Mox grinned when Roman opened his bedroom door. "Somebody's all dressed up," he teased.

Roman rolled his eyes as he stepped back to allow Mox to enter. Inwardly, he was pleased that Mox was teasing him. He knew his brother wasn't looking forward to meeting with Angle later that day. "There's a City Development Council meeting later this morning. Our new Mayor will be there, and I wanted to make his acquaintance." He began tying a dark red tie around his neck. "You ready for Angle this afternoon?"

Mox shoved his hands in his jeans pocket and shrugged. "He said he wanted to go over my testimony. How many times does he want to do that?" he grumbled.

Roman hesitated, then picked up a grey suit jacket. "At this point, he probably wants to play the part of the defense attorney to see how well you're going to hold up under cross examination." He grinned when Mox snorted. "Come on, let's go eat. We're both going to have to play nice today."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

After breakfast, Mox disappeared to the basement gym to work off some steam. Roman didn't envy Angle if he was going to be challenging Mox. The Federal agent was likely to get his head bitten off. He walked to his office followed by several of his people with Jericho closing the office door behind them. As everyone sat down, Roman hung his suit jacket over the back of his chair. "What have we got?" he asked as he sat down behind his desk.

The twins exchanged glances, then Jey spoke. "Street rumor is that Jack Moxley was killed for not paying off a rather large gambling debt. The amount varies from 'lot of money' to close to ten grand. However, none of our operators report ever seeing him in any of our places or hearing anything about somebody running up that kind of debt." He shrugged. "So, if the rumor is true, he did all his gambling with the Authority."

Roman studied his cousins for a few seconds. "You believe the rumor?"

"Hell, no," Jimmy replied. "If he was as addicted to gambling as we've been led to believe, he would've been in one of our places at some point. Plus, if he owed a large sum, he wouldn't have gone to meet anybody about it unless he was going to pay them off. He'd run from gambling debts all his life, why not run from this one?"

"And it's bad business to kill someone for a gambling debt," Jey pointed out. "Especially on a first-time offense even if they knew his background. A good solid beat-down, yeah. But killing him? Doesn't make sense." He exchanged a glance with his twin. "Unless they figured they could get the money from his wife or Mox."

Roman found himself snorting. "Mox wouldn't give a penny to Jack…or to anyone to help Jack. And if they go to Leah, she'll run to Mox." He glanced at McIntyre. "Do we have someone watching her?"

McIntyre nodded. "We've someone set up in the apartment across the parking area with a direct line of sight to her door. Nobody's shown up, and she's kept inside except to go out to get her mail."

"What have you gotten from your PD contacts?"

McIntyre handed over a folder. "The autopsy report confirms what the cops told Mox. Death by blunt force trauma. The details showed he was worked over professionally by more than one person. The coroner estimates at least three or four people because Jack had very few defensive wounds. His death is officially listed as a homicide."

"Are they looking at Mox for this?" Roman asked.

"It doesn't appear they are," McIntyre shook his head. "They've heard the same rumors about a gambling debt, but aren't making much headway in that part of the investigation. Mox gave them a solid alibi, and they've confirmed it." He smiled. "Although, I'm sure they believe our security people at the gate could be lying. But they can't prove it."

"What about Leah?"

"She's not seen as a suspect by them," McIntyre explained. "Physically, she couldn't have beaten him that badly by herself; and they can't connect her to anyone who could've been involved. They can't even connect her with Mox since he's been either at his business or here and can be alibied." He nodded at the report. "The reason the cops wanted street camera surveillance tapes was to confirm Leah's statement that she drove around looking for Jack. She told them what car she was driving, and they've confirmed that part of her statement. We know he was beaten at that warehouse where he was found, called in by an anonymous tip, of course. Leah was seen elsewhere on the street security cameras during part of the time the coroner estimates he was killed. And the security cameras at the apartment complex show her arriving back at her apartment about the time she told the cops she returned."

Roman noticed McIntyre's smirk. "And?"

"The cops asked for the recording of her returning and when she and Jack left." McIntyre was openly amused. "They were told the complex was having problems with their security cameras. The cameras begin recording when a car approaches the gates. But there have been recent malfunctions where the cameras aren't recording. They blame it on faulty sensors, and are working to correct the problem."

"That's convenient," Black sardonically commented.

McIntyre chuckled. "I checked with our IT people. There's a technology that could determine the frequency of the camera sensors and allow them to be jammed. There's no way of determining if that happened, of course."

"But if it did, that means whoever lured Jack out of the complex didn't want to be seen," Jimmy mused.

Black glanced over his shoulder at him. "Or to make sure no one saw Jack and Leah leaving together."

Roman's eyes narrowed. "That would mean Leah was an accomplice in Jack's murder."

Black shrugged. "It's an option."

"The cops are still performing background checks on both Moxleys. So far, they've found nothing that we don't already know," McIntyre concluded.

"Jericho, anything on their finances?" Roman asked.

"I should have something concrete within a few days," Jericho answered.

"And the other Moxley project?"

"Should have the results later today," Jericho promised.

"Bring it to me after dinner." Roman looked at Black. "What have you found out about our new Mayor?"

"Brodie Lee is in his early forties. Married for the last thirteen years to the same woman. Two children, both boys. His parents were killed in an auto accident when he was in college. He majored in Business and Accounting." Black placed a folder on Roman's desk. "He began a small Mom-and-Pop grocery in his neighborhood with the insurance money from his parents' deaths. He uses local producers as much as possible. Almost all of the dairy, produce, and bread come from local vendors." He briefly smiled. "He was a financial backer of the Davenport Fruit and Jam business that started four years ago."

"He owns part of it?" Roman asked.

Black's smile widened. "His agreement was that if the business succeeded, he would be repaid for his financial contribution. At that point, he would no longer be a part of the business."

"He walked away from a successful business?" Jericho asked in surprise.

Black nodded. "He's helped other small businesses in the same way while expanding his own operations. He has several small neighborhood grocery stores throughout the city, mostly in the inner city. He's known to extend credit to customers when they have financial difficulties. He also contributes regularly to the local food banks."

"How did he get into politics?" Roman asked.

Black settled back in his chair. "Six years ago, there was a bad winter in the Midwest. The city was completely unprepared as far as snow removal and keeping the streets safe for drivers. The more reckless of the criminal element took advantage of the slow response time by the cops, driving up the incidents of robberies and home invasions."

Roman slowly nodded. "I remember my father warning our people to stay in line."

"At the next election, practically the entire City Council was voted out," Black continued. "Lee was part of the new members of City Council. He doesn't have the reputation as a hothead or grandstander. So, when he speaks, members of Council listen to him. He presents his positions calmly and logically. He does his homework and dodges no questions. He has the reputation of working behind the scenes to obtain a consensus, willing to do some give and take…up to a point. He's quick to share the praise with others and willing to work with others when he doesn't get what he wants. He holds meetings with his constituents in his various grocery stores after hours and has the reputation of listening closely and promising no more than he feels he can deliver."

"An honest virtuous man in politics?" Jericho snorted.

Black nodded. "So far, yes. He has no hint of scandal either professionally or personally. He's known as a devoted family man with few political enemies. And none of them don't have anything really bad to say about him. Just angry they were outmaneuvered."

Roman's eyebrows raised. "I'm looking forward to meeting his paragon of political virtue. Anything else?"

"The meeting with Helmsley is scheduled for 4pm today at one of the casino VIP poker rooms," Jericho reported with a slight grin. "Only way into or out of the room is through the casino. And the room has glass walls on three sides. He'll bring two people. You bring two people."

Roman silently nodded. He would've preferred somewhere more private; but with the room basically open to public view, it wasn't likely Helmsley would pull anything. "What's close to that room?"

"Roulette tables and a snack bar with tables."

Roman nodded. "Start infiltrating our people on a rotating basis starting around 1pm. They can gamble a little with the people Helmsley will have in the crowd."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Roman had to admit he was impressed by the new Mayor's speech to the City Development Council. Despite Black's report, he'd taken one look at Brodie Lee and expected a wild 'hellfire and brimstone' speech about making Davenport a better place for honest folk to live.

Instead, he heard a respectful speech about the late Mayor Paul Heyman and Finance Director Lacey Evans. He introduced Evans' replacement, Robert Roode, who'd been the Assistant Finance Director and worked closely with her. The rest of his speech was focused on the need to bring in new high-wage businesses while protecting the small business owners from being crowded out of the marketplace.

Members of the actual City Development Council sat on the dais with the Mayor and were apparently in agreement with what he said. The audience, made up of members of the business community and some members of the media, were also apparently in approval.

Roman also noticed the owner of the Authority's new Casino and Hotel, Antonio Cesaro, in the audience, quietly commenting with a man sitting next to him. It took a few minutes for Roman to recognize him as John Layfield, manager of the Authority's hotel.

He also saw Seth sitting towards the back of the room. As Brodie began concluding his speech, Roman took out his phone and started typing. After a few seconds, he erased what he'd typed and chose a different topic.

'We still on for dinner tomorrow?'

Seth was startled when his cell phone began vibrating. He grabbed it from his pocket to read the text then quickly replied.

'Sure. Why? Did something come up?'

'Yeah, but I don't want to talk about it before we all have dinner. Can you meet me at my house Wednesday afternoon about 2pm? It's about Mox, and I may need your help.'

Seth replied with a thumbs up and wondered what was going on now. He saw the text Roman sent with his address and replied with another thumbs up.

Roman waited until Cesaro had spoken with Brodie before making his way towards where the man was patiently greeting people. Finally getting his turn, he held out his hand. "Mayor Lee, I'm Roman Reigns."

Brodie smiled and shook Roman's hand. "I'm glad you attended today. You have quite a successful track record for developing new business opportunities."

"Thank you," Roman smiled in return. "I'm working on a rather ambitious plan that I feel will benefit the City and help some of the more disadvantaged of our population." He shrugged. "It still needs some work, but I hope you will give it some attention when I have it ready for your review."

"I look forward to seeing it," Brodie nodded, looking intrigued. "It sounds like something I'd be greatly interested in putting into operation if possible."

Roman nodded with another smile and turned away. He wasn't sure what he was going to propose, but he could see the benefits of expanding operations with the approval of the City administration.