Yngve knew quite a few cab drivers in Fredheim, but right now there was just one that came to mind.

‘Excellent work, Weedon,’ Yngve said. ‘Really. Top notch.’

‘Thanks, boss.’

66

66

It was nine o’clock in the evening before a doctor came and told us that Tobias’s treatment was successful – that he was going to be fine. A psychiatrist had been monitoring him for a few hours too, and they’d decided he would have to stay overnight, maybe even a couple of nights, for further observation. The most important thing was that he was alright and that there was no permanent damage to his brain or any of his other organs. Mum was so relieved that she sobbed and gasped all at once.

At first, Tobias didn’t want to see us, but an hour later, after Mum had nagged and begged anyone in a uniform, we were allowed in to see him. We were under strict instructions not to pressure him to talk about what he’d done.

When we went into the room, he was half sitting, half lying in bed. He was as pale as I’d ever seen him. He fiddled with his covers, and he didn’t want to meet our eyes. His room was small with white walls and a square mirror above a white porcelain sink. It was as unfriendly and harsh as it could possibly be.

At first Knut and I just stayed in the background. Mum needed to speak first.

She carefully walked up to the bed. ‘Hi,’ she said in a whisper.

Tobias kept his eyes trained on the cover. Mum leaned forwards and gave him a hug. He let her kiss him on the cheek, on the forehead, on his hair, before pulling away, irritated. Mum apologised and sat down on the bed. Put her hand to his cheek. Dried a tear from her own.

‘How are you feeling?’ she asked quietly.

Tobias shrugged. Still didn’t want to look at her – or at Knut or me. She pushed the hair back from his forehead. The overhead lights made it gleam.

I could tell that Mum had a thousand questions for him, that she had to fight not to blurt them out all at once. Instead she produced a volley of inane comments, things that only got a yes or a no reply. She told him how GP was and then started on some silly story about one of her co-workers at the children’s clothes shop.

When she finally ran out of stupid things to say, I asked if I could have two minutes alone with him. Mum was reluctant at first, but she agreed – as long as I promised to be gentle with him. I said yes of course I would be, not knowing if I’d be able to stay true to my word.

When I finally had my brother to myself, I said: ‘I owe you a door.’