Anna grabs her bag and walks towards the door. Alex has returned to his seat. She sees him knock back a drink as Bruno puts a hand on his arm and whispers something in his ear. For a moment she wonders whether to join them, but quickly decides against it. Instead, she goes out into the foyer and heads for the toilets. About halfway there she meets a group of distinctly tipsy women in dresses that are just a little too tight; she swerves to the right and finds herself outside behind a row of wooden pillars running along the front of the building. She almost bumps straight into two men engaged in a discussion. Fortunately, they are facing away from her.

‘You promised not to carry out any investigations up there.’ The voice belongs to Call-me. ‘Permission or no permission, Elisabet will not allow a quarry at Änglaberga – you know that as well as I do.’

Anna is partly hidden by one of the pillars; neither of the men appears to have seen her.

‘Calm down, Lasse,’ says the other man, who turns out to be Bengt Andersson. ‘You’re a good lad, loyal and conscientious, just like your father. Elisabet has a great deal to thank you for – both of you. Her health isn’t the best these days. God forbid, but if Elisabet should leave us, it doesn’t do any harm to be prepared. I mean, we don’t want Sydsten, Swerock or some other outside firm moving in and stealing our community’s natural resources, do we?’

Call-me turns his head and Anna quickly takes a step back. Unfortunately, she is out of earshot and misses his response. She is also embarrassed to be eavesdropping, and decides to go inside. As she slowly makes her way to the toilets, she thinks about what she heard. It must have something to do with the pickup truck they met on the hill, the one that caused the little frown between Call-me’s eyebrows. Glarea is carrying out some kind of investigation up on the ridge, presumably to replace the operation they’re being forced to shut down in the village. Judging by Call-me’s angry reaction, it must be taking place on Änglaberga’s land. She knows this is perfectly legal; the landowner doesn’t automatically control underground natural resources. Elisabet Vidje must be aware of this too, but presumably she is not prepared to accept it. That’s probably one of the reasons why she is a thorn in Bengt Andersson’s side.

After visiting the toilet she catches a glimpse of Alex Morell on his way outside. She decides to follow him, and finds him around the corner of the building lighting a cigarette.

‘Can I cadge one?’ she says.

He glances up, seems both surprised and pleased. ‘Hi, Anna – of course.’ He holds out a newly opened packet. She takes a cigarette and he lights it for her between cupped hands.