Category Five by Philip Donlay Page B

note here says that they’ve already loaded in the links to
Jonah
.”
    â€œOh, good.” Lauren slipped the laptop from its case; it was exactly the same make and model as the one she’d had. It wouldn’t take her long to get it up and running.
    â€œBe alert for any signs that someone has tampered with your data. It might be the first sign that they’ve gained access to the system.”
    â€œTrust me. I’ll give everything a good look…and thanks.” Lauren gathered her new computer and left Calvin’s office. She hoped she didn’t look as bad as she felt. Everything that had happened was swirling around in her head.
    â€œThere you are.” Simmons hurried to catch up with Lauren. He was breathing hard when he reached her.
    â€œCarl, what is it?” Lauren wondered if something had happened to
Jonah
.
    â€œI just heard,” he lowered his voice. “They say Kenneth is dead.”
    Lauren nodded.
    â€œI can’t believe all of this is happening.” Carl took a quick look up and down the hallway. “I’ve also noticed a lot of different people around. I have a feeling they’re from the investigations side of things. Is something going on I should know about?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Lauren couldn’t discuss what she knew with anyone.
    â€œI’m just worried about you,” Carl said sincerely. “You’ve been through a lot.”
    â€œThank you.” Lauren understood Carl’s concern. Since they’d begun working together, she’d had no greater champion of her and her work than Carl. It was as if he’d designated himself her mentor and protector.
    â€œIf there’s anything I can do,” Carl said, looking into Lauren’s eyes, “You know where to find me.”
    â€œI appreciate your concern. But I’m fine.” Lauren needed to get to her mother’s house. The thought of seeing Abigail swept some of her burden away. Kids were wonderful in that respect. They don’t care if mommy was almost killed, that people mommy knew were dead. They just wanted mom. Lauren missed her little girl so much it was almost a tangible pain.
    â€œIf I hear anything I’ll let you know,” Carl offered.
    â€œI’ll do the same thing,” Lauren said as she began to walk away. She hurried to her office, grabbed her things, and headed out of the building. As she pulled out into traffic she wondered if she were being followed. There were a dozen cars behind her on the busy road. Would Calvin do that to her? If not Calvin, then perhaps the two men who had interrogated her? She wondered if their orders were to spy on her, or protect her? Either way, the implications were unsettling. She caught herself looking for Donovan’s Range Rover. Was it possible she could be wrong…was he somehow involved in all of this?
    T he glare from the sun forced Donovan to put on his dark glasses. The asphalt parking lot shimmered in the heat. He’d finally been forced to escape the confines of his office; it had begun to feel like a prison. He opened the door of his ten-year-old Range Rover. It was like an oven inside and the rush of hot air caused him to step backward. He reached in and touched the leather seat with his hand. It felt safe. The cell phone clipped to his belt sprang to life, the shrill bell almost drowned out by a Boeing 747 that was climbing out overhead. Donovan swept the phone to his ear, sliding into the Range Rover so that he could hear.
    â€œHello.”
    â€œIs this Mr. Donovan Nash?”
    â€œYes. Who is this?” He didn’t recognize the caller.
    â€œThis is Guardian Security. We have an alarm reported at 22332 Oatlands Road in Loudoun County.”
    â€œGet the police out there. Tell them I’m on my way!” Donovan ignored the heat and immediately cranked the ignition.
    A moment later he whipped out of the Eco-Watch facility and roared down the