Dear Readers,

Let me take this moment to talk about myself and my style. I study EVERYTHING before I write it, there is always a reason and I have beaten you to the punch. If you see something you don't agree with, let me know, but do know that I already anticipated it. I know why I do it, where to do, and when. So, while I understand questions and such, know that I know what I am talking about. I watch videos about the topic, read, and ask people. Trust me, do not panic. I know.

Katy


~8~

Anchorage, Alaska

Sara stood at the kitchen counter in bare feet. She was currently multi-tasking and juggling between being on hold with the U.S Coast Guard, filling out paperwork, and making an after-school snack for her daughter. She had been on hold for what felt like hours, but she wasn't about to give up- offices always gave her the runaround after a rescue.

"My name is Dr. Sara Sidle," she said when she was finally connected. "I am a civilian worker for the US Coast Guard and I run an animal rehoming organization with my husband. Today we assisted in the rescue of a boat-load of baby seals that were-"

Sara pursed her lips as she was interrupted. Being pregnant was good for her patience, and a lot of people had figured that out the hard way. Whenever her patience was wearing thin, Gil disappeared.

"Well, that's all good, but I am more interested and making sure they are rehomed to the proper habitat. You wouldn't want to rehome a furred Harp seal to South America. What I am trying to do is make sure we have appropriately identified the species first."

Sara was quiet as the pencil-pusher she was talking to babbled on. Behind her, the front door opened and Gil entered with their daughter, Emily. Sara set the snack she had prepared on the table and pulled out a chair for the little girl to sit in.

"Well, you don't need to worry about it because that is one thing that our company does. We can identify the animal and make sure it is rehomed to it's natural habitat, and that will also increase the chances of bringing families together," Sara explained as she stroked her daughter's head.

Gil opened Emily's backpack and pulled out her classroom folder. He looked at all of the work the teacher sent home, and he looked over the homework that had been assigned. They paid tuition at a Montessori school, and most of the work sent home too was advanced for children Emily's age. Though the little girl struggled with it, her parents helped her.

"Okay, expect us tomorrow then," Sara said as she hung up.

She tossed the the phone on the counter and let out a exasperated sigh. She pulled out a chair to sit with her family and Gil slid her Emily's folder. She pulled out a test that had been taken that day and frowned.

"Em, we went over all this," she said. "You knew it."

Emily put down her sandwich and shrugged. "I forgot," she said.

Sara handed the folder back and stood. She put a hand to her belly and walked back to the bedroom. It took her a moment to realize that Gil was following her, but she didn't stop. She was exhausted and needed to lie down before she fell down.

"What did they say?" he asked.

Sara shrugged as she climbed onto the bed. "The usual bull," she said. "We'll have go tomorrow before they open to make sure we get to the pups before they're transferred."

Gil took one of her feet and began to press on the sole of her foot with his thumbs. Sara closed her eyes and leaned back. Inside of her, their son was swimming around and using the walls of her uterus as a kick-board- at least that was what it felt like. She was eight months pregnant, and the child inside of her was running out of room.

"I don't see how going to Vegas is going to keep us safe," he said. "Anchorage is safe and plus, we have a lot of work to do."

Sara sat up. "I… I really think we should consider it," she said to him. "What if Catherine's right?"

Gil thought for a moment. "If something happens, we'll go. We can't just pull Em out of her school for God knows how long. And look at you … you're about to pop."

Sara scoffed at him. "You just called me fat!" she joked. "I can't believe you just called your poor wife fat."

"I didn't call you fat," he defended. "but I think it'll be better if we just stay home. We're safe here."

Sara laid back down. "If you say so," she said sarcastically.

~8~

San Diego, California.

"Larry, you got this," Nick said to his co-worker. "I'll just be gone for a few weeks tops."

Nick's new job as Lab Director of the San Diego crime lab had opened him up to an array of new responsibilities, but he also had the privilege of meeting new people. His next-in-command was Larry, but at the moment the man wasn't too keen on being put in charge for a few weeks.

"Look, just sit at my desk, do your job, and feed my dog," he said, dropping his house keys in Larry's hand.

"What… where are you going?" Larry asked.

"Some friends need my help," he explained. "I'm going to Las Vegas."

~8~

Quantico, Virginia

"Have the pinged the IP address?" Avery Ryan asked.

D.B wrinkled his brow. "They did," he said. "But the location is well... everywhere. It was pinged in almost every U.S state, and most of Canada."

They were in Avery Ryan's office located in the cyber crimes division and the CSI headquarters in Quantico. He had left for the lab as soon as Catherine had called him, and he hoped that his friend could do something. Computers were not his area of expertise, but he was catching on.

Avery was interested in this. "Sounds like someone is mirroring IP addresses and bouncing those addresses off of other mirrors to create a type of umbrella effect. They can try to track each one, but I guarantee you that they will change by the minute."

"Why a crime lab?" D.B asked. "We don't have anything that would be of use to anyone. Just names and evidence that had recently been loaded onto the system."

"For precisely that reason," Avery stated. "Evidence. A lot of government mainframes had already been hacked, it was just a matter of time before it was LVPD. And phishers can do it quietly, someone wanted you to know they were in there and what - or who- they were after."

"What can you do? I'm the scientist here, you and your team are the cyber geniuses," D.B said.

Avery shut a folder. "We can go to Las Vegas," she said with a smile.

~8~

Las Vegas, Nevada

"I don't know what I can do to help," Jim Brass told Catherine. "I haven't been on the force in years. Most of my contacts are gone."

"You can come and consult. Jim, this involves you too," she said. "This involves all of us. There is no telling what personal information these people have gotten ahold of, and the fact that they have exposed themselves tells me that they want us to know that they are there."

Brass brought his tumbler to his lips. "Just catch them when they reach through the open window again," he offered.

Catherine raised her eyebrows. "When did you become so knowledgeable about cyber-crime?" she asked.

Brass shrugged. "Security," he said with a grin.


~8~

A/M: Well, let me know. I feel smart. REVIEW PLEASE. It urges me to continue. I need to be coaxed.