ELLEN

10.15 P.M.

The moonlight streamed in through the window and fell on her where she was sitting in one of the two armchairs.

‘Mum.’ Relief immediately turned to anger. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I see that you’ve taken down our portraits.’

‘You’re not supposed to be in here, why didn’t you shut the window? There are insects everywhere.’

Margareta shrugged.

‘You’re drunk.’

‘No, I’m not. Do you know what the insects symbolise?’

‘No. And I don’t want to know either.’ Large moths and other unidentifiable bugs were buzzing around her. She waved her hands.

‘They can’t do anything to you,’ Margareta said slowly.

‘I don’t like them. I don’t understand what you’re up to, why are you sitting here?’

‘Sit down,’ she said, pointing at the armchair beside her. ‘I’ve decided to be honest. I can’t stand it any longer.’

Ellen sat down reluctantly.

‘Didrik was here earlier today. He said that you’d asked about the grain and whether he was at Örelo when Elsa disappeared. Peder also came to me and said you’d asked a lot of questions. In truth, I guess this was what I wanted to happen when I sent you to Dr Hiralgo, even as it pains me that now you’ll have to find out the truth. But I can’t take it any more, Ellen.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘I’ve paid Didrik and his mother so that they would keep quiet. Do you know whose this is?’ In her hand she was holding a necklace with a water lily on it. One similar to the one Ellen had around her neck. ‘For all these years we’ve tried to protect you, but it hasn’t worked. You’ve been impossible. But I think we made the wrong decision, and when I saw you going through my desk, I thought you’d seen the necklace …’

‘So, that one is Elsa’s?’