"Twenty minutes. I'm flying to Vancouver, British Columbia, which is about 140 miles from Seattle. I'll take a car from there ... or walk if I have to."

Jackie considered not asking, then went ahead anyway, "Mister Cole, why did Christina go into hiding?"

"I don't know ... not yet anyway. I think my sister-in-law has something to do with it, but I can't find her. Jackie, I hope you know money is no object. Please do whatever you can to get my wife to safety."

"We'll do our best."

The voice over an Amateur Radio on Mercer Island was clear enough, yet the words were slow and labored, "WA7Y emergency."

"WA, this is Net control, go ahead."

"WA7Y. The Mercer Island floating bridge over Lake Washington is out. Looks like it fell. A witness saw cars go in the water. I can see two, maybe three survivors and a speedboat headed that way. Miles Landing is under water and firehouse sixteen reports heavy damage. We've got no power, no phones and thank God, no fires ... yet. Crestwood Retirement home collapsed. We have seven elderly dead and I don't know how many injured ... a lot. Over."

"WA, copy. See if you can locate Doc. Parker. He lives on Greenwood Avenue, in the three hundred block, I think. He's got an office over there with supplies and some equipment. Then let me know where they're setting up emergency services. Over."