The lively dance band set gives way to a slower track, a gentle ballad accompanied by a solo guitar. The singer sounds like a young man.

‘I saw a friend today, someone I knew long ago. But I still recall her name . . .’

The voice is clear and beautiful, the guitar soft and melodic, but after a couple of steps Anna notices that something has changed in the room. Alex is the first to react. He stiffens, raises his head as if he can’t believe what he’s hearing, then others begin to do the same.

‘And she told me this, my friend from long ago. That things will never be the same,’ the young man sings, and the hum of conversation grows louder.

Alex has stopped dancing. He stands motionless, his face ashen. Caia looks unsure of what to do, then she too stiffens. Another burst of laughter from the top table. One of the women, probably Marie Sordi, is laughing louder than everyone else, but with a sharp dissonance that makes it sound almost like a scream.

‘I’ll see you by the waters,’ the voice sings from the loudspeakers. ‘The dark and lonely waters.’

Total chaos breaks out.

Chapter 26

26

28 August 1990

Simon couldn’t quite work out what had happened. Only a few minutes ago he’d been so happy. Stockholm, the tour, the jump from the highest rock, Tanya.

Somehow he was now standing in the middle of a circle, surrounded by his best friends. Although they weren’t behaving like friends.

Marie was still very obviously drunk, her face bright red. Bruno was standing in front of her and to one side, clenched fists raised. Alex’s expression had darkened in the way that usually meant somebody was in trouble, and Carina’s lips were white with rage.

And then there were the words they were throwing at him, spitting them out of their mouths, almost matching the tempo of the rain. The viciousness ate through his skin, burrowed deep down inside him.

‘Traitor!’

‘Do you realise what he did?’

‘How could you defend a fucking rapist?’

‘How could you?’

‘With that whore!’

‘Who the fuck do you think you are?’

Simon held up his hands, tried to get away. He glanced over his shoulder, down at the turning area where he’d left his bike. The rain was coming down harder and harder.

‘Listen, I think I’ll head home . . .’

He was about to leave – he managed one step.

‘Simon tried to kiss me,’ Carina announced.

Suddenly there was total silence, apart from the rain.

‘What?’ Alex and Bruno said almost simultaneously.

‘Earlier this evening, down on the path!’

Simon stopped and turned back. Carina’s eyes flashed in the darkness.

‘It wasn’t like that,’ he began. He discovered that his voice was far from steady. Alex’s eyes were black now; Simon felt scared for the first time. Scared of Alex, scared of the others, of what might happen.