Mike busted out laughing. “Hank? As county mayor?”
“That’s right. It was my idea, actually. You see, the president has encircled the Keys with Coast Guard vessels. He has not given up on his plans to take over the Keys although he lied to me about that. I know him, so I made inquiries with friendly military personnel. Gaining control of the situation is the only way to avoid our own military invading the Keys.”
“Then why would you go along with him?” asked Jessica.
“Because I know politics and how these things work. Now, correct me if I’m wrong. Your mayor, Lindsey, is a power-hungry opportunist, right?”
“Nailed it,” said Mike.
“Okay. She’s got some pretty big cajones right now because she destroyed the bridges preventing the National Guard from coming onto the Keys. I guess she forgot about the amphibious units, like the Marines, available to the president. She’s pissed him off, and he’d come at her with all he’s got.”
“She’d fold like a cheap tent,” said Hank.
“Exactly!” exclaimed Erin. “She’d sell out the residents and businesses throughout the Keys in a heartbeat. He’d let her keep her position while offering her countless opportunities to profit from this. It’s the way these kinds of politicians do business.”
“I take it he didn’t disclose this part to you, am I right?” asked Peter.
“That’s right. I didn’t give him any inkling that I saw through his façade. Trust me, Peter. You know Washington. We were playing chess, not checkers.”
“So what is the plan?” asked Hank. “How do you intend to make me mayor? And then what?”
“By my agreeing to help the president, we can keep any military action at bay. At least for a while. The media will turn on him if they perceive he’s being heavy-handed on a bunch of flip-flop-wearing islanders. We have to find a way to work from within to undermine Lindsey’s authority. Cause the locals to turn on her and demand a vote, a referendum of sorts, to insert an alternative government.”
“Led by Hank?” asked Mike.
“All of you can play a role,” replied Erin. “Think about it. Some of the key aspects of any functioning society are government, law enforcement, and the media. All three of these integral parts are sitting in this room. Each of you can contribute.”
Hank stood and began pacing the floor. He rubbed his hands through his hair as he contemplated Erin’s proposal. “This is a lot to take on, Erin. I mean, we’re gonna struggle to survive ourselves.”
“If you do nothing, here’s what’s likely to happen. First, this tyrannical mayor is going to sweep through the Keys like a pack of locusts stripping away anything of value to be redistributed. At some point, the Coast Guard with a contingent of Marines will come ashore to arrest her and anyone connected to her administration. Possibly, like Mike said, law enforcement officers complicit in the destruction of the bridges. Once that has happened, he might go through with his stupid plan to level the Keys and turn it into Iowa.”
“Or?” asked Hank.
Erin stood again and walked up to him, grabbing his arms so he’d stop pacing. “Or you can save the Keys.”
PART II
Day twenty-five, Monday, November 11
CHAPTER TWELVE
Monday, November 11
Monroe County Administration Offices
Key West
It was early on that Monday morning when Sheriff Jock Daly entered the Monroe County Administration building for his official weekly briefing with Mayor Lindsey Free. Old habits never die despite the apocalypse. Each Monday, the sheriff met with the mayor and key members of her staff to discuss law enforcement or safety issues affecting the county. Despite the seven-day workweeks, the tradition continued.
Of course, this early morning gathering was a mere formality. It was primarily designed to be an exercise to lend the appearance of continuity, thus providing the staff a sense of normalcy. The real decision-making between the sheriff and the mayor took place during their unofficial briefings that consisted of drinks, sex, and pillow talk that invariably led to their plans for the county.
“Let’s get down to business,” began Lindsey as she set her coffee mug down amidst stacks of files. She’d stayed in her office late the night before, perusing tax and deed records of business owners in Key West. She was ready to begin her confiscation program, and that required a list of targets.
A political animal by nature, Lindsey created a sliding scale of each targeted business based upon a number of factors that included type of product as well as logistical matters such as storage and distribution to the people. Then there were the political considerations. Which of the businesses were deemed political enemies, and which ones, such as heavy donors to her campaign, would be given a pass. The legal pad she’d been working on had been marked through, erased, and pages crumpled until a final working document had been created. She’d turned it over to her secretary the moment she walked in the door.
In attendance was Lindsey’s mayor pro tem, Paul Robinson, the oldest county commissioner and also a former political rival for the job of mayor. Lindsey and Robinson were closely aligned and saw eye to eye on almost every issue facing the county. When she’d defeated him in her first primary run, he agreed to take a back seat to the more vivacious Lindsey. He played an important role in keeping the other three county commissioners in line. He provided her an update on the cleanup activities following the storm.
“That hurricane left the middle and upper keys in shambles,” he began. Robinson’s District 2 included Marathon and, therefore, Driftwood Key. “From Tavernier to Key Largo, I’ve seen damage that rivals anything that’s occurred in the Keys since I’ve been in office. For the moment, the hospitals are holding their own, but generator fuel will soon become an issue. My biggest concern will be refilling the fuel tanks, which are slated to run out within eighteen to twenty days, in the only operating medical facilities.”
“Paul, this briefing will address that issue in a moment,” said Lindsey. “What about cleanup?”
“It’s an all-volunteer effort,” replied Robinson. “County work crews have been redirected to Key West at your request. They have begun the task of removing stalled vehicles from the streets and impounding them in the hotel parking lots as you requested on Saturday. Also, debris is being removed at the same time. The goal is to have Key West cleared by this evening. Tomorrow, we’ll move on to Stock Island, Boca Chica, Big Coppitt, and so on. The task will become less daunting as we make our way up U.S. 1.”
“When will you be able to tackle Seven Mile Bridge?” asked Lindsey.
“By week’s end, barring unforeseen intervening circumstances.”
“Good, thank you,” said Lindsey with a nod to her most loyal commissioner. She turned to the sheriff. “Jock, are your people ready?”
“We are,” he replied. He allowed a sly grin as he spoke. “I got an early start this morning and met with my key personnel. It should go as planned, assuming, of course, no resistance.”
Lindsey was well aware what time Jock had gotten started that morning. They had been in bed together.
“As we exercise our authority under the two martial law declarations, the president’s and our own, we face several challenges. Clearly, some of these business owners will take exception to our actions, as will the citizens whose property will be affected by this.
“My priorities will focus on water, food, medical supplies, and anything that might generate power for our governmental facilities. That includes everything from batteries for flashlights to generators and the fuel required to run them.”