A Crying Shame (44 page)

I do, too. But if I'm right—and I think I am—it's all on your head. And mine, too, now.” He left the room. Mike heard him say:
I'll have an official statement for you in about an hour, Mr. Blackwell.”

It's about damned time!”

The phone buzzed on Mike's desk.
Yeah?”

Governor on line four, Sheriff.”

Yes, Governor?”

I just spoke with Colonel Jeansonne of the LHP. He's spoken with Captain Sundra of your distract. Monsters, Mike? I mean . . . beasts?”

That is correct, sir. Monsters. Beasts. Right out of a horror movie.”

A pause from Baton Rouge. A sigh.
This is not a joke, now, Mike? I know how you guys like to kid around up there.”

No joke, sir. The thing just last night killed Paul Breaux out at Despair Plantation and tried to attack—abduct, we believe—Paul's sister, Linda.”

I know the family. Fine old family. Jesus! I hear you've got some sort of mercenary working with you on this. Jon Badon. Colonel Jeansonne pulled the FBI package on him, Mike; he's a bad one. Hired gun.”

Yes, sir. I know he used to be. But I just deputized him about three hours ago. Special investigator.”

Governor Parker's reply to that, had it been printed and broadcast, would have cost him every Baptist vote in the state.

Mike let the chief executive of the state of Louisiana cuss for half a minute.

All right, Mike,” he finally said.
Play it your way. What's the plan?”