‘Yes, thank you,’ Gertrud says and pats the Bible. ‘I find consolation in the Lord. And in Father Arve,’ she adds with a tired smile in the priest’s direction.

‘Our Gertrud has always had a direct link with God,’ Arve says. ‘I’m afraid my most important contribution here has been to make tea. Can I offer you a cup?’

Karen accepts the offer so they can be alone with Gertrud for a while and Erling Arve disappears off to the kitchen. They squeeze into a small, uncomfortable sofa, and after apologising for intruding on her grief and explaining how important it is that they go over the details of the day before, Karen asks Gertrud Stuub to tell them everything that happened in her own words.

‘Start with what first made you worry,’ she says.

‘The early morning Christmas Day service,’ Gertrud says without hesitation. ‘Fredrik didn’t go to church as regularly as he should, but he never missed the early morning Christmas Day service. And besides, he told me he’d be there.’

‘He did?’ Karen asks.

‘Yes, or at least I assumed that’s what he meant. It was the last thing he said to me, “See you tomorrow” . . .’

Her words fade into a whisper and there is suddenly confusion in her eyes, as though the unfathomable fact that she is never going to speak to her brother again has only just sunk in.

‘And when was the last time you saw Fredrik alive?’ Karen asks.

The question seems to pull Gertrud back to the fathomable.

‘Christmas Eve. He stopped by around midday and we shared a meal, like we usually do. Nothing fancy, just regular Christmas fare.’

‘Just you and Fredrik?’

‘No, Gabriel and the children came over, too. Well, not Katja, of course, I’ve hardly seen her since they . . . since they separated.’

Gertrud Stuub crosses herself as she says the hateful word.

Karen searches her memory for what Byle told her. So Katja is the name of the woman Gabriel is involved in a custody battle with. She makes a mental note to talk to her, too.

‘No one else?’

‘William and Helena popped in, of course – they’re such sweethearts – but they didn’t stay for the meal. Just wanted to wish me happy Christmas and bring me flowers. I believe they were having Helena’s sister and brother-in-law over.’

Karen shoots Thorstein Byle a quick glance. This time he makes no move to jump in to help.

‘William and Helena, are they neighbours or relatives?’

Gertrud gives Karen a surprised look.

‘Both, of course. Cousin Ivar’s son and daughter-in-law. Their house is up the hill a ways, so they drove here. People are so lazy nowadays.’

Karen decides to skip ahead.

‘Did Fredrik seem troubled in any way?’

Gertrud Stuub ponders that for a second.