‘There was a group of friends camping in the quarry. It must have been late summer 1990. I still remember it as if it was yesterday.’ She lowers her voice. ‘Åke and I were woken by someone banging on our front door just before five o’clock in the morning. It was Bruno, the restaurant owner’s son. He asked if he could use our phone; he was as white as a sheet. He said there had been an accident.’ Gunnel grimaces, as if the last word doesn’t sit right on her lips. She leans across the counter and is about to continue when the door opens and a man in overalls and a fleece jacket walks in.

‘Morning, Gunnel,’ he says, heading over to the cool counter where snus is displayed. As he passes he gives Anna a curious look.

Gunnel straightens up and runs the palms of her hands down the front of her cardigan as if she is trying to brush off something unpleasant.

‘Is there anything else I can help you with, Anna?’ she asks a little too loudly.

*

Back at Tabor Anna prepares lunch while Agnes sulkily sets the table. They sit down to eat. Eventually the silence becomes too much, and Anna tells her about the visit to the shop. Says how surprised she was that Gunnel was well-informed about veganism, but doesn’t get the reaction she was hoping for. Before she knows it she has gone through the whole thing, from the crooked wig to Simon Vidje’s fatal accident.

‘Do you think the painting in the chapel is of the quarry?’ Agnes glances up, sounding unexpectedly interested.

‘I’ve no idea.’ Anna tries not to show how pleased she is that they’re talking about something, anything that isn’t linked to Håkan or the move. A safe topic of conversation, with no hidden landmines. ‘We could go and look for the place if you like – Gunnel said it was nearby.’

‘I’ll check on Google Maps, but maybe we should wait until tomorrow when it’s less foggy. I want to take some photographs, compare them with the painting.’

‘Great idea!’

Agnes stands up, helps her to clear away, even washes the casserole dish without having to be asked.

Milo is confused. He sticks close to Agnes and seems as if he doesn’t quite know how to behave because of the change in the atmosphere. After a while he jumps up onto the kitchen sofa and places his paws on the windowsill. He growls faintly, as if he’s spotted something out there. Anna follows his gaze, but she sees only the yard, the drive and the fog wrapped around the trees.

‘Stupid dog,’ she mutters. Receives a filthy look in response.

*