"Nesterova and Elmore handed the investigation over."
Frode frowned."Which investigation?"He could play dumb, right?
"The rugs."
"Oh."
"Oh?Do you think I'm stupid?"
"Not at all, but I know nothing about their investigations.I never do.I touch things and tell the investigators who have touched the items.It's all.I'm not a cop."
"I know."The anger in his voice made Frode want to take a step back, but there was no room for retreating.He was stuck between Saylor and the door.
This wasn't the Saylor he'd had lunch with.The harshness hadn't been there before.
"Okay, so what do you want me to say?I can't tell you anything about what they're working on."
Saylor pushed a hand into his pocket and retrieved a scalpel.
Fuck.
Frode stared at it."Eh...Saylor."
"Jaxon.I've heard you call Nesterova by his given name, so why not me?All I wanted was your attention, but you don't see me."
"I see you.I've seen you for years.With almost every item I'vetouched for the police, I've seen you.I know you work hard.I know you want to do the right thing."He hoped.Fuck, his tongue was thick and clumsy in his mouth.
Saylor snorted."I'm sick of doing the right thing."
Right."Eh...what time is it?"Wherewas Nikolai?If Saylor was aware they'd transferred the case, it must have happened some time ago.Didn't it mean he was done for the day?Or maybe he had a new case now.Frode understood being a detective meant you wouldn't work nine to five, but shouldn't he havefinished for the day?Maybe he'd gone home to his place.It was possible he didn't want to disturb Frode when he believed he was resting.
His heart was beating too fast.Maybe no one would come to his rescue.Could he take Saylor in a fight?
Most likely not.Saylor wasn't a big guy.Size-wise they were evenly matched, but he suspected Saylor had training.Frode did not.If you worked in the forensic department, you were still a cop, right?He slid his gaze over Saylor, but all he did was stare at Frode.
"Saylor?What are you doing?"
"Jaxon."
Fuck.Fuck.Fuck."Jaxon."Frode tried to smile but failed spectacularly."What are you doing here, Jaxon?What do you want me to help you with?"
"I want you to remove your gloves."
"No."There was no hesitation in Frode's voice.He'd done one reading today; another one would knock him out.He could handle touching a few things in his house, but he couldn't read an object.
"Remove your gloves."Saylor's eyes where hard as flint, nothing like the bashful, smiling man he'd met in the grocery store.
"Say--Jaxon, I can't.I've done one reading today.I can't do another."
He sneered."Can't or won't?"
"Can't."Could he run?It would give Saylor access to his house, which wasn't great, but he might not survive this encounter, so maybe it didn't matter what he did with the house.Where the fuck was Nikolai?
He looked Saylor up and down.Was he fast?Frode was pretty fast.Maybe he could run across the field to his neighbor?But he'd have to pass Saylor to get off the landing.If he survived this, he shouldlook into installing a back door.
"I want you to read me."
"Eh..."Frode looked at Saylor, then around the yard, then back at Saylor again."I don't read people.I can only read items."
