Page 54 of Psychic Obsession
Frode flinched."Ah...yeah...that's my fault."
Saylor chuckled."Your fault?"
"I might have threatened to report her to HR, and Hjalmar might have overheard her calling me a circus freak or something along those lines."He shrugged."I don't care much, but Hjalmar wasn't pleased."
Nikolai, Isaac, and Saylor were all looking at him as if he was insane.
"What?"
Nikolai was more growly than normal."She called you a--" He waved his hand."And Hjalmar heard?"
"Not a happy camper."Frode grinned.He didn't like Givens, but she wasn't his boss, so he wasn't overly bothered by it.
"For fuck's sake."Nikolai was snarling now.It was...interesting.
"Hey, you didn't want a fucking psychic either, so you shouldn't talk."
"It was not what I said."
"Ehh, are you sure?"Frode poked his side, and Nikolai jumped away.Ticklish?Interesting.
"Yes, I'm sure."
Frode wasn't, but he couldn't remember exactly what Nikolai had said.He'd been a tad upset himself.He shrugged."I prefer to work with Hjalmar, but when it comes to lieutenants, Medlin is nicer."
"You should come work with us."Saylor gave him a warm look.
"Yeah, I don't know.Like I told Dubose, there is no way I can touch everything from a crime scene.I'd end up in a coma within days."
Saylor winced."Right, we don't want that."
No, Frode did not.
* * * *
Chapter 14
Nikolai spent the afternoon at the precinct.Mallon sent a preliminary report of the autopsy, confirming his suspicion of Morgan Benham having been killed in February.
Isaac tracked down her mother, who was living in a care facility with early-onset dementia.No siblings and no father on record.So fucking sad.
"She ran her own company, worked from home."Isaac looked at his notepad.
"What did she do?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but like marketing stuff for small businesses.She created graphics, posted on social media, wrote emails, and stuff like that.All contact between her and clients appears to have been happening through emails and private messages.Her inbox is full of angry people canceling their cooperations."Isaac looked at him."Should I reach out to them all and ask some questions?"
Nikolai nodded."Put someone on it.I doubt anything will come of it, but who knows."
Isaac nodded but did nothing to make it happen.When silence had lasted for a few seconds, he blew out a breath."She's a loner."
"No friends, no family, working from home."
"Exactly.Or I wouldn't say no friends, she had many friends online, but she doesn't appear to have had any friends she ever met up with in person."
"So how did she meet the killer?"
Isaac nodded."And we can't ask anyone how long she's had the rug."
