Notifications were pouring in. I showed Imo the phone again. ‘They all want to know if I did it. They don’t say it, but I know that’s what they’re really asking.’

‘Why the hell would they think that?’ Imo demanded.

‘They know that I was looking for Mari yesterday. At school and in Fredheim, later. I looked everywhere.’

‘Mari wasn’t at school during the day?’

‘No, she wasn’t. She was hiding from me, I think.’

Imo seemed to think about that for a moment. ‘So what are your friends saying, exactly?’

I scrolled through the notifications. My finger was shaking a bit.

‘They want to know how I am, why I ran away from school earlier and when I talked to Mari last. I bet they’re already creating groups, talking about me.’

‘You were here last night, though, weren’t you?’ Before I could answer, Imo added: ‘So you couldn’t have done it.’

I sighed heavily and swung my feet onto the floor. I covered my face with my hands for a few seconds. Had the police already seen the message I sent Mari? Had they started interviewing the others yet? If they had, I must already look guilty. Everyone knew that Johannes was popular with the girls. Everyone would be saying that Mari had fallen in love with him, and that I had killed them both because I was angry and jealous.

And then I realised: Johannes might be the reason Mari had split up with me.

‘Just stick to the truth,’ Imo said, ‘and everything will be fine.’

Yeah, I said to myself. The truth. Somehow that didn’t reassure me.

9

NOW

‘So then the police came to see you?’ Prosecutor Håkonsen looks up at me. ‘Yngve Mork came to your house in Granholtveien 4?’

‘Yes, he did.’

‘But you didn’t want Imo – your uncle – to be there with you?’

‘No, I thought I could handle it myself. Besides, I hadn’t done anything wrong.’

I glance at the public seats again. Still no sign whether they believe me or not. Just faces looking at me hard. Ms Håkonsen nods, as though she needs a moment or two to consider what I’ve just said.

‘Just so we’re clear, we’re still talking about the morning of October 18th.’

‘Yes. Well, it wasn’t morning anymore when Yngve came around. At least, I don’t think so. That day’s all a bit of a fog.’

‘I’d say you’re remembering quite well, Even,’ she says with a smile. ‘According to police records the interview took place at eleven-thirty a.m.’

I nod. Why is that important?

‘Did you already know Yngve Mork?’

‘Everybody knew Yngve. He’s lived and worked in Fredheim for years.’

‘Did you like him?’

‘Yes. Still do.’