"Except you can't check out evidence without having had someone agree to it."
Frode huffed."I'm pretty sure I can get Medlin to agree to it.You might have to fight Givens every time you want me involved, but Medlin rarely says no."
Nikolai swallowed a curse.He was right.Medlin would most likely agree.Especially since when they'd first called Frode in, the plan was to have him touch all the rugs.Fuck.
* * * *
Chapter 20
Frode was annoyed as they walked through the door to the forensics department.Nikolai had refused to leave his side, so it had taken ages to get ready since Nikolai had waited while he got showered and dressed, and then he had to do the same in Nikolai's sad excuse for an apartment.
Frode got depressed simply from looking at it.
Nikolai had lived there for months, but there were moving boxes lining the living room; the walls were bare, and it looked more like a storage room than a home.
Nikolai was silent as they walked down the corridor.
Dubose poked her head out of a room and looked at them with wide eyes."Gentlemen, what are you doing here?"
Nikolai stopped and turned to her."We'd like a word with Saylor."
"And the phones were broken?"
Frode hid a smile.The forensics team sure didn't like visitors.
A door opened farther down the corridor, and Saylor stepped out of the room.He looked at them, frowned, then smoothed his face into a neutral expression.
"Nesterova?"
"Saylor, could we have a word?"Nikolai's gruff tone wouldn't win him any favors, but Frode didn't care.As long as they could ask Saylor about the rugs.If Nikolai got them thrown out before he could ask, he'd be pissed.
"What's so important a call wasn't enough?"
Frode grinned.Saylor softened some when he looked at him."Frode."
"Morning.Can we talk rugs?"
Nikolai made a sound, but Frode ignored him and took a step closer to Saylor.
"Of course.What do you want to know?"He gestured toward one of the doors farther down the corridor, and Frode fell into step next to him.Nikolai walked behind them, and Frode could feel the annoyance emanating from him.
"Which of them would you say is in best condition?"
Saylor pursed his lips as he guided Frode into an office.He rounded the desk and took a seat.There was one chair across from him, so Frode sat, leaving Nikolai to stand.
"Best condition as in the least worn?"
"Yes.If you were to guess, which one has been touched the least?"
Saylor drummed a finger against the desktop."It's hard to tell.I'd say case two, Leah Redding, has the rug that's been walked on the most.Do steps register for you?"
Frode nodded.
"Thought so.Then you might want to stay away from rug two.Case four, Morgan Beham, which chronologically is victim number three, has the newest-looking rug underneath the gore, but I can't say anything about how many have touched it."
Frode understood."So if you were to guess, you'd say case number four?"Morgan.His neighbor.He wasn't sure he wanted to touch it.On the other hand, if Altman had been near his house, he wanted to know.
Saylor gave one curt nod."No guarantees, though."
