His first mate, Roy Harmon stepped inside and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Good thing those guys aren’t the crew or you’d have a mutiny on your hands. They want to know when you’re going to stop so they can start fishing again.”
“When I find—” Captain Bob paused when he saw a large blip on the fish finder screen. “Take a look at that!”
Roy glanced down and saw another large blip appear.
“What do you think, skipper? Tuna?”
“I’ll bet the boat’s mortgage.”
“They’re off the starboard bow.”
They heard loud voices outside.
Captain Bob turned off the engine and put a strap on the helm to lock the wheel.
When he and Roy stepped out of the pilothouse, they saw everyone crowded together at the starboard railing. Only now, no one was speaking.
The captain and his mate squeezed between the fishermen to see what had grabbed everyone’s attention.
Both Captain Bob and Roy’s jaws dropped.
Out on the ocean were thousands upon thousands of dead fish, stretching toward the northern horizon, far as the eye could see.
***
Herman & Helen’s Marina at the Delta’s Empire Tract
Sean busily offloaded provisions from the back of the truck. He stacked a couple of heavy boxes to carry while Nell grabbed a small six-pack cooler.
“Don’t strain yourself.”
“Okay, I won’t. Hey, I’m only a kid,” Nell said and ran down the beach toward the houseboat anchored in the shallow water.
Sean peered around the top box and followed Nell, careful not to trip and fall off the brow, boarding the houseboat. They went inside the kitchen where Kate was putting things away in the cabinets and Kelly was unpacking the pots and pans.
“Gee, Mom, think you could have packed any more boxes? We’re only going for five days.”
“Sean,” Kate said, “It never hurts to be prepared. Huh, Jonathan?”
Baby Jonathan sat in his highchair, munching on a cracker. His eyes opened wide at the sound of his name and he smiled, crumbs falling from his mouth. Max lay under the highchair, patiently waiting for something to come his way.
“Are you guys done?” Kate asked.
“There’s still the fishing tackle,” Sean said.
“Okay. Go ahead and lock up the truck and we’ll get ready to go. I want to explore the delta before we pick up Devon and Jess at Bethel Island.”
“Where are the keys? I need to lock up the utility box,” Sean said.
Kate looked in her purse.
“I have them,” Kelly said, dangling the keys.
“Oh, I forgot I gave them to you,” Kate said.
Kelly gave Sean the keys and he left.
“You have the map of the delta, right Mom?” Nell said.
Kate pulled the folded map out from her back pocket and showed it to her smart-aleck daughter.
“For your information, I’m not going senile, and we certainly aren’t going to get lost. Have a little faith. Now, go help your brother so we can leave.”
Nell smirked and walked out with Max close on her heels.
“She’s such a worrier, huh baby Jonathan,” Kate cooed, making Jonathan laugh.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Victoria Savage stepped out of the elevator into the KHIP station’s main office, located in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Square. She strode down the corridor to the receptionist’s desk. “I have an appointment to see Mr. Campbell.”
“It’s the next door down.”
“Thanks.”
Victoria approached the door with the nameplate Tory Campbell, KHIP News Director. She knocked, and a man’s voice beckoned her in.
Campbell was middle aged with thinning hair and looked rather harried behind his cluttered desk.
“Yes, can I help you?” he snapped, not bothering to look up.
“I’m here for the interview. My name’s Victoria Savage.”
The phone rang and he grabbed it. “What? She didn’t. I don’t believe this. That’s just great!” He slammed the phone down.
Victoria sat down in a chair facing the news director’s desk and crossed her legs.
“You said interview,” Campbell said, looking at Victoria for the first time. “For what?”
“Field reporter.”
“Oh! That. Please sit down. No, you’re already down. You’ve got to excuse me, it’s been one of those days.”
“I can see,” Victoria said.
“I’m not usually like this. My top reporter just called in with some type of stress disorder. Incredible!”
“Can’t imagine why.”
“Well, just so you know, KHIP is a new affiliate. We’ve been broadcasting for six months now. It’s been a struggle competing with the big networks, but we’ve managed to attract a small viewer base. Give it time. All we need is one big story. So, where did you work last?”
“KXTV in Sacramento,” Victoria said.
“Hmm, good station. So, why did you leave?”
“Budget cuts,” Victoria lied and flashbacked to the KXTV general manager pacing back and forth in a tyrant and what he had said to her. “First, you almost get us sued because of that piece of yours on Senator Albright, then you get my traffic reporter killed. Not to mention a very, very expensive helicopter. What were you thinking? You’re lucky I’m only firing you and not having you thrown in jail.”
“At least you left on amicable terms,” Campbell said. “That’s difficult in today’s industry. So you decided to move out to San Francisco.”
“Well, to tell you the truth, I came out here to be near my mother. She’s been ill for some time. I have her in a nursing home.”
“Sorry to hear that. Nothing too serious I hope.”
Victoria thought back to the cemetery five years ago when she stood over her mother’s grave. “It’s terminal I’m afraid.”
“I’m so sorry. Well, then. Seeing I have lost my star reporter, at least for the time being, would you care to take on her assignments?”
“Sure.”
“Excellent. Welcome aboard. Later you can meet your camera crew. Check with Cheryl our receptionist and she’ll see about getting the paperwork rolling.”
Victoria stood and shook Campbell’s hand.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Campbell.”
“Call me Tory. Everyone calls me Tory,” the news director said.
Victoria walked out of the office. She decided to use the ladies room before talking with Cheryl. She went in the opposite direction down the corridor, passing the open door of the KHIP break room. Two men were sitting at a table, drinking coffee.
Tony Carver and Bernie Barnes were just as surprised to see Victoria, as she was to see them.
“Hi, boys. Looks like the old team is back together again.”
Tony sat upright in his chair. “What are you doing here?”
“Yeah,” Bernie said. “We thought we’d seen the last of you.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Victoria said, and sat down at their table.
“Look, Victoria. We don’t need you getting us into any more trouble,” Tony said.
“He’s here you know. In San Francisco.”
“Who?”
“Vernon Murdock.”
“Hell, Victoria. What, are you stalking this guy?”
“Better than that. I’ve met him. He thinks my name is Vanessa Simmons. He’s even asked me out on a date.”
“Does he know you’re a reporter?”
“Why would he think that? Boys, there’s a story here. And trust me, I’m going to get it.”
Later that afternoon, Victoria went into a Kinko’s print shop and used the special business card two-hour service.
***
Vernon sat at a patio table in the marina restaurant’s open-air dining area and watched the sunset. He had his laptop open and newspaper clippings on the small table. When the waiter came over and refilled his coffee
Vernon thanked him and resumed typing on the keyboard.
He studied the map of the Western Hemisphere on the flat screen.
A red line originating at the Galapagos Islands extended up the northern coastline of South America and onward to Latin America and the Baja leg then coursed along the beaches of southern California and ended at San Francisco.
Vernon happened to glance up as Victoria Savage approached his table.
“Hi, Vanessa.”
“Sorry I’m late. Damn traffic” Victoria said, happy that her scheme was still working and that Vernon was still clueless to her true identity.
Vernon stood and closed his laptop in one motion. Victoria sat down across the table.
“Would you mind excusing me for a minute?” Vernon apologized. “Too much coffee.”
“Go right ahead. It’ll give me time to decide what I want,” Victoria said and picked up a menu.
She glanced over her shoulder and watched Vernon enter the restaurant, and when he was out of sight, she immediately grabbed Vernon’s laptop computer, spun it around and opened it.
“Silly boy, this will teach you for not shutting down. Now, let’s see what you’re really up to.” She moved the cursor to a file named The Silurid Domain and double clicked.
“Bingo!”
Victoria took a diskette out of her purse, inserted it into the side of the laptop, and began copying the file. A blue bar appeared at the bottom of the screen showing the amount of the file that had been copied.
Seventy-five percent of the file had been transferred to the disk when Vernon strolled out of the restaurant.
“Oh no,” Victoria said, fanning the laptop as if that would speed it.
Vernon paused for a moment to take in the stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge with the setting sun in the backdrop.
Just as Vernon was turning to come back to the table, the bar on the computer screen stopped at 100%. Victoria closed the laptop, turned it so that it was facing Vernon’s chair, but was unable to retrieve the disk.
“That’s some view, eh?” Vernon said and sat down.
“Takes your breath away,” Victoria replied, trying not to look guilty, fumbling with the menu. “You know what? I’m sorry, but suddenly I’m not feeling well. Could be the gas station sushi I had for lunch.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe we could have dinner tomorrow at Pier 39, if you’re feeling better?”
“Sure,” she said and got up. “Oh, I almost forgot. I had some new business cards made up with my new cell phone number. Here, let me give you one.” She opened her purse and grabbed a stack of business cards, intentionally spilling them on the patio when she went to hand Vernon a card.
“I’m such a klutz.”
“That’s okay, I’ll get them,” Vernon said.
Vernon bent down and began picking up the cards.
Victoria reached over, ejected the disk from Vernon’s laptop, and stuffed it in her purse.
Vernon sat up in his chair and gave Victoria the business cards, keeping one. He looked at the card. “Vanessa Simmons. Computer Consultant. Very nice.”
***
Tourists strolled up and down the crowded Santa Cruz Boardwalk amusement park. Riders screamed with each winding turn and dip, speeding along the track at 55 miles per hour on the Giant Dipper, the 5th oldest wood constructed roller coaster in the United States.
A girl perched on a porcelain horse stretched and grabbed a ring on the spinning antique carousel. People shuffled in and out of the Coconut Grove Arcade.
An audience formed on the sand listening to a live band performing a free concert on the Summertime Stage.
Out on the wharf, Cindy and Peter were standing at the railing, peering down at a seven hundred pound California sea lion basking on a ledge, its back flipper lapping in the water.
The lumbering animal looked up and barked.
“The thing’s huge,” Cindy said.
“Not to mention smelly. Come on, we’re going to miss the concert,” Peter said, taking Cindy’s hand as they ran down the pier.
The sea lion barked and grunted.
Suddenly, the animal slid backward. Something beneath the surface grabbed hold of its back flipper and yanked the rotund sea lion into the water.
Cindy and Peter took the stairs onto the beach and ran across the sand. They had only gone a short ways when Peter stumbled in the dark, releasing Cindy’s hand, and fell.
“Are you okay?” Cindy asked.
“What did I trip over?”
Cindy looked down. “It’s a sea turtle with some crazy thing on its back.”
Peter jumped to his feet. “Watch out its Michelangelo!”
“What?”
“The Teenage Mutant Turtle!”
“You’re silly.”
The band started a new set and the audience applauded.
“Come on, I love this song,” Peter said, and they dashed across the sand.
***
An elderly couple took their nightly stroll along the beach that stretched along Herman and Helen’s marina. They wore jackets to stay warm and shared their affection by holding hands.
They left the beach and walked through the parking lot.
The man noticed a glow inside the cab of a GMC truck and peered through the driver’s window.
“What is it?” the woman asked.
“Oh, some fool left their phone on the seat.”
“I’m sure they’ll be coming back for it. Can we go in? I’m getting cold.”
“Fine by me.”
***
Sean sat on a lawn chair, watching his fishing pole, and listening to the chorusing crickets and frogs. The hanging Coleman lantern did a nice job of illuminating the back deck of the houseboat, but beyond the railing, everything was pitch black, consumed by the night.
Max was fast asleep at his feet. Sean raised a bare foot and kneaded Max’s shoulder. The dog moaned with pleasure.
Kate and Nell could be seen through the sliding glass door, playing cards at the kitchen table.
Kelly slid open the door and stepped out onto the deck, closing the door after her. She was carrying two soft drink cans. She handed one to Sean and sat down on the lawn chair next to him.
“Thanks,” Sean said, and popped the tab.
“Any luck?” Kelly asked.
Sean tapped a bucket with his foot.
Kelly peered inside and saw a black bass and two catfish.
“They like to hang out by those willows.”
“It sure is peaceful out here. Though I do miss the lake,” Kelly said.
“Not me. For once, I can sit and do whatever I want without Mom yelling at me to do some dumb chores. I like here just fine.”
The tip of Sean’s fishing rod bent over the railing.
Sean stood, grabbed the pole, and began reeling.
Kelly leaned over the railing and netted the fish.
It was another catfish.
“Man, talk about a lunker.”
“Wow,” Kelly said. She turned the net over and dumped the fish out onto the deck. “That’s got to be over ten pounds.”
“More like fifteen.”
“That’s one big fish.”
“Come on, let’s take them inside,” Sean said.
“How did you do?” Kate asked, looking up from her cards as Sean and Kelly came inside.
“Come see.” Sean lugged his catch into the kitchen and plopped the fish into the sink. The big cat was half in the sink and half out on the counter.
Nell dropped her cards on the table and ran over to get a closer look at Sean’s fish. “That’s huge!”
“They don’t get any bigger than this,” Sean said and proudly held the fish up for everyone to see.
Kate smiled and looked over at Jonathan, sitting in his highchair. “Look Jonathan. What’s that?” she asked the infant and pointed at the fish that Sean was holding. “Say fish.”
Baby Jonathan grinned and screeched, “Feeech!”
&
nbsp; “Hey, Mom. He just said his first word,” Sean said.
“Wait till we tell Devon and Jess. I should call them. Let me find my phone,” Kate said and dashed into the bedroom.
Kelly opened the refrigerator and took out a can of baby formula. She grabbed a clean bottle and was about to pour when she thought she better give the can the sniff test. “Oooh! That’s rank!”
Kate came back in the room. “Funny, it’s not in there. Has anyone seen my phone?”
“No,” Sean said.
Kelly shook her head.
“Oh, well. It’ll show up. What seems to be the problem?”
“Jonathan’s formula. It’s bad.”
“Dump it and open another can.”
Kelly inspected the case of baby formula on the counter. “No wonder. They’re all expired.”
“Oh, no!” Kate said, raising her voice. Jonathan immediately gathered that something was wrong and began to bawl.
Kelly picked the baby up and tried to calm him down.
“Looks like we’re going to have to make a change of plans and head over to Bethel Island,” Kate said.
***
Victoria stepped out of the bathroom of her new apartment and went down the narrow hall into the tiny kitchen. She wore a bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her head turban-style to cover her damp hair. She sat down at the small table and put on her reading glasses. She inserted the diskette into the side of her laptop, waiting for the file to boot up.
Victoria’s glasses reflected the scrolling images on the screen.
“My God! Is this even possible?”
A few minutes later, Victoria had retreated to her living room and was relaxing on the sofa with a glass of wine. She held up the disk and admired it as though it was the richest find in the world.
“You, my little friend, are going to win me the Pulitzer.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
“Are you sure this is the level?” Jess asked, pulling her wheeled travel bag, searching for their vehicle in the San Francisco Airport parking garage.
“Pretty sure. There it is!”
Devon walked up to the rear of the Suburban. He opened the back and they threw in their luggage. He went around to the driver’s side and unlocked the door with the Murdock Fish Hatchery logo.
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