Nikolai glanced at Isaac, unsure of what Medlin was talking about."No, I've been gone too long."He hadn't known any reporters before he'd left either, not unless he counted his cousin, but since he no longer was part of the Nesterova family, he would not reach out to her.
"Elmore?"Medlin glanced at him.
Isaac nodded."Willow Addis at Berg Daily."
Nikolai didn't recognize the name, but Medlin nodded.
"Should you leak anything, I wouldn't get angry at this point."
Nikolai almost laughed.
"I'll call her from the car."
The door opened behind them, and Nikolai hurried along.He didn't want to get pulled into another conversation with Agent Dickhead."Let's go."He shot a look at Isaac, who flashed him one of his grins.
They jogged down the stairs and out onto the street.Isaac had his phone pressed to his ear when Nikolai unlocked the car."Willow?Hi, this is Detective Isaac Elmore."He fastened the seat belt with one hand, then proceeded to tell Willow about the serial killer in Berg while Nikolai steered them toward Frode's house.
* * * *
Nikolai turned into the gravel road leading to Frode's house and had driven about three hundred feet when he noticed headlights coming toward them.He cursed.The road wasn't wide enough for two cars.
Isaac looked up."The road is a little wider there."He pointed out the windshield, and Nikolai drove ahead, maneuvering the car, so two wheels were on the road and two were in the grass next to it.He stopped to allow the other car to pass.
When they were side by side, he raised his hand to wave and froze.Saylor was driving.
Isaac cursed."What's he doing here?"
Nikolai couldn't speak.His blood frozeto ice.It took him a second before he could get the car rolling.He drove as fast as he dared at the same time as he called Frode's phone."Fuck."
"No reply?"
He shook his head.
Isaac braced against the glove box when the car hit some potholes."Get us there in one piece."
Nikolai didn't reply; he drove as fast as he could, and if it meant it got a little bumpy, then so be it.
Frode's house was dark except for the window lamps set on a timer.The ball in Nikolai's gut wound itself tighter.
Gravel sprayed as he turned in on the long driveway leading up to the house.
Isaac was out of the car before they'd come to a stop.
"Call an ambulance!"
Fuck.Nikolai got his phone out and called as he ran to where Isaac was crouching.
The landing was drenched in blood, and Frode was curled up on the side, unmoving.
"Is he..."Someone was talking to him on the phone, but he couldn't concentrate on them."Is he alive?"
"He's breathing but not responding.I think he's stabbed in the stomach.His shirt is soaked."
The world shook under Nikolai's feet."We need an ambulance."He rattled off Frode's address before the poor woman on the other end could ask him any questions."A man's been stabbed in the stomach, breathing but not responding, there is a lot of blood, the suspect is on the run, we passed him on the way here."Nikolai was in a bubble.He couldn't take in what was happening.
"Ambulance is on the way."The woman asked something, but Nikolai lowered the phone and neared Frode."Frode, baby?"He took his hand.Thankfully, he had his gloves on.
Isaac was talking on the phone, Nikolai realized.
