Medlin nodded."But?"
"I have no proof, and I'm not sure...but Frode keeps hinting...and some things don't add up."
"Spit it out, Nesterova."
"We asked for the most pristine rug to touch, and Saylor gave him the worst.There is one he hasn't touched yet, but the first one he touched was the worst of the three.The second, from the fourth case, was the second worst, and this, judging by Frode's reaction, was the easiest."
"Could he have made a mistake?"
"He could.Or he's testing Frode."
Medlin's eyes narrowed."But it could be a mistake?"
"Yes."Nikolai nodded because it could."But Frode thinks Altman has an accomplice, or he thinks Altman is the accomplice.He said yesterday he doesn't think Altman is the one who slits their throats."
"Based on?"
Nikolai shook his head."That's the problem.It's just a feeling.But Saylor is acting weird."
"Does Frode think Saylor is involved?"
"He hasn't said it outright, but he drops little hints.Then yesterday, he asked me if I'd looked into the other psychics in the vicinity.Saylor approached Frode in the grocery store, and at first, Frode didn't think much of it since he knew what Saylor looked like from all the items he'd touched for the police, but later, he realized, they'd never been introduced, so how did Saylor know what he looked like?It led to us asking Saylor, and Saylor admitted he was a fan and had looked Frode up online."
Medlin's frown deepened the longer Nikolai talked, and he wondered if he was being stupid bringing this to his attention.Too late now.
"Frode got a little panicky since he does what he can to stay away from everything to do with the internet.He doesn't have a website, he doesn't have any social media accounts, he doesn't agree to have his picture anywhere.So we asked, and Saylor told us about groups online who take and posts photos of psychics and said there are photos of Frode on there."
"And this is relevant why?"
"Well, for one it's a breach of privacy, but Frode was wondering if there is a psychic able to hide his touch from him."
"Someone invisible."
Nikolai shrugged."Someone whose touch doesn't register.Someone who could be working with Altman, who could kill women and trample all over the rugs without it registering."
"Is there a way for a normal person to hide their touch from Frode?"
Nikolai considered it."I don't think so, he sees touches through protective gear, layers, and so on, which is why his mind went to a psychic."
"So..."Medlin looked directly into his eyes."What you're gonna tell the agents is that you think we either have a psychic serial killer or it's one of our own?"
Nikolai didn't reply but held onto Medlin's gaze.
Medlin heaved a sigh."Evidence.We need evidence."
"I know."
"You have a few hours to make this not sound insane."
Nikolai gave him a curt nod and headed for the door.
* * * *
Frode ate all the raisins in the box and drank a bottle of water.His hands were still trembling, but it wasn't too bad.He'd napped for about half an hour, which was far less than he normally did.It would backfire later, but there was an urgency in the air, and he wanted to help.
"Can I have a pen and paper?"
Elmore was quick to hand him a notepad and a pen.
