“They don’t work for Zuidervanck, do they?”

Claus nods. “Yeah, the law firm.”

So his parents work with Kate’s dad. Maybe Kate knows him.

“I’m friends with his daughter, Kate,” I say. “We’re here to celebrate her birthday.”

“Very fancy.” Claus whistles. “How big is the party?”

“Oh, just four of us. I think Kate’s dad got a discount,” I say, feeling the need to defend myself. “We have two rooms. Kate and I are sharing, and the boys, Lucas and Fender, are in the other room. We’re all in the same class at school.”

Claus swallows the last bite of the candy bar. “What about that other girl?”

“Huh? Which other girl?”

“That…Isabel? No, that wasn’t it. Isolde?”

I pause to think. “No…It doesn’t ring any bells.”

Claus frowns. “I’m pretty sure that’s what she was called.”

What’s he talking about?

“There was this drinks party for the law firm, and the kids were allowed to go. Someone introduced me to Frank’s daughter, who was hanging out with her friends there. I thought there was another blond girl with them. She was dating one of the boys.”

An ex? Of Lucas or Fender? Why have I never heard them mention her? She must have been Fender’s girlfriend, because Lucas is always going on about having been single forever.

The name Isolde doesn’t mean anything to me. If they’d ever mentioned it, I’d have remembered. It’s not like it’s a common name.

“Hey, I could be wrong,” Claus adds quickly.

“When was this drinks party?”

Claus thinks about it. “Last year, around this time, I think.”

Only a year ago? So that was just before I came along. Why did no one ever tell me anything about this Isolde?

“Cool that you’re here with your friends, though.” Claus sounds jealous. “It’s better than sitting by yourself in a room all weekend.”

I just nod. Something about this story isn’t right. All kinds of alarm bells are going off in my stomach.

Claus raises his hand. “Sorry, got to get going. Thanks for the help, Linnea. If my candy ever gets stuck again, I’ll come find you.”

“Ah, there you are.” Lucas pushes my stool back. “You were gone for ages.”

“I got to talking with someone.” It’s only now that I realize I completely forgot to go to the bathroom. “Where are Fender and Kate?”

“No idea.” Lucas sighs. “Great birthday, huh?”

“Was it more fun last year?” I blurt out.

Lucas looks up in surprise. His cheeks are red.

“Last year?” he echoes.

“When Isolde was still around?”

There is a brief silence.

“Isolde? I don’t know anyone called Isolde.” Lucas takes a swig of his drink and points behind me. “Hey, there they are. Finally.”

The blush on his cheeks has disappeared, as if someone erased it.