Page 68 of Psychic Obsession
He glanced at the screen and stopped mid-descent when he read Frode's name.Fumbling with the screen lock, he read the text.Overtime.He checked the time.A bit early for lunch, but he got moving.
It didn't take him many minutes to get there, and when he spotted Hjalmar's car turning into an empty parking lot ahead, he walked faster.
"Did Frode text you?"
Hjalmar jumped, not having seen him."Yeah.You too?"
Nikolai nodded."Any idea what's going on?"
Hjalmar pressed his lips into a thin line."No.If he wants something, he invites me to dinner at home, not a restaurant.He doesn't like restaurants."
So something was wrong.They walked side by side toward the sport bar, Nikolai stepped in behind Hjalmar when a woman with a stroller came toward them."What do you think happened?"
"If it was bad, we'd be called to the hospital and not be summoned by a text."
Nikolai nodded.
They crossed the street when the bar came into view, and Nikolai sped up his steps more.Hjalmar was first through the door, but stilled a few steps in.At the same table they'd occupied the last time was Frode, Ashley Rankin, and a child.
"What the fuck?"
Hjalmar shrugged but got moving again.Frode's head snapped up, and he looked first at Hjalmar then at Nikolai.He stood and came toward them.
"What's going on?"Hjalmar grabbed Frode's shoulders.
"I..."He shook his head, then he shrugged off Hjalmar's hands and held his arms out as if expecting Nikolai to hug him.When he took a step forward, Frode wrapped his arms around his neck, and Nikolai pulled him close, inhaling subtly.Frode had never hugged him.
"He was in the store."He spoke close to Nikolai's ear."Am I allowed to tell Hjalmar?I don't know why I panicked, but I grabbed Ashley and dragged her here."
Nikolai met Hjalmar's gaze, and without letting go of Frode, he spoke at a volume Hjalmar would hear but hopefully not the people around them."What do you mean, he was in the store?"
Hjalmar's eyes widened and looked between Frode and Ashley.
Frode let go of him, and Nikolai wanted to protest, but he suspected hugs were a rarity when it came to Frode, so he'd cherish it despite knowing he'd done it to be able to talk to him without anyone else hearing him.
"I went to grab some groceries, but when I was about to turn off to my usual store, I remembered Saylor ambushing me there, and I wasn't in the mood, so I kept driving."
Nikolai shouldn't grin, but he did.Frode avoiding Saylor was music to his ears.Hjalmar, on the other hand, looked disappointed."I believed you liked Saylor."
Frode frowned."I liked Saylor when he was a face that popped up when I read things.He's nice to look at."
Hjalmar rolled his eyes."He's nice to talk to too."
"He's a groupie."
Nikolai didn't mean to, but he burst out laughing.
Frode waved a hand."Anyway.I went to the grocery store by the southern exit, near the roundabout."
All laughter left Nikolai.
"I grabbed a few things, but when I reached the freezers, he was there."
"Who?"Hjalmar looked confused.
"The rug killer."
Hjalmar cursed, but Frode ignored him and met Nikolai's gaze."He looked directly at me, but then Ava, Ashley's daughter, bumped into me, and while I spoke to her, he walked away.I freaked a little and talked her into coming here with me because...well, he saw her.And I know he doesn't pick single mothers, and he most likely doesn't stalk them in the grocery store, but...yeah."
