Chapter Two- Discoveries
It was the second week of the school year, and it was 5:00 am. Grissom always woke up at 6:00 am, but today he woke up with a smile on his face. Someone cared. Someone took this class because they were interested in it! He felt like he had won a million bucks. He showered and got ready quick, so he could organize for the day ahead. He got to work an hour early, and immediately worked on mapping out their route for the day. He had gotten a solved crime scene for them to examine. It still had pieces of the gathered evidence, but every different piece had been gathered, so they had no chance of tampering with evidence.
Twenty minutes to, he had finished. He pulled out Moby Dick, which he was reading for the third time. A minute later he heard a friendly voice say, " Call me Ishmael." He smiled from behind his book. "Please don't tell me a man of your wisdom is just reading that now." She smirked.
"You can't read a classic too many times, Ms. Sidle." He said with out glancing past his book. Finally, He tore his eyes away and set the bookmark in the right spot. Then he set the book on his desk. He slid back his chair and clamped his hands together. "So, Why are you here so early Ms. Sidle?" He asked, putting the map in his bag. He wanted it to be a surprise.
"My roommate. She had a date last week and she's been in panic mode ever since. Am I interrupting something? 'Cause I can go to…" Gil leaned forward and cut her off.
"Oh no! Don't go…Actually…" He tried to think of something. "Do you want to go over what we are going to do today?"
"Well, I mean…you were reading and I brought a book too. So if you want to read I'll go to a desk." She pulled on her backpack, waiting for an answer.
"Oh, well…I got to a stopping spot, and I think I need a while to rest my eyes. What are you reading?" He felt as though he needed to start a conversation.
"Oh." She struggled with her bag. Finally she produced a ragged, worn, torn book. "Pride and Prejudice." Gil looked at the book, noticing that it was also read several times.
"I see I'm not the only one who re- reads classics." She blushed. "How many times have you read it?"
"My favorite high school teacher suggested it, she said it was like me, and I have read it…4 times." They stood in silence for a few minutes before Sara played with the strap of her backpack again. "Have you read this more than once?" She offered, putting the book out.
"Actually, no. I read it ages ago." They stood in silence for a few more minutes. Finally Sara spoke up.
"Well, I'm going to go read." She said as she turned around. Gil pulled his book back out and read.
"No! I can't believe you did that!" a voice shook Sara and Gil out of reading mode. Gil put the book away and took out the map. He waited as students filed in. Once everyone was seated, Gil walked to the front. "Class, Today will be our first day in the field." He noticed Sara's eyes fill with happiness. He knew she had been waiting for this. "We will be going to a site not far from here, where a murder had taken place. It has been solved, so there is no risk of tampering with evidence. There are, however, pieces of the collected evidence, so we will have a little contest to see who can collect the most evidence. Now. I'm going to explain a little of the case, to inform you of what they knew."
A few minutes later, He was done. He asked if anyone had questions. As always, Sara was the only one to raise her hand. "Yes Ms. Sidle?"
"Can you give us an example of some small details you've noticed?" He smiled. He thought for a moment then spoke up.
"Yes I can. For example, someone I know, adjusts their backpack strap when they are nervous." He noticed Sara blush. He started to add another example when he noticed the time. "Oh, I'm sorry, but we have to go if we want to get to the crime scene." He motioned for everyone to grab their coats. He ushered everyone out, and closed the door.
Gil watched as his students did what he missed so. Gather evidence. Search. The things he longed to do again. As he looked around, he noticed only around 5 people actually gathering evidence. He was about to go over when he noticed the amount of bags everyone had. The average was 8 bags, but when he saw Sara's pile, he felt his mouth drop. 18 bags! He knew they had found 20 bags in the real investigation, and he was shocked. He glanced at his watch and noticed they had 10 minutes left. "Alright everybody. We have 5 minutes left." He announced. Then, behind him he felt a finger tap his shoulder.
"Professor Grissom. Do you have a minute?" Sara asked, holding on to a bag. He shook his head and they headed to a bench. "In the report on the case you said that the evidence pointed that the victim's husband had been guilty. Well," She said opening the bag, " then what does this mean?" She held up a fake fingernail painted blue. "In the coroner's report it said her nails were in perfect condition, and no glue was found on her nails during the autopsy. However, an adhesive was found on her neck." Gil slipped on a glove and examined the nail. He knew she was right. As he began to speak, he was interrupted. "Also, the victim was strangled. Usually a man's crime. What if this time it wasn't?" He looked up at her and smiled. He noticed that she had that same smirk on her face.
"Very good job, Ms. Sidle. I believe you have saved an innocent man's life. Tomorrow I am meeting with a friend on this case. I'll show it to him then." He noticed her smile fade. "You, of course, will be given the credit." Her smile didn't return. "Ms. Sidle. What's wrong?" He asked, concern in his voice.
"Oh, well…I was thinking about this and…I think I've discovered something…besides the clue." She offered a half smile.
"What is that, Ms. Sidle?"
"I want to be a real CSI."
"So why are you sad?"
"I'm a very impatient person." Sara laughed, making Gil laugh too.