Bobby Akart - Desolation

“Here he comes,” said Hank, interrupting Erin. He pointed toward the windshield. “It looks like Lisa is with him. We can cover a lot of ground this morning.”

Hank and Erin exited the truck. They casually stood by while the mayor and his wife parked. It had been more than a month since the two men had spoken, but their warm greeting spoke volumes.

Hank introduced Erin, who struck up a conversation with Lisa about their common interest—agribusiness. While they talked, Juan led them into the recently renovated, one-story building.

“Bear with me until we get to my office,” Juan began as he waited for the women to enter before locking the door. “It’s a little dark in the hallway, and I apologize for the musty smell. It’s amazing how quickly the humidity invades a building when there isn’t any air circulation or filtration.”

As he led them through the hallway, Hank glanced inside the offices of the staff. The desks were neat and tidy. Files had been put away and chairs straightened. It was if the entire City of Marathon government had been sent on vacation and told to keep their workspaces presentable until they returned.

Juan noticed Hank glancing into each door. “This catastrophe is tragic on so many levels, Hank. I come in to work every day although I don’t know why. I guess it’s out of a sense of obligation to the people I serve. I mean, look around this building. These offices were occupied by civil servants who helped our town grow. They provided fire protection. They ensured businesses properly engaged with their customers. They collected taxes and paid the city’s bills. All daily activities that have ceased to function.”

He paused as he stood aside, gesturing for the group to enter his corner office near the main entrance facing Overseas Highway and the airport. While they waited, he moved to each corner of the room and turned on several battery-operated Coleman lanterns that provided a soft, warm glow to their surroundings.

The local mayor continued. “Anyway, what brings you to city hall? I don’t get many visitors.”

Hank exchanged glances with Erin, and then he took a deep breath. He was going to ask Juan to pick a side, something out of character for the independent-minded mayor.

“Juan, Lisa, there’s trouble coming.”

Lisa chuckled. “It can’t be worse than the hurricane.”

Erin, who’d established a rapport during her brief conversation with the mayor’s wife because of their common interest in agricultural issues, addressed her comment. “Yes, unfortunately, it is. Mayor Lindsey Free is on a rampage in Key West, and she intends to bring it to Marathon within days.”

“Are you talking about the raids?” asked Juan.

“We’ve heard rumors,” interjected Lisa.

Erin looked at Hank for approval as she retrieved her iPhone from her pocket. He provided her an imperceptible nod and returned his attention to Juan and Lisa.

“We witnessed her actions firsthand yesterday. I caught it on video. Please understand something. This is raw and unedited. And, um, disturbing.”

Erin navigated to the video she’d taken. She made sure her phone’s volume was up, and she pressed the play button. She leaned forward and turned the phone so they could watch.

Their reactions were not unexpected. Juan’s face grew red with anger, although once he closed his eyes for a long moment in an effort to unsee what he’d seen. Lisa’s mouth fell open, and she unconsciously covered it. Her eyes began to well up in tears as the visuals of people being beaten and shot by sheriff’s deputies filled the phone’s screen. When the video was finished, Erin offered to show them the photographs she’d taken, but both said they’d seen enough.

Juan was the first to speak. “This happened yesterday?”

“Yes, at the Winn-Dixie,” Hank answered. “The day before that, something similar happened at Gordon’s Food Service down the street. Juan, Lindsey has instructed Jock to take whatever steps are necessary to strip businesses of their assets. Food, water and gasoline are high on their priority lists, but we’ve been told they are taking everything of value.”

“For what purpose?” Juan asked.

“Using Lindsey’s words,” Hank began to reply, “the greater good.”

Juan began shaking his head before leaning back in his chair to stare at the ceiling. He was genuinely angry. “This doesn’t surprise me about Lindsey. She’s always been someone who felt she could tell you how to run your life or business because she thought she knew better. However, Jock …” His voice trailed off.

Erin spoke up. “I’m an outsider, so my opinion should not carry the same weight as the three of you. It seems that the sheriff has been placed in an untenable position. Perhaps he agrees with Lindsey’s plans and therefore devised a mechanism to carry them out. I think he underestimated the desperation of the people. Business owners are not going to stand idly by while their businesses are raided.”

Lisa bowed up in her chair. “This one certainly isn’t.”

“Our philosophies have always differed from Lindsey’s,” added Juan. “She believes in giving a man a fish. I believe in teaching him to fish.” He was referring to the quote from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, which translated as give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

“We agree one hundred percent,” said Hank. “And we have an idea that you can help us implement. But first, we have to protect ourselves, Juan. Lindsey and Jock’s people are coming for us. By us, I mean your business and my business, and everyone else in Marathon who has anything she might want.”

“What are you suggesting?” asked Juan.

Hank took a deep breath and exhaled. “We need to circle the wagons and then rally the community to help one another.”

Thursday, November 14

Marathon

As predicted, the deputies under Mike’s command in Marathon knew nothing of his resignation. They also had no idea how violent some of the confiscation raids had become. When he met with them that morning at the offices they’d assumed in the county clerk’s annex, he considered delaying the revelation that he was no longer their boss. Instead, he chose to be completely transparent and forthcoming. It was a decision that earned him even more respect from the small detail assigned to protect Marathon and Lower Matecumbe Key. Now he had to convince them of the larger role he needed them to play.

“I am not going to ask you to violate the oath you took when you became a deputy. Nor am I going to ask you to break any laws, although which laws are enforceable and which aren’t at this point is hard to determine. I might ask, however, for you to remain focused on Marathon, where you and your families live.

“You all grew up here. This is where your kids went to school. You have to understand, for the foreseeable future, this is our world. These Keys, strung together, are going to have to sustain us for many years. In order for that to happen, the people who survive have to know they can count on you to protect them and, most importantly, do the right thing by them. That means opposing Lindsey’s plans for Monroe County. Unfortunately, that also means standing up to our boss. Or, in my case, former boss. You guys need to pick a side.”

“What do you need us to do?” asked Deputy Sanchez, who’d gained tremendous respect for Mike during the high school break-in.

“Protect and serve.”

“That’s a given,” said Sanchez. “I mean, how can we protect our people?”

“Initially two things. Please give me the courtesy of a heads-up if you hear something from the sheriff or if you no longer think I’m doing the right thing for our neighbors and families.”