Charles took the floor. “The last report we’ve had, and it was from Lizzie herself, said Cosmo was now semiconscious. Dr. Wylie is more than pleased and is still with him. Lizzie said he was trying to talk, but it was just gibberish because he’s so full of drugs. She thinks he was trying to say something about Little Jack. He’s in and out, as she put it, but Dr. Wylie said that was all right. Both of them are cautiously optimistic. I do believe that is a good sign. In other words, no brain damage.”

Jack nodded. “Did that guy Meadows ever call back?”

“No!” Fergus said. “Dennis called again, and just like the other calls, it went right to voice mail. I’ve lost track of the number of calls we’ve made to that SOB. Something is not right where that man is concerned.”

“What do we know about him? Who was checking him out? Has anyone given any thought to calling in Snowden?”

“That’s three questions, Jack. Avery is on his way. He was in Seattle. He might even be here by now since I called him earlier. He’s free to go on the payroll. I was just about to call for a status report from the boys when you arrived, so let’s hear it, lads,” Charles said.

Dennis raised his hand to go first. Charles nodded.

“Background here first. The Nevada Gaming Control Board, also known as the State Gaming Control Board, is a Nevada state governmental agency involved in the regulation of gaming throughout the state, along with the Nevada Gaming Commission. It was founded in 1955 by the Nevada legislature. The Board is composed of three members appointed by the governor. Cosmo is one of those three. Board members serve four-year terms in a full-time capacity.

“The Commission is responsible for administering regulations, granting licenses, and ruling on disciplinary matters brought before it by the Gaming Control Board. It has five members appointed by the governor. Meadows is a member of the Commission, and each commissioner serves a four-year term in a part-time capacity. One member acts as chair. Meadows is the current chair. The Commission is the final authority on licensing matters, having the ability to approve, restrict, limit, condition, deny, revoke, or suspend any gaming license.

“The Commission is also charged with the responsibility of adopting regulations to implement and enforce the state laws governing gambling based on recommendations from the Control Board.

“When the Board believes discipline against a gaming license is appropriate, it acts as prosecutor, while the Commission acts as judge and jury to determine whether any sanctions should be imposed. Cosmo, as a lawyer and former federal prosecutor—like you, Jack—wears two hats.”

“Thanks for the tutorial, Dennis, but what does all that mean?” Jack demanded.

“I have no clue, Jack. Maybe Meadows and Cosmo had a falling out over something gambling related. On one hand, since the two of them jointly own the property, he would seem to be on good terms with Cosmo, or at least was on good terms. But on the other hand, professionally speaking, he’s chair of the Commission, meaning that he serves as judge and jury when the Control Board prosecutes casinos and the like for infractions of the rules. So you tell me. The guy can’t be that busy that he can’t return phone calls.”