Sara brought the Tahoe to a stop in the dusty front yard of a derelict bungalow. The only other vehicles were Nick's car and the coroner's van, ragged tire tracks in the dust showed that the other cars here had left in a hurry. The sun was just starting to set and the sky looked like it was bleeding out. Livid red clouds loomed over distant mountains; the last rays of the sun were trapped within and lit up the clouds with an ominous glow. The air still held the heat of the day; despite that Sara felt a cool trickle of sweat crawl down her spine. She shivered.
"Pretty creepy." Greg stood beside her, hands stuffed into his back pockets. "I saw a movie that started just like this…didn't end well."
Sara shot him a look.
"Are you trying to wig me out Greg? Because I warn you, there isn't a horror movie made that can do that."
"Even the Exorcist? Because that's a classic…"
"Nope." Sara opened the back gate and pulled out her kit.
"How about Blair Witch Project? Man I couldn't sleep for hours after that." Greg shuddered.
"Ugh no. The jerky camera, always moving around, made me feel nauseous. Not scared."
"How about Resident Evil?"
Sara shrugged and passed Greg his kit.
"Didn't see it."
"Well, no loss, it was pretty crappy."
Sara started walking up the driveway. "I see enough horror on the job Greg. Why would I want to watch it for fun?"
"Yeah I guess…" Greg followed Sara around to the back of the house. "So what do you like to watch for fun?"
Sara grinned at him. "Documentaries."
Greg groaned. "God, Sidle you are such a geek…"
"What? They're educational."
"Movies are supposed to be fun…"
"Learning is fun."
"Spoken like a true nerd. One time you and I are going to rent a bunch of—"
"Shh!" Sara held up a hand and shushed Greg. Quietly she eased open the sagging screen door and stepped into a deserted kitchen. She was tense and alert as she shined her flashlight around the dim room. It was very quiet; she heard no low murmurs of cops talking, the whines of camera flashes and the other assorted background noises she usually associated with processing a crime scene.
"It's quiet…" she whispered to Greg.
"Too quiet." he replied.
Exasperated, she frowned at him. "You watch too many movies."
"Sorry." Greg set down his kit on the kitchen table and switched on his own flashlight.
"Hello?" She called. Her voice echoed in the silent house. "Nick?"
She started down the tiny hallway leading to the front of the house. "It's Sara." she stopped and Greg banged into her back. Surprised, she whirled on him.
"Don't crowd me!" She whispered furiously.
"Jeeze, sorry!" He whispered back.
"Well just—don't. Watch my back."
"I was. Don't yell at me just because you're scared, Sara."
"I wasn't yelling. And I'm not scared!"
That was when the door just ahead banged open and a dark figure lurched out of the darkness towards them.
Sara yelped and clutched at Greg whose sweaty hands grabbed her arms equally desperately.
"Hey guys. I didn't hear you. We're down in the basement." Nick shined his flashlight on the pair in the hallway. The sudden brightness made Sara blink like an owl. "I didn't scare you did I?" The cheery glow of the flashlight revealed Nick's knowing smirk. Sara shoved Greg away and glared at Nick. "I wasn't scared, just startled for a second." she grumped. "Not smart, startling someone with a gun, Nick."
"Which you haven't even drawn." He pointed out evenly.
"Well, I could've drawn it." The adrenaline rush of fear had left her feeling shaky and cross again.
"Hey Greggo. How're your Jockeys holding up?" Nick said.
"My Jockeys are just fine, despite the lameness of you and that grade school stunt." Greg replied tartly. "Not cool, man."
"No, but funny as hell." Nick's pleased smile faded and he looked curiously at Sara. "You've got some black on your…uh" He waved at her breast.
"Oh here we go…" Greg muttered.
"I know!" Sara stomped past him down the stairs to the basement.
"What did I say?" Nick looked confused.
"Let it go man." Greg brushed past Nick and started down the stairs after Sara.
"Damn. Try to be helpful and get your head bitten off…" Nick announced to the empty hallway. He turned and went down the stairs after Sara and Greg.
