They head for the quarry. All three of them are quiet at first, but then Agnes and Lisa resume their conversation about the painting. Anna wonders whether to tell them about Alex Morell’s confession. She’s already done it once, but Elisabet Vidje is the plaintiff, which means that the breaking of confidentiality is defensible, to a certain extent. She decides to keep the information to herself – at least for the time being.

As they approach the track leading to the quarry, they see a large dark-coloured SUV parked next to the barrier. Anna drives up beside it and stops. There are two people in the vehicle, but the tinted windows mean she can’t see who they are until she gets out of her own car and the driver lowers the side window. It is Caia Bianca.

‘Oh, it’s you,’ she says. ‘Are we in your way?’

‘No, not at all.’ Anna leans forward and sees that Alexander Morell is in the passenger seat.

‘We were just chatting,’ he says, as if he owes her an explanation. ‘About the old days, that kind of thing.’

‘I see. I thought you didn’t like wallowing in the past,’ she says to Caia.

‘I don’t.’

Alex and Caia both look uncomfortable, as if Anna has caught them out. Agnes and Lisa join her.

‘I recognise you.’ Caia smiles at Lisa, presumably in an attempt to change the subject. ‘We’ve met before, haven’t we?’

Lisa shakes her head. ‘I don’t think so.’

‘Are you sure? You look so familiar.’

‘I’ve seen you on TV, but we’ve never met. Not as far as I remember, anyway.’

‘Well, there you go – I must be wrong. I meet so many people that sometimes I get mixed up.’ This time Caia’s smile is anything but sincere.

‘Have you been up to the quarry?’ Anna asks. Caia doesn’t answer. Instead, she glances sideways at Alex.

‘No,’ he says. ‘We didn’t get that far.’

‘We’re on our way there now if you want to join us.’ She doesn’t really know why she made the suggestion, but it makes both Alex and Caia shake their heads at the same time.

‘No thanks – we need to head back to the village.’ Caia starts the engine. ‘Good to see you again,’ she adds before closing the window.

Anna watches as Caia reverses. Just before they leave, she meets Alex’s gaze. He manages a crooked smile, but he still looks ill at ease.

*

They walk through the forest to the quarry, then follow the path up to the spot where they stood last time. The place is silent and desolate, and the sense of foreboding Anna was aware of before still lingers over the dark water.