It was astonishing how much the landscape had changed since I first arrived in Norway. I mean, everything was still there – I don’t mean that an earthquake had happened or anything – but the seasons transformed the landscape entirely. The emerald green cliffs with gushing white waterfalls and a turquoise fjord I’d seen back in August were now dark brown, with snow dribbling down the dark curve of rocks, like the ginger cake with white vanilla icing we used to get at school. The fjord was shining silver, as though filled with mercury instead of water, and the cliff beneath Granhus looked like a hunk of pewter instead of rock. It was magical; the villages and homes dotted all along the banks of the fjord had their window lamps on – a Norwegian tradition for fishermen who are yet to return home – and so all the pockets of the fjord shimmered with gold lights. Like a glittery biscuit crumb, to continue the dessert analogy.

I felt awkward with Maren in the car, given that I’d just uncovered her slightly unhealthy fascination with her dead employer. And the collection of images of the murdered girl, Ingrid, was unnerving, too. I thought back to our conversation in Maren’s bedroom on the night that Tom gave her a bollocking. I sensed she was feeling awkward too, but just as I was scratching around my brain for a decent conversation starter, she spoke.

‘When we spoke before, I think I spoke out of anger,’ she said carefully, glancing in the rear-view mirror at Gaia, who was scribbling in her art book.

I waited for Maren to explain which conversation she meant. The log book? Whether honey was vegan or not? The chat we had about Tom?

‘Things have not been the same, since …’ she said with a meaningful stare. I’ve never been particularly talented at reading between the lines, but I deduced she meant since Aurelia died. ‘As you can imagine.’

‘Of course,’ I said.

‘To be honest, I’ve been giving some serious thought to the future. I think that, once I’ve done what I need to do, I’ll move on.’

‘Move on?’ I said. I checked Gaia was distracted before leaning closer to Maren. ‘Do you mean, quit?’

‘I mean, move on,’ she said, flinching at the word ‘quit’. ‘I’d intended to work for Aurelia for as long as she needed me. The rest of my life, if that was required.’

I waited for something more, but it didn’t come. ‘How did you begin working for Aurelia?’ I asked.