Lisa shakes her head. ‘No, I’m only visiting. It was my father who . . . died here.’

‘I’m so sorry – our condolences for your loss.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Have you found out what happened to poor Joe Rylander, Anna?’

Anna takes her time before answering. Marie has carried out a successful balancing act for many years, with her aunt and Änglaberga on one side, her friends, her father and Henry Morell on the other. But now that balancing act is over, thanks to Anna.

‘Not yet. We’re still working on it.’

‘Right.’ Marie smiles and tries to look unmoved, but doesn’t entirely succeed. They stand there for a few seconds; no one seems to know what to say.

‘How’s the build going?’ Anna turns to Bruno, hoping to draw him into the conversation.

‘Making progress,’ he replies, a little too quickly.

‘When are you planning to open?’

Bruno looks at his wife. ‘It’s too early to say – it’s a major project. Anyway, hadn’t we better head home, darling? The children are waiting.’

‘Yes,’ Marie says. ‘Let me know if you want to join the beginners’ course. It’s been running for a couple of weeks already, but you can still jump in.’

One of the German Shepherds moves its feet, and Milo growls again.

‘Nice to meet you.’ Marie nods to Lisa.

‘Marie and Bruno,’ Lisa says, as if she’s suddenly remembered something important.

‘Yes?’

‘You were there when Simon Vidje died. You met my mum and dad – Joe and Tanya.’

Bruno and Marie exchange a glance.

‘That’s right,’ Bruno says warily.

‘We’re on our way to the quarry now,’ Lisa informs them, her tone revealing that she hasn’t picked up on the tension in the air.

‘Are you indeed.’ Marie sounds anxious now.

‘I didn’t grow up with my parents, so I’m trying to find out more about them,’ Lisa goes on. ‘Where they lived, who they met and so on. It might be an odd question, but do you remember anything about Joe and Tanya from that night?’

Marie looks very small. Her eyes are darting all over the place and her face has lost all its colour. Bruno steps forward, lets out a metre of the leash so that the big dog is free to move towards Milo, who immediately starts barking again.

‘No, we don’t,’ Bruno says firmly. ‘I’m afraid we really must get going. Have a nice day.’ He takes Marie by the arm and steers both her and the two dogs away.

‘Sometimes I talk too much, don’t I?’ Lisa says.

*