21. Ghost of the past
"I've to go to San Francisco." Sara said, a bag in her hands. "Sorry, I tried to call you, got only your mailbox."
"An urgent case? Or family?"
"An old SFPD case, a former colleagues contact me, they need my help. A serial killer, I helped to catch and put away, is up for parole and the detective I worked with, wants me to testify against him. Russell gave me a few days off, wants me to take a few personal days too, to clear out my mind."
Which Sofia thought was a good idea. "Will you take them?"
"San Francisco isn't exactly a place with many happy memories."
"Doug?" The blonde wasn't sure if she suggested Doug as a happy memory or as a possibility to get distracted from Las Vegas and her personal problems here. Or both.
"I don't think that would be a good idea. So, we can have one last drink, then I'm gone for a week or so. Will you survive without me?"
"Hardly." The blonde laughed. "I might contact you on your cell phone, have a video conference with you. You know, you're in a bar in Frisco, I'm here."
"You scare me."
"Am I worse than ghosts?"
"Maybe you a re a ghost. Let me check if you have a pulse." Sara tried to grab Sofia's wrist, but the blonde pulled her hand away.
"Don't touch me, you're a ghost buster."
"And you're the green monster? Whatever its name was."
"Somehow I knew you'd say this. Russell is right, you should stay up north for a while."
"Says the one, who will miss me most."
"No, that will be Greg. Which reminds me, we had this case years ago, when he said, his grandmother was a psychic and he inherited it. I was skeptical about this back then, did he come up with it again?"
"He did and this time it might have been the last time. He said, when he was with Pope in the slaughterhouse, he never felt anything. No sign from the ghosts of the dead children, the killer was with him. He realized it himself when Pope's cell phone rang. His wife called. The same sound we had on tape from the second killing."
"Maybe that the cell phone went off was the work of the ghosts?" Sofia offered. "Or it was a coincidence."
"Some people claim there is coincidence."
"Then how would you explain it?"
"Luck? After all, this is Vegas. People get lucky here. Sometimes." Or lose everything, including their life.
"I'm glad he's fine, no matter if it was coincidence, ghosts or luck."
"Me too. Don't want to imagine what happened otherwise." Sara shivered. If Greg had been killed…she had no idea what to do without him. It was one thing to lose her marriage, to lose her best friend was something else. Worse.
"I look after him while you're away."
"Thanks." Sara checked her watch. "I've to go, the plane won't wait for me. I see you in a week or two, keep my colleagues save and stay out of trouble, Deputy Chief."
"Ditto, CSI Sidle. Send me a postcard."
"Maybe." The brunette got up. "Oh, for heaven's sake, come here." She pulled Sofia in her arms. "I see you soon. Thanks for everything."
"Thank you for everything. I really enjoy these meetings and look forward to continue them with you. But it's important you have some time for yourself. Meet old friends, go to old clubs, take a drive to Canada maybe. Anything what makes you happy."
"I will. Don't worry about me. Bye Sofia."
"Bye Sara, have a nice trip." She waved and followed the brunette with her eyes as long as she could. Now Sara was gone and somehow Sofia felt a little bit alone now. She knew Sara would be back, but until she was, she'd miss her.