‘Henry Morell is manipulating you,’ Elisabet whispers. ‘He probably started the second he met you. The reason why he’s clung onto his job for all these years is to make sure that the truth about what actually happened to Simon never comes out. But I want you to look into it, Anna. Find out what really went on the night my son died. Promise me you’ll do that.’

Chapter 14

14

28 August 1990

Marie had been waiting impatiently for Simon for several minutes after Bruno came back up the slope, followed by Carina.

‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, because Carina looked furious, but her friend merely shook her head angrily and headed for the tents.

‘Time for a dip!’ Marie heard Alex yell as he turned up the volume of the boombox. Hard rock again. She hated hard rock.

‘I want ttto tttalk ttto you,’ she said, grabbing Simon by the arm as soon as he appeared. Her head was full of thick fog, her mouth refused to co-operate fully. Certain letters were . . . chewy, they needed extra help from her tongue to make it past her lips. She realised she was stoned, or drunk, or both, but it didn’t matter.

Simon shook off her hand; he was watching Carina.

‘Not now, Marie.’

‘Yes, right now!’ She stood in front of him and poked him in the chest. She was taller than him, and her fingers were strong.

‘Ow – pack it in!’

‘You pack it in!’ She prodded him again, even harder this time.

He knocked her hand away. ‘What the fuck is wrong with you?’

‘What the fuck is wrong with you?’ she parroted.

‘Stop it, Marie. You’re stoned!’

‘Yes, I am. For once. Stoned, drunk and furious. How the fuck can you . . .?’ She spat, licked her lips. Her anger was beginning to clear the fog inside her head. ‘How can you just up and leave? We were supposed to be doing this together. The apartment, Lund . . .’

Simon looked away. ‘I told you, it was only confirmed today.’

‘But you knew you had other plans.’

He didn’t answer.

‘For fuck’s sake, Simon, we’ve known each other since we were kids. We’re like brother and sister . . .’ Her tone slipped from angry into pathetic, but she couldn’t help it. ‘And yet you said nothing.’

He spread his hands wide.

‘I’ve changed my mind. There’s no going back.’