This is her last shift before she starts her vacation. I signed the request over a month ago, but I didn't really think she'd go. I should at least wish her a good time. I'll have to do that before she leaves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When did it get to be so late? Shift ended over two hours ago. I bet she's already gone. I wander down the hall to the break room.
Empty.
I check the locker room.
Empty.
I didn't get to say goodbye.
She left without saying goodbye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She'll be back tomorrow. I've missed her. I've thought of her everyday since she's been gone. The lab isn't the same without her here.
I'm not the same without her here.
I didn't notice it during my time away. Too busy concentrating on getting well. The first time I heard her voice when I returned was like music to my ears. I had forgotten how sweet she sounded.
Sara, I don't know what to do about – this.
Well, I do. You know, by the time you figure it out, it could be too late.
I need to talk to her. Tell her I've thought things over and I know what to do about this now.
I wanted to talk to her before now. She was so distant when I came back. Didn't speak to me unless it was related to a case. I couldn't find the right time. She should be in a better mood when she gets back. Rested and more relaxed. More approachable. I'll ask her to breakfast after shift is over and tell her she was never over-speaking me. I knew, but was afraid to tell her.
But I'm more afraid of not telling her now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My pager awakens me. It's 3:30 in the afternoon. I've only been asleep for 2 hours.
It's Brass. He wants me to call. Urgent.
Why is he calling? He should be sleeping too. Where is the day shift?
I fumble with the cell phone and place the call.
The words don't register right away. What is he talking about?
Who is he talking about?
Tahoe police called in a decomp.
Shouldn't they be the ones to take care of it?
No, Gil.
Then call Eckley. He's the day shift supervisor.
Gil, listen to me.
There is something wrong. He's tone inflection is wrong.
It's Sara.
What?
It's Sara, Gil. The housekeeping staff found her this afternoon. Her badge and gun were on the table.
No.
I feel like I've been sucker punched. I can't breathe.
It can't be. She's due back to work tomorrow. She was just on vacation.
They found her this afternoon. Check out time was noon. Housekeeping came in shortly after that to clean the cabin. They found her body in the bedroom.
NO!
Preliminary reports indicate she's been dead for approximately a month. Overdosed. They need someone to make positive ID and claim the body.
The phone drops from my hand. I can't think.
My stomach clinches and I make it to the bathroom in time before I begin to heave.
Oh, dear God. There has got to be a mistake.
She was on vacation.
She's due back to work tomorrow.
I lean back against the cool tile of the bathroom walls.
My head hurts. My chest hurts.
I hear something. It's the most wretched noise.
It's coming from me.
The tears start to flow.
My head hurts. My chest hurts.
I can't breathe.
I draw my knees to my chest in order to stop the bone wracking sobs from shaking me apart
My head hurts. My chest hurts.
Since when have you been interested in beauty?
Since I met you.
Sara, you are beautiful. I didn't say it. I should have said it.
My head hurts. My chest hurts.
I can't breathe. I'm lost.
You know, by the time you figure it out, it could be too late.
There should have been more time.
My head hurts. My chest hurts.
It's too late.
I'm sorry.
My head hurts.
My chest hurts.
My heart is
Shattered.