A Few Days Chapter 4
The supervisor stood saying "Let's go find food. I think we all missed lunch and if we go now, we can beat the dinner crowds." His statement changed the mood in the room to the usual bantering of who's paying and where to go. The same four people found themselves back in a van being driven up steep streets that dropped off in an equally sharp incline. Grissom heard choices from everyone and was never sure who made the decision for Chinatown or if the driver decided to unload his crew at the most convenient location.
Sara and Paula knew these streets and knew their boss' favorite place; pushing open the door, the group was met with greetings as old friends. Instead of a table on the main floor, they went downstairs. Grissom understood. This area was for long-time customers, neighborhood families, and others who were not typical visitors seeking tourists experiences.
No one accepted the offered menus and the three locals ordered everything except a drink for Grissom. In the next hour, the laughter returned, the giggles broke out again, and the two young women slipped back into the role of entertainment for the two older men relating everyday tales of their experiences in such a way that he found himself laughing with them. Grissom knew he was being watched by their supervisor.
Bowls of steaming rice and noodles, vegetables, bite-sized pieces of beef, chicken and pork, and clear and creamy soups appeared on the table and passed from person to person. Around them others laughed as multi-generations ate together, children, parents, businessmen enjoying a private occasion in a public place.
Leaving the restaurant, the women disappeared for a few minutes allowing the two men a few minutes together.
"Dr. Grissom, all I ask is that you treat her right." The supervisor said in a low voice. "Sara is a good person. I don't want her to leave San Francisco, but she's her own person."
Grissom chuckled. "You know what I'm thinking."
"I will retire in two years or so. Let her learn from me. Keep in touch." He stopped for a minute. "Unless you have another idea."
Grissom shook his head. "They are both good. In a few years, the two will be at the top of this field. What went on with the coroner today? Some signal between the two."
It was the older man's turn to chuckle. "First, Paula will not stay. She's already engaged. Another year and she'll be married, go to some safe desk job. With Sara, I think she's here for the long run—or for as long as anyone stays in this job. You and I are old-timers; not so with most of the young people we hire."
He sighed before continuing. "What you saw today is a Sara most people will not see. She feels for victims and today it was the dog. The coroner's guy will—tomorrow the dog will be buried. She will take it out somewhere in the hills—I don't ask—and bury it. She's done this half a dozen times. Once it was three kittens; another time it was a big bird—died of starvation when its owner died and wasn't found for a week." He stopped as the door opened and the two women appeared. "Ladies," he announced, "I'm heading back to the lab. You two show Dr. Grissom a good time in our city!" With a wave of his hand, he was striding up the street. 8/21—7AM
Immediately, the girls moved to either side. "Have you been on a cable car yet?" Paula asked. They were off to Powell Street before he had time to answer.
Sara directed their exit at Lombard Street, saying they must descend the winding street with all the tourists. He followed and laughed with her as she pulled a small camera from her bag. "You need to look like a tourist!" She said as she took his photograph at the bottom of the street.
They turned left and right around several blocks finding a cobblestone path through a garden which opened onto a wooden staircase overlooking the bay. Flower pots and ivy and small birds fluttered in a tunnel of greenery as they walked along this hidden path in the middle of a busy city. Grissom was silent as the scene unfolded in the afternoon sun, astonished that such a place existed minutes after leaving the tourist choked Lombard Street.
Sara stopped at the top of the stairs. "You want to stop?" She was well aware of the effects of steep streets on many visitors. She smiled and sat on a step, leaving space for him to sit at the top of the staircase. Paula wrapped a leg around the hand rail and pulled herself to a spot above Sara.
"This is beautiful. Not what I expected to find." He sat down behind Sara. "How did you know it was here?"
Sara turned enough to lean against a rail. "I grew up here, or around here. Its cheap entertainment to wander these streets, find out of the way places." Her grin crossed her face and in second she laughed. "I specialize in getting tourists lost!" She was up and moving swiftly down the steps laughing as she did so. A high-pitched laugh from Paula echoed through the quiet place as she stumbled from her perch and followed.
Grissom did not move nearly as fast as they did, but both waited for him before heading up another hill and around several street corners pointing out another tourist attraction in the middle of the bay.
"Are you up for a long walk or do you need to return to the conference?" Sara asked.
Paula checked her watch. "I've got to go—meeting with the love of my life." She backed up the sidewalk saying, "I'll see you later." She raised one finger to Sara. "Later, show Dr. Grissom a good time!"
"No to the conference. Long walk—maybe." He grinned. "I may need a taxi to return."
She gave him another broad grin. "I'll get you back to sleep." With that comment she was off again, slowing her long strides only when he fell a few steps behind. He noticed