"Mayor Brodie Lee. District Attorney Adam Cole. May I present Department of Justice Investigator Steve Austin." Malenko saw the brief amusement in Austin's blue eyes as he held out his hand to the Mayor.

"I'm pleased to meet you!" Brodie genially smiled as he shook Austin's hand. "Please sit down."

Austin briefly shook Cole's hand before sitting down.

"I know Chief Malenko has passed this along, but I want to express my personal gratitude for your efforts in keeping us in the loop regarding the Friedman investigation," Brodie began. "I understand you're here with an update. But personally?"

Austin nodded and relaxed in his chair. "Chief Malenko and I go way back…to our time in the FBI. I got approval from the DOJ prosecutor in the Ric Flair case to meet with you and D.A. Cole as a professional courtesy to give you the latest update not only on the Friedman matter but information on another case. The murder of Mike Mizanin."

Cole exchanged a quick look with Malenko who barely nodded.

"Indeed." Brodie leaned back in his chair. "What can you tell us?"

"Right now, Flair is under psychiatric evaluation," Austin began. "His attorney, who's also his daughter, filed an emergency petition for that to happen. Her appointed psychiatrist filed a report that he considers Flair mentally incompetent and unable to stand trial. The prosecutor had him examined by her appointed attorney who filed a report that he considers Flair to be mentally competent and can stand trial. The judge then appointed an independent psychiatrist who is currently evaluating Flair."

"Do you think he's competent?" Cole asked.

"Hell, yeah," Austin nodded. "He's crazy like a fox but incompetent crazy? Not a chance." He looked back at Brodie. "As you know, Friedman was seen going onto Flair's yacht which went out to sea, allegedly for deep sea fishing. Friedman never came back. In questioning the crew on the yacht, those who would talk with me confirmed Friedman's presence on the yacht. This is independent of the recording made by the undercover FBI agent that was ruled inadmissible. Those witnesses are now in protective custody courtesy of the U.S. Marshals."

"And their testimony corroborates the FBI recording even though that recording can't be used in Court?" Cole asked. When Austin nodded, Cole coldly smiled.

"Simply put, Flair shot Friedman. Then two of the crew threw Friedman overboard," Austin crisply spoke.

"Did they know sharks were nearby?" Brodie asked. When Austin silently nodded, he shuddered. "A horrible way to die," he quietly added.

"And the Mizanin murder?" Cole asked.

"That information also came from the FBI recording," Austin admitted. "Both Randy Orton and Shawn Spears were arrested because of that information and then released when the judge threw the recording out. The day after Orton committed suicide, Spears turned State's Evidence and went into the protective custody of the U.S. Marshals."

Cole nodded. "Spears' attorney was adamant that we move immediately to protect his client. We had him in custody with ninety minutes of his attorney calling my office."

"Because of Orton's prior affiliation with Flair, his attorney allowed me to question Spears only for any knowledge of Flair's involvement." Austin shrugged. "What's of interest to you is that Spears admitted giving the security codes of Mizanin's office to Orton the day Mizanin was murdered." He grinned at Cole's gleeful expression. "I got that yesterday so you should be getting a call from Spears' attorney pretty damn soon."

"Unfortunately, we can't put a dead man on trial," Cole sighed. "Although that information could lead to someone else," he mused.

"I'll leave that in the capable hands of Mr. Cole and Chief Malenko." Brodie turned to Malenko. "You'll advise the Mizanin family?" When Malenko nodded, he turned back to Austin. "I'm presuming there's another reason for your presence in Davenport."

Austin smiled. Malenko had warned him the Mayor was not a stupid man. "During the debriefings of the two undercover FBI agents, they both mentioned an incident where they were assaulted by two men." He felt Malenko's foot nudge his foot under the table. 'Like I'm going to forget you warned me not to tell the Mayor everything.' "Since I wanted to bring this information to you…" Austin grinned at Malenko. "…and see my old partner, I was asked to investigate the matter."

"There's some question about it?" Brodie asked in surprise.

Austin shrugged. "Both their statements were given independently of each other. They don't contradict each other except on minor details. However, one of the agents' story changed more than a little during subsequent questioning. Not on anything major. But enough to possibly question his credibility in Court."

"I'm sure Chief Malenko will provide you with all possible assistance." Brodie looked at Malenko. "Have you heard anything more about a memorial service for Mr. Friedman?"

Malenko glanced at Austin. "Friedman's mother suffered a nervous breakdown when told of her son's death…and how he died. His father isn't in much better shape. Pretty much everything's fallen on their daughter's shoulders." He turned to Brodie. "Another family member has come to help; and, from what their daughter tells me, both her parents are somewhat better. She hopes to have the memorial service late next week although that might change based upon her parents' conditions."

Brodie sighed. "Hopefully, the service will provide them with some closure. Please let me know when it's scheduled. I'd like to pay my respects to the Friedman family."

Malenko nodded.

"There's nothing else?" Brodie asked. When no one spoke up, he stood and reached out his hand to Austin. "Once again, I appreciate your efforts in keeping us informed. It's much appreciated."

"You're welcome, Mr. Mayor."

Once in the hallway, Malenko quietly spoke to Cole. "Your office. Now."

Cole's blue eyes flickered back and forth between Malenko and Austin, then nodded. Once inside his office with the door closed, he sighed as he waved the other men to chairs and sat down behind his desk. "What is it that you didn't want the Mayor to know?"

Austin mock-glared at Malenko who calmly shrugged. "Cole's good."

Austin chuckled under his breath and nodded in agreement. "The two FBI agents named the men who attacked them. Samoa Joe and Jon Moxley."

"GODDAMMIT!" Cole's right hand slapped down on the top of his desk.

"Yeah," Austin nodded. "Malenko said Samoa Joe hasn't been seen for quite a while."

"Samoa Joe was last seen a couple of weeks after this alleged assault," Malenko said. "Only story we've uncovered is that he got a 'professional opportunity' on the West Coat and amicably parted ways with Roman Reigns."

"That's the head of the Bloodline here?" Austin asked.

"Head of the Bloodline period," Malenko corrected him. "He was born in Davenport; and, except for going away to college in Georgia, he's lived here all his life."

"And you two don't buy that story?" Austin guessed.

Both Malenko and Cole shook their heads.

"Samoa Joe was Reigns' primary enforcer and heavy-hitter," Malenko explained. "With all that he knew about Reigns and the Bloodline, no way Reigns would let him just walk away."

"Any idea what caused the rift? Other than this so-called 'professional opportunity on the West Coast'?" Austin leaned back in his chair.

"Not a peep," Malenko grunted. "His replacement is from Florida. Man named Drew McIntyre. He's originally from Scotland and is now a naturalized citizen. Officially, his record is clean thanks to witnesses suddenly either disappearing or developing amnesia."

"Moxley's been a friend of Reigns pretty much since middle school." Cole absently tapped his fingers on the desk. "Both his parents deserted him. His mother when he was six, and his father when he was around fifteen. From that point on, he lived with the Reigns family." Cole irritably shifted in his chair. "Thanks to some shenanigans from the former head of the CSI unit and a homicide detective, they framed Moxley for a woman's murder. He spent five years in prison before evidence was discovered of the frame. And Moxley wasn't the only one they framed."

Austin raised his eyebrows, and Cole raised his hand. "Reigns wasn't 'officially' involved although the attorney who spear-headed the movement to prove him innocent is also Reigns' attorney. My office and I went over their findings with a fine-toothed comb…more than once. No doubt Moxley was innocent. He was freed and got eight million dollars in a settlement. He used part of that to open a business and create a foundation that has the Mayor's complete backing."

Austin slowly nodded, understanding Malenko's warning to not tell the Mayor everything. "You convict those two crooked cops? Who owned them?"

"No and no one," Cole grunted. "They were framing people left and right because they 'knew' they were guilty. And I couldn't convict them because they also wound up dead."

"Authority or Bloodline?"

"Neither."

"What?" Austin looked from Cole to Malenko.

"They were poisoned by the prison pharmacist," Malenko wearily explained. "She'd fallen in with a local cult leader, Bray Wyatt. According to him, she was very remorseful; and he 'eased' her way when she shot herself."

Cole muttered something under his breath.

"Let me guess. Wyatt wound up dead."

Malenko nodded. "Beaten to death. Still an open case."

"Moxley has an 'interesting' way of being on the peripheral of murder investigations."

Despite himself, Austin barked out a laugh at Cole's sarcastic tone of voice.

"He was questioned about the incident that you're here to investigate. I'll let Malenko fill you in on those details," Cole continued. "The body of a murder victim was found in the basement of a building owned by Seth Rollins, apparently a friend of his." He saw Austin recognized the name. "Moxley's parents, long estranged, showed up…possibly because of the settlement money. His father, a known compulsive gambler, winds up getting beaten to death a short time later. A few days after his funeral, Moxley's mother suddenly leaves town."

"She wind up dead?" Austin curiously asked.

"In the midst of all this, Moxley was called as a witness in a trial in Des Moines." Malenko gave Cole a break. "The warden of the prison he was in had been arrested for misuse of funds, abuse of prisoners, and other misdeeds. The day Moxley testified against the warden, his mother shows up with a fake press pass. Presumably to gain entrance to the courtroom. She was gunned down in the parking garage. One shot right between the eyes." He shot a look at Cole. "It was determined the security cameras had been put on a loop so there's no footage of the actual murder. The Feds are investigating to see how that was done."

"Sounds like the Bloodline was taking an interest in that trial," Austin mused. "Did they own the warden?"

"Not to our knowledge," Malenko admitted. "Somebody tried to kill the warden, and he turned State's Evidence. Given the warden's collusion with a prisoner, Brock Lesnar, and Lesnar's affiliation with The Authority, it's possible The Authority owned the warden. Oh, and somebody kidnapped Lesnar during a prisoner transfer and beat him to death."

"Jesus," Austin groaned.

"Now, here's the real kicker," Cole added. "The foundation that Moxley created? It's in the memory of his younger sister who died before the age of one from a heart birth defect. The Des Moines found something in the effects of Moxley's mother where she'd written an accusation that Moxley had murdered his baby sister." He leaned forward. "Of course, Moxley wasn't even two years old when the baby died. Oh, and the top two executives of the foundation are Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins."

Austin glared at Malenko. "And here I thought you came to Davenport to take it easy."

Malenko got to his feet. "I've got copies of all the files waiting for you in my office."

"Guess I know what I'll be doing the rest of the day and probably into the night. So much for that leisurely steak dinner I'd planned," Austin groaned as he stood. "Can you get me set up with interviews with Moxley, Rollins, and Reigns tomorrow?"

"I'll do what I can," Malenko promised. "The same firm of attorneys represent all three men."

"Of course, they do," Austin snarked. He glanced at Cole who was looking at the messages that had been neatly stacked on his desk. "Want to sit in, Cole?"

"Just out of curiosity, I would," Cole admitted. "Not sure I'll be able to make it." He waved a pink message paper in the air. "Spears' attorney wants me to meet with his client."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Barrett hid his irritation at being summoned to Gunn's office behind a genial smile. As he knocked on Gunn's door, he again considered the possibility of moving to another station.

"Come in."

Barrett opened the door and stepped inside. Closing the door behind him, he widened his smile. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yeah. Sit down, Wade." Gunn reached for a file on the side desk.

"Is anything wrong?" Barret calmly asked as he sat down.

"No, nothing at all," Gunn assured him. "Part of what I consider my job is to foster and support talented reporters. Like you."

Barrett raised an eyebrow. "Thank you for the compliment." He didn't believe that for a second.

Gunn waved a hand in the air. "Just stating a fact. And to be honest, in my opinion, you're wasted in Davenport. This is a small market, caught between the St. Louis and Chicago markets. It's a good place for rookie reporters and us oldsters who aren't that far off from retirement. But not for investigative reporters." He handed Barrett the folder. "I've kept my ears open and had feelers out with some colleagues who owe me a favor or two. What do you know about Baltimore?"

"Not much," Barrett acknowledged as he opened the folder.

"Baltimore has three things that I think would benefit you," Gunn began. "First, it's a much larger market than Davenport. Second, the crime rate is higher which would provide you with more possible stories to investigate and report. Third, Baltimore has a close proximity to Washington, DC which would provide you with the opportunity to do some political reporting on national issues."

Barrett couldn't argue any of those points. But this sounded too good to be true. "This is a firm offer?" he asked, closing the folder.

Gunn nodded. "The opening will be available in six weeks. That should give you time to find a place to live and get settled in."

"I'd like to review this more in depth," Barrett admitted. "Can I get back to you later today?"

"Of course," Gunn nodded. "The station manager's contact information is in the folder. Feel free to call her with any questions."

Barrett stood and held out his hand. "I appreciate this."

Gunn shook his hand and smiled. "Just part of my job."

A brief conversation two hours later with his potential new boss confirmed the higher salary and answered the only other question he had. He was going to Baltimore.