He’s probably right. Leo Friis has been nicked a few times for vagrancy and public drunkenness, and once for simple assault. It hadn’t led to a formal charge, but it would likely be held against him now. A recently homeless person’s word would not hold much weight compared an established lawyer’s anyway. And they can’t claim Bo was trespassing; he’d rung the doorbell and had certainly tried to force his way inside, but Leo had shoved him back and then been punched in the face. It was probably the profuse bleeding that had given Bo Ramnes cold feet and persuaded him to get back into his car and drive away. According to Leo, who was far less rattled than Sigrid, the whole thing had been over in seconds. She had come running down the stairs when she heard their angry voices, but she hadn’t made it in time to witness the fisticuffs.

‘Are you sure you shoved him first?’ Karen says, studying the dry blood around Leo’s nostril.

‘I’m afraid so. He tried to get a foot in the door, so I shoved the bastard. He would probably have fallen over backwards if he hadn’t been taking a swing at me at the same time. Instead, he landed with one knee on the stone steps. He’s probably in more pain than I am,’ he adds smugly.

‘Here’s hoping.’

‘Has Aylin reported him?’

Karen nods.

‘Yes, in the end, she did. Marike went with her to the station. Aylin has talked to her parents as well, and they’re going to look after the children for a few days, so at least they can get some peace and quiet.’

‘Have you called Kore and Eirik yet?’

‘Yes, Aylin called them herself and asked if she and the children could stay with them for a while after they come back from New York. She made up some story about remodelling and Bo being away for work.’

‘Why didn’t she just tell them the truth?’

Karen shrugs.

‘She said she didn’t want to tell them over the phone, and I think it’s important that we let her set the pace. Either way, they’ll be back Thursday night. Apparently Eirik was talking about going home earlier, but she didn’t want to hear of it. I think he suspects what this is really about.’

‘Probably. Didn’t you? Ever wonder if he was beating her, I mean.’

Karen looks down at her wine glass. Should she have insisted last summer, even though Aylin denied it? Or had she accepted the answer she got because it was easier that way?

‘I’ve obviously sensed that things weren’t good between them and yes, I’ve had my suspicions. But it’s hard to tell real red flags from imagined ones when you dislike someone as much as I dislike Bo.’

Leo nods.