Black, a Democrat, wanted to keep his grip on power -- he wanted a third term as House speaker.

Decker, a conservative Republican, could make it happen. But Decker wanted money and control of a job for his vote. At the IHOP, prosecutors said Tuesday, the pair struck a deal. Soon, cash and checks flowed in secret meetings.

Newly released court documents and testimony on Tuesday show for the first time in detail how Black and Decker's deal unfolded.

In the end, Black strengthened his influence. He continued to wheel and deal with an almost singular focus on holding power, court records and other documents show.

Black has been the subject of scandal for more than a year as state and federal authorities investigated his involvement with the state lottery, video poker interests and the confluence of campaign money and his support for little-known eye exam and chiropractic laws.

But it was the deal with Decker, who has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges and awaits sentencing, that kept Black in charge when he almost lost it.

A DEAL IS HATCHED

LATE 2002/EARLY 2003: Republicans did well in state elections, outnumbering Democrats in the House 61-59. The GOP was set to be in charge of the House for the first time since the mid-1990s. Black seemed to be on the way out after two terms as speaker.

But some Republicans, including Decker, were not happy. Decker wasn't in line for a leadership post, even though he had seniority.

Black met at the IHOP restaurant off Interstate 85 in Salisbury with Decker, who had been in the legislature 18 years, and then-Rep. Steve Wood, a High Point Republican who had previously supported Black. They discussed possibilities for a power-sharing coalition, according to testimony Tuesday from a high-ranking SBI official who helped lead the investigation.

"Mr. Black and Mr. Decker went into the bathroom of the IHOP, where Mr. Decker told Mr. Black that he would change parties -- to a Democrat -- and he would vote for Mr. Black as speaker of the House if Mr. Black would give him $50,000 cash; $20,000 of that up front," SBI agent Randy Myers said.

Black countered. He wanted to give Decker campaign checks instead of cash, saying "they would be easier to explain away," Myers said.

Decker agreed to the offer.

Decker also sought control over a $50,000-a-year state job that he could give someone else.

THE MONEY FLOW BEGINS

JAN. 24, 2003: Decker switched to the Democratic Party, a move that immediately brought condemnation from Republicans. Many called him a traitor.

Decker returned to Raleigh and stayed at the Red Roof Inn south of downtown in a room Black paid for, according to records and court testimony. Black spent more than $750 on hotel bills for Decker.

JAN. 28, 2003: Black handed two checks to Decker, who put them in his campaign account, according to testimony from state investigators. One was for $750 from the BellSouth political action committee. The other was for $4,000 from the state optometric society PAC.

JAN. 29, 2003: The legislature opened its session in Raleigh.

CASH IN A MANILA ENVELOPE

JAN. 30-FEB. 4, 2003: The exact date is unclear, but Decker visited Black's corner office at the legislature in this time period, according to the SBI.

There, with the two men alone, "Mr. Black gave Mr. Decker a manila envelope which contained $12,000 in cash and a number of checks," Myers said.

The exact total of the checks in the envelope is unclear, but likely amounted to at least $13,000, based on Decker's bank deposit records.

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