Deluge (The Best Thrillers Book 2) by James Best (top romance novels txt) 📗

She studied his face to gauge his seriousness.

“Classes are cancelled tomorrow,” he continued. “The Los Angeles mayor recommends that no one drive unless absolutely necessary. Same for Sacramento and a bunch of smaller cities.”

“San Francisco? San Diego?” she asked.

“Not yet. The coastal areas are escaping the brunt of the storm. So far.”

“Can it get worse?”

“That’s a question on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting. By the way, a bus will pick us up at eight in the morning. The lieutenant governor doesn’t want us in individual cars. He wants the streets clear for first responders.”

“Then he’d better find something to suction away the water.”

“Clear of other vehicles,” Smith explained, but he smiled to show he got her quip. “By the way, no restrictions in Santa Barbara. Your hometown has received the lowest cumulative rainfall in the state.”

Baldwin pulled out her cell phone. “I’d better call my husband nevertheless. He’ll probably get activated to help in another part of the state.”

“Military? Police?” Smith asked.

“Chief of police.”

“Ah, you told me he carried a gun. You didn’t say he wielded an entire police force.” He smiled engagingly. “I’ll watch my step.”

“No need,” Baldwin said indifferently. “I’ll watch it for you. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

As she walked back to her corner, Baldwin tapped her ICE icon. Evarts answered almost immediately.

“Greg, are you aware of the latest evac orders?”

“Yeah. What’s the weather up there?”

“The last person to see rain this hard was named Noah,” she replied.

“Damn. I don’t want you driving until it lets up.”

“I won’t,” she said. “I didn’t like the drive here, and I have no desire to drive now that it’s worse.”

“You’re in a full-service hotel with a comfortable room. Stay put. Don’t try to get to L.A.”

“Do airports close because of rain?”

“Trish!”

“I’m just asking.”

He sighed. “Closing an airport because of rain is rare except during thunderstorms, and even then, it’s usually only a delay until the storm passes.”

“After our meeting, I went to my room and changed into casual clothes. The television said flights out of Sacramento Airport have been delayed and inbound flights redirected. The happy-talk newspeople are saying things will be back to normal soon, but this storm won’t pass in an hour or so … maybe not for days. Ashley said these atmospheric rivers can last up to a week. Greg, I’m worried. This looks bad.”

“Yeah, we’re in uncharted territory. Listen, you’ll get out. But when you do, I may not be home anyway. Tom Lopez asked for help in the northern part of the county. We could have dam issues of our own.”

He told her about his meeting with Lopez, and she told him about her meeting with the commission. She also mentioned that another meeting had been scheduled for the next day.

“Where’s Ashley? Is he still acting like a bug flittering around a lightbulb?”

She didn’t like his analogy. “He disappeared with a woman from the US Geological Survey. They hit it off well, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him since.”

“Lucky you. Okay, relax and enjoy the quiet time. Do some research or write.”

After he hung up, she cursed when she spotted Ashley and Wilson walking purposefully in her direction. Worse, as they passed Smith, he jumped out of his chair and fell into step behind them. Now what?

She started to speak, but Ashley put a finger to his lips.

As they huddled together, Ashley said, “We need to get out of here.”

“What are you talking about?” Baldwin asked.

“We are getting hit by the biggest atmospheric river the Geological Survey has ever seen … anywhere in the world.” Ashley sounded agitated. “This valley is going to flood. As we speak, the entire state government is relocating to San Francisco. They say it is just precautionary, but I do not believe them.” He fretfully scanned the lobby to make sure no one was within earshot. “We need to go too … right now.”

“How do you know this?” Baldwin asked.

He hooked a thumb at Wilson, who nodded concurrence.

“And how do you suggest we leave?” Baldwin exclaimed. “Every bus has been deployed to Oroville. Flights are delayed … probably really cancelled.” She waved her arm toward the entrance. “We can’t drive in that. And what about all these people? And the rest of the people in this city? If what you say is true, we need to warn them.”

“No!” Ashley hissed. “That will cause panic. Then nobody can escape.”

“Meaning it will screw up your escape,” Baldwin hissed back.

“Our escape,” Ashley said. “I could have just left, but I came to warn you.”

“The one with the car,” Baldwin said with disgust.

“I have a car,” Wilson interjected. “But yours is bigger and heavier. Listen, we don’t have time to argue. I was ordered to make no public announcements, but we’ll get word out as soon as we’re on our way. I have a plan, but let’s get going. We can do it just as well in the car. Run upstairs, get your stuff, and we’ll meet back here in fifteen minutes.”

Smith, who had been listening over their shoulders, asked “All of us?”

Ashley examined Smith as if he had only just seen the man standing outside their little circle. He shrugged. “Yes, you can come too. It is a big car. Let us get going. Hurry.”

“Wait a minute.” Baldwin addressed Ashley. “It’s my car. It goes when I say. It stays parked when I say. And it carries who I say. And at this particular moment, I’m not sure I want you in my car. You’re being a jerk.”

“Sh!” Ashley said desperately. “Keep your voice low.”

“Where do you think we’ll go?” Baldwin demanded. “Have you looked outside?”

“San Francisco. As fast as we can,” Wilson whispered. “The only way any of you can get home is by using the 101. The Highway Patrol has closed part of I-5 because of that washout you inspected below Kettleman, and the Folsom Lake evacuation has made Route 99 a parking lot. If you want to get to