"I respect that decision, I truly do," Oscar said. "But I’d prefer it if you stayed on with us—temporarily. The krewe respects your professional judgment. And the Buna situation might need your security skills." Oscar drew a breath, then started talking with more focus and intensity. "I haven’t exactly broken this to our boys and girls on the bus, but I’ve been scoping out the Buna situation. And this delightful Texas vacation retreat that’s our destination tonight—basically, it looks to me like a major crisis waiting to happen."