1 Law 4 All - Vegas. Billy Angel

put their faces on different monitors.

      "Good morning," Carol greeted Kitiona. "What's tomorrow like?"

      Kitiona beamed. "Just another wonderful day in paradise. How's your new apartment?"

      "Our Annapolis apartment's great. We have a view overlooking the Potomac River. Anna and I are keeping the sailors guessing which pub we'll visit next."

      "Greetings everyone," Ben said standing behind Mac. The wide-angle webcam showed Ben and Mac, with Bob relaxing on the sofa in the background.

      "Sailors aside, ladies, we may have a criminal case," Ben said focusing their attentions.

      "If it's a criminal case, it's most likely a corruption case, too," Juan commented.

      Mac asked Kitiona, "Has Mark heard anything from his sister?"

      "No and I talked with him this morning. He's thinking about postponing his research and going to Las Vegas to look for her."

      Jimmy jumped in. "We haven't located Janelle yet. Mark would be smart to sit tight until we discover her whereabouts."

      "Mark and Kaia are here with me," Kitiona responded.

      Mark spoke up. "Thanks Jimmy. I hope you're going to find Janelle soon."

      Jimmy asked, "Ben, what do you think?"

      "Give us what you have, Jimmy."

      "My buddy, Rick Rizzo, a LVPD detective is sitting behind me. Everyone say hi to Rick."

      A chorus of hi's came over the computer speakers in Jimmy's office.

      Jimmy continued, "Rizzo and I searched Janelle's apartment. While Rizzo was looking around inside the apartment, I got mugged by the guys we think took Janelle's personal belongs. Then Janelle's friend, Wendy, the one that got Janelle's senator text, winds up in the hospital with a smashed in face. I say this smells of someone trying hard to cover their tracks."

      "Any info on the guys who mugged you or Wendy?" Juan asked.

      Rizzo voice could be heard coming from behind Jimmy. "Wendy thinks her benefactor, Ralph Locci, is involved. He gave her fifty grand and told her to get out of town."

      Carol asked, "Who's this Locci character?"

      Jimmy answered. "He's the CEO of the Galaxy Hotel on the strip. And that's not good. You know he's connected some way to the mob."

      Kitiona wondered out loud. "Is the American mob into everything?"

      Ben gave the group some perspective. "The mob is about making money, without working too hard. They've tapped into legal and illegal money making ways. No surprise they're in Vegas. So, you guys might as well get use to hearing about them in almost every political investigation the Foundation pursues."

      "Great," Carol said. "I'm glad the Foundation has its own place now. Maybe they won't blow my apartment up again!"

      Chapter 14 Assignments

      Ben could feel their focus vaporizing. He needed to keep this all business. "Correct me if I'm wrong Jimmy and Mac. Mark realized his twin sister went missing almost two weeks ago. The last thing we know Janelle did was text 'got a senator tonight' to her friend Wendy. We know Wendy was beat up and is leaving town. We know Janelle's personal effects were taken from her apartment under mysterious circumstances."

      "That sounds about right," Jimmy said. Mac nodded in agreement.

      "Ok gang, input," Ben said.

      Carol started. "I will find out what senators were in Vegas this past month. And focus on anyone that was there about two weeks ago. Their congressional offices keep a log on their whereabouts, 24/7. Then, I'll narrow the dates down to when Janelle sent that text."

      "What if it was a state senator?" Ben mused looking at Carol's image on the computer screen.

      "I can dig into the state records, too. But that will take some time." Carol frowned at her webcam.

      Juan contributed, "I'm working on voter fraud here in Florida for a Republican Pac. You know the definition of swing state is a state susceptible to voter fraud or a state without voter I.D. laws."

      "Enough with the commercial, Juan. What can you handle?" Mac asked.

      "The Galaxy corporate offices are here in Florida. Their Galaxy Extreme hotel is outside of Orlando, near Disney World. It's about ninety minutes from my office. I'll figure out a way to sneak a peek at their bookings. That should open up some interesting doors," Juan surmised.

      Mac volunteered Ben and Bob to trace where Janelle's text message originated. Ben nodded saying, "If Bob can't tech his way through the phone companies records, Col Richard E. Lacey, my retired Air Force pal, may have a helpful connection or two."

      "Kitiona, would you and Mark find out what phone company Janelle used?" Ben asked.

      Mac volunteered, "I'll investigate Ralph Locci."

      Ben semi-ordered, "Jimmy and Rizzo are at ground zero. You guys keep poking around. Maybe you can get more information from Wendy."

      "We'll do our best," Jimmy said. He kept Sugar and Tonya's involvement out of this conversation.

      Ben encouraged the group. "Very productive meeting gang. Get in touch with me or Mac when you get any vital information. One of us will pass it on to the rest of you. I'll give you a few hours notice when we'll all meet again." Ben ended their meeting with a "Go get 'um!"

      Ben glanced at Bob on the couch sleeping. "He worked all night to get this system operational."

      "He did a good job." Mac said. "Let's take him out to dinner."

      Ben agreed. "Sounds good. How about the Spaghetti Factory?"

      The rest of the meeting members planned their next strategic move.

      At the Las Vegas Galaxy Hotel, Sneed and Wing were waking up from their morning naps. Their jet landed at McCarran International Airport. A Galaxy limo met them at the Ambassadors private terminal and dropped them off at the hotel. They went straight to their two-bedroom penthouse suite and crashed.

      When they woke, Sneed called room service ordering coffee and turkey sandwiches. Fifteen minutes later they heard a knock on the door. To Sneed's surprise, Ralph Locci rolled in the cart. "I hope the accommodations are suitable Senator."

      "Yes," said Sneed. He looked at Wing. "Mr. Locci this is Mr. Wing."

      "It's a pleasure," Locci said shaking Wing's hand. "I've made tentative plans for you this evening. You'll meet your escorts for drinks at eight. At nine, they will bring you to the Poker finals. After the finals, they will be waiting for you in the Planets lounge. We have an excellent late night menu."

      Sneed's red-haired flashback didn't temper the night's anticipation. Wing showed a sliver of teeth when his lips parted happily. They were both disappointed in delaying their planned trip to Chelsea's Pony Farm. Sneed looked forward to trying a midget on for size.

      Locci placed two World Series of Poker passes on the meal service cart and started towards the door. "Those passes are good for this afternoon's session, too. If you need anything else, just holler." He gave Sneed a hard glance. "You boys stay out of trouble!"

      Locci left and the door closed. Sneed and Wing attacked the sandwiches. Wing liked American sandwiches.

      Jimmy asked Rizzo, "What did you think of our Foundation group?"

      "You guys are real causal considering where this investigation may take us."

      "We went up against Senator Giardina and Amerastar Corp a little over a year ago. I guess we're getting use to banging on the big guys. How about dinner, Anthony's about seven?"

      Rizzo said, "Got to go, I have a day job. See you then."

      Jimmy said, "I'm going to stop by the hospital to see how Wendy's doing. Maybe she can give us more details on the car she saw. Then, I'll invite the girls to dinner, if they're not working