"Drink?"

Roman settled into the comfortable chair and sighed. "Not with the medications I'm on," he admitted. Then he smiled. "My wife would have my head if I did." He returned his attention to his cell phone.

Dwayne Johnson chuckled as he poured Scotch into his glass. "Well, let's avoid that." He opened the small refrigerator and handed his cousin a sealed bottle of water. Then he settled onto the couch facing Roman. "Problems?" he asked.

Roman coldly smiled and placed his phone in his shirt pocket. "Text from Jericho. He and Black made it their mission to find the money Samoa Joe had hidden away. Jericho texted they'd found that he'd been carefully siphoning off money for a couple of years. Different amounts and not every month to keep from raising any red flags or suspicions. They found all of it in several offshore accounts plus what they figure is part of the money the Authority was paying him to kill me." He cracked open the bottle of water and drank half of it. 'Probably half up front and half when the job was done. Two million total for my life? Helmsley is a cheap bastard.'

"I'm going to tell Jericho to transfer it to you through a special routing," Roman spoke. "Give it all to Ali's family. Tell them it's from an insurance policy."

Dwayne nodded. "I'll take care of it."

"Thanks, Rock."

Dwayne grinned at the use of his old nickname.

"And thanks for agreeing to transfer someone to replace Samoa Joe," Roman added before drinking the rest of the water.

"No problem," Rock shrugged. "Gives some of my people a chance to move up." He drank the last of the Scotch as Roman stood, then got to his feet to give his cousin a hug. "I'll say my goodbyes tonight. I'll be gone by the time you get up tomorrow."

"What time are you leaving?" Roman casually asked.

"About 2am," Rock replied. "You need to start out early in order to get far enough out to sea to do any decent deepsea fishing."

"Think you'll catch much?" Roman's grey eyes twinkled.

Rock smirked. "All depends on the bait you use."

Roman chuckled under his breath. He knew Rock and his associates would be using very special bait. 'Sleep with the fishes, Samoa Joe.'

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Breakfast at Roman's house two days later was a quiet affair. Naomi and Zelina sat with their husbands, looking tired and sad. Jericho quietly played with his silverware, occasionally looking at Mox. Mox had gotten into the habit of trading friendly verbal jabs with Samoa Joe during meals. But in the ten days that Roman had been gone, Mox had barely exchanged a word with anyone and spent his time away from work in the garage working on restoring his motorcycle.

Everyone looked up when Roman entered the room and began filling his plate. The twins exchanged a look then began eating again. Jericho saw Black gently squeeze Zelina's hand then sit up straighter. Mox glanced at Roman when he sat down, obviously trying to figure out the state of Roman's health.

"I know I've gotten reports while I was gone, but I think everyone needs to be brought up to speed," Roman evenly spoke as he began eating. He saw Mox start to stand and barely shook his head, smiling when Mox settled back down in his chair. "What have the Authority been doing?"

"Not much," Black calmly spoke. "The Feds were called in to assist in the investigation into the assassinations of Mayor Heyman and Ms. Evans. Both the Authority and we have been keeping our heads down and avoiding any confrontations or problems."

"Jimmy and I have been working with both Ricochet and Ali's crews to keep them in line," Jey reported. "No problems there."

"What about Shane McMahon?" Roman asked.

Jericho shrugged. "Still keeping a low profile. Hasn't been seen in public during the day. Mostly seen at the gym at night and occasionally eating alone in a restaurant. We did trace him to a property in the northern suburbs. Owned by several shell businesses. Property owner is officially owned by a leasing company renting it out to wealthy clients who, and I quote from their marketing brochure, "need a quiet restful domicile to relax and take a break from their busy lives".

Roman chuckled when Mox quietly grunted.

Jericho grinned. "Apparently the Authority's high end call girls help with that relaxation. Some of Val Venus' ladies are regular visitors."

"Any of them visiting while Shane's there?" Roman asked.

Black shook his head. "Not that we've been able to confirm."

Roman silently nodded. "What about Samoa Joe's people?"

"Black and I've been keeping tabs on them," Jericho answered. "I'm pretty sure they know something's going on."

"Did they ask any questions?"

"Two asked. They only did that once," Black coldly replied.

Roman ignored the gleeful looks exchanged by his twin cousins.

"The official story is that Samoa Joe is no longer in my employ," Roman explained, sitting back in his chair. "He was offered an excellent opportunity on the West Coast, and we amicably parted ways." He ignored Jimmy's snicker, more concerned about the shadows in Mox's blue eyes. "Zelina. Naomi. The two of you will run Ali and Ricochet's crews. Decide between yourselves who takes which crew."

Roman pulled out his cell phone and sent a quick text. A few seconds later, they heard someone walking down the hall towards the dining room.

"Samoa Joe's replacement will go with you to make sure there are no problems questioning your authority," Roman continued. "You'll have the same level of authority that Ali and Ricochet had." He saw Zelina and Naomi exchange a quick look.

"Who's taking Joe's place?" Jericho curiously asked.

"One of Dwayne's people." Roman saw their eyes looking at the man who appeared in the doorway. "Meet Joe's replacement. Drew McIntyre."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Roman spent time in his office after breakfast catching up on mail. He was frustrated that Mox left immediately after breakfast, not allowing Roman to do more than briefly exchange a few words. He sighed and tossed the mail to one side. It wasn't the first time Mox pulled a cut-and-run rather than talk. Little did Mox know that this time he had a secret weapon at his disposal. He looked up when someone knocked on the open door.

"Got time to talk?" Jericho asked, both men holding file folders.

"Sure. Come on in." He watched as Jericho sat down in one of the chairs while Black closed the door behind him.

"McIntire comes with Dwayne's blessing or is this short-term?" Jericho asked as Black sat in the second chair.

"Dwayne's blessing as long as he works out." Roman looked at Black. "You've worked with him. Your assessment?"

"More than competent," Black immediately replied. "He knows when to apply pressure and when to use more…socially acceptable means of obtaining results. He should have no problems keeping Joe's people in line. He went out with Zelina and Naomi so we should have their assessments later today."

Roman nodded. "Jericho, you'll go out with him tomorrow." When Jericho nodded, he added, "Anything else?"

Black handed over a folder. "Information on the deaths of the witnesses in the trial Moxley is involved with. Hayes' death has been officially ruled as a DUI. He was a recovering alcoholic, and it was known that he'd relapsed. The bartender at a bar he was at the night he died confirmed he'd been drinking and he'd cut the man off. The other witness' testimony came from a Dr. Steve Blake. As Angle found out, Dr. Blake exists only on paper. Our more talented hackers have shadowed Angle's tracking into that identity. So far, he's come up with nothing."

"What about the other witnesses?" Roman asked.

"Dean Rawley, aka Mojo Rawley, had a known severe allergy to peanuts," Black reported. "His cause of death was ruled anaphylactic shock due to exposure to peanuts or something with peanuts in them. The local police theorized that someone in the gym was around Rawley with peanuts even though there were signs specifically prohibiting them. His employer was aware of his allergy and took steps to try and prevent exposure."

Black grimly smiled. "Angle checked the local police department's work on tracking down everyone who was in the gym that day. One person existed only on paper. A Maxwell Buck. Our people are also shadowing Angle's investigation on him as well." Black coldly smiled. "But I believe our people can get ahead of him in those searches."

"What about the witness who recanted?"

"Enzo Amore," Black answered. "He found his roommate, Colin Cassidy, in their apartment unconscious from a severe beating. He's still in a coma. In my opinion, whoever was responsible for the deaths of the other two witnesses confronted Amore and warned him off." He stared into Roman's eyes. "Amore and Cassidy have been friends since childhood. Close friends. Cassidy visited Amore while he was in prison, arranged for Amore to move in with him, and got him a job."

"He recanted to protect Cassidy." Jericho unconsciously leaned forward in his chair. "That's the theory we were working on when Alexa Bliss was kidnapped."

"I don't suppose there's any way to figure out who got to Amore?" Roman asked Black.

"Cassidy is in a large hospital. Nobody signs in visitors," Black admitted.

Roman silently nodded. "Keep on it." He turned to Jericho. "Anything new on Angle?"

"Not really," Jericho admitted. "He was a successful prosecutor in Pittsburgh with a clean record and a reputation as a dogged investigator. He then took a job with the Dept. of Justice. Prosecuted and oversaw investigation for the FBI and DEA before being transferred to the Bureau of Prisons."

"Isn't that sort of a step down in his career?" Roman frowned.

"If so, it's because he asked for it," Jericho admitted. "More likely, a successful career move. He's become a bigger fish in a smaller pond."

"Political ambitions?" Roman's grey eyes narrowed.

"If so, he's keeping that to himself," Jericho replied.

Roman glanced at Black. "With this trial coming up, I asked Jericho to do checking into another area. Mox's biological parents suddenly showed up after years of absence."

Black tilted his head towards the ceiling in thought. "That can't be a coincidence," he mused. "And I doubt the former Warden of the prison had the ability to track them down and bring them here." He looked back at Roman. "You believe the Authority is behind their appearance," he stated.

Roman nodded. "And that means the Authority and Warden Cole are tied in together."

Jericho rubbed his chin. "That would explain the guy who showed up at Mox's business looking for him. They're trying to get Mox to break or recant his testimony."

Black snorted. "In my opinion, Mox is made of sterner stuff than that."

Roman grinned. "That's an understatement." He looked at Jericho. "What have you found out about Mox's biological parents?"

"The Moxleys moved here from Chicago when Mox was four years old." Jericho saw the surprised look on Roman's face and paused.

"Sorry," Roman apologized. "I always assumed Mox was born in Davenport. Any idea why they came here?"

Jericho grinned. "The same reason Jack Moxley left suddenly. Gambling debts. As to why they came to Davenport, I've no idea. But once here, he started gambling again." He paused and took a deep breath. "Mox wasn't their only child. They had a daughter, Marie, born 18 months after Mox."

"WHAT?!"

Neither Black nor Jericho blinked at Roman's roar.

"What do you mean Mox has a sister?" Roman demanded.

"Had, Roman. She died at the age of 10 months. In Chicago," Jericho explained. "She was born with a heart defect. Mox would've been just past two when she died. He probably doesn't even remember her."

Roman didn't curse often, but even Jericho was surprised at the flow of curses Roman snarled. When he was done, Black calmly spoke.

"If Jack Moxley was gambling that much in Chicago, he probably didn't have money to pay for medical attention for his daughter," he surmised.

Jericho briefly nodded. "Stands to reason. That could've also been the reason Leah Moxley turned to drugs."

"Where is she?" Roman harshly demanded.

Jericho placed the file folder onto Roman's desk. "She's buried in Chicago," he quietly answered. "A local children's charity donated the burial plot and headstone and paid for the funeral." He hesitated as Roman opened the folder. "I checked on them. They're a valid charity. Unfortunately, the only picture I could find was from her obituary."

Roman glanced at it then closed the folder. "See if you can have someone take that picture and make a nice one from it."

Jericho didn't mention that he'd already started the process. "Are you going to tell Mox?" he gently asked.

"Better me than have either of them spring it on him," Roman sighed. "Anything else?"

"Since leaving Davenport when Mox was seven, Leah Moxley drifted throughout the Midwest. No run-ins with the law here in Davenport, but minor drug charges in St. Louis, Houston, and St. Paul before winding up doing a few years on drug charges in Austin. Did three years in the Austin city jail then was released to a rehab program. Relapsed a few times but has been clean for the last 18 months. During that time, she got into a program to train and educate people for office work. While doing that she was also working for little more than room and board at a homeless shelter in Austin."

"And Jack Moxley?"

Jericho leaned back in his chair. "After leaving Davenport two steps ahead of Patterson's old racket for running up a pretty sizeable gambling debt…which your father paid off…he surfaced in Detroit for a few years. Mostly gambled at the tracks. Things got a little hot between him and the local cops so he took off. Showed up next down in Las Vegas but didn't stay long. Started working his way back east. Phoenix. Oklahoma City. Nashville. Indianapolis. Columbus. Toledo. Erie. Gambling with a few spots in local jails for vagrancy. Last found in Albany, New York doing a 90-day stint for vagrancy."

"Any record of the two of them crossing paths?" Roman asked.

"Not that I could find so far," Jericho admitted. "But there are gaps in their timelines when they weren't on the radar of any local cops."

Roman silently nodded, drumming his fingers on his desk. "Jericho, see if you can find any connection between the Authority and the Moxleys. Aleister, you look for any connection between Warden Cole and the Authority. Mox said they told him they returned to Davenport to make peace with him. I don't think it's a coincidence they showed up just as Mox became a major witness in Cole's trial."

"Does Mox believe them?" Black asked as he stood.

"Doesn't believe Jack. Not sure about Leah." Roman briefly answered. "Thank you, gentlemen."

The two men silently nodded and left the office.

Roman silently stared out his office window, silently making plans.