‘Answer the question, please. Why was Tabor done up so quickly, and why was it rented to us?’

His expression grows serious. ‘Elisabet called me about a month ago, roughly when it became clear that you would be taking over from Henry Morell. She asked me to contact you and tell you about Tabor.’

‘And you didn’t ask why?’

He shakes his head. ‘I’ve been dealing with Elisabet for long enough to know there’s no point.’

‘But you have your suspicions. You think you know why she wanted me there. Because of Simon.’

‘Elisabet Vidje is my client,’ he says after a brief silence. ‘I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about the duty of confidentiality . . .’

‘OK.’ Anna accepts that she isn’t going to get any further with that. ‘So, let me ask you this: why did she ask you to deal with renting out the house? Surely normal practice would be to use an estate agent?’

He considers his response.

‘There are very few people that Elisabet feels she can trust. I’m one of them.’

‘You, Bror Klein, and who else?’

He shrugs and leans back, looking slightly hurt.

‘I thought we were here to enjoy ourselves, not so that you could interrogate me about one of my clients. Can’t we talk about something else instead?’ The charming smile is back. ‘About you, for example. Why did you leave Stockholm for this backwater, Anna? What is it you’re trying to hide from?’

The question floors her.

‘We’re n . . . n . . .’ A huge stammer takes over the sentence, and she clamps her lips tight shut. Shifts her breathing from her throat to her diaphragm. Does he know something? If so, who has he spoken to? Maybe he knows her solicitor?

‘OK, you got me . . .’ She slowly raises her hands above her head. ‘Agnes and I are on the run. We’re actually sisters, wanted for robbing a bank.’

Alex Morell would have got the joke straight away, but with Call-me it takes a few seconds for the penny to drop.

‘Ha ha – I knew there was something dodgy about the pair of you! You’re actually Selma and Louise!’ He throws his head back and laughs.

Thelma, Håkan whispers. But don’t correct him. Nobody likes a smartarse!

‘I love your sense of humour,’ Call-me says. ‘Can I get you another glass of wine? Just don’t rob anybody while I’m gone.’

She forces the corners of her mouth up into a smile. Waits until he turns his back on her before she allows herself to exhale.

*