by Moore, TJ
Amy checked her watch. “We’ve got to get the tech unit down here tomorrow. This can of worms is going to rot fast.”
Cameron and Amy weaved back through the maze to call down Vince. He reluctantly climbed down, and they told him about the vanishing man.
When Vince saw the touchscreen computer, he couldn’t contain himself. “Damn, I’ve got to get me one of those.”
Cameron glanced around the room. “There has to be another way out of here. We were the first to break through that drywall up there by the servers.” He quickly noticed two small buttons on the back glass wall. Curiosity prompted him to press the top button. Clunking sounds rumbled above them until the wall lifted revealing an ascending set of concrete stairs.
“These guys are professionals,” Amy said.
Cameron snapped some final photos of the glass room before the team ascended the stairs and found themselves in the backyard of Fred Stefani’s high-end property.
Vince brushed himself off. “If only the neighbors knew what kind of freak show they’ve got right next door. They would have called the cops a long time ago.”
JEN
Cameron Frost wasn’t always a CSI Photographer.
Years before he felt comfortable breaking down walls with a sledgehammer, he was just a regular college student at the University of San Francisco where he studied photography.
It’s not that his life was less exciting before CSI work. Rather, the excitement had different origins. On the weekends, he earned cash from photographing weddings. He also dabbled in portraits. But Cameron’s real passion was nature photography. He had always dreamed of traveling the world to work forNational Geographic.
Cameron spent most his evenings rushing outside to try and find something amazing to capture with his camera. He’d already catalogued over three hundred sunsets.
Most of the photos he took with his modern, digital camera, but he always took sunset photos on his Polaroid camera. It was amazing to him that the moment could be captured and printed out just seconds after he snapped it. The method was a little retro, but that’s what he liked about it.
The images were pure nostalgia.
There was a certain charm to holding a physical snapshot of the visual world. When he held a Polaroid, watching it develop before his eyes, Cameron felt like he was holding a real moment. It was the closest he ever came to freezing time.
After completing his fine arts degree, Cameron was ready for a change. He left San Francisco to stay with his friend Brian in Colorado. He wanted to experience hiking in the mountains. Brian grew up in Colorado Springs and became accustomed with many of the main hiking trails around the area.
The Colorado trip also yielded an important event in Cameron’s life when he met his future wife, Jennifer Miller. He first saw her waiting tables at a Denny’s in Colorado Springs.
From his seat in the breakfast booth, Cameron also noticed Jennifer’s astonishing beauty. She was a total knockout. Jennifer’s glossy, brown hair swung back and forth in a mesmerizing ponytail pendulum. She recently added a single streak of red, and it accented the redness of her soft, delicate lips. A regular girl next-door appeal was evident in her endearing smile, and her rosy cheeks were no less than inviting.
One week, as Jennifer took Cameron’s drink order, he told her a joke about his musty hiker smell. Cameron explained how his friend was showing him nature’s backyard and how he wanted to document everything with his camera.
Their interactions were hardly flirtatious at first, but after a few weeks of bringing omelets to Cameron’s booth, Jennifer slowly turned on the charm.
For Jennifer Miller, first impressions were everything.
“I’ve got to ask. Isn’t breakfast at this place getting old for you? I mean, you order the same thing every morning.”
Cameron blushed. “Yeah, these are just amazing omelets. The eggs are top notch.”
“Whatever floats your boat. Hey, why don’t you try something different?”
“Well, I know the omelets are good, so when I get them, I know I won’t be disappointed.”
“Sounds like an adventurous philosophy.”
“Well, what do you recommend?”
“You have to at least try our Mandarin Orange French toast. They’re loaded with powdered sugar. That’s what I always get.”
“Ah. So, you’re an adventurous eater too?” Cameron teased.
“Ok, I see what you did there. Yeah, I have my comfort zone. I like oranges. Anything with oranges.”
“Oranges. Got it. So, did you always want to be a waiter or what?”
Jennifer placed her hand on her hip. “What are you implying?”
“I don’t know, it just seems like there’s got to be more jobs out there for you other than listing muffin options for the rest of your life.”
“Really? Are you going to read my palm too?”
“No, it’s. Hmm, let’s start over.” Cameron extended his hand. “I’m Cameron Frost.”
“Pleasure to meet you, I’m Jennifer the Snowman.”
“No kidding?”
Jennifer laughed. Her cool demeanor and confident laugh made Cameron find her even more attractive. “Actually, it’s Jennifer Miller. My friends call me Jen.”
“So, Jen, I want to be honest with you…I…come here every morning not for the omelets, but to watch you.”
“Whoa. Creepy.”
“No, no, no! That came out wrong. I meant to say…look, I’m…I mean, you are…”
“Use your words…”
“Jen, you’re...stunning.”
“Like a scorpion or like the electric chair?”
“No, nothing like that. Beautiful I mean. You’re beautiful.”
Jen laughed to herself. “I knew it wasn’t the omelets.”
“Look, I’ve seen how you treat the regulars. It’s amazing.”
“Oh, I see. This must be the first time you’ve seen a girl wait tables?”
Cameron leaned back, trying to play it cool. “I just find you very attractive.”
“Yeeaaaah. How many times did you practicethat in the mirror?”
Cameron shrugged. “If I get you to go out with me, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”
“Are you the health inspector or something?”
“Ouch! Hey, what happened to cute and friendly?”
“Oh, I just put on that face for the old customers. If I smiled and winked at everyone, I think my face would fall off by the end my shift from muscle exhaustion. So, is this a regular occurrence - stalking waitresses and hitting on them at random diners? Or, are you checking every Denny’s off the map and scoring chicks cross country?”
Cameron was getting frustrated. “Do they pay you more to be this sassy?”
“No, actually people tip less when I’m myself. Go figure.”
“Well, forget I said anything.” Chris tapped his spoon on the table. “So, what do you do besides this?”
“I’m in college for Electrical Engineering. Wires, circuits, building computers…that sort of thing.”
“Like NASA?”
“Umm.”
“Just kidding. Wow, that’s…”
“Cool, I know.” Jen shifted her weight from one hip to the other. “There aren’t too many girls in my major.”
“How far are you?” He asked.
“I’m a senior. Almost done. Then I can actually go change the world and all that. Who knows, maybe I’ll build an anti-gravity car or something. What about you?”
Cameron smiled. “I’m a photographer right now, but I’ve always been interested in criminal justice.”
“It’s funny you say that. I’m in a criminology class right now. That’s scary stuff.”
“You can say that again,” Cameron glanced out the diner window.
“That’s scary stuff.” Jen didn’t bat an eye.
“Hey! Yeah, all of those wind-up crazies who walk around, I mean, they could be in the house next to you, and you’d have no idea.”
“That depends…”
“One boring-smoring omelet comin’ right up.”
As Jen walked back to the kitchen, Cameron wondered what just happened. He stared at his rolled-up silverware.
Jen returned with a large plate of Mandarin Orange French Toast and gently placed it in front of Cameron.
He looked at the plate for a moment then up to Jen’s beaming face.
“I didn’t order this.”
“I don’t care.” Jen’s eyes widened. “You try to hit on me again, and I’ll bring you a liver sandwich with a side of fried okra.” Then she turned around and began to walk away.
“Yeah, I’m smelling what you’re stepping in.”
Jen turned on her heel and gave Cameron the death glare. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?” She walked forward and stood towering over him.
An awkward moment came and went.
“I’m like the only person I know who says that.” She smiled. “Good job, handsome.” Jen patted Cameron on the back. “At least you’ve got that going for you. Next time, let’s cut the chit chat and focus on the French toast, okay?”
Jen stretched out her hand to Cameron. He grasped it and shook it.
“I have a feeling you’re going to be single for a long time,” Cameron said through gritted teeth.
Jen mimicked his obnoxious tone. “That’s what I’m going for. Single and loving it!”
Cameron released her hand.
“You’re a real charmer yourself,” she said.” Have a nice day.” Jen attended to another family table.
More than any other girl Cameron had met, this one made him angry. He could tell she was sharp, maybe even smarter than he was, but he obviously wasn’t going out with her tonight.
When Jen returned to the kitchen, veteran waitress Molly playfully elbowed her in the side. “Hey, what’s going on out there, Jen?”
“Well, if you need help with your apartment renovations, there’s a totaltool at table seven. I’m sure he could help.” She grabbed a tray of burgers for a family party sitting in a curved booth, balancing them on her hand.
“Jen, seriously. He’s hot. Give him a chance.”
“Yeah, he’s great until he opens his mouth.”
“Come on, Jen, this happens all the time. Sweet guys come in and talk to you and you basically tell them to shove it. I wish I had your problems…”
“No. You don’t. And this one’s a creeper. Trust me.”
“At least he’s close to your age,” Molly said.
“Yeah, at least he has all his teeth,” Jen said as she flung the swinging kitchen doors open.
Jen’s behavior followed a notable pattern.
The more she agitated a guy, the more she liked him. She was a girl who thrived on control. Besides, any guy that could handle her wisecracks was probably worth giving a try.
And Cameron didn’t let Jen’s snide comments get to him. He was drawn to her strength. She wasn’t like the other girls – she had a spine.
As his interest grew in Jennifer Miller, Cameron kept ordering omelets and she kept bringing powdered French toast with a side of sass – just to screw with him. As sort of a running gag, Cameron started to bring an orange every morning.
He would draw a funny face on the orange with a marker and toss it to her across the restaurant. Every time she caught it, Jen dug her nails into the rind, letting the tart spray glisten in the sunlight streaming through the diner windows.
Certain days, Cameron got a different waitress, but he still managed to steal glances at Jen. There were times she seemed to take the long way around the diner just to walk by his table.
He knew he liked Jen because he was extremely nervous around her. It was as if she pressed a button that flipped his stomach every time she walked by. Consequently, Cameron was becoming fond of Mandarin Orange French Toast and even fonder of Jen’s attention.
Then, one breezy Colorado morning, Cameron entered Denny’s with a fresh bouquet of flowers in hand. He sat down in the booth and straightened his new blue tie.
The kitchen doors swung open and Jen stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t help but notice the flowers and Cameron’s clean-cut appearance. No question, this was all for her.
Jen swallowed and approached Cameron’s table. “Let me guess, you’re going hiking in that dress shirt later today.”
Cameron gave Jen a smoldering glance, and noticed the lovely symmetry of her face. “You got it,” he said, “I think the bears will appreciate that I made an effort.”
Jen tried not to laugh, but couldn’t help herself. “Bravo. How many slices of French toast today? You want high stack?”
Cameron licked his lips. “You got any blueberries back there? I’m feelingadventurous.”
“Isn’t there something else?”
Cameron rubbed his hand on his square jaw. “Actually, there’s a girl here. I think the regulars call her Jen? Have you seen her around? I’m not sure how to describe her, but she’s an awful lot like a sour patch kid. Sour, sweet, gone.”
“Nice try. I don’t know about the sweet part though. I’ve experienced mostly the sour side.”
“Yeah, me too. But, I think I figured it out…”
Jen batted her eyes twice.
“I think that’s just her screwed up way of flirting.”
Jen cracked a smile and smacked Cameron with a menu. “Just ask me!”
“Hey, alright! Jen, you want to get a bite to eat tonight?”
“I don’t eat anymore.” Jen cracked again and started laughing. “Yeah. You want to rent a bicycle built for two and catch a drive in flick after?”
Cameron lost it and laughed until his eyes watered. “Um…sure. Let’s do it.”
“No, I’m serious. I’ve always wanted to ride a two-person bicycle.”
“Then, that’s what we’ll do.”
“For now, partner, let’s get you some grub.” Jen eyed the flowers. “I’m assuming those are for me?”
“Naw, I just brought those for me. Ain’t nothing like breakfast and the smell of fresh flowers. Ahhh.”
Jen turned towards the kitchen.
“Hey, wait!”
She swung her ponytail around. “Pick me up at six sharp.” She walked back to the kitchen to place an order for one boring omelet: a final jest. Jen loved to have the upper hand.
That evening, Cameron and Jen did indeed rent a bicycle built for two for their night on the town. Satisfied by the fresh cuisine of an Italian café, the pair caught a romantic comedy at a nearby drive-in theater. Cameron brought a thermos of hot chocolate and shared the sweet treat with his date.
After the movie, they returned the two-seat bicycle and started a long walk back to Jen’s apartment.
As they walked, Jen complained about the unrealistic situations in the rom-com. Before long, the couple discussed their favorite episodes of Law and Order. They both loved TV shows with intricate plots. Crime shows also appealed to their shared interest in the criminal justice system. They discussed the issues of lie detection, false confessions, and even eyewitness testimony. Since Jen understood the basic mechanics of the standard lie detector test – the circuitry and questioning methods – she boasted strong opinions about its troubling inaccuracies.
When they were only a block away from Jen’s apartment, she removed her shoes and carried them, stretching her toes out as they padded along the sidewalk.
“Gosh, that was a lot further than I thought.” She led Cameron up to the door and unlocked it, letting him into her world.
When she opened the door, Cameron soon discovered Jen also had an interest in photography. The main room in the one bedroom apartment displayed dozens of pictures of people sitting on benches and playing with their dogs in a park.
“Hey, you didn’t tell me you were into photography.”
Jennifer
collapsed on her couch, putting her legs up and hugging a pillow. “I can’t give it all away at once. Where’s the mystery in that? Besides, it doesn’t really do it justice to talk about it. You’ve got to see it for yourself. That’s why it’s a visual medium.”
“Hey, I know what you mean. Who are these people?”
“Well, Mr. Sunset and Skyline, I like street photography. It might not be trees and grass, but the subjects in my photos are still part of nature. I capture them in their…natural habitat. City life, park life, whatever life they’re living.”
Cameron noticed one picture of a cross-legged woman eating a pretzel on a bus stop bench. “Nice pretzel lady.”
“Yeah, I’ve definitely seen some strange things out there. Colorado Springs has its psychopaths just like any city.”
“How do you figure that?” Cameron joined Jen on the couch.
“Come on. I bet there’s at least one major criminal in those pictures. But we’ll never know exactly which one it is.”
“I think you’ve been watching too much Law and Order.”
“I’m serious, Cameron. There could be a thief or a kid-knapper right in front of us and we wouldn’t even know it.”
“I guess, but that’s kind of a morbid lens to look through, don’t you think?”
“No. Not at all.” Jennifer leaned forward, don’t you ever meet people and just get the feeling there’s something wrong? Something...slightly off?”
“You mean people like you?”
“Hey, shut up! Anyways, you know what I’m talking about. Those people that seem to have a screw loose or a marble missing or whatever you want to call it. Those people that could snap at any moment…and do something absolutely insane!”
“What about them?”
“I don’t know. I just find it interesting. Sometimes, I wish my camera could see through walls.”
“Like X-Ray or something? Sounds weird.”
“Curiosity doesn’t have to be creepy. I’d just want to see what people do when no one’s around.”