CHAPTER THREE

  Doug Snyder loved his job. He had given twenty-five years to the United States Geological Survey and retirement never graced his thoughts. Though his job was actually to monitor seismic activity around Yellowstone, he found the western fault lines more thrilling. California was becoming a hotbed and the scientist gobbled up instrument data like a sports fan enjoyed player statistics. The past week had kept him on the edge of his seat, and he had not left the office for fear of missing out on something big.

  His supervisor sent an instant message that flashed onto his screen. It read, “Are you on the clock?”

  He replied, “Not at all.”

  “Then go home, because I’m not paying you overtime.” Beau Raines knew him well. They had moved up the ranks together, both beginning their careers as student trainees helping to install seismic instruments.

  “Something’s cooking and I don’t want to miss it.”

  “Jesus, Doug. It’s like watching paint dry. Go home and let the system notify you when something’s active.”

  “I’ve watched several quakes along San Andreas today. She’s active from Indio all the way to Parkfield.”

  Beau began typing but the cursor paused several times as if he deleted his thoughts. When the message came across it was brief. “Go home. It’s late!”

  Snyder responded by closing the instant messenger window. Almost immediately his phone vibrated. He glanced at the notification then pulled up the data model. A seismograph recorded a magnitude 7.8 quake twelve miles south of Point Loma. He quickly compared three other instruments and confirmed the data. He reopened the messenger and typed, “I told you so.” He closed it again before Beau could make a retort.

  Picking up his phone, he dialed a colleague in Reston, Virginia.

  A sleepy voice answered the line, “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

  “I do, but I wanted you to look at something, Greg.”

  Greg Matthews served as the lead geophysicist of the eastern region. He said, “This had better be good.”

  “We just reported a big one south of San Francisco.” Doug picked up the remote control and clicked on the television. So far, no stations were reporting the damage but those reports would surely come.

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  “That happens all the time out there. Why call me?”

  “I don’t think it’s the mainshock.”

  The voice on the other end asked, “How many foreshocks have you measured?”

  He replied, “Six, so far.”

  “Send me the data and I’ll look at it, Doug.”

  “Thanks, Greg. I owe you one.”

  He hung up just in time to watch a CNN reporter break into the headline news. “Early reports of a large earthquake in Port Loma, California.”

  Doug muttered under his breath, “Stand by, California, the next one might be huge.” He turned his attention back to Yellowstone and settled into the data. So far so good, he thought. Anything so soon after the quake that could register on these sensors would have been cause for alarm. He settled in for a long night.

*****

  Bryan and Linda Johnson enjoyed their vacation and were having the time of their lives. Suzy and Seth, their thirteen-year-old twins, would not have agreed had anyone asked their opinions. Boredom had taken over for the pair somewhere between Kansas and Wyoming, but not so for their parents. While the adults sang campfire songs in the front seat and chatted about the fun awaiting them in Yellowstone, the teens buried faces in their phones.

  Suzy watched a middle-aged woman fall on her ass into a fountain while trying to cha-cha. She privately liked the video but rudely left a comment, That’s karma. Get off social media, Grandma. She swiped up and watched an older man tormenting his children with horrible dad jokes. Even though she found him a little funny, she scrolled away without liking. She made a dying face and took a selfie, then snapped it to Seth with the comment, I’m dying here and surrounded by old people.

  He chuckled next to her and replied, Why did they even think we’d enjoy the outdoors? We’re not eight.

  I know. Right? I hope they get eaten by a bear so we can go home early.

  Their parents stopped singing and dad’s voice exclaimed, “Here it is kids! Welcome to Yellowstone!”

  “Good grief,” muttered Seth. Aloud he said, “That’s awesome, thanks for the update.” He never looked up from his phone.

  Linda chimed in, “Seth, be respectful to your father.”

  “I can’t believe you dragged us across four states just to look at trees and mountains! This is bullshit and I’m missing a Fortnite tournament.”

  Bryan chimed in, “That’s enough of that attitude. Linda, turn off their data for the rest of the trip. We’re going to have fun as a family!”

  Both teens shared a knowing look then quickly connected to the park’s WiFi.

  While their father paid the admission fee, Suzy looked out the window. “Well, I guess the trees and mountains are pretty to look at. It’s nicer than I expected.”

  “That’s the spirit!” Linda patted her husband’s arm. “See,” she asked, “aren’t you glad we came?”

  “Sure,” Suzy replied. She snapped another message to her brother. This sucks.