Run into Trouble

allowed to build houses on the beach.”
    “You mean because of the danger that they’ll be washed away?”
    Houses on Malibu Beach, north of Los Angeles, were periodically damaged during storms.
    “Because the beach belongs to everyone.”
    Casey was repeating himself. Drake decided to test him. “According to California law, the part of the beach below the mean high-tide line does belong to everyone. The part above that is private property where it isn’t a government-owned recreation area.”
    “The boundary line between public and private property should be at least an eighth of a mile inland.”
    Melody laughed. “Based on my observations so far, I would say it’s a little late for that.”
    Casey looked up as if searching the heavens for some kind of truth. “Is it?”
    Casey stayed with them as they ran along the isthmus between the bay and the ocean. They ran on the silky white sand instead of the pavement of Silver Strand Boulevard because the softer surface was easier on Drake’s back.
    “Unidentified vehicle at nine o’clock.”
    The other two followed Melody’s pointing arm and saw a jeep coming across the sand at an angle to cut them off. She turned to Drake. “Do we need to take evasive action?”
    Although what evasive action they could take without weapons, in the middle of the beach, Drake didn’t know. They certainly couldn’t outrun the jeep. They stopped running and watched it approach. Melody moved away from Drake so that they wouldn’t present an easy target. Casey watched the jeep too, but didn’t seem to be alarmed.
    The driver wore a fatigue uniform, and Drake concluded he must be a naval officer. He relaxed a little. As far as he knew, the navy didn’t have anything against him.
    The jeep stopped beside them, and the officer bid them good morning. When they responded in kind, he said, “There may still be unexploded shells on this part of the beach from training exercises. For your own safety I recommend that you run on the road.”
    “No problem.” Casey smiled at the officer. “We’ll do that. We don’t want to get blown up.”
    The officer thanked them and drove away.
    Casey turned his smile on Drake and Melody. “False alarm. I told you I’d protect you.”
    Drake noticed that he took a large handkerchief out of his waistband and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

    CHAPTER 4
    The San Diego-Coronado Bridge opens today, Sunday, August 3, 1969. It has a distinctive curve and soaring sweep and is the first structural conquest of San Diego Bay, joining the Island of Coronado and City of San Diego. The bridge is 2.1 miles long and has a vertical clearance of approximately 200 feet, so that the tallest ships can pass beneath it.
    ***
    A crowd had gathered in the park near the entrance to the San Diego-Coronado Bridge to watch the opening ceremony. A platform, covered with red, white, and blue bunting, was set up with seats for Coronado and San Diego city officials. They took turns praising themselves for constructing this magnificent structure.
    Fred had herded the Running California group into an area near the platform. Drake, who wasn’t much for speeches, tuned out the droning from the platform and looked at the other people. Many of them were dressed in shorts and T-shirts. The first traffic allowed on the bridge would be pedestrians—runners and walkers. After several hours, the bridge would be closed to pedestrians and opened to vehicle traffic. Drake thought it was a shame that a walkway hadn’t been included on the bridge so that pedestrians could use it all the time.
    Drake’s attention was brought back to the platform because the speaker mentioned the name Casey Messinger. He said that Casey had been instrumental in arranging the run/walk that was to take place before the bridge opened to vehicle traffic. He called Casey up to the platform. Casey bounced up the temporary wooden steps to cheers and applause from the enthusiastic crowd, still in his running uniform, shook hands with the official who had introduced him, and went to the microphone.
    With a big smile on his face, he raised his arms, as if proclaiming a great victory. “Isn’t this a glorious day?”
    Affirmative shouts accompanied more cheers and applause.
    Casey waited for the noise to quiet down before he started speaking again. He said how pleased he was that the bridge had been built. Although he didn’t take credit for building the bridge, he had a way of speaking that made it sound