Shamita Basu

Scott went undercover in the group, and he told me about an incredibly close call that happened about a year into the investigation.

It was late November of 2006.

Scott was hanging out in the gang's clubhouse in southern Massachusetts, sipping a Jack and Coke, as usual, when an outlaw who went by the name Clothesline approached him.

Scott knew clothesline well.

They had become real friends, hanging out, doing small stolen goods deals together.

But this interaction felt anything but friendly.

Scott was wearing a wire.

And in that moment, scared that he was about to be found out, he couldn't remember his alias's middle name.

This whole time, Scott's cover team was in a vehicle nearby, listening in on the wire, which was now in a crumpled heap of clothing on the floor, trying to decide whether to intervene and blow up the case or wait to see if Scott could finesse his way out of the situation.

While this conversation was going on, Clothesline grabbed a piece of Scott's clothing, clothing that had some equipment in it.

Scott somehow kept his cover.

What does it look like for you to create this persona that you need to, to successfully go undercover in a group like the Outlaws?

I mean, you talk a lot in the book about what it's like to befriend people in groups like this and how the friendships become a tool, really.

Can you say a little bit more about that?

It sounds like that is kind of that is a struggle.

It's difficult to feel like you are genuinely gaining trust and knowing that you will need to break that trust.

That's part of your goal.

Success stories.

How are you defining a success story?

Yeah.