"People are dying, Hjalmar."
"Yes, and I don't want you to be one of them."
Nikolai nodded in agreement despite no one looking at him.Frode was glaring at the phone.
"What if I will be because what I saw when touching the first rug has sent the police looking in the wrong direction?"
Hjalmar huffed."Frode, no one could've killed someone on a rug without touching it.Or I guess they could, but it would take effort."
Nikolai held his breath.It was possible, but then it would mean the killer was aware he had to hide from a possible psychic reading.
Hjalmar spoke in a softer tone."If you saw him there, he was there."
Frode's face scrunched, and Nikolai wondered what was going on in his mind.He'd been sure before.What had made him change his mind now?
"Is there any way for someone to hide their touches from you?Since we haven't been able to find fingerprints at any of the crime scenes, I'm assuming he's wearing gloves.Would someone wearing gloves be enough for you not to pick up on their touch?"If it was the case, then he could see why he was hesitating to point fingers.
"No.I can shield myself by wearing gloves or wrapping fabric around an item, but their touches are seared into whatever they've touched no matter what they wore when the contact was made.Shoes on a rug, which is why I don't do things from public places.How many people step on a rug in a lobby in a year?"He fell silent, then narrowed his eyes."Unless they know something I don't."
Know what?Of a way to shield from his reading?Then they'd have to know about him and the possibility of the police calling him in.
"Frode, where's this coming from?"Hjalmar's sounded hesitant.
"I don't know.It doesn't feel right."
"Feel?"
Frode huffed."Nikolai said he's a teacher.Teachers shouldn't be serial killers."
"No, they shouldn't, but you saw him there.Hewasthere."Hjalmar took a breath and kept quiet for a second before he continued."You never care about the cases.You read the objects, then you move on.Most often, you don't ask what happened."
"I know, but something doesn't feel right."
Hjalmar sighed, and Nikolai wanted to join in but held back.
"What will touching another rug prove?You're willing to risk yourself for what?"
Frode narrowed his eyes while gazing into the distance."To see the order."
"Oookay.What will seeing the order tell you?"
"I don't know.I need to see the order."
Hjalmar made an annoyed sound."You're willing to risk yourself because you feel something is wrong with the order of touches?"
Was there anything wrong with the order of touches?Nikolai believed everything made sense.Sam Neace, who'd sold the rug, had touched it, then Nathaniel Altman, then the victim, then Altman again before the forensic team took over.It made perfect sense.
"I'll ask Saylor for the rug with the least wear and tear."
"Doesn't mean it won't melt your brain."Hjalmar's tone was sharp."Nikolai, help me out here."
"Frode."Nikolai reached over the table and took his gloved hands in his."It's not worth it.We know who he is now.The order of touches of the other rugs won't change that he was there.Let the police do their job.You've pointed us in the right direction, now let the guys find what there is to find."
Frode shook his head."No.I'll ask Saylor."
"Frode--" Hjalmar's voice was loud.
"No.I'm an adult.You have no say in what I touch and don't touch."
