‘There are seven of us here in Lysvik, including me. There’s a local station up in Skreby and one in Gudheim, each with a couple of lads, but they’re closed for the holidays. Everyone lives on the island and everyone should be available, except one, who’s jetted off to the Canary Islands. Two have been dispatched to guard the crime scene, or potential crime scene, I should say until we know for sure. It has been cordoned off – we’ve done everything by the book,’ he adds. ‘Your technician approved it when I took him up there about an hour ago.’

‘And what about Fredrik Stuub’s home?’

‘I’ve put a man on that, too. Well, outside, obviously, we haven’t entered.’

‘Great. Why don’t you tell us what you know and Sven can add his information as we go.’

Thorstein Byle clears his throat and starts speaking in a monotonous, tense voice, as though he were being quizzed on homework.

‘So, the victim is Fredrik Stuub, a retired teacher and widower. He was found dead by his sister Gertrud around nine yesterday morning in an old flooded quarry in Karby. Fredrik Stuub lived nearby, just north of Skreby.’

He glances uncertainly at Karen. She nods to let him know she’s familiar with the area.

‘I have family on the island and I spent a lot of time here as a child, so I know my way around reasonably well.’

Something that might be surprise flashes across his face.

‘Eiken Hornby, you said. So you’re related to the Noorö Eikens?’

Karen nods and Thorstein Byle continues, in a slightly more relaxed tone.

‘Right, so, Fredrik was found by his sister Gertrud Stuub, who became worried when she couldn’t reach her brother on the phone. Apparently, he hadn’t showed up to the early morning Christmas Day service, as he usually would have, so as soon as the sun came up, she went over to his house, which is not too far from her own. When neither Stuub nor his dog were to be found, she became worried he might have fallen and hurt himself walking the dog. Apparently, he walks the loop trail around the quarry every morning. At least, that’s what I gathered from what she told us when we got to the scene, but she was very upset and we didn’t want to press her for too many details.’

Thorstein Byle pauses to sip his coffee.

‘Anyway, she set off and found first the dog and then her brother. Luckily, she had her phone with her, so she was able to call emergency services right away. The on-duty officer who took the call from them contacted me immediately. I live in Skreby myself, so I was the first person on the scene at twenty to ten. The boys from emergency services arrived right after me. And you, Sven, you arrived around ten, didn’t you?’