In the Eye of the Hurricane: Storms of the Century

By James H. Wilkinson

Family man Jake Harding loves his job as director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida; he practices regular what if scenarios with his wife all the time. One fateful day at work, however, events transpire that Harding could never have predicted.

Despite being confronted by a mysterious stranger who lurks in his office and an even stranger phone call from the Secretary of Commerce, Harding attempts to go about his daily routine. But it is not long before Harding is alerted that a mass of dry, dusty air is forming over the Sahara Desert. Suddenly, three hurricanes formtwo of which spin backwards, defying all known laws of physics. In the midst of a desperate race against time to warn others of the impending disaster, Harding calls upon hurricane center retiree Lester Philester for help. After being cautioned to be careful around the mysterious stranger, Harding is mystified when the hurricanes split off in three different directions.

As Texas, Florida, and Maryland brace for the worst, two men and an outsider with a secret past work feverishly to stop a massive natural disaster. Only time will tell if their efforts will be successful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781450291415

James H. Wilkinson

James Wilkinson earned associate’s degrees in physical science and private investigation and paralegal from Indiana Vocational Technical College and PCDC, respectively. He is the author of MOM-BRE and The Lonely Star. James currently resides on his family farm in Indiana, where he raises a large garden and black labs.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Belle Guard, Florida

Jake Harding loves to get up early each and every day. He loves going out for his daily run at five a.m. as the world slowly wakes. The flowers shine with the morning dew all over them. It enhances an extra essence to their colors. The trees look majestic as they spread their leaves. Even the animals enjoy the early coolness. One morning as Jake is running, a deer appears and runs along beside him. It is a beautiful sight having the deer match Jake step for step for a few brief moments. The deer runs ahead and quickly disappears into the thicket, as Jake gets closer to town.

Jake’s four-mile run is slowly winding down. He looks ahead and sees his house. "Joyce should be cooking breakfast right about now. I can already smell the bacon and eggs frying." Just thinking about breakfast makes him run harder.

Finally, he makes it home. Jake walks into the kitchen and leans over to give his daughter, Shirley, a hug and a kiss.

Oh Daddy! You’re all hot and sweaty.

Don’t you want a hug and a kiss, Pumpkin? Jake asks acting like he’s hurt.

Not until you get cleaned up! says Shirley looking at her father with her arms crossed and a stern look on her face.

Jake tries hard not to laugh. He puts his hands up and backs away. Yes Ma’am! I will get cleaned up right away, says Jake as he walks away pretending to be scared.

Jake walks over to Joyce and starts to give her a kiss when she whirls around and says, The same goes for me too, Buster!

Buster? says Jake pretending to be stabbed in the heart. Buster—I have never been so humiliated in all my life—Buster?

Jake pretends to pull the knife out of his heart when Mike looks up at his dad and says, High five, Dad!

His twin brother Patrick, not missing a beat says, Low five, Dad. Jake had had a difficult time telling them apart when they were young, so he had taught them high five—low five to help him identify them more easily.

Jake goes to take his shower. The shower feels good as he washes his hair. Good and hot is the way he likes it. Jake steps out of the shower, dries himself, puts on his robe and walks into the bedroom. He finds Joyce making the bed. As he looks at her he thinks back to the first time he had seen her at Butler University. She made quite an impression on him with her outgoing personality. She was so energetic and also very pretty with her auburn hair and sparkling blue eyes. Jake feels so lucky to be married to Joyce and have their wonderful family. Jake walks over to her and says, May I have that hug and kiss now?

Joyce turns toward him, and in a teasing manner says, I don’t know. Did you use any deodorant?

Jake laughs, Of course I didn’t! They look at each other and start laughing. They hug each other and kiss briefly when Shirley appears in the doorway.

Daddy, I want my hug and kiss! says Shirley looking into her parents’ bedroom with the same stern look she had given him earlier. Jake and Joyce look at each other and laugh.

She’s your daughter all right, says Joyce with a wry smile.

Jake walks over to Shirley and gives her a hug and a kiss. Shirley just giggles and says, Thanks, Daddy. She skips off to her room to play.

What have you got planned for today? Jake asks Joyce.

"I thought I’d take the kids to the park and have a picnic. Care to join us?’’ asks Joyce knowing Jake would never be able to leave the office.

I’ll see if I can get away, said Jake laughing.

Speaking of work, don’t you think you should be going? said Joyce looking at the clock.

Jake sees the time on the clock and rushes around to finish getting dressed. Jake runs through the kitchen grabbing his bacon and egg sandwich. Bye, Honey! Love you! yells Jake as he rushes out the door. On his way to the car, he yells, Bye kids! Mind your mother!

The drive to the National Hurricane Center in Miami is a fairly long one normally taking 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. Seeing the Herbert Hoover Dikes off in the distance always unsettles Jake. The dikes are a part of the What if scenario they practice regularly. They found if a hurricane with a force of a level five hits the dikes, the dikes should break and send a wave of water throughout the area. The wave would actually cause more damage than the hurricane. Jake often thinks about the 1928 hurricane. It had been a level three hurricane, pushing the water over the dikes, causing massive flooding and killing approximately three thousand people.

Jake and Joyce had thoroughly discussed the dikes’ What if situation. They have a code word for her to pack up and head for her parents’ home in Indiana. Jake doesn’t like being separated from his family for any reason. Joyce, as organized as she is, would be packed and on her way in a short period of time. She also has several names of friends and neighbors on her computer, and with a push of a button can alert them to leave the area. Joyce cares deeply for her neighbors and like Jake feels a responsibility for others. Jake’s career entails his not only being responsible for the safety of the United States but the entire world warranting his staying at the control center.

As Jake drives through Belle Guard, he looks over and sees Lester Philester going into a hardware store. Jake hasn’t seen Lester since he retired from the Hurricane Center a few years ago. Lester had been known as the human hurricane barometer. He could look at a cell forming and tell you whether it would become a hurricane or a tropical storm. He could even tell you what level the hurricane was going to be. Jake had just started at the center when hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992. Jake was amazed when Lester had said, This is going to be a level five hurricane. Jake quickly learned to listen to Lester. In fact, Jake had always been at Lester’s side asking questions. Lester couldn’t teach him how to predict hurricanes, but he did show him all he knew about the different patterns hurricanes follow. Jake learned a great deal from Lester. When Lester had been offered the position of Director, he turned it down and recommended Jake. Two years later Lester retired. Jake would think about Lester every time a hurricane would begin to form. Jake would like to be able to go back and talk to Lester, but he was running late—he needs to get to work.

The long drive to the center goes by quickly. So quickly Jake thinks he must have hit a quantum leap. As he pulls up to the center he notices a car from D.C. "Strange, thinks Jake, I wasn’t told anyone was coming to visit from Washington, D.C." Jake parks his car in his usual spot at the back of the parking area. The walk to the front doors always seems long.

Jake loves looking at the front of the building. How majestic it always appears—especially when the sun reflects off it that time in the morning—it appears to have a majestic glow. Jake, as was his usual custom, checks in with the security guard as he enters the building.

Morning, Sam!

Morning, Mr. Harding! How are you today?

Fine, thank you. Any messages for me this morning?

No messages. You do have a visitor though—a Mr. Cumberlake. He’s been here since five o’clock this morning. He’s been doing a lot of poking around. If you know what I mean, said Sam looking at Jake with an expression telling him to be on his guard.

Anything I should know? asks Jake a little shaken by Sam’s remark.

Nothing that seems to be important, but I think I would watch my step around him if I were you, said Sam still giving him the same look.

Is this one of your gut feelings, Sam?

It sure is and it is a whopper.

Thanks, Sam.

Jake walks toward his office. Jake knows when Sam has a gut feeling he is usually right. "Who is this Mr. Cumberlake? Is he here to collect points or to see how things are run?" Jake realizes he will soon know when he speaks with the man in person.

Jake walks into the control room and looks around to see if anything is amiss. Everyone is doing what he or she usually does. Nothing appears to be any different. Jake walks up the steps leading to his office. He looks over and sees John Zavelle. "I wonder what kind of get rich scheme he is cooking up this time," thinks Jake to himself. Jake looks into the room and sees John looking at what Jake thinks is grass.

Morning, John! What’s happening now? asks Jake peering through the door.

Switch grass! says John in his southern drawl.

What is switch grass? asks a puzzled Jake.

It’s what grows in the Great Plains. Buffalo used to eat it all the time. Now herds of cattle eat it, said John in a matter-of-fact way.

Okay. What is it you’re looking at that has you interested in switch grass? asks Jake. Are you going to raise cattle or buffalo?

Actually, it’s a cheaper alternative, rather than corn, for producing ethanol. It burns cleaner and you can harvest it year round, said John looking up from his papers.

How do you know it will produce gas better than corn? asked Jake.

Look at all the gas those animals produced after eating it! says John laughing.

There are days I wonder about you, says Jake as he turns to walk to his office shaking his head and laughing.

Jake stops to take a look at the big screen to see if there is anything happening around the world weather wise. He notices a small low-pressure cell moving off the west coast of Africa. "No need for alarm yet," Jake tells himself.

Jake walks on toward his office. He opens the door to see a man standing looking out his office window. Jake takes a quick glance at the clock. It reads 0659 hours—the time he usually arrives in his office each day. The man doesn’t flinch or move when Jake walks in. Jake stands there looking at the stranger.

May I help you? asks Jake still looking at the stranger.

The man turns and stands in front of Jake’s desk. Jake walks past him to his chair behind the desk. Jake examines the man and estimates him to be over six feet tall, slender and very muscular, neatly trimmed red hair and a full beard. Jake guesses his age to be thirty-three.

Won’t you have a seat, Mr. Cumberlake? asks Jake motioning to the chair.

The man looks at Jake and sits down. He sits with his back straight like a military person would. Jake sits down in his chair still looking at this stranger. The man still hasn’t spoken a word. The look on his face sends a cold chill up and down Jake’s spine. It isn’t that hard look so many from Washington usually have when they visit. It seemed as if he was able to look clear through Jake.

The man takes a quick glance at his watch and says, You will be receiving a phone call in about thirty seconds. You will want to take that call.

An astonished look comes over Jake’s face. "How could he know I will be receiving a phone call?" thinks Jake to himself. As Jake was about to ask the man, his intercom buzzes. Yes, Mrs. Phillips, what is it?

Sir, it’s Washington.

Who is it from Washington?

Sir, it’s the Secretary of Commerce himself.

Jake looks at the stranger. He still didn’t show any emotion. Nervously, Jake picks up the phone. Jake Harding here, Jake says attempting to sound positive and in control.

Jake! This is Gregg Stone, Secretary of Commerce.

Good morning, Mr. Secretary.

Jake, I’m going to make this plain and fast. You should have a man sitting in your office at this very moment.

Yes Sir, I do.

Good! This man is to do nothing but observe. Do not let him interfere in any way. Jake, this can be a very volatile situation. Try to keep some space between the two of you. For the record, I didn’t want to send him. The President thought it best. I can’t tell you any of the details so please, be very careful in whatever you say and do. Make certain everyone understands this.

I will, Sir.

The phone goes dead. Jake sits there holding the phone in his hand trying to comprehend why the Secretary is so concerned. It unnerves Jake even more. First this stranger shows up and says nothing to no one and then the Secretary of Commerce calls and warns him to keep his distance. Jake looks directly at the stranger again. He still shows no emotion of any kind. He looks at Jake with the same look as he had when he first took his seat. Jake realizes he is going to have to do his job to the best of his ability. Having someone watching his every move will be challenging. He will simply have to make the best of it.

Tell me Mr. Cumberlake, do you have a first name? Or do I call you Mister?

I do have a first name. My name is Zachariah. You can call me Zack.

Chapter 2

Galveston, Texas

Tammy Campbell is in the office of The Campbell School of Marital Arts putting the finishing touches on refreshments for the kids to consume after practice. The kids loved whatever she prepared and referred to them as snacks. As soon as practice was over, they would line up, impatiently, anxious to scarf down the delicious food.

Tammy had just completed going over the business’ books to make sure all the bills were paid. She enjoyed working on the books. Tammy had always had a love for numbers. Even in school, at Galveston High, she had taken all kinds of math. She was one of only two girls who had been in Mr. Mathes’ senior calculus class. She feels her knowledge of math is the primary reason Gary married her. Gary had told her many times how she takes a load off his mind knowing he doesn’t need to worry about the finances. Tammy looks at the clock. It is almost time to start class and the school is filling up with students. Gary calls them Jae Jah’s—which in the Korean language means martial arts students. Gary had spent two years in Korea while serving in the U. S. Army. Gary had found an old school outside of Seoul where he learned martial arts. He learned the language the best he could while earning his first-degree black belt.

Tammy could hear the door open and