‘No, it’s not that. I’d love to go with you, but I’ve already agreed to go with someone else. Call . . .’ She pauses, tries to remember what the solicitor is actually called. ‘Lasse Gunnarsson. His son and Agnes know each other.’ That’s not strictly true; a white lie to save Alex’s pride. ‘But I hope to see you there.’

He nods, finishes off his drink. There’s something about Alex Morell that she can’t quite work out. One minute he’s flirting, full of fun and self-confidence; the next he’s quiet and unsure of himself. It could be down to the divorce, of course. Men find it much more difficult than women to handle separation, and moving back into Mummy and Daddy’s basement at the age of forty-five isn’t exactly an ego boost. And yet she doesn’t think that’s the full explanation.

She glances at the photograph of the five friends with their arms around one another in that frozen moment almost thirty years ago.

Friends forever.

Chapter 20

20

28 August 1990

When Simon and Tanya had disappeared, the others remained standing on the path. Carina looked at Bruno, Alex and Marie; their expressions were wary, almost doubtful, as if they couldn’t quite believe that what they’d seen had actually happened. This was a moment they would return to for the rest of their lives. It would become another of the magical tales surrounding the quarry – Simon Vidje once jumped from the highest cliff in the middle of the night.

A legend indeed – and yet the atmosphere was subdued.

‘This is all your fault!’ Carina snapped at Alex. His only response was a shrug.

‘I’m freezing,’ Marie whined.

Joe switched off the torch.

‘OK, kids – what now?’

Nobody answered him. Without warning, Marie turned and threw up into the dark water.

They made their way back up to the tents. There was no sign of Simon and Tanya, but no one mentioned it. Bruno piled more logs on the fire before everyone except Joe crawled into their tents to take off their wet clothes. The flames sent a shower of sparks up into the sky, where the clouds had now almost completely obscured the stars. Carina was out first. She put the mix tape back in the boombox, pressed play, then sat down on a rock by the fire next to Joe. The music lightened the weird atmosphere a little. She was still angry with Simon – even angrier now, to be honest. Alex had been showing off to Joe’s sister all evening, which was to be expected, but the fact that Simon had chosen that trailer-trash slut over her was considerably more painful. Her fury at his rejection had grown into a burning lump behind her breastbone.

‘Have you got a cigarette?’ she asked Joe.