Page 49 of Psychic Obsession
Okay."And the sketch is good?"
A nod."As I said, Yeager is awesome."
"I'll guess I'll see for myself tomorrow."
Frode nodded, then he grimaced."Do you know if...Morgan suffered?"
He took a deep breath."I don't know.When someone slits your throat, you don't have long, but...How long he was with her before he did it, I don't know."
Frode paled, and Nikolai wanted to curse.He'd been relaxed, and now Nikolai had destroyed his evening.
"We'll deal with it in the morning."
Frode gave a slow nod."Yeah, I guess she's already been gone for some time."He glanced at the TV.The break was still ongoing.
Nikolai debated what to say, then he blew out a breath."I asked Saylor to have a look at the rug, see if we can learn anything from it.We assume she's been gone for about two months, but no one appears to have missed her.No friends or family checking on her.I'll look into what she did for a living tomorrow, but it's strange no workmates have wondered where she is."
Frode nodded again.
The hockey started, but the relaxed atmosphere was gone.Frode didn't shout at the TV, didn't curse or gesture, and Nikolai wished he'd kept his mouth shut.Why had he brought up work in the first place?
When the third period came to an end, Hjalmar stretched."I think I'm gonna head home.I need sleep."
Frode nodded and carried his now-empty beer bottle to the kitchen.Nikolai didn't move.He should.Should leave with Hjalmar, but he didn't want to get up from the armchair.
Hjalmar stood, glanced at Nikolai, then called out to Frode."I'll call tomorrow."
Frode walked out of the kitchen."Drive safe."
"Always."Hjalmar grinned.It was a lie.Hjalmar drove as if he was in a car chase most of the time.Since Frode rolled his eyes, Nikolai believed he was aware.
"Thanks for the food."Hjalmar went to the hallway and stepped into his shoes.
"You want to bring some for lunch tomorrow?There is half a pan left."
"Nah, you keep it.I don't know where I'll be at lunchtime tomorrow, would be sad to leave it to rot in the precinct refrigerator."
It was almost as if they'd forgotten Nikolai was there, which was fine.He enjoyed their relaxed interaction.It was something they'd never had in his home.He didn't think he'd had a conversation with Dimitri that wasn't fraught with tension.It had been there before Nikolai realized he liked boys and only boys, but afterward, every conversation was like crossing a minefield.
With everyone in his family.
He'd tried.Had tried to be straight.It hadn't worked.He'd tried to be nothing, to be without attraction and intimate relations.It had worked for a little while, but the thing with attraction was it sometimes snuck up on you.
He'd stuck to one-night stands, never getting to know his hook-ups.If he never learned their names, all the better.He'd distanced himself from his family but had still tried to be what they wanted him to be.
Then there had been Julian.
Julian, he'd been willing to change for.He'd wanted the world to know Julian was his, and for a few years, he'd been happy.He'd fitted in his skin.He'd been where he was supposed to be.
Until Julian didn't want him anymore.Until his work got to be too much.Until the things he saw during working hours followed him home, and Julian got frustrated with him.
"Hey."
Nikolai jumped at Frode's voice.It looked as if he'd tried to reach him a few times.
"Sorry."Nikolai rubbed a hand over his face."I should get going too."
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