Deluge (The Best Thrillers Book 2) James Best (best e book reader .TXT) 📖

cafeteria, but we can work with you on a schedule that won’t conflict with students. Did you send someone over to the school with keys?”

“Not yet. Before I—”

“Better hurry. I instructed the officer to break windows if necessary to gain access.”

“No! You’d better not.”

“I will. This is an emergency that affects nearly a quarter of the town. I’m responsible for hundreds of people who have no place to rest their heads. Most have lost everything they own. Whole families have been displaced by this flood. Many have lost people close to them, neighbors, friends, and even family members. They need a place to stay dry, eat, sleep, and console each other. That place will be your gymnasium. We’re on our way, and I do appreciate your cooperation. Thank you.”

Evarts ended the call and tossed the phone back to the officer. He saw that he now had about a dozen officers around him. Where had the others come from? He shook off the question. It didn’t matter.

“Okay, who has a decent relationship with Vandenberg?”

“I’m the base liaison,” an officer said as he partially raised his hand.

Evarts smiled. “That doesn’t exactly answer my question.”

He laughed. “You’re right, after a while, liaisons tend to get ill-tempered. That’s why the chief rotated the assignment, but I’ve gone beyond the normal rotation cycle because I get along with my counterpart over at the base.”

“Air force?” Evarts asked.

“Yes, sir. I served a tour at Vandenberg.”

“Good. We need SAR volunteers. Also get me something for these people to sleep on: beds, sleeping bags, mattresses, or even just blankets.”

“No problem, sir. I’ll have them there within the hour.”

“You seem confident,” Evarts said.

“I know of two empty barracks, with mattresses already rolled and bungeed. I suggest we move the mattresses, not the beds.”

“Agreed,” Evarts said. “And lots of blankets. Enough to allocate some to the SAR teams.” Then he winced. “Ah … there’s something else you ought to know. I pissed off some MPs tonight.”

“Not a consideration. I’ll work through the quartermaster. MPs won’t be involved. And thank you.”

“For what?” Evarts asked.

“For pissing them off. Now if you’ll excuse me, sir, I’ll make that call.”

Evarts laughed. “Next, fire department. Who can get us SAR volunteers?”

Someone volunteered to coordinate but said most of the fire department staff were already in the field. Evarts was pleased to learn that many firefighters had Flood Emergency Response Training and disaster-preparedness training.

“All right, volunteers to lead these people over to the school? I want four.”

In short order, Evarts had four volunteers. He told two to lead and the other two to stay in back to help stragglers. As the evacuees shuffled out of the station, more cops arrived, soaking wet and muddy. After questioning a few, he confirmed that O’Brian had told them the interim chief needed them back at the station. Despite the additional cops, the squad room became quiet after all the civilians filed out. The room had become more than quiet—it had taken on the dull stupor of a funeral parlor. He had to break the mood.

“Can someone give me a report of the search results?” Evarts asked.

Everyone looked at each other for a few moments, and then one of the officers said they’d found nothing. After some additional clarifying questions, Evarts learned that no one living or deceased had been found, nor were any animals or serious pieces of debris discovered. Considering his own inspection of the flood path, Evarts didn’t think that sounded plausible.

“Did you make it to the beach?” Evarts asked.

“No. It was hard slogging through the mud.”

“Then we may come upon survivors yet. Jim O’Brian is an expert SAR leader, and Vandenberg is dispatching volunteers to help. If they’re out there, he’ll find them. I worked with him in Solvang, and we found survivors you wouldn’t believe.” He paused for a dramatic moment. “I have to admit, we also found dead bodies, so I don’t want to sugarcoat it. This is tragic, and the loss has been close to all of you, but the public is looking to us for help and leadership. I’m sorry, but you’ll need to put aside grieving for a few days. We have a job to do and a duty to the community. Can you do that?”

He got hesitant nods all around. That would have to do. He knew that when he started assigning work, they’d respond like professionals.

“I see two sergeants. Corporals, raise your hands.” He now had about two dozen officers in front of him. “Sergeants now have an acting rank of lieutenant, and corporals the acting rank of sergeant.

“First, unless someone has joined her, Officer Gilroy is guarding the flooded neighborhood by her lonesome. I want that area secured from lookie-loos, looters, and even homeowners. The area should be treated like a crime scene, because bodies are buried under the rubble.” Reading his name badge, Evarts pointed at one of the sergeants he had just promoted. “Lieutenant Myers, pick a team and secure that area. Take multiple flashlights per officer, plenty of water, and energy bars. Each officer drives a separate squad car. Park them apart on the periphery, lights flashing. Make sure they’re fully fueled before leaving, and, unless you see something, you can remain in the vehicles with heaters running until you’re dry. Let’s try to scare away bad elements instead of challenging them. Relieve Officer Gilroy and instruct her to return to the station straightaway. Any questions?”

After answering a couple of perfunctory questions, Evarts sent Myers and his team on their way. Next, he found an administrative officer and instructed him to create a roster of officers on a tablet computer and to maintain it by assignment, which would remain fluid. Evarts wanted to know who was where and what they were doing. He wanted the roster to note regularly assigned shift, number of consecutive hours worked, permanent and temporary rank, and full contact information. As soon as the admin officer finished the police roster, he was to go to the middle school and create a