7. Dog Eat Dog
Sofia wasn't scared of dogs but today she made a bee-line around two black dogs sitting in front of a shop next to the restaurant. Better safe than sorry. The last case taught her that even a friendly looking dog could be a killer under the wrong circumstances.
She ordered her dinner at the bar, took a beer with her and went to the familiar table where Sara sat and ate her vegetarian lasagne.
"Since when don't you wait for me anymore?"
"Since you made the decision not to call that you're late." Sara didn't look annoyed, only tired. "Did you order?"
"Yes, the bartender told me you have your dinner already."
"Sorry, I wasn't sure if you come around."
"I had something to do before I could clock off. Thanks." Sofia smiled at the waiter who put a sundae in front of her.
"Only a sundae? Did you have a hot dog before? Or a dozen?"
"Are you referring to our case or the case of the others? Because I don't want to think about a guy who can eat twenty hot dogs and more. And I don't want to be killed by a usually walking stuffed animal called Golden Retriever."
"There's no guarantee that any kind of dog won't attack a human. In every dog is a wolf. But it's unfair that the dog has to die because the former owner screwed up in obedience school. Or because the owner went to a case of dog eat dog."
"Dog number two won't be put down."
"What? Why?"
"Because I don't work overtime for nothing."
"You saved the dog?"
"Yes. He will get a nice home with a dog trainer. On a lonely farm, far away from noise."
"Wow, thanks."
"The way your face changed from two minutes ago to now tells me you worried a lot about it."
"I did. After it's safe now I feel much better. I could have a dessert now."
"If you start obsessive eating I'll cuff your hands behind your back. I saw photos of Prader-Willi-Syndrom guy and I'm kind of sensitive today about food and eating and everything. And if I ever get married I want a marriage contract and a good lawyer so that it's clear what is mine and what isn't. And if there's a dog involved and it isn't clear whose dog it is I'll step back and buy a cat."
"Don't forget to take your Beatles albums with you when you move out."
"They will be mentioned in the marriage contract. Do you want a marriage contract?"
"I don't want to get married."
"You're anti-wedding?"
"I'm not anti-wedding, I'm anti-stupid, there's a difference. Most people – especially in Vegas – get married because they've nothing else to do or because all of their friends are married. How can you marry somebody you know only for a short while? And when the marriage is over why can't you just split up in peace? I mean apparently you loved each other that's why you got married."
"When your partner betrays you it's hard to stay calm."
"You don't betray the one you love and you don't marry the one you don't love. And yes I know it's not realistic."
"I'm glad you know that. But it's good to know that under this tough and harsh surface a sensitive woman is hidden."
"Leave me alone."
"No." Sofia laughed. She had seen how Sara's face got a little bit red of the split of a second. The investigator was embarrassed that Sofia got a view of what the real Sara Sidle was like.
"How do you feel? I mean the Bell shooting, it's not that long ago, this was the first case you worked again. Are you all right?" Sara meant to ask Sofia this earlier but every time they saw each other they were at the crime scene or surrounded by a lot of people.
Sofia sight. "I still think of the day, it was hard to pick up the gun and I'm not sure if I had been able to use it in the last case. It will take some time before I'm over it."
"Brass?"
"He's getting better each day. I hope he'll get over it fast."
"Good. And I hope you'll be over it too very soon."
"The department psychologist says I'm making progress."
"You see him?"
"Yes. Sometimes it's wiser to ask for some help and not fight the demons alone." Sofia didn't need to say this was an advice, it was obvious. She knew there some things in Sara's life that weren't perfect, that gave the brunette a hard time. That didn't mean she had to see the psychologist, it meant if she wanted to talk with somebody, Sofia would be there and listen. Like Sara did when Sofia needed somebody to talk and was allowed to talk to her.
