‘I mean that Alex’s life reached its high point during the spring term in his last year at high school. You know the type – the boys who were good at football and could do a double somersault on the trampoline. The popular girls who had their own little clique, older boyfriends, and who were invited to every party.’ Caia rubs her lower lip as if she’s afraid that something is stuck there. ‘They’re all in such a hurry to grow up, get a driving licence and escape from the little place where they grew up.’ She shakes her head. ‘But then things start to change. Others take their place – those who weren’t strong enough, fast enough, or attractive enough to join the clique suddenly grab the baton, and without understanding how or why it’s happened, Alex and his type are no longer cock of the walk. They’ve been outplayed.’

‘You mean by someone like Simon Vidje?’ Anna says, holding Caia’s gaze. Her eyes are clear and intelligent.

‘I mean by someone exactly like Simon Vidje.’

‘It can’t have been easy for Alex when he realised what was going on.’

‘No, it wasn’t.’ Caia turns away a fraction. To the untrained eye, it looks as if she has simply altered her position.

‘When did he realise?’

‘Realise what?’ Caia is playing dumb, clearly trying to buy herself time.

‘When did Alex Morell realise he’d been overtaken by Simon Vidje? Was it that evening in the quarry?’

Caia shakes her head. ‘I just meant in general terms, not that Alex and Simon . . .’ She stops, her expression is cold now.

‘I think we’re done for today,’ she says, getting to her feet.

*

In spite of the wind, Caia accompanies them to the car. She grabs Anna by the arm just as she is about to get in; Jens has already closed the driver’s door.

‘I didn’t mean to be so nasty about Alex. He’s a good guy who’s had a tough time. I can’t imagine he’s involved in Joe’s death.’

A strand of blond hair blows across her face and she tucks it behind her ear, just as Agnes does.

‘Have you kept in touch?’ Anna suspects she already knows the answer.

‘He started calling me after his divorce – to talk about old times, he said. But I’m really not interested in the past. All we can influence is the present and the future; I’ve tried to make him understand that, to stop brooding over what’s gone. The last few times he’s talked mostly about Kotorp. He and Bruno and Marie have put everything they have into the development, and they wanted me to invest too.’

‘Did you say yes?’