Chapter 2
The weekend went by quickly and soon, it was Thursday and she still had to finalize some social activities for the impeding visit by the speakers.
"Lets see..." Sara began talking to herself as she pulled up the computer and began to go through the week's list of lectures and following activities:
Monday: Dr. Grissom's Lecture on Anthropology and the crime scene
3pm-6pm, 20 minute intermission
At 7pm until whenever the old people dropped, a social formal with dinner included
Tuesday: Dr. Miller's Lecture on Anthropology and Decomposition
3pm- 6pm, 20 minute intermission
Dinner at 7pm at that new Japanese place...sushi
Wednesday: Dr. Woodborne's Lecture on radio carbon-dating and its uses (and misuses) in the field
Free night
Thursday: Dr. Gissom's Lecture on the life cycle of the blow fly in a crime scene decomposition
3:30pm- 6:30pm, 20 minute intermission
Farewell dinner and dancing at 8pm with the school alumni, chancellor, various deans, and politicians
Friday: Mostly everyone will leave.
"Hm.." Sara wondered aloud, "I guess I'll have to make this a bit more formal for the brochures. I guess they might not appreciate 'when the old people drop' part." Sara finished this up and took it to the campus print shop. "Copy out four hundred. I need them by Sunday."
Sara looked at the time and realized that she'd better get dressed and drive to the airport to pick up the first guest. The other two speakers would be handled by the other TA who was only in her first year. Seniority pays at times. She sped up to her bedroom and picked out her maroon sweatshirt and looked in the mirror. She hadn't had much time to spend on herself and it showed. Her wavy brown hair needed a trim and probably a wash, not to mention a bit of styling. She didn't even own any make up right now and she made a mental note to pick some up before this week's formal events. She pushed her hair up into a messy ponytail and flew down the stairs to her car. She was at baggage claim a half an hour before the flight was scheduled to arrive and took a seat. The last week had been hell on her and she leaned against the rough wall to rest. She didn't remember closing her eyes, but the next thing she knew was
"Excuse me, Miss?"
"Uh..I'm sorry, What?" Sara answered groggily.
"Are you my ride to the hotel for the convention?"
Sara's eyes snapped open to see someone far from "old fogy" material squatting in front of her with his hand on her shoulder. "Oh, god. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drift off, gosh. Yes. I'm your ride. I promise to keep both eyes open while I drive."
"That's a bit comforting. Would you rather I drive?" he asked kindly.
"No, I'm fine. Just busy. I'm parked out here, let me give you a hand with your bags."
He seemed to be packed for a few weeks rather than days. There were at least two sealed Styrofoam coolers and she tried not to think about what was in there, given his lecture topics. She grabbed an airport trolley and heaped his four suit cases, two bags, two coolers, dress bag, and shoulder bag onto its platform. She wheeled it ahead of him and tried to make small talk.
"So you're staying for a bit longer than most of the others, any reason?"
"Just haven't been here before, have some time off, so I thought I'd stay."
"Ah. Good call. Lots to see and do here. Especially if you're gay."
"Um...good."
An awkward silence followed and Sara wondered why and then realized, suddenly, what she had said. "I mean, if you're gay, which you probably aren't. I mean, my friend is gay and he loves it here. You two should meet. I mean, because he's a great guy, not because he's gay..."
"Sounds fine." He seemed more intrigued and amused by her rambling than offended. While Sara didn't appreciate being the butt of jokes, she was pleased to see that she hadn't offended the man.
They reached the car and she loaded his stuff into the trunk and back seat. "Should I or should I not ask what is in the coolers?"
"Well, it depends on whether you're going to attend the lectures or not."
"Of course I am. I arranged everything. I love to see my projects run their course. I spent nearly a year planning this."
"Then not. Its a surprise for the lecture."
"Which one?"
"That is going to give you a hint," he raised a playful eyebrow. "I guess I can tell you. For the second one, with the decomposing bodies and blow fly life cycles."
"Ah. I guess I didn't want to know. Its either bugs or bodies."
"You have a problem with them?"
"Not bodies, I'm actually interning at the coroner's office starting next semester and I hope to be hired full time by the summer, after I earn my Master's. But bugs. They're kinda creepy. I mean, its what they do, they creep, right?"
He laughed. "So I don't think we've actually been introduced. I know you're Sara Sidle, and I'm Dr. Gilbert Grissom, but we haven't introduced ourselves." He held out a hand in friendship.
"I'm Sara Sidle, nice to meet you." They grasped hands in greeting while she was stopped at a red light and they continued the pleasantries until they arrived at the hotel, which was about a block away from the campus.
"Here you go. Why don't I park and help you get your stuff in," Sara suggested.
"Um, I think I can get it." He got out of the car and began piling all of the bags with straps on his shoulders. Sara got out of the car and looked on amusedly. When he ran out of shoulders, arms, and hands and still had the whole trunk to unload he sighed and said, "maybe not."
"How did you get these all on the plane in the first place? Make ten trips through security?" Sara was loading her own arms and hands with his suitcases and coolers before she spotted a luggage trolley and laughed at herself. "Hold on."
She walked over and grabbed the trolley and loaded it up. "That kind of takes the fun out of it." Grissom said as he walked over, smirking to Sara while he unloaded his arms. "Let me just check in."
Grissom checked into the hotel and motioned for Sara to come over. "Go ahead and leave it here. I can get it."
"I can bring it up, it's kinda heavy and I wouldn't want you to get hurt before your lectures next week."
"Alright. Room 418. You lead the way." He pressed the elevator button for her and she maneuvered the cart into the small space, she was crunched to one side and had to stand shoulder to shoulder with Grissom. He smelled nice, like washed clothes and English Leather. She spun around as the door opened with a DING and pulled the cart out. Her long hair whipped him in the face.
"Whoa, there."
"Sorry!" she cringed. She wasn't doing a very good job of "sucking up," as Jason would call it; fell asleep while waiting for him, insinuated he was gay, and now blinded him. "I—uh—just. Let me unload these before I maim you." He followed her out and opened his door when the arrived at 418.
Grissom chuckled at that. "Well, we can't have that. Here we are." They unloaded the trolley into the room. It was a regular room with basic amenities. A queen bed was flanked by two wall sconces and covered in a gaudy floral duvet. There was a night stand with the basic lamp, alarm clock, and phone, a small table with with stationary lying on top, a chair pulled it up to it. Grissom sighed as he sat on the bed. "Home sweet home for the next few weeks."
"So what are you here to sight see?" Sara asked, as she began to take the trolley out of the room.
"Dunno. Gardens, maybe. Museums. Just something different. They made me take my vacation time, so I figured I'd use it here. I'm not real far from where I grew up in Marina Del Rey. Maybe I'll take a drive down memory lane. We'll see."
"Alright, well I'll be seeing you. The other speakers both arrive on Sunday. There isn't really anything planned until Monday after your first lecture. If you want, I can email you a schedule for the week." He nodded as she explained.
"I'll be available for any questions or whatever. Here's my cell number." She handed him a piece of paper and bid him good evening.
"Do you know where there is anything good to eat?" he asked before the door was closed all the way.
Sara opened the door again and popped back in, "I usually eat at the Thai place down the street. The King and I. Very original, I know. But they have good food. It's just a block from my place so I basically live there." He nodded and turned away. Sara left.
