He remained silent, and Hjalmar sighed."I don't want you to be lonely."
"May I remind you you're single?"He'd always believed Hjalmar would've been happily married at this age and maybe have a kid or two.Frode wouldn't mind being an uncle.He didn't want kids of his own, didn't think he was cut out for it, and since he had a hard time looking after himself, it was most likely best not to inflict his ways on anyone else.But an uncle.He'd have loved to be an uncle.
When Hjalmar had been quiet for several long seconds, Frode glanced at the display again."Are you okay?"
"Yes, of course.Got distracted."
A lie.
Fuck, was Hjalmar lonely?Oh no, did this mean he'd have to do some brotherly duty and take him out to a bar or something?"Want to have dinner?"He winced as he spoke.All he wanted was to go home and relax in front of the TV, but he could turn around and meet Hjalmar at some restaurant somewhere.
"Are you cooking?"
"I'm in the car right now, so no, but we could--"
"I'll be by around seven, and we can catch a game on TV."
Okay, dinner at home it was."Sure.What kind of food are you in the mood for?"
"Whatever is fine.Or I could grab pizza on the way."
Pizza and a game sounded awesome, but Hjalmar never ate home-cooked food unless Frode made it."I'll dig something out of the freezer."
"Awesome."The tone told him he'd made the right decision.
"Great, see you at seven."
They said goodbye, and Frode turned in on the gravel road leading to his house.As he'd passed the driveway of the house next to his, a car drove out behind him.He frowned when it followed him.It was a black Audi, not a car he'd seen around here before.Though he guessed anyone could have visitors.He passed the mailboxes and flicked the indicator as he slowed.The car behind him did the same, and his frown turned into a scowl.What the fuck?
Turning in on his driveway, he drove up to the barn with the black Audi behind him.The car stopped as Frode did, and he groaned when Elmore jumped out of the passenger seat followed by Nikolai shortly after.
He got out of his car and glared at them."Are you stalking me?"
Elmore grinned and bounced around in his usual way."Good afternoon, Sunny."
Frode rolled his eyes."What can I do for you?"
Nikolai's gruff voice made him look away from Elmore."When did you last see Morgan Benham?"
Frode's mind drew a blank."Have I met them?"
"Your neighbor."Nikolai's face was stony.
Dumbly, Frode looked around.His neighbor?There had been lights on in the house he'd passed."Eh...there?"He pointed toward it.
"No, across the field."Nikolai pointed at his house, which Frode took to mean the house on the other side of the small mound.
"The white house?"
"Yes."
"Ah, never.I have no idea who lives there."
"You don't know your neighbors?"Nikolai crossed his arms over his chest.
"Nope.Never talked to them.Or I've said hi to the woman in that house."He motioned at the closest house again."Our mailboxes are next to each other; don't know her name, though."
Nikolai sighed, but Elmore grinned.It slipped away when Nikolai spoke next.
