She had imagined him as a typical short fat Skåne civil servant with a combover, but in fact he is tall and skinny, like a long-distance runner. His hair is receding, but instead of fighting the inevitable he has shaved it off. The eyes behind the designer glasses are alert, and his suit is anything but cheap.

‘Thank you,’ she says, not quite sure how to continue.

The woman sitting next to Bengt solves the problem for her.

‘Marie Sordi,’ she says, warmly squeezing Anna’s hand. ‘We’re really looking forward to working with you, Anna. You’re such a role model – woman, boss, mother, police officer!’

Marie is almost as tall as her father, and has the same elongated equine face. The glasses and dark trouser suit she is wearing merely serve to reinforce the impression. Her hair is presumably naturally curly, just like her younger brother Mats’s tousled mop, but it is kept in check by a short, fashionable cut.

‘I met Bruno at the restaurant,’ Anna says. ‘Your husband is an excellent chef.’

‘That’s good to hear,’ Marie replies. ‘Just wait until he has free rein and doesn’t have to stick to his father’s boring old menus!’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Bengt says with a smile. ‘Sometimes it can be good to lean on the experience of the older generation, wouldn’t you say?’ At first Anna thought the comment was aimed at Marie, but when Bengt winks and jerks his head in the direction of Henry Morell, she realises he’s speaking to her.

‘Henry’s been a great help,’ she murmurs, eliciting a satisfied smile from Morell. She’s about to say more, then she recalls the meeting at the restaurant, and Alex Morell’s arrival in her office. The feeling is the same. This apparently accidental encounter has been arranged. Marie is the third of the four surviving friends from the quarry she has met within just a few days. She can’t help hearing Elisabet Vidje’s voice.

Henry Morell is manipulating you!

‘So, you’ve been in Stockholm?’ she ventures in an effort to get her brain to change tack. Marie nods.

‘We had a meeting with the party and one or two others. Is it OK if I tell her, Dad?’

Bengt Andersson nods and smiles.

‘It’s not yet official, but the infrastructure minister has approved the new railway initiative for southern Sweden,’ Marie says, sounding delighted. ‘Towards the end of next year, the long-distance trains will stop at Nedanås. We’ve also signed a declaration of intent with one of the big e-commerce companies; they’re planning to build a logistics centre, hopefully with the help of state development funding. That will bring lots of new jobs, and fresh opportunities for the community.’

‘Congratulations,’ Anna says. ‘That’s excellent news.’