While we had a few extra helping hands in 2021, I thought we were starting to grow, but in reality this could have just been another smokescreen for what was really happening behind the scenes, a way to distract me... [[Ernest]] had a cousin (I assume blood related) named [[Bryan]] who came by a couple of times in the past. He seemed like a nice guy but Ernest told me that he was actually a Piru, which was surprising; although, I knew Ernest was born in Cali so I wasn't too shocked, especially if Bryan was born and raised there. Bryan was a bit older and really laid back, always with a grin. One day when stopped through, Terry ([[Other People]]) showed up as well, which wasn't uncommon as Terry was always popping in and out of the shop to say hey. This day was different and they seemed a bit off in their mannerisms. Bryan and Terry went into the podcast room to chill and were talking about something; it seemed hush hush and serious, but I was curious so I listened in from around the corner while they were in the podcast/meeting room. It seemed as if they were trying to get some drugs from somewhere, I assume across the border, but I never heard specifics. Bryan was talking about how these pills could be bought in bulk for a just a couple of dollars and resold for $40 or more. "What could he be talking about?" I thought. It didn't make sense that they'd seriously be discussing doing something like this here, but then again, a busy-ish business with multiple employees is a great front for illicit activity. I heard Bryan talking about doing these types of "moves" and then laying low for a year or more so there's no suspicion. He seemed to really know how to work this system and was laying it all out for Terry. After a couple of weeks, I saw Bryan show up again, which was a bit unusual. He said he was there to hang out and talk to Terry, but I know what was really going on. Terry showed up towards the end of the day after the rest of the employees had left. It was only me in the front and Bryan behind me in the meeting room. I knew some business was going down and I heard them talking. I peeked through the door and saw a large, clear plastic bag of blue pills sitting on the table between them. I couldn't believe it, but then again, I suspected it. Ernest had never made it known that he even knew what was going on so I brushed this off as his cousin doing something behind his back. I didn't bother bringing it up to him, but couldn't stop thinking about it for a while. Why would Terry want to sell pills? Weed is one thing but narcotics get people addicted, kill them, or make them do crazy things. I looked up the shape and color of these pills and it appeared that they were some form of Percocet but I'm not sure of the strength. I heard Terry on the phone talking to someone about he was selling them for $40+ each, just as Bryan had instructed, and knew that I shouldn't say anything about this to anyone. I didn't want Ernest to take the fall since this was happening in his shop after all.