‘Said he’d like an animal film. Something for the whole family,’ the woman explained.

Johnny ignored her. ‘He’s always been a wag.’ The look he sent me was jovial, but cold underneath. ‘Well?’

‘Had this shop long, Johnny?’

‘No. It’s Stig here who runs it. I’ve just invested in it. I help a bit on busy days.’

‘Like today?’

‘At the weekends and so on, yes. It’s early doors yet.’

‘No family entertainment then?’77

‘Yes, of course. We’ve got…’ He glanced at the shelves. ‘Where is it then?’

‘The furthest rack. At the back. At the bottom against the wall,’ the woman behind the counter informed him. ‘I don’t think there are any animal films there though.’

‘No, we keep them in the backroom … and under the counter,’ Johnny said with a wink.

‘I went to your house first,’ I said.

‘Oh, yeah. Did Bente send you here?’

‘If your wife’s called Bente, yes, she did. I assume it was her.’

‘And you were after?’

I hesitated. ‘Is there somewhere we can talk … alone?’

He looked around with a surly expression on his face. ‘You can see how much space we have. It’s so cramped we have to go onto the pavement when Bodil needs to change a tampon.’

Ha ha, the woman behind the counter mouthed.

‘It’s so tight in the back room that if we both want to smoke we have to put our cigarettes in the opposite sides of our mouths.’

‘Let’s go outside then,’ I said, nodding to the door. ‘Bit of fresh air never hurt anyone.’

‘Did you say fresh air?’ he mumbled, and indicated the exhaust fumes in Kringsjåveien.

‘At least it’s discreet,’ I said.

On the narrow pavement he turned up his jacket collar, stuffed his hands deep into his pockets and squinted at me mock-innocently. ‘Can’t wait to hear.’

‘About what?’

‘About what you want, Varg. I take it you haven’t come to offer me an honorary membership to Save the Children or the YMCA?’78

‘Hardly. But you’ve heard of the Video Outlets’ Golden Tankard Award, have you?’

For a second or two he blinked, then he was back in Kringsjåveien. ‘Come on. Spit it out.’

I looked at him. ‘It’s about Rebecca.’

His jaw was about to hit the floor until he caught it. The surprise in his eyes was genuine. ‘Now don’t tell me she’s run off from him again. No wonder old Jakobsen looked so dejected yesterday.’

‘So it’s news to you?’

He sneered. ‘Yes, it was news to me. This time.’

I pretended I didn’t know what he meant. ‘This time?’

‘Yes?’ I knew he would take the bait. ‘You’re not telling me that Jakob didn’t tell you?’

I waited for him.

‘Why did you come here?’

I shrugged, without answering.

He came closer. ‘You know already, Varg, don’t you. The last time she ran off she was sick and tired of a jessie wearing a lace pinnie over his dick with a duster in his pocket. She needed a bull, and who else should she turn to but…?’ He patted his chest modestly. ‘Yours truly.’