Confusion."And it has something to do with your skill?"Medlin glanced at Nikolai but kept most of his focus on Frode.
Frode pursed his lips."I don't know.I feel like I've missed something."
"A person?"
Scrunching his nose didn't help matters, but he did it anyway."Not a person.I remember all faces; they'll never go away, but I need to see the order."
"You've forgotten the order?"
"No."
Medlin sighed, then he waved his hand."Have at it."
Nikolai protested, but Frode turned and walked out of the office.Elmore stood outside, his normal grin absent."What's going on?"
"I want to do a reading of rug number four.Medlin said I could."
Elmore nodded."Okay.Why?"
Good question.Frode didn't know why, but he had to.He patted his jacket pocket and pulled out a box of raisins.Without looking at Elmore, he shook out a couple into the palm of his gloved hand and popped them into his mouth.The sweet taste settled him.
"I don't know why.I have to."
Elmore nodded."Let me call down to evidence and have them...Eh...I'm not sure it's been delivered here yet.I think the forensic team is still working on it.They haven't sent us their report yet."
Nikolai cursed behind him, and Frode looked at him over his shoulder.The sense of unease intensified, but he was being silly.Saylor had the rug, but there was nothing strange about it, right?Of course, the forensic team would have it if they were working on it.
"Can I touch it there?"He didn't want to.He wanted to do it here."They must have a room we can borrow there, right?"
Nikolai stepped closer."Frode, can't this wait a day or two?Saylor said he'd have the report ready later today.Tomorrow we'll most likely be able to get the evidence to this building."
He wanted to say yes.He didn't want to go back to the forensic department, but the sooner he could touch the fucking rug, the sooner he could get rid of this sense of wrongness.
"No, let's go."
"Frode."Nikolai grabbed his arm, not hard, and he could most likely yank away, but he didn't.Nikolai dropped his voice."Honey, why is it so important to do this now?I'd feel better if we did it here where we can look after you."
"You can look after me there.It's a police department.It's no more dangerous than being here."Right?Fuck, Frode didn't know."Maybe Hjalmar can come?"
He was pathetic, needing his big brother.
Nikolai nodded, let go of Frode's arm, and grabbed his phone.He took a few steps away and held it to his ear.
"Did something happen?"Elmore's voice forced Frode to look away at the same time as Nikolai started talking to Hjalmar.
"No, it's only a feeling."
"A feeling of what?"
Frode nodded."Something not being what it appears to be.I know the man, Altman, was there.I know he touched the rug after the victim but before the forensic team, but did he kill her?"
Elmore's eyebrows drew together."Who else would have done it?They didn't slit their own throats.We haven't managed to retrieve a murder weapon.It wasn't suicide."
"I don't think he works alone."
Elmore widened his eyes, and Nikolai turned around to stare at him with the phone still pressed to his ear.The moment the words had taken form, something settled in Frode.It didn't mean he was right.His ability couldn't predict things, but it felt right."I think there is an accomplice."
Silence.
