Bobby Akart - Desolation

Neither Erin nor Mike answered as they both fell deep in thought.

Wednesday, November 13

Key West

Mike dropped Hank and Erin off a couple of blocks away from the administration building. Hank thought it was best to keep some semblance of separation between him and Mike, especially when his brother was on official business. As they walked along Whitehead Street, they discussed their approach to dealing with Lindsey. Hank reminded Erin that they most likely wouldn’t be welcomed after the harsh words he and Lindsey had exchanged following the hurricane.

“It seems Lindsey takes issue with her constituents showing up unannounced,” he opined. “It’s not like I can pick up the phone and schedule an appointment.”

“Are you sure bringing me into her office is a good idea?” asked Erin.

“Can I answer that after we see her?”

“No, you coward,” Erin replied before giving Hank a playful shove.

“Well, okay, but you might not like the answer.”

“Try me.”

“I think Lindsey would probably blow me off like she tried to do after the storm. However, the fact you’re with me will pique her curiosity.”

Erin shoved him again. “I see how it is. I’m not arm candy. I’m more like a ticket to get in the door.”

“Right! Makes sense, doesn’t it? Lindsey is a selfish person, and unless I can be of use to her, she’ll ignore me. However, we both know she’s had a run-in with the president, or at least his staff. The fact a member of his cabinet is at her office door will make her intrigued or worried. Either way, she’ll let us in.”

Erin grabbed his arm and stopped them just short of the entrance. “Oh, about that. I’m no longer Secretary of Agriculture. I’ve been removed from the cabinet. However, I am still a special assistant to the president.”

Hank thought for a moment. “You and Lindsey have met, right?”

“Yes, years ago at a fundraiser for the governor. I’m not sure she’ll remember me.”

Hank placed his hand on Erin’s back and urged her ahead of him as they approached the entry. “She’ll remember. I won’t lie and say you’re still the Ag Secretary.”

Erin interrupted him. “Just say I’m in the Helton administration. It’s the truth.”

Hank nodded. “Got it. Here we go.”

He opened the heavy entrance door, and the two of them entered the stuffy building. They removed their surgical masks and shoved them into their pockets. Like before, the building was bustling with activity, but the first thing Hank noticed was the increased police presence. With the power outage, the metal detectors were not operable. However, they were still being used to funnel people into the building. Hank and Erin had both left their guns in Mike’s truck, as they anticipated Lindsey might confiscate them.

The two of them made their way to Lindsey’s office suite without difficulty. A few people recognized Hank, and he took the time to speak with them at length. Visiting Lindsey was only one of their goals in coming to Key West. Hank wanted to get a feel for how her government operations were holding up and to touch base with as many acquaintances as he could. He might need a friend in the building at some point.

Hank knew Lindsey’s secretary, and the two made small talk. As discussed, he introduced Erin as being with President Helton’s administration. Hank and Erin had barely settled into the seats in Lindsey’s outer office when her doors flew open. The secretary exited, leaving Lindsey standing alone in front of her desk to greet her visitors. Like Chandler’s uncharacteristic friendly attitude during his conversation with Erin on the satellite phone, Lindsey acted genuinely appreciative of Hank stopping by with his friend to meet her.

“Come on in, Hank. I won’t bite, I promise.”

Hank gestured for Erin to enter first, and Lindsey stepped forward with a toothy grin to shake hands. “Well, Madam Secretary, this is quite an honor.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mayor. But, please, call me Erin.”

“Lindsey for me.” She backed away without shaking Hank’s hand and motioned for the two of them to take a seat in front of her desk. Lindsey resumed her customary position of power, separating those beneath her by sitting behind the mayoral desk. Her desk acted like a shield against anyone who would do her harm. It gave her a sense of comfort when dealing with adversaries, and she was certain Hank and Erin were. “What in the world would bring you to the Florida Keys during such a period of turmoil?”

“You may not be aware of this, but the administration has established a temporary seat of government at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. That’s in fairly close proximity to Philadelphia, where the government will reestablish itself until a decision can be made about DC.”

“Surely, the president plans on rebuilding Washington, right?” asked Lindsey.

Erin knew the small-talk game. It was a way to both size up and disarm an adversary. She was not much of a politician, but she was certainly capable of mental chess.

“There’s a lot of work to be done around the country in order to save lives first and restore our critical infrastructure second. This process will take many years. One thing is certain. The president is laser focused on doing whatever is necessary to make that happen.”

Lindsey feigned an itch to her nose so she could mentally wipe the smile off her face. She knew this wasn’t a social call. “That’s good to hear. Like him, I’m interested in the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Monroe County. He may not believe that, but it’s true.”

Hank sat back and watched the two women joust with one another. He wondered if Erin was going to continue to dance with Lindsey or bring out the big guns. He didn’t have to wait long to get his answer.

“I know you’re aware of how he felt about the roadblocks,” began Erin. “The decision to destroy the bridges, one of which happened to be a federal highway, was probably not a good one. The roadblocks might’ve been the functional equivalent of a gnat in the president’s ear. Blowing up the bridges was more like murder hornets coming for the jugular.”

Lindsey stood firm. “I did what I thought was best for the Keys. As it turned out, I was right. He sent the National Guard, from out of state I might add, to Homestead. If it weren’t for the hurricane that his administration failed to warn us about, they would’ve taken over the Keys for lord knows what. Was my decision rash? Yes. Do I stand by it? Absolutely!”

If Hank didn’t dislike Lindsey so much, he would’ve been impressed by her strong will in the face of a purported representative of the president.

Erin continued with the full-court press. “Are you aware that the Coast Guard has been sent to cordon off any boat traffic in and out of the Keys?”

“I’ve heard about that.”

“And you do know that the next logical step is to send in a couple of Marine battalions to finish what the National Guard was authorized to do, right?”

Lindsey leaned back in her chair and clasped her fingers together in front of her. “I suppose he could do that, but the world wouldn’t stand for it. He’d generate a political firestorm and an unparalleled boondoggle in modern American history.”

Erin glanced at Hank, who remained stoic. He was aware of the time constraints placed upon Erin to act on behalf of the president. Accordingly, she had to play hardball.

“Do you think he’s bluffing? I would not underestimate him. He sees your actions as fostering discontent in other parts of the country. He might just make an example of you.”