‘A few things,’ Sara said – her accent indicating she originally hailed from the far north. ‘The victim on the staircase was beaten several times, probably with something sharp and fairly heavy.’

‘No idea what kind of object?’

‘None,’ Sara replied. ‘At least, not yet.’

‘What about the other victim?’ Therese asked.

‘I haven’t examined her closely yet, but she was most likely strangled. Someone tried to revive her afterwards.’

Yngve raised his eyebrows. ‘Revive her?’

‘We’ll have to wait for the preliminary autopsy,’ Sara said, ‘but according to one of my colleagues, at least two of the victim’s ribs were broken in a way that’s consistent with someone trying to do CPR a bit violently.’

So the perpetrator regretted killing her, Yngve thought. While the opposite seemed to be the case with Johannes Eklund.

‘Is it possible to say who was killed first?’ he asked.

‘Probably the girl,’ Sara said. ‘Whoever did this’ – she pointed to the staircase – ‘probably got blood on themselves, and there’s nothing on the girl.’

That sounds about right, Yngve thought.

‘One more thing,’ Sara said. ‘The female victim had a business card in her pocket.’

‘Yeah?’

‘It’s for a reporter.’

Yngve looked at Therese.

‘His name is Ole Hoff,’ Sara said. ‘You guys might know him.’

We do, Yngve thought to himself. He had spoken to Ole during the weekend about a stabbing that had taken place in the town centre.

He didn’t have any more questions for Sara, so he thanked her for her time and watched her return to work. Then he turned to Therese.

‘See if you can get hold of Ole,’ he said. ‘He and Mari had obviously been in touch.’

‘I’ll get right on it.’

‘Talk to the janitor as well. See if the surveillance cameras on the outside were in use last night. Maybe we’ll get lucky.’

‘I’ll do that, too,’ said Therese.

Just as she walked away, Vibeke Hanstveit arrived.

‘I’ve sent the extra detectives to the handball court,’ she said.

‘Good.’

‘They’re waiting for you.’

‘Very good, I’m just going to…’

Åse was standing by the wall a couple of feet away from them.

You’re always just going to…

Her voice, whether it was kind or scolding, was like a faint stream of light that always managed to break through the darkness. He both wanted it and didn’t want it to linger.

‘Yngve?’

He blinked. Hanstveit was staring hard at him.

‘Yes?’ he asked, rubbing his face.

Hanstveit looked at him for a few moments. Then, ‘Are you sure you’re up for this?’

‘Up for what? How do you mean?’

‘It’s only been a couple of weeks since you buried your wife. Are you sure your head is in the right place?’