Nikolai rolled them so they were on their sides, then he reached for the duvet and slid it over them.Frode snuggled closer and sighed in contentment.He'd go back to being annoyed at Nikolai tomorrow.
* * * *
Nikolai woke to an empty bed, confused.As he turned, his naked ass slid over the sheets.He never slept in the nude.Then he grinned and reached down to give his morning wood a squeeze.
The gurgling of a coffee maker reached him through the crack left open by the bedroom door, and he flung the cover off.Making quick work of getting dressed, he then walked into the bathroom to do his business.It wasn't until he dried his hands on a towel; he stilled and looked around.Fuck.What had he touched?
He unlocked the door and winced as he did."Frode?"He walked toward the kitchen.Frode was by the stove, making scrambled eggs and bacon, and Nikolai allowed a groan as his stomach growled.Normally, he'd rush out of his apartment, grab a coffee and sandwich on the way.
"I touched things in the bathroom.I wasn't thinking."
Frode looked at him."What did you touch?"
"Eh...Everything?The toilet lid, the flush button, the tap, the soap, the green towel."At least, he remembered to use the green towel.
"I'm careful in the bathroom, hardly ever touch anything without a barrier other when I'm in the shower."
Nikolai nodded."I'm sorry."
Frode shrugged, grabbed a trivet, and tossed it onto the table before grabbing the skillet and placing it atop."Dig in."
Nikolai took a seat and noted they were both eating on green plates today."Green."
Frode waved his glove-covered fingers."So...we're going to ask Saylor about which rug I'm gonna touch?"He paled a little as he served himself some scrambled eggs.
"We're asking Saylor how he knew what you looked like before having met you."Nikolai reached for the bacon.
"And then I'm touching a rug."
Nikolai grimaced."I don't think you should.What we have might be enough.You seeing him again won't help us.We can't use what you see in court, so it won't matter if you can place him at all four crime scenes or not."
"Except you might be able to track where he gets his rugs.You might be able to get someone who can tell you something about him.Or it might turn out he's not the one doing it at all.How likely is it a man like him is a serial killer.You said he's a teacher."
Nikolai ate some scrambled eggs and watched Frode with narrowed eyes."You said he touched the rug after the victim but before the forensic team.Who other than the killer would?A normal person wouldn't touch anything; they'd call the cops."
Frode leaned forward."Isn't it best to know before you put all your resources into nailing him?I'll touch another rug.If nothing else, it can help us see a pattern."
"Frode..."Nikolai didn't like this, didn't like it at all."Let's talk to Hjalmar."
"Hjalmar has nothing to do with this investigation."
True, but he knew Frode's limits best."I'd still like to talk to Hjalmar."
Frode snarled at him, and Nikolai almost smiled.He didn't.He didn't think smiling right now was a good idea, but a snarling Frode he could handle.A snarling Frode he was used to.
In jerky motions, Frode got his phone out of his pocket and called Hjalmar.He put it on speaker and waited.
"Frode?"Worry was evident in Hjalmar's tone.
"You're on speaker.I'm gonna touch another rug."
Silence."Now?"
"Soon.Nikolai and I are having breakfast.I'll grab a quick shower, then we're heading to town."
Hjalmar took a deep breath."And you're going to touch a rug you have no idea where it's been?The list you submit to all your clients says differently."
Nikolai sipped some coffee; happy Hjalmar was the one to bring it up.
