"R&I is going to be pretty busy before we're done with this case…"
Mike reached for another few French fries as he said those words, his body language guarded, unwilling to give his partner insight to all the thoughts and scenarios playing out in his busy mind. And truth be told, after nearly thirty years of seeing every vile crime possible while serving the public of San Francisco, Steve knew that the Lieutenant's mind could be a scary place at times.
He'd ordered the grilled chicken salad, bypassing the onions, garlic and vinegar this time around as a peace offering after the Christmas morning they'd spent suffering from the young Inspector smelling like an Italian restaurant.
Stabbing a piece of chicken and poking at a few leaves of lettuce to go with it, Steve watched his partner indulge in another bite of his Reuben, before setting the moist sandwich back down on the plastic plate.
"I think everybody involved will be. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Ed confirmed our theory on Emily's body once he saw the pictures and the report. I mean…I guess a blind person could have done a better job on that autopsy.", Steve said, absentmindedly twirling the fork of food in his hand, "The question is, how are they getting away with such a blatant disregard of procedures up here?"
Wiping the corners of his mouth with a napkin and washing his food down with a sip of water, Mike shook his head and grunted in disgust.
"Small town politics…people being in control for so long, they forget that control comes with responsibility."
Letting his eyes drift over to the skinny waitress as she delivered a large assortment of food orders to a nearby table, Steve nodded. At least while eating lunch, there was a chance these people would eventually stop staring at them.
"Well, I'll tell you, plain-clothesmen or not, I think our arrival has been duly noted."
"I know.", Mike answered matter-of-factly and took another bite, before pointing his chin outside the large picture window, where they could keep an eye on the Galaxy, "There are a couple guys across the street that have been pointing our way. Then they sent a kid over to look inside the car, probably to see if there is a police radio. The table behind us and the one across from the kitchen doors has been watching our every move. You've been so busy poking at your chicken and watching the waitress, you didn't even notice the lady in the white skirt and red blouse walk through here, looking at us, but never ordering any food."
Grinning at his partner's amazing surveillance skills, Steve dropped the fork and leaned back, loosening his tie and running a hand across his chest as he yawned.
"Well, who do we owe the autograph session? You think the Sherriff put these people on? That didn't take long."
Mike shook his head, his eyes dropping back down at his food, as he reached for another fry.
"I doubt it. I think once we started to ask questions yesterday, they figured we'd show up sooner or later. Judging by the Sheriff's prominence in this town, a few phone calls is all it would take to alienate the entire population."
"Yeah, I guess you are right. Spooky as that sounds…so where do you want to start after lunch?"
"The coroner's office…briefly…", Mike explained in between bites, nonchalantly letting his eyes drift across the half-filled diner with its red chairs and Elvis-themed walls, before pointing his chin at the mountain range off to the east, "I don't have high expectations for that one. But at least it will give us a feeling of who we're dealing with. Then…well…we should call the office back and see if R&I has anything for us. It's a nice day out, I wouldn't mind stopping at the park and see where Emily Smith and her friends camped out before we head back."
Somewhat surprised, Steve forced himself upon another bite, before raising his eyebrows.
"You…eh…you're going to head up there without the faithful guidance of our two cuckoo friends?"
"Mhm hm.", Mike acknowledged, nodding cordially when their waitress brought the bill over, smiling at both of them genuinely, "I'd prefer to check it out without any interference first. See what we can dig up. I want to look at any access points, where a stranger could have approached them. Roads, two-tracks, anything. And I want to know where they lead to. Emily's murder is as close as we're going to get to those organ dealers. We can't leave any stone unturned."