‘Like I said, I knew I had an early start. I would be needing my own key to get in, as the doors don’t open before seven-thirty a.m.’

One of the kids outside cupped his face and tried to look in. Steam from his breath hit the glass.

‘Just … stay here for now,’ Yngve said. ‘Guard the door. I’ll get someone to take your place in a little while. We need to talk some more later.’

‘OK.’

Back by the staircase Yngve stopped in front of Vibeke Hanstveit, just as she was finishing her phone call.

‘Can you ask some of the nearby districts to spare us some hands?’ he asked. ‘We probably have to conduct hundreds of interviews over the next few days.’

‘I’ll see what I can do,’ Hanstveit replied.

‘Good. Thanks. As many as we can get.’

Hansveit was already dialling.

Yngve turned to Therese. ‘We have to talk to whoever was responsible for ticket sales to the show here last night. We need to find out exactly how many people were present.’

Therese was squatting in front of Johannes Eklund’s body, but didn’t seem to be looking at anything specific. Yngve took a few steps closer.

‘OK,’ she finally said in a thin voice, without looking up at Yngve.

He waited a few seconds. Then said, ‘Are you OK?’

Therese got up and nodded, carefully at first, then with more and more force, as if trying to convince herself. She mindlessly stroked her belly, avoiding his gaze.

‘Let’s have a look upstairs,’ Yngve said. ‘There might be traces on the staircase, and our shoes are still wet. So be careful where you put your feet.’

Therese nodded again.

They slowly ascended the staircase, staying as close to the bannister as they could. The steps and walls were spotted with drops of blood.

‘Look.’ Therese pointed to the door at the end of the staircase, the small, red drop right next to the door handle.

‘He probably walked this way afterwards,’ she whispered. Yngve removed his coat and slowly pushed the door inwards with his elbow, making sure he didn’t touch the blood. He held the door open so Therese could enter, then found the light switch on the other side of the door. One by one the fluorescent lights in the corridor lit up.

It was empty.

They checked the classrooms and washrooms, all locked or empty. They reached the auditorium. The stage at the front was covered with a thick, dark-green carpet. In front of it, red plastic chairs were lined up in rows. Without saying anything, Yngve pointed to a door further in on the right.

It was open.

They approached it slowly and carefully, but their footsteps broadcast their every move. Yngve could now make out the sign on the door. It said MUSIC. He pointed to the handle and stopped in front of it. More blood. A congealed spot.

He walked through the doorway.