With ten minutes before the scheduled start of the meeting, there were still a large number of people milling around outside the entrance. Groups of people talking, trying to see how everybody was feeling about Rafael's abrupt change. Was he sincere? Was it some ploy to take over everything from the other cartels? Was he being forced into this action by the police? Was it the CIA blackmailing him somehow? Those who knew him best said he could never be forced to do something that way. Maybe he fell in love with this Flores woman and she convinced him to change…
Some were skeptical and had been reluctant to show up, but the promise of amnesty and a good paying job, even job training and education for a better future was too much too resist, especially when combined with Rafael's reputation. He could be ruthless, you had to be in his business, but he was honest. If he said he was going to do something, he did.
