the meaning of "In the thick of things"

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "In the thick of things" in the following sentences?

"Yeah, I saw him once. I sneaked over one night and picked a new casino, hell they got fifteen now, and while I was playin' black-jack things got hot at a craps table not too far away. In the thick of things, I saw Judge Atlee. Had on a baseball cap so folks wouldn't recognize him. His disguises didn't always work because I'd hear things around town. A lot of folks go to the casinos and there were sightings."

[Sequin]

It means at the centre of activity

[rachaelersk]

in the thick of things means to me in the middle of it all. with regards to the text he was in the casino in the middle of all what was going on when he saw judge atlee.

[Peter Pedant]

eee that Judge Atlee sounds a real bad 'un, he does

PP

[jno]

answers in plain English, PP, or kjc will have to ask what they mean. I think she has enough work to do already.