I don't get why you would start explaining your reasoning to the race you distrust to the point where you don't want to get in the elevator with them. That's just dumb.
Feels like the author tried to cram too much exposition in too few pages
So basically, she was speaking down at the person in her mind ("What's with this turkey all of a sudden?"). But the gender of that person is not at all specified. It might be later, though.
You're right "washi" is usually used by older men and while not common it is used by women too. I don't know why but the person struck me as a woman honestly so I went with that. There are also no other context clues so I guess I went with my gut on this one?