A Crying Shame (34 page)

You're not me.” Mike cut him short.

Certainly. Excuse me. You go read your journals, Mike. I'm going down to the edge of the swamp.”

Alone? You're either a very brave man or a damned fool, Jon.”

Actually, neither. I'm just a man who knows how to survive. God knows, I've been doing it long enough.”

The deputy who was on guard at the house walked up to join the men. He carried a .308 in addition to his sidearm. Mike introduced him to Badon, then said,
Oh, by the way, Jon; what type of driver's license do you hold?”

International and Louisiana. I maintain an apartment in New Orleans. Have for years. Just off the Quarter.”

So you're still a citizen of the United States? Technically a resident of Louisiana?”

Yes.”

Well ... when we get back to the office, I'll make this official. I'll make you a deputy—special deputy. We'll call you a special investigator.”

Something I have always longed to be,” Badon said dryly. He walked off toward the dark swamp, the edge of it a full half-mile from the elegant old home.

The men watched him go, his stride a precise thirty-inch military step.
We gettin‘ machine guns like he's carryin', Sheriff?” the deputy asked.

I wish,” Saucier said.

Who is he?”