Official Business
The headquarters of the California Highway Patrol, Alameda Division, was abuzz, as it had been all morning. Captain Thomas Haywood, the officer in charge, was desperately trying to keep order within his own ranks, but it wasn’t easy. There were 86 people in that office at the moment, and they were as out of control as a kindergarten class without a teacher. It was probably more a result of too much coffee rather than the event of an earthquake. No doubt, the lack of radio and cell phone communications made them feel powerless.
“All right, all right, settle down. Quiet, please. Thank you.” Haywood waited just a few moments for it to quiet down, then began with the information he did know, realizing that what he did not know would overtake the room within a few short minu
