A Crying Shame (80 page)

Always back to the mercenary, huh?”

I'd. hire him and give him seventy-two hours, Jimmy. And that's stretching it pretty thin. But we can cover our asses by saying—when and if we have to make any announcements—we needed that time to set up evac plans, and we sat on it for the safety of the citizens.”

I hate politics! I hate being a liar.”

Jeansonne said nothing. The men looked at each other for a few seconds.

All right.” Parker spoke firmly.
Get your troopers moving. In civilian clothes. Station them in the parishes all around Fountain. Full combat gear ready. Alert that National Guard MP unit and place them on stand-by . . . and do it quietly. Stress to their CO the need for absolute silence. We need more backup. There's a Special Forces Reserve Unit in Orleans Parish. Get on the horn and make arrangements for them to be quietly mobilized; full combat gear. Get permission to move them out; put them at Camp Beauregard . . . quietly, buddy. Quietly. Get Planning to work up an evac plan for Fountain.”

You want me to stay while you make arrangements for Badon's money?”

No. No point in both of us being a part of something this . . . nasty. Get moving, Supertrooper.”

Yes, sir.”

You think we have seventy-two hours?” the governor asked.

No, sir,” Jeansonne said.

I don't either. Head out.”

When the door had closed behind Jeansonne, Parker grabbed up a private phone from a desk drawer and punched out a number.
Just listen,” he said, a touch of urgency in his voice. His head was pounding with pain. He felt awful.
I need two hundred thousand dollars. I need it fast, one hell of a hurry. I don't care where you get it, just bury it deep. Half of it in cash, on my desk, in one hour. No, it is not impossible. Do it! The less you know the better.”