district was run, I knew that crime stats were important. “I’ve been working in this district for a long time and I’ve been the head of this district for the past five years. There will always be crime but they happen in hubs.”
Nathaniel went over to the whiteboard and picked up a marker. He drew a circle with several lines coming out from various angles. He started to write types of petty crime at the ends of the lines. “Muggings. Car theft. Burglaries. Drugs. Vandalism. Assault. All of these types of crimes can be traced back to larger, more organized crimes perpetrated by groups. As more sophisticated criminals operate in hubs together, they increase the level of overall crime.”
Nathaniel wrote “Noches” in the middle of the circle he had drawn on the board. “The Ninth Street Noches are one of the biggest gangs in our district. Some of you should know that name from working out here on the streets. They have a network of chop shops throughout Brooklyn. They’re behind a lot of car thefts, carjackings, and illegal racing. The Noches also use violence and intimidation to keep their hold on streets. Much of the ancillary crime in our district can be traced back to them.”
He pulled out a stack of fliers and started to hand them out. “Everyone needs a copy of this.” When I got my copy, I looked over it. It was a black and white drawing of a young Latino man with short hair and a clean shaven face. Below the picture was a list of his vitals. “Wanted” was in big letters at the top. “This is El Gato, head of the Noches,” Nathaniel went on. “Obviously, El Gato isn’t his real name but it’s all we have. Even without his real name, there’s enough evidence of his participation in various crimes to put him away forever. The cops have been chasing him for years. He’s a ghost.”
Nathaniel paused for effect. Then he erased the Noches from the board. “If we can bring El Gato in, the Noches will be just another unorganized set of street thugs, ripe for picking off one by one. And without the Noches contributing up street crime, the overall numbers in this district will go down.”
There were a lot of murmurs from the group. “Every single one of you should be on high alert for El Gato. But I’m also putting together a special task force of Supers to help me target him. I’m only looking for dedicated people who want to make a difference. Here’s the sign-up sheet.”
He held up a piece of paper and passed to the first person in the first row, who then passed it on to the next person, and so on and so on. As the sign-up paper made its way to the back of the room, Nathaniel went on to other subjects and I tried to pay attention. By the time the sign-up sheet got to me, it had a few names on it. And at the top of the page was my own name, written in large block lettering.
What the fuck?
*****
After the meeting was over, Nathaniel asked me to walk with him along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The little walkway was lined with trees and featured views of the Manhattan skyline across the water. It was something you’d do on a date. But you’re not on a date, I thought to myself. Why are you even thinking about that, you idiot?
We walked for a bit in silence, just enjoying the night and the view. I still couldn’t get over how beautiful Nathaniel was. At least 6’4, he moved with a grace that seemed both out of place on his frame but also seemed perfectly reasonable for him. His Super power was flying but his physique said that he was also physically gifted. He was the whole package. Tall. Strong. Beautiful. What had he done in a previous life to get stuck with me?
“Obviously, I put your name on the sign-up sheet,” he began, answering my unasked question. “This is my first time supervising a probation. I saw your file and I just knew you were the case I wanted.” I didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever said anything like that to me. Usually, I was the last picked or
Nathaniel went over to the whiteboard and picked up a marker. He drew a circle with several lines coming out from various angles. He started to write types of petty crime at the ends of the lines. “Muggings. Car theft. Burglaries. Drugs. Vandalism. Assault. All of these types of crimes can be traced back to larger, more organized crimes perpetrated by groups. As more sophisticated criminals operate in hubs together, they increase the level of overall crime.”
Nathaniel wrote “Noches” in the middle of the circle he had drawn on the board. “The Ninth Street Noches are one of the biggest gangs in our district. Some of you should know that name from working out here on the streets. They have a network of chop shops throughout Brooklyn. They’re behind a lot of car thefts, carjackings, and illegal racing. The Noches also use violence and intimidation to keep their hold on streets. Much of the ancillary crime in our district can be traced back to them.”
He pulled out a stack of fliers and started to hand them out. “Everyone needs a copy of this.” When I got my copy, I looked over it. It was a black and white drawing of a young Latino man with short hair and a clean shaven face. Below the picture was a list of his vitals. “Wanted” was in big letters at the top. “This is El Gato, head of the Noches,” Nathaniel went on. “Obviously, El Gato isn’t his real name but it’s all we have. Even without his real name, there’s enough evidence of his participation in various crimes to put him away forever. The cops have been chasing him for years. He’s a ghost.”
Nathaniel paused for effect. Then he erased the Noches from the board. “If we can bring El Gato in, the Noches will be just another unorganized set of street thugs, ripe for picking off one by one. And without the Noches contributing up street crime, the overall numbers in this district will go down.”
There were a lot of murmurs from the group. “Every single one of you should be on high alert for El Gato. But I’m also putting together a special task force of Supers to help me target him. I’m only looking for dedicated people who want to make a difference. Here’s the sign-up sheet.”
He held up a piece of paper and passed to the first person in the first row, who then passed it on to the next person, and so on and so on. As the sign-up paper made its way to the back of the room, Nathaniel went on to other subjects and I tried to pay attention. By the time the sign-up sheet got to me, it had a few names on it. And at the top of the page was my own name, written in large block lettering.
What the fuck?
*****
After the meeting was over, Nathaniel asked me to walk with him along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The little walkway was lined with trees and featured views of the Manhattan skyline across the water. It was something you’d do on a date. But you’re not on a date, I thought to myself. Why are you even thinking about that, you idiot?
We walked for a bit in silence, just enjoying the night and the view. I still couldn’t get over how beautiful Nathaniel was. At least 6’4, he moved with a grace that seemed both out of place on his frame but also seemed perfectly reasonable for him. His Super power was flying but his physique said that he was also physically gifted. He was the whole package. Tall. Strong. Beautiful. What had he done in a previous life to get stuck with me?
“Obviously, I put your name on the sign-up sheet,” he began, answering my unasked question. “This is my first time supervising a probation. I saw your file and I just knew you were the case I wanted.” I didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever said anything like that to me. Usually, I was the last picked or
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