I wondered when Yngve Mork would get in touch with me again. I had a feeling it would be soon.

‘Working today?’ I asked.

‘Yes,’ Mum sighed. ‘I have to leave in a minute or two.’

I looked at her. I couldn’t see any signs of last night’s drinking. There were bags under her eyes, but then again, there always were.

‘Is that brother of yours going to make an appearance today?’ She looked up at the ceiling, as though Tobias might suddenly come bursting through it.

‘Don’t know,’ I said. I guessed he probably wouldn’t come down until I had left.

Mum looked at the clock on the wall. ‘I’ll go and see what he’s up to.’

I heard her feet on the stairs, GP eagerly following, paws scratching against the steps. Then a knock on my brother’s door.

‘Tobias, time to get up!’

She got no answer. She knocked again. Called his name once more and made another point of how late it was. Still no answer. Again she knocked, harder this time. Same result.

I went upstairs too. When I got there, Mum was trying the handle. It was locked, just as it had been the evening before. GP was jumping around her ankles, wagging his tail.

‘He’s started to lock the door,’ Mum said, more to herself than me. She tried the handle again. ‘Tobias!’

I put my ear to the door. Couldn’t hear a thing. No music. No movement. ‘Tobias!’ I yelled. ‘What’s going on?’

I tried to push at the door. It didn’t budge. I looked at Mum. ‘Do you have the key?’

Mum shook her head frantically. I put my shoulder to the door but still it didn’t move, not even a little bit. It was old and heavy. I stepped back and took a run at it. I just bounced off. GP barked. I took a look around for something to hit the handle with. Spotted the fire extinguisher by the wall. I picked it up, then slammed it down on the handle with all my might. It didn’t break.

I tried the same again. No luck. And even if I did manage to get the handle off, I thought, the door would still be locked. The whole thing would have to come off its hinges. I had to kick it in.

GP was jumping around my ankles, wanting to play.

‘Keep him away from me!’ I shouted at my mum.