The Greener Field

The Burden of Curiosity

The following morning Carrie suggested she and Sarah go out shopping and for lunch to get Sarah's mind off the terrible day before. The local TV news was running the story of a man's body found in the surf the evening before, just below the Sunset Trail in La Jolla. The news report claimed the victim had not yet been identified by the police, as he had no identification on him. The incident, it claimed, was being handled as an accident or possible suicide. In light of this, the two girls set out for the Mission Valley Mall to try and bring Sarah's emotions back into line. They also needed to discuss the plausibility of the two of them each returning to their work the following day—Sarah back to her Speech and Language Clinic and Carrie to fly back to the San Francisco Bay area where her duties with the FBI had been temporarily put on hold.

"Look, little sister," Carrie told her as they entered the expansive mall complex, "I'll come back down for the weekend. I want to get a hotel room nearby your parent's house these days. I can use it as a place to operate out of while working your case in my free time."

"That's so great of you Carrie. But I didn't expect you to change your life over this. I just have to learn to live with a huge threat right now. You know I'll be super careful. Plus I'll be staying at my parents' house . . . that is until this maniac who scared me out of my own place is caught."

"I know, Sarah. But you really could use the support emotionally, too. Come on, that's why we're here! Let's get some shopping in. We could both use some new things, just to pick us up. Right?"

"I guess you're right," she said, slowly getting out of the car. "It's just that shopping has been the last thing on my mind for some time now."

"Well I don't know about you, but I could use a new dress," Carrie responded. "I have nothing nice down here to wear."

Sarah was quiet for a moment as she thought.

"Are you talking about something new to wear tonight? When you see Mr. Hoffmann?"

"Well, actually . . . yes. Sarah, I rushed down here to San Diego . . . to be with you if you remember. And I didn't bring much in the way of clothes."

"Yeah, that's true. But maybe it's also about how you want to look this evening at the La Valencia."

"Sarah . . . I can't believe you're still on this thing about Mr. Hoffman and me."

"Well, you are going to see him tonight . . . At the very hotel where he stays. True?"

"Of course, I am. And the topic of discussion, I assure you, Miss Jealousy, will be how best to handle your case . . . and keep you safe from a real maniac out there somewhere. OK?"

"Carrie, do you really think that's all Mr. Hoffmann will discuss with you tonight?"

"Well, that's the plan, I can't really speak for him. But you really are acting very suspicious about this whole thing."

"I guess I am. I'm just pretty suspicious of everyone right now. I'm sorry, Carrie."

"That's understandable, sweetie. Totally. But please. Try to relax about this guy. Alright? I have a good feeling he's what he says he is. It just doesn't hurt that he's also pretty nice to look at."

"Oh Jeeze, Sarah! . . . Yeah . . . a shady private investigator who has tapped our phones and knows probably more about you and me than we would ever want him to. I just can't help but think he must have also seen those . . ."