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Author's comments and acknowledgements:
2002 is indeed the 150th anniversary of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and as a long-standing member, I am happy to spread the word. In fact, if they decided to give me free membership for the rest of my life, I wouldn't complain.
There is indeed a West Point Bicentennial Engineering Design Contest with dates and prizes as reported. However, Ima Tokyn and the selection of the judges as referenced in this story are both fictional.
The United States Military Academy at West Point was established in 1802. Under the leadership of Colonel Sylvanus Thayer from 1817 to 1835, the Academy became a premier center for education in the field of civil engineering.
Stephanie Plum is the bounty hunter protagonist in the series by best-selling author Janet Evanovich. Consider these books engineering oriented--the titles each have a number in them, starting with one, in consecutive order--kind of like the numerical response to Sue Grafton.
I'd like to thank Curt Gustafson for being such a brick (get the engineering reference?) and continuing to review these stories-it's an ugly job, but someone has to do it. Any problems with logic are Curt's fault, but in true project management style, if it all hangs together, I get the credit. Oh, and the parts that just aren't credible, they're Peter's responsibility.
As always, I thank my family, Rick, Nicky, and Kevin for living with my deadlines, listening "just one more" time, and SOMETIMES supplying just the right word. I thank my stalwart deputy friend, Tim Merrill, for always being there (no matter how weird it gets) to reassure me, and Leslie Collins for once more giving me an opportunity to inflict this story--I mean, write this story for National Engineers Week.
I'd also like to thank my good friend and author Jane Rubino, who provides all the details about Sherlock Holmes. She knows so much that I'd believe ANYTHING she told me about the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and obviously any mistakes along these lines are all her fault. I highly recommend her books, with the exception that I remain bitter she won't let me steal her stuff.
For ideas, I am indebted to STILL MORE TWO-MINUTE MYSTERIES by Donald J. Sobol. I can never figure any of those things out.
This story is dedicated to every single individual who was, in some way, adversely affected by recent terrorist attacks, and to all the wonderful fiction authors who provide us with temporary, and often educational, respite from the reality of our everyday lives.
Aileen Schumacher, P.E., October 2001
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National Engineers Week Foundation
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