A Halloween army of ninjas

When an opportunity presented itself, oh, almost a year ago, I didn't stop to think about certain consequences. All I knew was that I needed some money and needed it quickly.

The price of cigarettes continued to climb and I smoked. When you're addicted to smoking, it ain't easy to quit. I needed cigarettes badly.

My best friend, Steven, received a phone call on his cell and asked me if I wanted to make $150. Sure, I said. Someone wanted to buy 50 Ecstasy pills (aka MDMA).

Steven vouched for the guy who was calling, but said the guy was calling for someone else whose name kinda sounded familiar. It was possible the actual buyer was an undercover cop that I had run into before - and had actually had called Internal Affairs on - but that's a separate story.

We both knew a dealer who supplied Ecstasy. All I needed to do was drive Steven's car to the Walmart parking lot, check out the buyer, and make sure it wasn't that particular cop. I would then call the dealer to give the all clear.

I drove to the Walmart parking lot outside of the Garden department. It was dark and I wasn't paying particular attention to the other cars parked in the parking lot. As I drove close, my attention was on one particular car all by itself.

When I got out - I swear - a guy in a uniform jumped out right next to me from [what seemed to be] directly inside a tree (!)

Within seconds, every car in the immediate vicinity was mobilized and I was surrounded. It seemed like men - some wearing all black, some in civilian clothes and some in uniforms (all wearing black ski masks) poured out of every single car. I felt like an army of ninjas was coming straight for me!

I tried to run, honest I did. Somehow, one grabbed me and I felt my body smash against the car roof and then I was slammed to the asphalt.

I'm guessing here, the guy was indeed the undercover cop. He leaned close and whispered, "I told ya I'd get ya" and smiled.

Maybe he was looking for revenge, but I was dumb enough to let him get it.

All for $150.

So here I sit.

I had just gotten out of the Pinellas County Jail three days before after spending four months behind bars.

Real smart, huh?

I was arrested on the night before Halloween. And I sure got a scare that night alright. Nine months and counting.

Who said smoking was harmless?