‘At least now we know why the coroner waited for the investigation to be completed. He was the only victim to have sustained injuries from a fall.’

Leanne shuddered. It was the word Frankie had used to describe Declan. A victim. She wasn’t sure she could get used to it.

‘He must have been trapped,’ Frankie continued. ‘The stairwell leading to the foyer had been sealed off by the first ceiling collapse and later on the remaining exit became blocked by a second. He would have seen the balcony as his only means of escape.’

‘Hardly an escape. He fell to his death,’ Leanne said, forced to reimagine Declan’s last moments. ‘Chances are Karin saw him, and that’s why she was found so close to his body.’

‘It would explain why she’s blanked out the memory.’

‘The stuff of nightmares,’ Leanne said, recalling something Karin’s partner had said. ‘I’m glad Beth stopped me from confronting her. I can be such a horrible person at times.’

‘You’re bloody-minded, I’ll give you that, but that’s what it takes to be a good journalist. I’m too soft.’

‘You’re better than I am.’

Frankie looked at Leanne over the rim of her gin glass. ‘You need to give yourself more credit. And you also need to think about what you want to do with the rest of your life. You can’t stay at the Courier for ever. It’s only a matter of time before it closes down for good, despite the late rally in circulation figures.’

‘It’s not finished yet.’

‘Mal said you think there’s one more story to write. Are you sure it’s a good idea to go after Claudia?’

‘Answer me truthfully, do you think my judgement is compromised? Am I so angry with the world that I’m seeing villains where I should see heroes? Do you think she’s lying about Amelia?’

‘I agree wholeheartedly that Claudia isn’t all she appears to be, but unless you can find incontrovertible evidence, you’ll have a hard job disproving her claims.’

‘I’ll get the evidence.’

‘If you have to pursue this, please make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.’

‘I am. I’m doing it for the twelve victims,’ Leanne said, for the first time counting Declan amongst the innocent lives lost. ‘And I’m doing it for the person who did save Amelia. I still think Angela Morris and Lena Kowalski are possible candidates.’

‘Not one person we’ve spoken to has been able to connect either of them to Amelia, or given us a reason to discount Claudia.’