I stopped and pulled out my phone. I wanted to find out why and how people lost consciousness all of a sudden, like my father had done. The most common cause, according to my Google search, was a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain – often resulting from some kind of glitch in the nervous system. People could faint when they felt strong emotions, couldn’t get enough air, when they’d seen an unpleasant sight, like blood, or had stood up suddenly.

Mum had never actually told me what had happened before my Dad had passed out, and I also realised that I didn’t know where they were going that day – whether they were visiting someone or just driving around. I didn’t even know where the accident had happened, other than on a narrow road with trees on both sides.

God, what an idiot I’d been.

I rang Imo. He was on his way to Solstad, our old town, to see if Tobias somehow had turned up there. I told him about my argument with Mum, and what she’d done.

When I was finished, Imo said: ‘My God. I knew your mother had a temper on her, but…’ A short silence followed.

‘Do you know why your brother passed out that day?’ I asked. ‘I mean, you knew him better than anyone. I just wondered why something like that would happen to him.’

‘Maybe he was stressed at work or something,’ Imo said. ‘It’s a long time ago, Even. I don’t really remember. Have you heard anything from the police?’

‘No,’ I said. ‘But I have a feeling there might be bad news soon.’

Imo took a deep breath. ‘We’ll find him, champ. Try not to worry too much.’

‘OK,’ I said. ‘Talk later.’

I cycled back to the house, half hoping that Tobias had come home in the meantime – that I’d find him sitting in his room. In all likelihood he wouldn’t even have bothered to move the broken-down door. He would just be sitting there staring at the mess, like nothing had happened.

But he wasn’t there.

There were even more cars outside the house this time. Yngve Mork was standing by the fence, talking on his phone. He ended the conversation when he saw me, and gave me a feeble smile.

‘Hi Even.’

‘Hey,’ I said. ‘Any news?’

Mork shook his head. I was about to ask him a question about the investigation, when my phone rang. It was Imo again.

‘I’ve found him!’ he shouted. ‘I’ve found your brother.’

60

NOW

Miss Håkonsen takes another sip of water. This is one of the parts of the examination I’ve been dreading the most.

‘Where did Imo find your brother?’

‘In Solstad. At Ruben’s. His best friend.’

‘And what was he doing there?’

I glance quickly at Mum. ‘Taking drugs.’

‘Drugs?’

‘Yes, he was doing drugs. Smoking weed or … whatever it was.’