By John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Let’s face it. In 3,000 pages of testimony and exhibits in the investigative file of Gov. Robert Bentley there are more than a few nuggets.

Like the way a Bentley staffer referred to Rebekah Caldwell Mason as “Flim-Flam.”

Like the way this went far beyond talk, and far beyond sex too.

Here is the first round of gold.

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One of the favorite lines in the investigation, in sworn testimony from Bentley's former scheduling director Linda Adams. Adams, emerging as one of the heroes in this absurdity, did not care much for Mason.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Gov. Bentley, trying to fire Wanda Kelly because she knew too much, made up this. From Linda Adams sworn testimony. You will remember Bentley, in the recordings, wanted to move the now-infamous Wanda's desk.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Wanda, to be clear, was not having any of that. (This from Adams testimony)

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

When Bentley wanted to be alone with Mason he wanted nothing on the calendar. Called it -- get this -- "hold time." Or "gov time."

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

This is what Bentley/Mason "Hold Time" looked like on a typical day.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Linda Adams said Flim-Flam's husband, Jon Mason, could not be that blind.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

And about that $92,000 in taxpayer money to Jon Mason? MM-mm-mm. This from Linda Adams deposition.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

This may be the most telling thing in the whole sordid affair. Bentley needed to get Rebekah Mason out of the office. He made calls and Alabama Power wouldn't even hire her.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Bentley began using private planes on the campaign to avoid scrutiny. Turns out they were using pilots with warrants against them. Mason, of course, was in charge of the campaign.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Bentley bodyguard RayLewis began to lose faith in the governor in 2014. Lewis, who kept copious notes on his calendar, determined honesty was "not there."

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Gov. Bentley would leave home after arguments with his wife over Mason. Security would have to find him. -- Linda Adams.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

After the fights with his wife, the state apparently had to use choppers to find the governor. -- Linda Adams.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Linda Adams, by the way, worked for governors all the way back to Guy Hunt and never saw anything like this.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

And -- oh -- Mason (Flim-Flam as staff called her) demanded that chairs be removed in her office and replaced with a sofa.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

At this point in our story LuvGuv & Flim-Flam are sad, because a young lady was hired and put in an office that was too close to the governor's office. From Linda Adams testimony.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Ray Lewis notes what a lot of staffers say. If you questioned the relationship, you were on the way out. Bentley knew about Lewis' pay, but when I wrote about it he threw Lewis under the bus.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Ray Lewis notes. This came after Bentley was asked to stand up against gay marriage.

"Mrs. B said the Gov felt like he was being pressured. Mrs. B said the Gov could not stand up against gay marriage because the argument for standing up against it was family values. She said the Gov could not … because of his affair with RCM."

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Heather Hannah, Mrs. Bentley's former chief of staff and a hero in this probe, explains that Mrs. Bentley learned about the affair because her husband was not smart enough to understand the cloud.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

We pick back up with moonstruck LuvGuv, elated after buying super hot Celine Dion tickets in Vegas. (This from Linda Adams)

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

That's right. Bentley and staff took a state plane to Vegas for a convention. And didn't go to meetings.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Does Jon Mason deserve his $92,000 state job? Linda Adams doesn't think so.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Alas, the LuvGuv's handwritten notes -- while trying to drum up a crisis for a tax increase -- seem apropos now.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Dianne Bentley was going through hell, according to Ray Lewis' notes. This is stunning:

"Mrs B and I talked about the Gov treating her badly because she has low self esteem and knows that she will not leave. She also said that he emotionally and mentally abuses her and that she is so embarrassed because that is her theme or platform as First Lady."

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Those who aren't taken aback by juvenile texting and geriatric sex might be more concerned with the selling of influence by the governor's office.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

This from Heather Hannah.

The former spokeswoman for Bentley also tried to discredit Spencer Collier, and claimed Robert Bentley didn't use email. (Which we now see was BS)

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Ray Lewis was wondering about blackmail.

"During my meeting with Sec. Collier I again expressed my feeling about the Govs. Involvement with RM. Told him Gov seems to be under other pressures (Blackmail)"

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

This is what happened to Heather Hannah's car after Bentley blamed her for Dianne Bentley's knowledge of the affair. Coincidence? Hannah thinks not.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Alabama's new top cop is in a spot. Stan Stabler, to save his job, stood beside Bentley and said he knew of no affair.

From Hannah testimony.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

More proof of Stabler's deceit, from Ray Lewis' calendar.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

At this point Bentley is dumping staffers to make sure Mason has a seat on his planes. This from Ray Lewis calendar.

"Stan Stabler mentioned that he had talked to Linda and that Linda said Gov wanted to put RCM on state plane and have Mrs. B’s assistant fly on a commercial flight."

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

You gotta feel for Mrs. Bentley. From Ray Lewis.

"Mrs. B said that she took some pictures while celebrating the Gov’s birthday but had to allow the Gov to look at them before they were posted to make sure they did not offend RCM. Mrs. B made the comment that it was bad when you had to make sure you’re not upsetting the mistress."

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

From Heather Hannah.

At this point the LuvGuv's staff was so flustered by his antics that they dug up financials on him to scare him straight. Didn't work. Quite the contrary.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Heather Hannah was told to destroy incriminating records.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Heather Hannah was told by all sorts of people to trash evidence that could incriminate the LuvGuv. She listened to dad (David Hannah #74) instead.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

This is why Hannah didn't fill out an NDA. What dad wouldn't want to hear that?

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

The bumbler-in-chief was ticked after texting his wife messages meant for Mason. Bentley accused staff -- in particular Hannah -- of"bugging him.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Yep. Like the governor's press office said, Bentley doesn't even use email. Right.

"Mrs. B... said he has had multiple email accounts."

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Mess with Mason and you got fired. This to Angi Smith (Stalnaker) who helped get Bentley elected, and then screwed up by telling him what he needed to hear.

From Hannah sworn statement.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Changed flight logs? Isn't there a law against that?

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

When Ray Lewis notices the burner phones.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

On the inauguration day the Bentley staff almost comically tried to keep Mrs. Bentley from running into Rebekah Mason, this dress was the talk of the town.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

How did the relationship start? Heather Hannah thinks this was it.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Ray Lewis considered Rebekah Mason a security threat.

"I have expressed to the COS that I feel RCM posss a security threat. I feel there are signs of mental illness and that there is even more concern of a jilted, embarrassed husband lashing out."

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

This, as it turns out, was everything. And it was why Heather Hannah was harassed.

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John Archibald | jarchibald@al.com

Ray Lewis saw Robert Bentley developing a "God complex"

"Gov has changed. He is very arrogant and seems to have almost a God complex."