Fracture: An Apocalyptic Thriller by Ian D. Feldman

Author:Ian D. Feldman [Feldman, Ian D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

Victor Ramirez looked up at the knock on his office door. Does she have nowhere else to be? “Hi, Anne, what can I do for you today?”

The winsome county supervisor held a folder, a hyena’s smile on her face. “Have you developed any theories about the plumes at the sinkholes?”

He shrugged. “Like I told you before, there isn’t enough data to form a firm hypothesis. We’ve ruled out carbon sequestration or any of the petroleum related applications. There aren’t any oil wells near three of the faults. That leaves naturally occurring phenomena as the likely cause of the plumes. Standard analysis of the sites hasn’t given us anything useful. I’m sorry to disappoint you. There just isn’t anything conclusive.”

“I thought you might say that. I have to say that your lack of creativity here disappoints me. You need to think outside the box.”

“I’ve had my team shredding the data looking for any contributing factors. I can’t make things up.”

“You don’t have to make things up to think differently. Have you analyzed the core samples?”

“Of course. We’ve performed all kinds of tests. We know the composition of the dirt at each site. So what? That’s not going to tell you why a seismic event occurred.”

“That’s where you’re mistaken, Victor. You’re too locked in. You need to take a step back and look at the big picture. Your problem with Petra is that she throws the plumes in your face. She asks the questions and drives the conversation in the direction she wants it to go. Naturally occurring events shouldn’t have a dirt plume, right?”

“Right. A sinkhole might have a small gas release, but nothing that explains what we see on the videos.”

“And from your perspective, that’s the end of the conversation. Well, I didn’t get where I am by letting conventional thinking get in my way. You’ll need to learn that if you’re going to stay on the team.” Anne held out the folder. “This report tells us everything we need to know about the plumes. The answer has been staring you in the face the whole time. You just didn’t have the perspective to see it.”

Victor flipped open the folder and scanned the information. “This is from Petra’s office. How did you get it?”

“Never mind how I got it. Despite you giving her favorable treatment and unparalleled access to the sites, she’s keeping secrets from you.”

“That’s not like Petra. I’ve known her a long time. We disagree often, but never hide data. Whose notes are these? They aren’t in Petra’s handwriting.”

“A friend of mine in the bomb squad reviewed Petra’s analysis.”

“The bomb squad? Are you kidding? Why would you have a demolitions expert review analysis performed on a sinkhole?”

“Because I’m not limited by traditional thinking,” Anne growled. “Experts from different fields got the report. I didn’t tell them what it was. They gave me their assessment of what would cause dirt to shoot into the air. The version in your hands is from the bomb squad. Tell me it isn’t possible.

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