bag.  Why arrest all these people?  You know, they got a problem. So instead of just getting this kid selling a bag or two or this guy who buys a bag or two—we work our way up the chain.”  As soon as the dust settled, it took Goff about five minutes of threats and promises to find out where all this rock was coming from.  The locals fingered “Ramone,” a Gangster Disciple and known dealer who's address on 113th Street came up on the computer. Goff and his team headed for the South Side.

By sundown, Scotty Freeman and Darren Washington, the two African-American half-backs on Goff's squad, are waiting in the darkened corridor of Ramone’s apartment building as he comes in.  When the hands reach out to grab him, he assumes he’s a dead man.  It seems that his little operation up in K-Town is a private sideline not sanctioned by the Gangster Disciples.  Ramone thinks he’s about to get whacked.  He’s so relieved when they say “Police!” he practically kisses them.

On the other hand, he has half-a-pound of rock cocaine in his pocket and a pair of Tech-9 assault weapons in his apartment.  And since they’ve already checked his rap sheet, they know he has a major case pending. So in the time it takes to flip a coin, Ramone decides to become a C.I.—Confidential Informant—in return for a little slack.  With Goff listening in, Ramone calls his supplier—“De-De”—and asks him to come by with another kilo.  Then Goff and his men take up positions in the vestibule and in the van across the street.  They're expecting De-De any minute now.

Over the past decade, Goff says, he's seen a sea change in the drug war in Chicago. “Ten years ago, if you stopped a dope dealer and he had $2000 on him, that was a big deal.  Today you can find that much in some kid's lunch bucket.  And that's another thing that's changing.  Before it was men.  And they were mostly dealing reefer.  Now, that's one of the hardest things to find is reefer.  There's a big upsurge in heroin.  Acid is back.  Crack is all over the place.  I absolutely guarantee that I could go anywhere in the city and buy dope within three or four blocks.  Very