Cops recap case. Look into why mafia was killed since one of the lost boys is families. He has defected, kept some underground connects. His father doesn’t approve, but is in prison. Following text is dialog, still needs to be formatted as a two way conversation.

"They busted a house party a couple weeks ago. 150 people cleared out but no drugs found except some cannabis on a couple guests. Nothing found on Tribesmen."

Alex leaned in to inspect the photographs they had taken.

"Any surveillance?"

"They have no landlines. The houses aren’t even hooked up for it. They operate by cellphone, but all business is done in person, in caged and soundproofed rooms. We sent a guy in with a wire once, he’s still in a coma. Lobotomy makes a witness very ineffective."

A sullied look upwards at the Captain was the only reaction Ford could manage.

"Our enemy is ruthless, intelligent and capable. They are highly organized and experienced. They are better insulated and protected legally than we have ever seen. Law enforcement destroyed the town ten years ago, and they have had since then to plan their next move."

"DEA?"

"They came down on them a few years back. Found that they had been funding and educating smaller outfits in the area as a distraction, but never found hard evidence to support it. The tribes created their own patsy’s. There was no financial or trafficking connection found between the tribes and the fall guys."

"Didn’t they go back?"

"No. They can’t waste funding on a case that never sticks. Anyway it’s all hearsay. The resources are better spent elsewhere."

"What about education?"

"Well some of these guys dropped out as soon as possible. They’ve been traveling or setting up legitimate business enterprises. Some fifteen or so joined the military to fill time and, we suspect, gain skills they could employ back home. Stayed on active duty for as many as three tours. Iraq and Afghanistan. One of them fell in combat. There was a parade in his honor with over 400 people in attendance."

"What about the ones who stayed in school?"

"Well some finished with high school. Others went on to a successful stint with higher education. One such graduated last year from Harvard business school. A good number of them took classes on botany and chemistry. A few others, accounting and financial management. What worries me is that at least 4 of them graduated with some manner of law degree or forensics degree."

"So they know everything we know."

"Well experience in the field is an irreplaceable component of that education, but yeah."

"Any loans?"

"All schooling was paid for immediately, either in scholarships or cash."

"So I assume some of them became cops too?"

"No. That's where the diversity ends. Our data suggests that any involvement in law enforcement would be morally reprehensible to them, besides reflecting poorly on their reputation with any business contacts or clientele."

"What about undercover infiltration?"

"No way. We’ve had dead bodies showing up for weeks around St. Croix. Not to mention nobody joins the tribes. They grew up together. There are no new members."

"So there's no infiltration in either direction."

"As far as we know, that's correct. That seems to be the only simple thing about this case."

"Any outliers?"

"Well one studied anatomy and graduated with honors. He is set up for a successful career in post-mortem forensics but has had no official employment since graduation. You can use your imagination for what he's been doing since."

"So they do everything themselves?"

"No. When necessary, they outsource financial management and legal counsel. Internal knowledge is strictly a bonus to operational efficiency. They do have the resources to provide medical attention if they need to. Helps keep a low profile."

"So what do we know?"

"We know that their fathers converged on the town with a pipe dream of making an all star team of outlaws. They were successful for a while, but all got nabbed on RICO charges in 2003. Racketeering, conspiracy, embezzlement, larceny, etc etc. They’re gone. While this happened, their sons and daughters grew up together. Formed a bond, started calling themselves a tribe, and later on, The Federation of Tribes, each faction being a tribe. As a collective unit the core leaders call themselves the Lost Boys. You get the reference."

"Yeah, it fits." He said with a chuckle.

"They grew up together as close friends and now control these tribes."

"We know they throw multi-house block parties once or twice a month in which the surrounding towns converge on St. Croix. They are loved by the regional populace for this. Free booze, barbecue, pools, the whole deal."

"Any identifiers?"

"No. A lot of them have tattoos, but none claiming allegiance to a clique. They know that’s too easy to identify. Clothing? They all wear black and gold the majority of the time. We do see patterns that differentiate neighborhoods and groups, but nothing concrete yet."

"Have we found guns on any of these raids?"

"Quite a few, but nothing illegal. Everything we’ve come upon is permitted and licensed to a legitimate owner.

They’re ambitious too. They collectively financially backed Tanner Welsh for mayor in 2009 but lost. Regardless, it’s evident of an increasing bravado that could lead to mistakes."

"Any of them fall victim to usage?"

"There were a few that got hooked on either coke or painkillers. They were sent to rehab, fully paid, and told never to return. I think they all ended up in communal living outside LA. In the town, there is no consumption allowed by members, except cannabis, which these people burn through like it’s going out of style."

"Have any defected?"

"A few, yes. We count between ten and thirteen. Most went to coastal towns in the south, Mobile, Louisiana, Miami, or out to Texas or California. Four of them own a somewhat successful dispensary in San Diego."

"So what legacy do they come from?"

"Name it. Like I said, their fathers had a focus on diversity so they brought every kind. Italian, Irish, Jewish, Black Mafia. Mexican cartels, Salvadorian Gangsters, One Percenters, Bloods, Crips, a few representatives from local Jamaican operations, and on, and on, and on."

"Money unites like nothing else."

"That's it, and they made a shitload before they were indicted."

"Why here?"

"Well Florida is pretty much the easiest state to murder somebody in. Besides that, there is a wealth of unpopulated national park land inhabited by flesh eating monsters, so that played well for them. The weather is conducive to year round operation. And it's close to central america and the caribbean, which works well for escape routes as well as trade. St. Pete being close by also provides a huge distraction for law enforcement, as it's known for a crippling problem with crime."

"So what was seized?"

"How much time do you have? 34 cars, 10 18 wheeler trucks, 16 bikes, 3 private planes, 19 boats, 2 military spec humvees with mounted 50 caliber machine guns, 1 dump truck, 420 pounds of various drugs valued at between $8 and $900 million, another collective $3.2 billion cached in American and European bank notes, diamonds, and gold bars.

"We found 236 illegal weapons; brass knuckles, machetes, bayonets, assault rifles, various scopes and suppressors, pistols, Macs, Tech 9s, riot shields, breaching charges, C4 explosives, flame throwers, hand grenades, land mines, RPGs..."

"What the fuck?"

"Yeah. We caught one of them a year earlier trying to buy anti-air ordinance from a federal agent. We have reason to believe they were looking into procuring submersible vessels as well. I'm not done yet; ricin, cyanide, nitrous oxide, various pheromones, thermite, caches of gasoline and diesel fuel, dynamite.

"They had gas masks, night vision goggles, wet suits, bandanas, ski-masks, tasers, cattle prods, kevlar vests, even a few bomb suits.

"They had radar, lidar, radar jammers and EMPs. One of the investigation rooms was lined with faraday caging. We found a pair of medieval style gauntlets on one of the bikers at time of arrest.

"They had cleanroom suits, hair nets, plastic gloves, and the necessary materials to dispose of damn near any crime scene imaginable. They found a sterile medical operating room complete with bone saw, sterile operating equipment and needles.

"As far as animals, there were 3 breeds of dog that are illegal in the US, 1 cheetah, 2 lions, 7 chimpanzees, 5 hyenas, 1 lynx, about ten illegal exotic birds, and a silverback gorilla they were in the process of training as a guard. His name is Rocko, he is now at the Miami zoo.

"There was evidence of a few more wild animals that were never recovered. Escaped to the wetlands presumably. That panther they found eating the alligator in the everglades about 5 years back? Suspected to be linked.

"About ten or so missing fine art pieces were recovered, they were valued at around twelve million all said.

"In the houses there were vaults with bank-grade doors heavy enough to crush a mac truck. They had bullet proof glass and 10 grade steel lined with kevlar in the drywall. The front doors were on explosive bolts should the need arise to blow them down.

"The houses had full security systems, cameras, heat sensors, motion sensors, vibration sensors. The front doors were rated to withstand a car running into them at 20 mph without failing. If it had degraded to a gun fight, we wouldn't have stood a chance. Luckily, it didn't come to that.

"12 houses were repossessed, along with 30 acres of land and 2 improvised airstrips. 67 people in total were convicted, 59 of them imprisoned domestically and 8 deported or extradited, either to South America, Africa, or Europe. 13 attempted to flee the country, 4 successfully, those 4 are still at large. We estimate that we seized about 30% of the total assets. One of the Lost Boys was actually tried in the case as an accessory. He was 16 at the time. The charges were dropped, but that helped to solidify their animosity for us."

"And the rest of the tribes?"

"They didn't take well to this. A mob of 50 or so were found rioting in the street shortly after, burning an American flag and breaking down windows in the neighborhood. They were locked up for a short time and given probation officers shortly after. They were watched closely for 6 years after."

"Was this case not on national news?"

"It had some press coverage. A number of associated acts came out and agreed to feed information to the feds in exchange for a low profile for the case, it happened to work out better for both parties."

"Any notable events?"

"Well there was a KKK presence, remnant from before the forefathers moved in. They were considered a tolerable nuisance until they attempted to lynch one of the tribesmen of color. He was rescued, the entire pack responsible were slain on the spot. The rest were hunted down. None escaped. One ended up hung by the neck from a street post, wearing his hood.

"That did get press coverage locally, but skinheads don't harbor much sympathy from the public. The local police had been investigating them as a criminal organization, and they were a local menace, so it was ruled that the acts were either in self-defense or protected by "stand your ground" law. But that's as public as we've ever seen the tribes.

"That put us in a weird position because, statistically, after that the crime rate went down. So they simultaneously eliminated the competition and gained positive publicity.

"With every other drug dealer rapping about everything he does and being reckless it's pretty easy for them to slip under the radar."

"Any criminal record at all?"

"Beyond speeding tickets and a few noise complaints that were dropped, no."

"Is there any publicity that might help us out?"

"Well the head of the local channel 7 news is tribes. So if you wanna take him down without a case help yourself, but you’d just put yourself in a cell.

"They were taught to hate law enforcement at an early age. It stole their childhoods and their fathers. They are closer than family. They’ve had ten years to plot their response."

"Who raised them in the meantime?"

"Well a couple of opportunistic gangs moved in from the surrounding towns and developed a surrogate father relationship with the boys. Somewhere between big brothers and step fathers. They raised them and finished their education on the dark arts. About 5 years back there was a messy upheaval after the tribes realized they were better off without the higher ups. Took back the town, and that’s what we see today.

"The gangs didn’t stand a chance, the education and bond these kids had, not to mention being on home turf, made it easy to either kill them or drive them out."

"No charges from that?"

"Again, hearsay. The clues all led to either suicide or accidental overdose. Some of them just disappeared completely."

"Ok so what about users in the town? That aren’t tribes, just civilians."

"We tried that. They all get their product from known outfits in the area. Nothing linked to tribes. We suspect this is a result of a conscious effort by the tribes to insulate themselves by diluting the area with dealers and drug trails that are more easily convicted."

"So where the fuck do these drugs go? Are they moving product at all?"

"Yes. The money they are spending suggests they can’t just be living on their trusts, though, without a warrant or any evidence we can't get to their offshore accounts to get hard data. A lot of drug dealers will blow through their money, but with the financial knowledge and behavior we have seen, we have reason to believe they are generating income.

"Our best guesses are that they move large quantities either internationally or to other states. Nothing is local, and nothing is broken down or split up within the town. Makes it much harder to track."

"So when you go to the junkies and ask them to flip, it’s never on the tribes because they’re not supplying."

"Exactly.

"We can't go the IRS route either. After a short investigation we found they are obsessive about paying their taxes in full and on time."

"I guess they learned from their forefathers."

"Each member on active duty knows how to properly maintain, assemble, and use a firearm.

"Besides international travel, they do a bit of traveling within the states. Many of them frequent Miami and Tampa. We believe this is both recreational and to conduct business. They have residences in both cities, as well as the Glades. We believe that is mainly a catalyst for destruction of evidence by way of natural erosion or alligator."

"Yikes."

"We know they have made it known to us that they do not talk to police ever. They are upfront about this and all we’ve heard from them is that they don’t talk to police or they are invoking 5th amendment rights. One of them cited the Edwards case at me."

"Where do they stand with the community?"

"The community loves them. They fund the church, they fund the local schools, they pension any old timers that can't support themselves, they've even set up an unofficial health insurance system for the town."

"A la Frank Lucas and Bumpy Johnson."

"Exactly. And if anybody talks to police they disappear, so for the townsfolk it's an easy choice of where to lay allegiance.

"We do know they all drive cars worth over 50 grand, which is a rare bit of hubris that makes them easy to spot. Moreover most of these are unclaimed assets from their fathers. Countaches, classic bimmers, etc.

"I assume they still drive these out of respect for their legacy or because it’s too hard to get a brand new lambo with illegitimate funds without attracting too much heat. They have clothing shipped in from London, New York and Paris. There is an inherent love of high fashion and the high life with this crew. I’m hoping that will be advantageous to us at some point."

"Any recent purchases?"

"None of note. One of them ordered an authentic custom indian headdress made with all red feathers. Paid 3 grand for it. A couple cars, all legit. Beyond that just groceries and standard supplies.

One of them actually got a brand new limited edition Ferrari in February. *Slaps down a photo* Only 25 made, and only 5 shipped to the US. He had priority as being in a family that had established brand loyalty."

"Isn't that strange for them? That's a pretty loud event."

"Well it seems their biggest weakness, of which they have very few, is material possessions. He is the only person he will likely ever see driving this car, so that took priority over remaining discrete. He probably had some kind of reprimand from the council, but this kind of act is getting more common.

This case is tough no doubt. Pointless? No. Futile? No. But it damn sure wants to look like both."