「Three days later, in Erie City.」
This port city on the shores of Lake Erie, once the industrial jewel of Northern Pennsylvania, was now depressed and dilapidated.
The General Electric locomotive plant had long since laid off most of its workers, and the massive factory buildings stood empty.
The conference room in City Hall was hazy with smoke.
The Mayor of Erie, a Republican in his sixties, frowned as he looked at John Murphy, who sat across from him.
"Representative Murphy, I respect you, but you're a Democrat."
The Mayor tapped on the table.
"And you're running for Senator, challenging our party's candidate, Warren. I can't possibly support you publicly. The state party would kill me."
Murphy smiled.
He took a document from his briefcase and pushed it across the table to the mayor.
"Mr. Mayor, this is a letter of intent for a purchase, just signed by the Pittsburgh City Government."
