"What?"
"We have to read through this.There are reports, interviews, and so on.It will take hours."
True.
"Why wasn't the whole department briefed on this?It's not normal for one single guy to work a serial killer case, is it?"Isaac's eyes were hard, his lips thin, but before Nikolai could reply, he continued."I'll go home.I'll read through as much as my brain can take tonight."Isaac gathered the folders and handed them to Nikolai."It's all in the database, right?"
"Should be."
He nodded."Want to go grab something to eat before we split up?"
No, if they weren't going to stay here and work, he'd meet up with Hjalmar."I promised an old friend I'd meet him for a beer in an hour."
"An old boyfriend?"Isaac grinned widely.
Nikolai had told the entire department he was gay on the first day.He didn't care what people said about him, but if there was gonna be a problem, he wanted to know from the start.Medlin hadn't cared, nor had Isaac, and the rest didn't matter.No one had been rude to his face, though some made sure to keep their distance.
"Nope, he's as straight as they come.We went to school together."He was pretty sure Hjalmar was straight, unless he'd hidden a bisexuality.He'd never gotten the vibe, though.Hjalmar had an easy way with girls back in school, and he'd been head over heels in love with Ashley Rankin, to the cheerleading squad's great disappointment.Nikolai had takengreat pleasure in it.
Ashley had been a...to say mousy would be unkind, as would plain, but she didn't live up to the traditional beauty standards.Her dark hair was a tumbled mess; her nose had a prominent bump, and her mouth was too wide.And she was some sort of math whizz.Too fucking smart for her own good.
She had a great laugh, though.Deep and throaty, unlike the giggles that most often filled the corridors.
"Sounds great, man."Isaac grinned at him."I guess I'll have to eat pizza on my own then."
Pizza would have been nice.Best of all would've been a home-cooked meal.He couldn't remember when he'd last had one.
They said goodbye, and Nikolai spent half an hour going through Bedell's notes from the first case before he grabbed his jacket and headed out of the building.
The April evening was chilly, chillier than it had been this past week.He hoped there wouldn't be frost.He was more than ready for light, warm nights.
He pushed through the door to Overtime.The sports bar had been around since Nikolai was a kid, and he spotted Hjalmar right away.Time had treated him kindly.The crow's feethadn't been there when they'd hung out last, but he was fit and looked settled in his skin.
Nikolai waved as their eyes met and walked up to the bar to order a beer before going to the table Hjalmar was occupying.There was a one-arm hug, a slap on the shoulder, and the usual how-have-you-beens.
Nikolai looked around."This hasn't changed much."
"Nah."Hjalmar followed his gaze."The menu has been updated."
"Oh, it has?"He was hungry.He hadn't eaten much at lunch with the scent of blood and other things still clinging to his nostrils."Have you eaten?"
"Nah, took Frode out for lunch, but have only had coffee since then.A burger?"
Frode.There was a strange swirl in his gut."How is Frode these days?"
Hjalmar shrugged, and a look of worry filled his eyes."He's doing okay.Mom and Dad moved to Norway six years ago after Dad retired, so it's only the two of us here now."
Right, his dad was Norwegian.He'd forgotten."Do they like it?"
"Mom's thrilled."
Nikolai nodded and sipped his beer."Have you gone to see them?"
He shook his head."They came here over Christmas, but..."He shrugged."Good luck getting Frode on a plane."
"He's afraid of flying?"Nikolai tried to conjure up an image of what Frode might look like now.He and Hjalmar looked nothing alike.When Nikolai had looked at childhood photos of him and his brother, it was nearly impossible to tell them apart.They were spitting images of each other, but Hjalmar and Frode had different hair colors, different eyecolors, and different physiques.There were similarities too, but you didn't see them at first.
Hjalmar snorted."He's afraid of people."
