‘Did you kiss my girlfriend?’ Alex growled, taking a step towards Simon.

‘She was the one who . . .’

Simon didn’t know how it happened; it was as if his brain missed a couple of seconds in the course of events. All at once his body was flying through the air. Terrified, he tried to extend his arms to break his fall, but it was too late. The hard ground came rushing straight at him.

Chapter 27

27

Autumn 2017

Anna has experienced this on several occasions in the past, usually in the course of her job. At certain critical moments time seems to slow down, making it possible to pick up on even the smallest details.

Alex Morell hurtles towards the DJ booth, barrelling forward like an American football player and knocking people over on his way. Bruno Sordi is also heading for the stage from the top table. His wife is on her feet, and her chair has fallen over. The Morells and Bengt Andersson are all staring at Marie as she stands there with her lips clamped together, her face contorted in a mixture of fear and disgust. Caia Bianca is left alone in the middle of the dance floor. A space has opened up around her, as if the people who seconds ago wanted to get as close to her as possible have now withdrawn. One of the spotlights colours her white dress blood-red, and the beam has caught her with her mouth half-open in what looks like a silent scream.

‘The dark and lonely waters,’ the beautiful voice sings again, and for a brief moment Caia’s lips move as if she is joining in.

Anna notices all of this before Alex Morell reaches the DJ booth. There is a crash and the music stops abruptly. Time resumes its normal rhythm, releasing a cacophony of voices.

Anna lets go of Call-me and races to the stage, pushing her way through the crowd that has gathered below what used to be the booth, but is now a collection of broken wood, cables and parts of a computer. Alex is lying in the middle of the wreckage on top of the DJ; he has the man’s neck in a wrestler’s hold. Alex’s face is bright red, his eyes almost black, his lips drawn back like a predator. Bruno Sordi is standing over him, legs apart, fists clenched, but instead of trying to drag Alex away he bends down and yells something in the DJ’s face. The same words, over and over again, but the hubbub around her is too loud for Anna to make out what he’s saying.

The DJ offers no resistance; his face is turning blue and he is gasping for air. His eyes begin to roll back in his head. Anna heaves herself up onto the stage.

‘Let go, Alex!’

Bruno steps in front of her. ‘Not until he admits it.’