"I'll walk back."Isaac met Nikolai's gaze.
"See you there in a bit."
Frode was quiet in the car, and unease was growing stronger in Nikolai's gut.He didn't like leaving Frode."You'll be okay, right?"
Frode huffed."Yes, Daddy."
Nikolai glared at him."You have your phone if something should...feel wrong?"
Frode cut the sarcasm and looked at him."I'm fine."
"Yes, but if you feel unsafe in any way."
"He's not gonna come after me."
"How can you be so sure?"
Frode sighed."For one, he doesn't know what we've figured out.And second, he has nothing to win by hurting me.What I say has no bearing in court.Even if my word held any sway, I don't know if we or you or the agents can prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
"We'll prove it, but without you, nothing points to him.He has the perfect explanation for his touch being at the crime scene."Had he hidden evidence?What if there were DNA or something on the rugs, but Saylor hadn't logged it?
"You already have my lists, whether I remove my statement or not, you have them."
"You think he'll blackmail you into changing what you've said?"Cold filled Nikolai's veins.What if he would?What could he use to blackmail Frode?
Frode shook his head."No, this isn't a movie.I'm not important.My recounting of who's touched an item will never put anyone in prison.It's no more than a hint for you to follow.I'm nothing."
But Saylor was obsessed with psychics.
Frode yawned."I wonder what's hiding in rug number two."
"You think there is something?"
He shrugged."What would happen if Altman hasn't touched it?"
"How do you mean?"
"What if Saylor got overly excited and did it all without Altman?Maybe it's why he doesn't want me to touch rug number two.He might think all the others are clean, his presence explainable, and he can't know Dubose told us about Mallon arriving first at the fourth crime scene, plus unless Mallon says he touched the rug before Saylor, nothing's wrong with the line-up.If we hadn't known, then there would have been nothing weird about it.If Elmore hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have noticed.I wasn't paying attention when Dubose and Hjalmar talked.I wouldn't have pinged it as something out of the ordinary.But what if rug number two doesn't have Altman's touch?"
"You think it's what he's hiding?"
Frode rubbed his forehead and winced.Nikolai winced in sympathy.Another headache.
"I don't know.I'm only speculating."
"Maybe it's the worst rug, as he's told us, and he doesn't want your brain to fry."Saylor liked Frode.
Frode gave him a weak smile."Maybe."
They made it to Frode's house, and Nikolai walked with him inside."Couch or bed?"
Frode toed off his shoes, shrugged off his jacket, and squinted at him."Huh?"
"Do you want to rest on the couch, or should I tuck you into bed?"He looked around at what he could see of the house from the hallway.It looked undisturbed.
"Ugh.Bed would be nice, but I think I'll nap on the couch."
Nikolai nodded and followed him into the TV room.The house was empty.He peeked into the bedroom to be sure, but it had an empty feeling to it.
