After an inviting gesture from William Tryste, they sit down on a dark blue sofa and look around the room. The décor is pleasantly free of the crystal chandeliers, oak furniture and dark brown leather that dominated the Groths’ parlour, and Karen notes that the bookshelves actually look as though they contain contemporary titles. But, just like at the Groths’, Helena fetches glasses and bottles of mineral water from a serving cart without asking and places them in front of her guests, mindful of Doggerian custom. A host may reluctantly accept not being allowed to serve coffee or tea – at least if their guests are from the police, customs or tax authorities – but not serving them even water is unthinkable.

‘So,’ William Tryste says, hiking up his trouser legs and taking a seat in one of the armchairs across from them, ‘I assume you want to talk about last night, but what exactly is it you want to know?’

Ten minutes later, William and Helena Tryste have confirmed the account given by the Groths and their guests about the previous evening. They themselves had left the party just before one. Helena Tryste had refrained from drinking and they’d given Eva Framnes a ride home. The only point at which the Trystes’ version diverges from the others’ is that they claim Björn Groth left the table during dinner to take a call.

‘But he can’t have been gone for more than five minutes and it was long before midnight,’ William Tryste stresses.

‘And you don’t know what that call was about, I assume?’

‘No idea. But I thought it was odd for anyone to be calling at that time of night, and on New Year’s Eve, too. His family was there, and it can hardly have been work-related, either.’

‘Do you recall if he seemed upset when he returned?’

‘No, slightly worried, maybe. But I have to say, I’m not comfortable speculating about it. You should just ask Björn directly.’

‘We will,’ Karen says, noting that William Tryste looks like he’s sorry he mentioned the call at all.

She exchanges a quick look with Karl, leans back and lets him take the reins.

‘We would like you to tell us about any threats that may have been made against the distillery or the Groths,’ he says.

Suddenly, the room is dead silent. Their host slowly leans forward, reaching for an opener and one of the bottles. The hissing sound when the cap comes off seems to fill the entire room. He doesn’t seem surprised, Karen reflects, but he’s playing for time.

‘Threats against the Groths?’ he says eventually. ‘What would that be about?’

‘That’s what we’re trying to find out. For example, what might Fredrik Stuub have known that could have threatened the expansion?’