Page 90 of Psychic Obsession
A small crease formed between her brows."I wouldn't say I've looked."
"Glanced?"
Her expression softened a fraction."Sure.I've seen them both here and at the crime scenes."
"Would you say this one is the one in best shape?"
Her gaze dropped to the rug."Saylor would know best, he looked at fibers and so on."
"Okay, but from your glances, what's your guess?"
"Case number three, but I haven't inspected any of the rugs closely."
Case number three wasn't this one.Frode shot Hjalmar a look.Should he have checked case number three instead?
"Okay."He blew out a breath, patted down his pockets until he found a box of raisins, ate two, and looked around the room."Something to throw up into?"
Dubose stopped mid-rolling of the rug."You'll throw up?"
"If I'm lucky.If I'm unlucky, you'll have to call an ambulance and have me shipped off to ICU."
She stared."Are you sure you should do this?"
"Not at all, but I have to."
Hjalmar found a trashcan and placed it next to Frode, then he moved to stand behind him.He'd done this before.
"Ready?"Frode tilted his head back and looked up at him.
His expression was grim, but he nodded.
Frode bit into the tip of the glove's forefinger and pulled it off.His hand shook slightly as he reached for the edge of the rolled-up rug.
Dubose face took over his vision, then Saylor's, then the dark-haired man who also was part of the forensic team, then Saylor again, Dubose, Saylor, the ME guy, Saylor, then the man--Nathaniel Altman--then the victim.After her a woman in her fifties, maybe closer to sixties, followed, then a toddler, a girl of about six.Then face after face followed until he was drowning.They kept coming.One face, then another, then another.He struggled to breathe.It didn't stop, and fear grew icicles in his soul.A roar built in his ears, his head about to explode, nausea grabbing hold of his gut, and yet the faces kept coming.
* * * *
Nikolai was leaning against the door frame.He had to give it to Isaac.He wasn't sure he'd be able to come up with as many questions about trace evidence and DNA gathering from a rug.He did a good job.
Saylor was gritting his teeth, but Isaac kept going as if he didn't notice Saylor being about to explode.Nikolai had a sinking feeling they would be waiting for every single report in the future.Hopefully, Hjalmar was buttering up Dubose, so they had one person in their camp.
A minute later, footsteps came closer, and Nikolai looked out into the corridor.Hjalmar was pale, his face set in harsh lines.
"How is he?"
Isaac's questions came to a stop, and Saylor stood from his chair behind his desk.
"He passed out for a couple of minutes but is awake now."
Nikolai cursed.
"He needs food and sleep."
"Yeah, let's go."He looked back into the room at Saylor."Thank you for your help."
"But--"
Nikolai walked away before he could say anything else.He kept pace with Hjalmar's hurried steps and walked into a room smelling of vomit and antiseptics.Dubose was there, but the rug was gone.
