"We should still talk to him.Do you think he's home?"
"Don't know."But now all he wanted to do was drive over to Frode's."Let's check."
Isaac nodded and got into the car.
It only took a minute or two to get to Frode's, but his car wasn't there, and disappointment blossomed in Nikolai's chest."Car's gone."
He looked around the yard.They'd passed one house on the way, but it was barely visible from here.
"Let's knock."Isaac undid his seat belt and was out of the door before Nikolai could say anything.He turned the car around while Isaac knocked.He waited a few seconds, but when Frode didn't open, he came back to the car.
"The door was locked."
"Did you try it?"
Isaac shrugged.
"I'm sure it will please him to know you'd walk into his house uninvited, especially since he doesn't want anyone touching anything inside."
Isaac studied him."I wasn't going to touch anything.He deserves to have a sanctuary, as much as someone like him can have one."A frown formed on his face, and Nikolai focused on the road while he waited for whatever he'd ask next.He was sure there would be a question.
"Did you touch something when you were there yesterday?"
"No.Hjalmar guided me to an armchair and told me not to move and not to touch.I didn't."
He could see him nod in his peripheral.
"Let's talk to the other neighbors."Maybe Frode would be back before they had to head into town.
* * * *
Chapter 11
Hjalmar called when Frode was on his way home from his sitting with Yeager.He accepted the call, and Hjalmar's voice filled the car.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm okay.Heading home from a hot date with Yeager."
Silence.
Frode glanced at the dashboard display to make sure the Bluetooth hadn't cut off or something.It hadn't.Hjalmar's name was still there.
"Is Yeager...eh...into men?"
Frode huffed a laugh."I have no idea.He's very professional."
"But you like him."
Frode frowned."What's this?Yesterday you were all set on Saylor, and now you're trying to get me to hook up with Yeager."
"I'm not trying to get you to hook up with Yeager.I don't know Yeager well enough."
The protective big brother mode had been switched on.
"Hjalmar, I'm thirty-seven years old.Hardly an age where you need to vet my hook-ups."
"So there are hook-ups?"
