Fabian shook his head. ‘No, you weren’t walking through Slottshagen, and there were no “blokes” who held you at gunpoint until a third “bloke” appeared with a pit bull and scared them off.’

‘Fine, believe whatever you want.’ Theodor snorted derisively. ‘Like I care…’

‘Theo, I can see it. It’s clear from a mile away that—’

‘What do you mean, see it? You never see anything before it’s too late,’ Theodor hissed. ‘What the fuck is it you imagine you can tell from looking at me?’

‘That you’re not okay.’

Theodor faltered, as though that had been the last response he’d expected.

‘I can see you’ve got something on your mind. Something heavy, that’s eating at you, and if you think it’s going to just go away on its own, you’re wrong. It’s going to get worse and worse, and if you don’t do something about it, eventually you’ll rot inside.’

For the first time, his son actually seemed to be listening without protest. ‘You said I never see anything before it’s too late,’ he continued. ‘Painful as it is, I have to admit that that’s been true too many times. But I’m trying to change that, and that’s why I’m here now and not some other time. Because it’s not too late. There’s always a path leading forward, and yours starts with the truth. No matter how difficult and terrible it may be, that’s where we have to start. Otherwise everything’s going to fall apart. So I’m asking you again. What happened that night?’

Theodor was quiet, his eyes looking for something to rest on as he took in what had been said. But when they couldn’t find a safe point, his chin started to tremble instead.

Almost an entire minute passed before he met Fabian’s eyes again. ‘Okay,’ he said in a voice as fragile as a butterfly wing. ‘You’re right. I wasn’t on my way to meet up with friends. I was standing by the cashpoint down on Stortorget Square when they appeared. Suddenly, they were just there, waving the gun around, telling me to get all my money out.’

One lie replaced with another.

He could see it in his eyes and felt disappointment rush through him. ‘Theodor… Dunja’s been in touch. You know, Dunja Hougaard, who saved your life two years ago.’ Suddenly, there was panic in Theodor’s eyes. ‘She tells a very different story. One that takes place in Denmark and in which you are one of—’

‘It wasn’t me! I promise it wasn’t me! They forced me. I never wanted to, but they forced me to be their lookout while they—’ Theodor broke off and scrunched up his face to fight back the tears.

‘While they what? Pushed a big firecracker down the victim’s throat and lit it?’