"So are you planning to ignore me the whole way to Blue Diamond?" Greg looked over at her.
Sara said nothing and concentrated on her driving.
"I even bought a brownie for you. I know how women like chocolate…especially when it's, you know, that time." Greg held out the paper bag from Starbucks and dangled it temptingly.
Sara's knuckles were white on the steering wheel. "Greg. Listen to me carefully. I don't have my period. And even if I did, do you have any idea how insulting it is to say that if I'm angry, it must be because of that? Today started out as a good day. When I woke up I was happy. Things have gone straight down the crapper since then." Sara fixed him with her best stare—the one she saved especially for asshole suspects. "But it has nothing to do with my menstrual cycle, got it?"
"I know that Sara. I've worked around women for years in the lab, remember?" Greg grinned at her.
"Well then, why are you trying to piss me off?"
"Yelling at me won't get you fired…"
Startled she looked over at him.
"Sure hate to have to work this shift without you." Sara blinked back the sudden and wholly unexpected prick of tears. They drove in silence for a few moments.
"Thanks..."
"No problem." Greg stared out the window, nonchalantly, teasing grin on his face. "You can tell everyone later—at length and in detail—how grateful you are to know me…start with Hodges"
"Don't push your luck." Sara's mouth slanted up in a smile. "Pass over that brownie."
"Do I know women or what?" Greg handed her the bag.
"You're insufferable, you know that?"
"You're crazy about me—admit it."
"Whatever."
Still, Sara felt for the first time since this morning like she might get her good mood back.
The drive to Blue Diamond was fairly uneventful except for the one time they had to pull the Tahoe over to the side when a fleet of emergency vehicles, lights flashing came barreling up the highway, passing them.
"What's going on? Is that for our scene?" Sara asked.
"I don't think so…" Greg frowned and pulled out his cell, punching in Nick's number. "Hey. It's Greg. Is everything okay at the scene?"
Nick's tinny voice could be heard faintly as he replied.
Sara looked quizzically over at Greg as he talked. He waved his hand dismissively at her, so she took that to mean everything was okay. Still it was odd. She knew how regular cops felt about the "Nerd Squad" but rarely were they left out of the loop when it came to emergency situations.
Greg flipped the phone closed and frowned for a minute.
"Nick said that the sheriff showed up and spoke to his boys and they all left suddenly. Didn't bother telling Nick why…He said there's no problem at the scene there but no one's answering his radio calls. The only other persons on scene are the meatwagon crew, and they don't know what's up either."
"Huh." Sara felt a prickle of unease.
"Yeah, huh. I know local cops are territorial and all but this is just weird."
They drove in silence the rest of the way.
