Mox hesitated as Leah unlocked the door to the apartment. 'What the hell am I doing here?'
"Thank you…for bringing me home." Leah hesitated then continued. "Would…would you like to come in?"
Mox abruptly nodded, then followed Leah into the apartment. Despite himself, he curiously looked around. He was surprised how neat and clean it was. All he could remember from his childhood home was dirt and clutter.
"Would…would you like some coffee?" Leah asked in a quiet voice.
"No, I'm good." Mox watched as she wearily sat on the couch and ran her hands through her blonde curls. "Look, are you okay for food? Need anything from the grocery store or something?"
"No…I can always heat up one of Jack's froz…" Leah suddenly stood and almost ran to an open door leading to a bathroom. The door slammed shut behind her, and Mox heard sounds of retching.
He quickly walked into the small kitchen and opened the refrigerator and freezer doors. He quickly scanned the contents, then closed both doors and pulled out his cell phone. He'd put the number of an Italian restaurant into his contacts list that Roman had used to order dinner for everyone just before Samoa Joe had turned traitor. He quickly ordered enough food to last for a couple of days and used his credit card to pay for it.
Leah returned from the bathroom just as he finished the call and sat back down on the couch. "Sorry," she muttered.
Mox shrugged and reopened the refrigerator door to retrieve an unopened bottle of water. He walked to the couch and handed it to her. When she took it, he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I ordered some stuff from an Italian restaurant. It'll last you a couple of days. It'll be here in about a half hour."
"Oh…" Leah sat the water on the small table next to the couch. "Will they take a card?"
"It's paid for," Mox abruptly said. He almost flinched at the near-silent 'thank you'.
"I guess there's a lot I should do," Leah spoke after a few moments. "I suppose I can call Ms. Bliss tomorrow about that." Watching her son closely, she saw the involuntary grimace that he quickly masked. 'Orton said he was dating an attorney. Looks like it was Bliss, and it didn't end well.'
"You okay on money? You might not get anything from what he had left," Mox pointed out.
Leah nodded. "I have some saved. I should be okay for a couple of months." She looked around the apartment. "This is a nice area, but I can't afford this two-bedroom for more than that. Maybe they have a one-bedroom apartment here."
"If the leasing office gives you problems, just get Ale…the attorneys involved," Mox advised.
Leah nodded. "I guess the most important thing is…a funeral." She rubbed her face with both hands. "I can't even think about all that…what to do…I'm sorry…that's my problem. I'll…I'll figure it out."
She stood and agitatedly walked to look out the window. "Jon…there's so much I want to talk with you about. But…" She shook her head, her eyes focused out the window. "I can't do that now. Not because I don't want to but…with all this, I can't even think much less try to put words together." She slowly turned around. "But soon…can we…talk?"
"Don't know what there is to talk about," Mox grunted.
"I don't mean to talk and try to white wash what I did or even ask for a forgiveness that I don't deserve," Leah quietly continued. "But there are things that I think you should know."
Mox started to speak then heard his phone chime with a message. Pulling the phone from his pocket, he saw a text message from Roman and opened it.
'Hope everything's going okay. Find me when you get home. No rush.'
Mox shoved his phone back in his pocket. "Look, I gotta go. That delivery should be here soon."
Leah nodded, a resigned look on her face. "I understand."
Mox was halfway to the front door when he stopped. He turned his head to look at Leah. "Maybe…later we can talk. No promises."
Leah sadly nodded. "Thank you."
Mox grunted as he walked out of the apartment and shut the front door behind him. He couldn't understand why it both angered and saddened him every time Leah said 'thank you' to him.
Inside the apartment, Leah watched as Mox got into the SUV and drove away. Only then did she allow herself a satisfied smile.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I'm back. What's up?"
Roman looked up to see Mox standing in the doorway of his office. He leaned back and motioned Mox towards a chair. As his brother sat down, he silently reversed a decision. Now was not the time to add to his brother's burdens. "Nothing, really. Just concerned about you." He smirked. "Big brother's prerogative."
Mox snorted. "Just over 6 months, Roman. Don't get ideas in your head."
Roman chuckled. "Things go okay with…her?"
Mox shrugged then leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "I just wish I knew…" he shook his head then sat up. "I know nothing's going to be done until his body's released, but can you recommend a funeral home? And I need some place to bury him. She sure hasn't got the money for it." He saw the surprised look on Roman's face and got up to pace. "Look, as far as I'm concerned, they could toss his body into the river and let it float down to the Gulf of Mexico. But…" His fists clenched as he tried to find the words.
Roman quickly stood and put a hand on Mox's arm. "But it matters to her," he quietly spoke.
"And why the hell should that matter to me?" Mox hissed. "She wants to 'talk with me' about stuff from the past! Why dredge all that up?"
'Oh, hell! Not now!' Roman thought quickly as he patted Mox's arm. "My advice? Don't go there. Not now. You decide if that happens…and when it happens. She doesn't have the right to push you." He was only partially satisfied when Mox nodded in agreement.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It was a few hours after dinner when Roman met with Jericho, Black and McIntyre. He knew Mox was in the garage working on his motorcycle restoration which, much to everyone's surprise, was going well.
"Any problems with meeting Samoa Joe's old crews?" Roman asked as the three other men sat down in chairs across the desk from him. He raised an eyebrow when Jericho snickered and McIntyre darkly smirked.
"One gentleman was very loud in his objections to my…placement," McIntyre answered. "He saw the error of his objections."
"Is he still breathing?" Roman grinned.
"Painfully, but yes," Jericho chuckled.
"Let me know if there are any more…objections," Roman ordered. "Do you have any information on Jack Moxley's murder?"
MacIntyre crossed one leg over the other at the knee. "Preliminary coroner's report was that he was beaten…mostly likely by more than one person. Preliminary cause of death is blunt force trauma. My contact won't have access to the statements by Mox and Mrs. Moxley until they're officially signed. I should have a copy of them no later than day after tomorrow."
Roman nodded. "When you get them, hand them over to Jericho. Also try to get a copy of whatever background check they run on Jack Moxley." He looked at the blonde-haired man. "Compare those with what we already know. Let's see if there are any discrepancies."
"One more thing," MacIntyre spoke up. "The detectives on the case have processed a written request for all street surveillance cameras within a fifteen-block radius of where Moxley's body was found. I'm not sure my contact can get a copy of that, however."
"If the detectives put a written report into the case file, try for that." Roman leaned back in his chair. "Maybe something in Mrs. Moxley's statement triggered that request."
Black tilted his head to one side. "The three of us have discussed it, and we all agree that the timing of this murder is suspicious." His eyes narrowed when Roman chuckled.
"Sorry," Roman apologized. "Just that someone brought that up to me already." He nodded in agreement. "I think that conclusion is correct. My gut tells me it has to do with this upcoming trial. Although it wouldn't surprise me if Mox's money doesn't get brought into this as well." He looked at Jericho. "Do a deeper dive on the Moxleys' current finances. They had to have some source of income." He paused, then continued, "What about that other Moxley matter?"
"In the works," Jericho assured him.
Roman nodded in satisfaction. "Mox asked for help in arranging the funeral." He saw a smirk on MacIntyre's face and a disbelieving look on Jericho's. Black merely tilted his head in contemplation.
"Apparently, Leah Moxley is good with subtle emotional blackmail," Roman explained. "Which is why I think money may come into this."
"Is this a conclusion reached by logic or through emotion?" Black slowly asked. It was the closest he would come to challenging Roman in front of others.
"Both," Roman answered with a cold smile. When Black slightly smiled and nodded, he continued. "Find out what you can on our new Mayor. I think I'll attend the upcoming meeting of the City Development Council and make his acquaintance."