order to take the call. But the rest were paying attention and interjected questions from time to time-queries that seemed to cast doubt on the veracity of the Big Kahuna’s facts and figures. But the Big K’s entourage was sizable, and the guests were seriously outgunned, so they had very little choice but to accept the crime boss’s answers. For the moment at least.

Later, when they reunited with their gangs, the trash talk would begin.

A full thirty minutes elapsed before the last pie chart disappeared and bottles of cold beer were distributed.

“So,” the Big Kahuna said, as he began to summarize, “We have plenty to celebrate…but we’re facing some problems, as well. Primary among them being competition from the Colombians, who are bringing large quantities of coke into the country in miniature submarines, and undercutting our prices. But by working together, we should be able to counter their efforts. That will take money, however. So, painful though it may be, it’s time for everyone to ante up.”

That statement was followed by a chorus of groans and a small commotion as the gang leaders placed their quarterly payments on the table. The tributes included two attaché cases filled with tightly packed bills, a leather pouch half-filled with diamonds, a money belt loaded with gold wafers, a sheaf of bonds, and the two kilos of lethal smack that were stored in Johnson’s saddlebags. Which, given the crime boss’s appetite for the stuff, BK would no doubt sample before the day was done.