The Second Wife's Revenge
Reality was criminal enterprise.
"Cross explained how it worked. Members paid dues. In exchange, The Covenant provided protection. Legal, financial, political. If you got investigated, they made it go away. If you had a problem, they solved it."
"How?"
"Bribery. Blackmail. Intimidation. Murder, though they didn't say that directly. They called it permanent solutions."
Rodriguez took notes. "How many members?"
"At my peak knowledge, maybe two hundred. But compartmentalized. You only knew members in your region or industry. Cross was one of twelve regional leaders. They reported to The Shepherd."