Chapter Six
"Dr. Grissom! Assistant Director Ecklie has been frantically looking for you." The day receptionist was almost beside herself.
"Is he in his office?" Grissom called over his shoulder as he changed direction and walked toward Ecklie's office.
"I believe he is. Although he might be in Catherine's office. It's been crazy around here."
"I'll go to Catherine's office and see what needs to be done," Sara called over her shoulder as she headed in the opposite direction.
"Where have you been? We've been paging and calling you for the past three hours!" Conrad Ecklie was pacing in his office.
"I have a life outside of this lab, Conrad," said Grissom mildly.
"It's unfortunate you realize that on the one day we need your expertise. We had three bodies covered in bugs. A mother and three children. It was an ugly scene. The media was there and will be making huge press with this story. We'll be in the spotlight on this one. It's likely an insect timeline could be the determining factor in this case. But you weren't available to collect them to establish the timeline."
"Conrad, quit being so dramatic. I've only allowed myself to be the resident collector because of my expertise. Everyone in this lab knows how to collect insect specimens from a body as a matter of course. I'm certain the specimens collected will establish a viable timeline." As usual, Grissom was exasperated with Ecklie.
"That remains to be seen. Catherine waited to collect the bugs, assuming you would prefer to do it yourself. The rain arrived before you did. She did her best to get a viable sample before the evidence was compromised by the rain."
"Well, then, I should get started on the preparations." Grissom turned and walked out.
Sara was just leaving Catherine's office when Grissom got there.
"I'm heading to the layout room to help Nick with logging the evidence. I have a feeling the movie and breakfast at my place is out for tomorrow," said Sara as she passed by Grissom.
Grissom did not have time to be disappointed as Catherine saw him and called out.
"Where have you been? We've been paging you for hours. First Sara doesn't show up because she forgot her phone in her car at the museum. Then you don't show and I'm hustling to get these collected before the rain washes everything away." Catherine handed the box containing the vials filled with insects to Grissom. "Here. Gil, it's been a long time since I had to do this. I hope I didn't mess it up."
"It's not that difficult, Catherine." Grissom looked at the information written on each of the containers. "Everything looks fine. I'll get busy preparing the specimens."
Grissom went to his office and took out all of the vials. He noticed that several of the vials of 'live' specimens had airtight lids on them. He quickly opened the vials and determined that the specimens were no longer alive. Damn! How could Catherine have forgotten how sensitive these were to oxygen deprivation? It was likely that she had put the lids on securely because of the rain, and then forgotten to affix the filtered lid later.
Grissom should have been there to do the collection himself. He had only a handful of specimens that were viable for maturation to establish an irrefutable timeline. He would have to be very thorough and examine every dead insect collected as well to substantiate the time he hoped to glean from these few insects.
It was going to be double shifts for a few days.