Bobby Akart - Desolation

Hank’s face reflected his good mood. “Does this mean he’s being released?”

“Actually, we’re all watching that clock,” replied Sonny, pointing at a basic black-rimmed, white-faced wall clock. The red second hand steadily wound its way around the face. “At noon, the doctor will return to check Jimmy’s vitals and, with a little luck, release him with some detailed instructions for us to follow. Having Jessica at Driftwood Key was a major factor in Jimmy’s early release. They have a lot of respect for her around here.”

“She’s earned it, and we’re fortunate to have her in our family,” said Hank. He then gently squeezed Jimmy’s shoulder. “Just like we’re very lucky to have you as well.”

Jimmy smiled and nodded. Then he asked, “How is Peter?”

“Let me put it this way,” began Hank in response. “He’s about twenty-four hours better than you are. I’ll let him tell you what happened after he discovered you were missing. He’s still recovering from dehydration and muscle soreness. His voice is raspy but stronger, as I said. His face wasn’t beat up like yours, however.”

Jimmy slowly raised his hands to his face to feel the wounds that had opened up due to the constant exposure to salt water. “I had these before I got lost.” He immediately regretted whispering the truth in his parents’ presence.

“What do you mean, son? Was this from the fall?”

“Um, no. The CIA guy did this. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Phoebe and Sonny exchanged glances before looking toward Erin. She worked for the federal government, making her the closest available target for their ire.

She made a hollow promise that she hoped she could keep. “Let’s get you well. Once you feel better, I want you and Peter to tell me every detail of what happened. It seems there was wrongdoing on both sides of that bridge.”

Jimmy nodded, and the Frees let it go, for now. While they took turns in the bathroom, changing clothes and freshening up, the group engaged in small talk. After visiting for twenty minutes, Hank and Erin excused themselves. Hank wanted to look up an acquaintance who worked in hospital administration.

He and Erin took the stairs to the top floor of the hospital and then made their way to the administrative offices. The hospital administrator, who lived in Coral Gables, was assigned to two facilities within the Baptist Health system. He was rarely in the hospital, leaving the majority of the hospital administrative duties to his second in charge, Jeff Freeman. Freeman was the son of another resort owner located in Marathon. He was Mike’s age, so Hank didn’t know him all that well. However, they were friendly enough for what Hank wanted to discuss.

Hank was told by Freeman’s secretary that he was in a conference. Hank explained to her who he was and then introduced Erin as the Secretary of Agriculture. With that information in hand, she gently knocked on her boss’s door and slipped inside for a moment to explain Hank’s arrival. Seconds later, he and Erin were invited into Freeman’s office, where he was meeting with another familiar face.

“Hey, this is a helluva surprise, Hank!” greeted Freeman heartily. He hoisted his heavy frame out of a side chair where he’d been talking with his guest. “I never expected you to set foot off Driftwood Key with all of this going on.” He waved his arms as he spoke.

“Hi, Jeff. I have Sonny Free’s son, Jimmy, downstairs in your trauma wing. He almost drowned the other day.”

“Oh, geez. I had no idea. Is there anything I can do?”

“Nope. He’s recovering nicely, thanks to your staff. With fingers crossed, we hope he’ll be released this afternoon.”

Freeman turned to his other guest, who was now standing. “I think you know Bud Marino. He owns the café and marina in Islamorada.”

“Of course, Commissioner.”

“Yeah, that too,” said Marino with a chuckle. “Lately, Jeff introduces me as the restaurant guy or marina operator. He tries not to tell everyone I’m the district five commissioner. They might jump me or worse.”

“I know the feeling,” added Erin.

“Guys, this is Erin Bergmann, our—” Hank began to make the introductions when Marino interrupted her.

“No introduction necessary, Hank. Madam Secretary, it’s an honor, for the second time, actually.”

“Oh?” Erin asked.

“We met at a fundraiser for the governor years ago. I was impressed when the president chose you for Agriculture. I thought for sure Transportation would have been a better fit. You know, don’t get me wrong.”

“You’re correct, the Department of Transportation was where I belonged. I took Agriculture because I saw it as an opportunity to help Florida orange growers and farmers. I was making some real progress with Congress until Iran and Israel started firing nukes at one another.”

Freeman’s secretary reentered the room with a tray of canned drinks ranging from soda to fruit juices. All were chilled. Each of them grabbed a drink of choice, popped the top, and got comfortable.

Freeman spoke first. “Madam Secretary, I must say—”

“Erin, please. I’m not in the Keys on official business, and the whole Madam Secretary thing made me feel like some television character anyway.”

“Okay, Erin,” said Freeman. He pointed at Hank. “How do you know this guy? I can safely say he is the most well-known, yet elusive character in all the Keys.”

“Well, long story short. I was staying at the inn as the bombs were exchanged in the Middle East.” She glanced over at Hank as she recalled the memorable day together on his Hatteras. “He was kind enough to take me fishing when the Secret Service found us. I’d been summoned back to Washington. I barely made it back in time to enter the underground facility at Mount Weather before we were attacked.”

Marino asked, “May we assume that the attacks are over since you’ve been allowed to leave the bunker?”

She nodded before she responded, “The president has reasonable assurance from China and Russia that they will not initiate hostilities against us. I believe that to be true as well.”

“What about Iran or North Korea?” asked Freeman.

“Let’s just say they are no longer capable of initiating a nuclear attack. They couldn’t fire a BB gun at a squirrel at this point.”

The two men exchanged glances. Their expressions indicated they got the visual.

“Jeff, I wanted to stop by and see how things are going for you,” began Hank. “The realities of the importance of our health care system continuing to function hit home when my brother was attacked by a knife-wielding maniac, and now Jimmy nearly drowned. Are you going to be able to continue your operations?”

Freeman sighed and leaned back in his chair. Interestingly, Marino mimicked his reaction to the question.

“Ironically, we were just discussing that very subject,” replied Freeman. He looked over at his other guest. “May I speak freely with Hank and Erin?”

Marino held up his index finger, indicating Freeman should wait just a moment. He turned to Hank. “If I’m not mistaken, Lindsey was married to Sonny’s brother, am I right?”

“Yes, divorced,” replied Hank before continuing. “And, let me add, not on good terms. I hope this doesn’t offend either of you, but Lindsey and I are not on the best of terms either. To be honest, she bullied me into including Jimmy on her faux-deputy detail at the bridge checkpoints. That’s how he got hurt.”

Marino looked at Freeman and nodded.

Freeman explained, “There’s a lot of concern within the Keys that Lindsey is mismanaging this crisis. For one, the concept of transparency has become totally lost on her. She’s excluded people who would ordinarily be a voice of reason. She’s surrounded herself totally with loyalists who wouldn’t dare disagree with her.”