‘Between…? Yes, there was, but, goodness me, that was a hundred years ago. That was even before I got together with Rebecca…’

‘But not before Johnny and Anita got together, eh?’

Jakob lowered his gaze. ‘No, it wasn’t … But it didn’t last long. It was just a respite for us both. For me a period of rootlessness. For her a relationship that had already started to weigh her down.’

‘Right, and when was that? 1960?’

He didn’t answer.

‘1961?’

He gave a slight nod.

‘1962?’

‘It was over by then.’

‘And how long did Anita and Johnny stay married after that?’

‘A long time. Several years.’

‘So he didn’t know what happened?’

‘No idea. You’ll have to ask Anita.’

‘Perhaps I will, Jakob. That wasn’t what happened in 1975 then? That Johnny finally found out?’

‘No, no, no. Nothing happened in 1975, Varg. Not a bloody thing. That was precisely the problem. There was nothing that gave us any reason to stay together.’191

‘So?’

‘Yes?’

‘Who initiated the break-up?’

He sent me a desperate look. ‘No one … directly. It just happened.’

‘It just happened. Nothing … and then it just happened. 1975 was an eventful year. I stopped working at social services that year, by the way. Set up my office in Strandkaien. For me 1975 was an important year. But for you it wasn’t.’

‘Correct. Have we finished now, Varg? Are you happy? Where are you actually going with all these questions?’

I felt my shoulders droop. I splayed my hands. ‘I don’t know, Jakob. As I said, three men are dead, and they all played in the same band as you. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with that if I were you.’

‘OK. What do we do now?’

I got up from my chair. ‘Well, what do we do now? You try to come to terms with this new situation in your life. I’m going to follow the few leads I have.’

‘Leads?’

‘Yes. I don’t like it when people get killed after I’ve contacted them for the first time in years. The police don’t like it, either. On that point we’re one hundred per cent in agreement. So I’ll mooch around asking questions. Nothing important, just a few random questions about what happened many years ago.’

‘Just don’t mess things up, Varg.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean this is really a job for the police, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it always is.’

We stood looking at each other.

‘When will I see you again, Varg? It’d be a shame if…’192

‘I’ll get in touch, Jakob. If not, we’ll meet at Johnny’s funeral, I assume?’

He smiled sadly. ‘Are you saying we’ve reached the age when we only meet at funerals?’

‘Not quite yet, Jakob. Though it might seem like that right now.’

Then I left him to the ravages of the washing machine. The spin phase had already started, and a heart attack was on the way unless someone restored its equilibrium.

I also felt a bit out of balance as I left.