Karin stared off into space. ‘When I wake up, my heart is thumping in my chest, but I don’t know why. Well, obviously, I do. I’m reliving what happened or, more likely, I’m making it up. The doctors say my memory has gone for good, and the snatches of dreams I do remember don’t make sense.’

Claudia remained silent, letting Karin speak. She had spoken to enough survivors to know that listening was the best way to encourage them to open up.

‘I’m looking for Declan in my dreams, but I swear, I didn’t know he was there. I know from my phone log that he tried calling, but Beth had my phone in her bag. I guess he saw the fire from his flat and came running.’

‘He died trying to save you.’

‘But people say such awful things about him.’ Karin wiped her nose with the twisted cloth. ‘I’m scared they’re right. I don’t know how I’ll cope if it’s proven he was responsible.’

‘No one’s suggesting it was deliberate.’

‘Am I supposed to feel better knowing it was his incompetence that killed eleven people?’ Her hand dropped, she looked aghast. ‘And your baby too. Beth said it was in the papers.’

‘It’s OK.’

‘I wish everyone was as nice as you.’

‘You’re a victim too, Karin. You can’t lose sight of that. What support have you had so far?’

‘A bit of counselling. They only gave me twelve sessions, but then my counsellor left for another job halfway through. I didn’t want to start again with someone else, but I’m fine, I don’t need it.’

Karin was looking at the floor. She needed something and she thought she could get it from Claudia. That was why she had left the note.

‘What can I do to help?’

‘Beth applied for an emergency grant a while back, but it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t claim benefits because I was declared fit for work long before I could face looking for a new job. Beth’s done her best, this isn’t her fault, but we’ve ended up with huge debts, and that’s not including the money we’ve borrowed from family. I swear, we’re trying to get ourselves straight.’

‘How much do you need?’

‘Over a thousand if we’re to stop the landlord evicting us, but anything would help,’ she said. Her head remained lowered, shame weighing her down. ‘If it was just me, I’d accept whatever happens, but you know, I have to think of Beth. I hate what this is doing to her. She was ambushed by a reporter the other week and she was ready to sell her story. I could do the same, I’ve had all kinds of silly offers, but I refuse to make money that way. It’s hard enough asking you.’