A Crying Shame (134 page)

Lieutenant Governor Pennypacker was there just before Parker went back into a coma. Pennypacker is running the show and he's in a panic. He'd just read some book called
The Devil's Kiss
—something like that ... about beasts of the Devil . . .Satan-worship... all that. It got to him in a hard way. He said, ‘If we have to sacrifice'—these are Pennypacker's words, now, not mine, bear that in mind—
one parish to save the remaining sixty-five, then so be it.' ”

There are only sixty-four parishes in the state!”

Yeah, I know. So much for our lieutenant governor's knowledge of the state of Louisiana. Anyway,”—he sighed audibly—
we're sealing off the parish at five o'clock this afternoon. That word just reached me about two minutes before you radioed in. Everybody that's going out ... had better be out by then.”

Captain,”—Mike glanced at his watch—
that's only eleven and a half hours away. Damn! That doesn't give me much time.”

I'm only following orders, Mike. You know that. If it was up to me ... well, you'd have more time.”

I know it. Sorry I snapped.”

Mike? Good luck.”

Thanks. Fountain One out.”

 

Sheriff Saucier rolled a sleepy president of the Fountain Parish Police Jury out of bed. He quickly explained what was going down. The man rubbed his eyes and stared in astonishment at what the man was relating to him.

Are you serious?” he shouted.
Impossible. Missing Links?”