Category Five (4 page)

“There were three of us all together.” Lauren turned to Peter, still strapped into the car next to her. She bit her lip and turned back to Donovan. “Victor. I think he survived. I saw his feet before…”

“I think he's over there,” Ian said, quietly. He touched Donovan on the shoulder and pointed to a body lying a dozen feet away. From the angle of the head, it was clear the man had suffered a broken neck.

“Let's get you out of there.” Donovan gently squeezed her shoulder. He stood up and looked around for something to pry with.

“Why don't you unhook the cable,” Ian managed to say, his face filled with remorse at the sight of the carnage. “We can use the winch to get her free.”

Donovan took his eyes from Lauren and looked at the seat, studying how it was wedged in relation to the surrounding metal.

“It's worth a try,” Donovan replied. “But please, let up on the slack slowly, we don't want the damn thing to slide back down into the water.”

“I understand.” Ian began the arduous climb up the rain washed hill. He turned and waved when he was in position.

Using hand signals, Donovan carefully instructed Ian to let up on the tension of the winch. He was relieved the Mercedes remained stationary. Quickly, Donovan unhooked the cable from the axle. He was about to move away when something caught his eye. Washed clean by the rain, he could see the brake line—and
the sharp cut in the shiny black material. He frowned as he processed the implications.

“You still doing okay?” He asked, leaning down and searching for the best place to secure the hook.

“I think so,” Lauren answered, her voice stronger. “I don't think I'm hurt. Just get me out of here.”

Donovan pulled on the hook to test if he had it secured. “Here we go.” Donovan watched as Ian pulled the slack out of the cable. With a loud popping noise the seat broke loose. Donovan quickly slid Lauren from the damaged car and fell backward. Relieved that she was free, he held Lauren protectively in his arms.

“Let's move it, folks!” Ian yelled and waved from the top of the hill. “I think this bloody storm's getting worse. Unhook the cable.”

“We have to get you to the hospital.” Donovan jumped to his feet. “Can you get up?”

“I'm fine. Nothing seems to be broken, just bumps and bruises.” Lauren tested her limbs and touched the cut over her eye. It was still bleeding.

“Let's go. We need to hurry.” Donovan stood and held his hand out toward her.

“Oh my God!” Lauren covered her mouth at the sight of Victor's body. Lauren's eyes shot to his feet and saw the tan deck shoes. It hadn't been Victor who was outside the car after all. She turned to say something to Donovan, but hesitated.

“He went quick.” Donovan still had his hand outstretched.

“Wait. I have to find my computer.” Lauren pulled her eyes from the gruesome sight of Victor's corpse.

“We don't have time.” Donovan said, his words punctuated by the sound of thunder as it echoed in the distance.

“It's right here,” Lauren pointed. “All of my work is stored inside.”

Donovan waited impatiently as she knelt down and snatched the bag. With a splash, her smashed laptop spilled out of a rip in
the canvas and dropped to the ground. Donovan could see her computer was destroyed, a jumble of wires and circuit boards exposed to the elements.

“Oh no.” Lauren hung her head and collected the pieces.

“We've got to go.” Donovan took her by the arm and with strong measured strides negotiated the steep incline up to the road. He was breathing heavily as they reached the Toyota. Ian was still reeling in the cable to the winch. On the hilltop, the wind ripped at their soaked clothes. A steady roar came from the wildly swaying trees.

Lauren took a measured look at the sky. “The storm is coming much faster than we thought.”

“How bad is it going to get?”

“I hope I'm wrong, but this one could be one of the worst ever.”

Donovan saw the matter-of-fact expression on Lauren's face, the rain running off her furrowed brow as she looked skyward. He felt the chilling effect of her words. She was rarely wrong when it came to her work. Donovan thought of Michael and the others back at the airport.

“Why are you in Bermuda?” Lauren lowered her head and looked at him. “There's supposed to be an Air Force jet to fly us out.”

“They couldn't make it. Michael and I got the call this morning, so we flew over to pick you up. As far as I know he's still waiting for us.” Donovan hoped this stroke of luck wasn't lost on Lauren. The Air Force wouldn't have come looking for her.

“Michael and the airplane are still on the island?”

“I'm not sure.” Donovan shrugged. He knew he'd been out of radio contact for quite a while. “Michael may have been forced to leave by now.”

“Climb in,” Donovan said, opening the rear door for her. “We need to get out of here as fast as we can.”

Lauren nodded. She strapped in and set what was left of her destroyed computer on the seat next to her.

Donovan could see Ian struggling with the winch. He looked past the Toyota and could see the cable stretched taut; it had caught on something while Ian was pulling it up.

“What's wrong?”

“It's almost loose,” Ian replied. “I'll have it up in a jiffy.”

Donovan heard the whine of the winch above the storm. The cable buffeted against the strain.

“Ian no!” Donovan shouted into the teeth of the wind.

With a sound like a rifle shot, the hook broke free…a giant steel bullwhip arcing through the air toward the Toyota. Donovan threw himself to the ground just as the cable sliced through the fender above his head. He rolled over and covered himself as it coiled and fell on top of him. Above the wail of the hurricane, Donovan heard Ian scream in agony.

Donovan threw off the cable and jumped to his feet. Ian lay writhing on the ground, both hands covering his bloody left shin.

Ian looked up at Donovan, then at his leg. “How bloody stupid!” He grimaced at the pain.

“Oh no!” Lauren had heard the cable rip into the car and had jumped out into the storm. She knelt down beside Ian, his splintered shin bone visible as the rain washed away the blood.

“We've got to get you to the hospital.” Donovan turned his eyes from Ian's broken leg, the white bone a sharp contrast as it jutted from the dark skin. Any hope of making it back to Michael and the
da Vinci
had just been lost. But Ian came first. Without him Donovan knew he would have never found Lauren.

“Let's get him in the back of the car.” Lauren jumped to her feet. “I'll get the door.”

“Hang on. I've got a better idea.” Donovan hurried to the front seat and grabbed the portable radio. He keyed the microphone and went back to where Lauren was waiting with Ian.

“Michael, this is Donovan. You still there?”

“Just barely. Where are you? I've been trying to call.”

“It's been a little crazy. We found Lauren and she's okay, but we need an ambulance. Call the tower, see if they can use a land line to get someone out here.”

“Give me your exact location?”

Donovan was buoyed by the fact that, as usual, Michael never missed a beat, though it came as a mild surprise that he was still on the ground.

“Hang on a second.” Donovan turned to Ian.

“We're on Harrington Sound Road. About a quarter mile west of Shark Hole,” Ian managed between clenched teeth. “They'll know where I'm talking about.”

Donovan relayed the information.

“Good plan.” Ian tried to smile. “Now just leave me here and you two try to make your plane.”

“Nonsense,” Lauren said immediately. “We're going to wait until someone arrives. Do you want us to try to get you into the car and out of the rain?”

“I appreciate the thought. But I think I'd rather only get up once.” Ian kept his hands gripped tightly around his leg. As if giving in to the pain, he rested his head on the wet asphalt.

Donovan could see Ian's breathing was shallow and rapid. He was going into shock. He caught the worried look on Lauren's face. No doubt she'd reached the same conclusion.

“Donovan, this is Michael.”

“Are they sending someone?” Donovan replied, quickly.

“I'm told there's an emergency vehicle only a couple of minutes away. You should have company real quick. Now tell me what happened, and are you headed back here anytime soon?”

Donovan could tell from the strain in Michael's voice that it was time to fly the
da Vinci
out of Bermuda.

“We're both fine; it's Ian who's hurt. Lauren and I are going to stay here until someone shows up, then we're on our way. My guess is we're only about fifteen minutes from the airport. If you
can wait, that's great. If not, come back and get us when you can. But don't risk the airplane.”

“I understand,” Michael replied. “We'll try to sit tight, but I'd suggest you keep the sightseeing to a minimum.”

“Yeah, we'll do that. I'll keep you posted. Donovan out.” He went back and tucked the radio back inside the Toyota. He felt a knot begin to form in his stomach. He'd just lost the man who was going to get them back across the causeway. The simple fifteen-minute drive loomed large as Donovan pictured the crashing waves. Just as he was closing the door, a police car rounded the corner, its blue flashing lights ablaze. Relieved they'd responded so fast, Donovan looked at his watch and noted the time. He slammed the door and met the officer as he was getting out of the car.

“We have a man down.” Donovan pointed at Ian. “Plus, there's a wrecked car down the hill. The driver, Peter I think is his name, plus an American scientist were killed.”

“What on earth happened up here?” The policeman knelt down and looked at Ian.

Ian looked up, and with a flash of recognition addressed the policeman by name. “Davie, I'll explain everything later. These people are with the United States government. They have a jet waiting at the airport. Let them go before this bloody storm gets any worse.”

The officer eyed the rain-drenched group cautiously.

“For Christ's sake,” Ian urged. “It's who I've been working with for the past two days. Top notch folks, they're scientists.”

“Wait one moment. Don't anyone leave.” The officer jumped up and went back to his police car.

“I'm going to reel in the rest of this cable.” Donovan quickly figured out the winch. “Lauren, can you help me make sure it doesn't get tangled up again?” Donovan knew at some point, Michael was going to have to leave. He just hoped that he and Lauren were on board when he did. With Lauren's help, he quickly secured the cable, then crouched down next to Ian.

“You hanging in there?”

Ian nodded. “You'll be out of here in a minute. Davie's a good man. He'll find out in short order how important the doctor is—that she needs to get off the island as soon as possible.”

“Before we go, I want to thank you for everything.” Donovan gripped Ian's shoulder and made a mental note to see to it that every one of Ian's medical expenses were covered by Eco-Watch.

“Buy me a pint next time you're out this way.”

“You can count on it. One other thing,” Donovan leaned closer. He didn't want Lauren to overhear him. “I think the Mercedes has a cut brake line. Make sure someone gives that car a good going over after we leave. I'll be in touch.”

Ian nodded, but there was no hiding the look of bewilderment and concern in his eyes.

The policeman hurried out of his car. In his hand he had several highway flares.

“I've got it from here. The ambulance will be here shortly. You're free to go.”

“Thank you.” Donovan hesitated as he climbed into the front seat of the Landcruiser. All he could think about was the causeway. His mouth was suddenly bone dry. Lauren slid in beside him and fastened her seat belt. Donovan took a deep breath and put the Toyota in gear. Without taking his eyes from the road, he reached for the radio.

“Michael. We're on our way.”

Y
ou'd better hurry.” Michael's concerned voice sounded over the radio. “The wind just spiked up over 50 knots. It's getting a little ugly here in paradise. The controller just gave us permission to leave at our own discretion. Seems they're getting ready to evacuate the tower.”

“Oh, great.” Donovan handed the radio to Lauren. He needed both hands on the wheel as he punched the gas pedal and accelerated the Landcruiser down the narrow asphalt road.

Lauren studied Donovan. Her conflicted feelings shifted into high gear. She couldn't help but wonder if greater forces were at work here, if he'd been thrust back into her life for a reason. She could clearly remember pleading with the heavens to let her make things right before she died. But now, seated next to him, it all became very complicated again. With Donovan's attention riveted to the road, she let her eyes drink him in. He looked thinner, leaner than before. His hair was shorter, and there was more gray at the temples. She watched as his biceps flexed, fighting the Toyota through each turn. It took her a moment, but she noticed the he was working his jaw muscles and—despite the low light—Donovan was squinting as if he were in pain.

“Are you okay?” Lauren wondered if he'd injured himself and hadn't said anything. Donovan was perhaps the bravest and most capable man she'd ever met. But right now, something was terribly wrong. She knew him well enough to know he was in distress.

“We may have a little problem up ahead.”

“What?” Lauren turned to look out the windshield, not knowing what to expect.

“Around the next curve is the causeway across the harbor. It was nearly covered with water when we left the airport. My guess is it's a lot worse now.”