The Baton Rouge police chief, the East Baton Rouge sheriff and Nedra’s boss were about to announce a new crime initiative. They had all gotten together to apply for a federal grant to fund a program to reduce crime in some of the worst neighborhoods. Nedra was happy to be out of range of the four media cameras pointed at the podium. Constable Davidson stood in his dress uniform, chatting with the police chief and sheriff. All three were smiling and relaxed. The mayor stood apart from them with a stiff expression as he spoke to several parish council members. Reporters focused their attention on the whole group, watching their every gesture, expression and interaction; they knew of the animosity between the mayor and the constable. Mayor Bates, known for being touchy and pugnacious, had used subtle means to sabotage the grant application process. Not because he didn’t think it was a good idea, but because it wasn’t his idea. Rod and the other law-enforcement leaders would be getting the credit, so face time with the media only annoyed him more.
