‘My goodness, like you haven’t done enough for me already. You especially. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, Karen. And Eirik actually came over yesterday and put up some shelves in the bathroom.’

‘But painting an entire house . . .’

Aylin looks thoughtful.

‘I suppose I like the idea of proving that I can stand on my own two feet,’ she says after a long pause.

‘You can. Right? Is Bo still behaving?’

She asks even though she already knows. And she knows Aylin knows. They just don’t say it out loud; have sworn never to mention what scared Bo Ramnes so badly he now leaves his future ex-wife alone.

Three people only: no one else is ever going to find out.

‘He has the kids every other weekend, but we only communicate via email and text. Though he had to cancel the last two weekends.’

‘How are they dealing with everything?’

‘They’re calmer now, both of them. Mikkel is disappointed when Bo cancels, but Tyra seems more relieved than anything. But she always says he’s been nice when they come back from a weekend with him.’

Karen says nothing. Aylin clenches her jaw.

‘I know what you’re thinking,’ she says. ‘But I’m sure he makes an effort when they’re with him. And he never lay a finger on them. Not ever. If he had, I wouldn’t let him see them.’

‘I know that.’

‘OK. Well, anyway, it has been several weeks now since he last had time for them. I assume the party is already campaigning hard.’

‘Or he met someone else.’

That he can beat the shit out of.

Aylin chews her bottom lip.

‘Yes, I’ve wondered that,’ she admits after a pause. ‘Poor thing if that’s the case. Do you think there’s anything I could do about it?’

‘Warn her, I guess. Tell her what happened to you and hope she listens.’

‘Hopefully she’s stronger than me.’

She won’t be. Predators know how to choose their prey.

They’ve reached the kitchen. Karen sits down at the table while Aylin goes over to the counter.

‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’

‘No, thanks. I’m not staying. I just wanted to see your new digs. And tell you a couple of things.’

Once again that flash of fear in Aylin’s eyes.

‘Is it about Bo? Do you know something you haven’t told me?’

Karen holds her hands up with a reassuring smile.

‘Nothing, I swear. But I did want to tell you that we have probably caught a completely different swine.’

For a few seconds, Aylin looks completely nonplussed. Then the penny drops.

‘The Moerbeck Swine?’

Karen nods.

‘It’s not official, and we don’t know for sure yet, but I wanted to tell you now because . . . well. I thought you should know.’