Mal rested his elbows on his desk and sighed. ‘Only if I allow myself to be swayed by gossip. I’m praying the findings of the inquiry, whatever they may be, will help bring closure, but that’s going to be after the anniversary,’ he said. His eyes had softened with a heavy dose of sympathy that Leanne would prefer not to see. ‘I know I don’t have your perspective, but we could do worse than helping people focus on some of the positives. There were heroes that night; the first responders and the theatregoers who put aside their own safety for the sake of others.’

Leanne swallowed hard. ‘Not everyone was heroic.’

‘And not everyone was saved,’ Mal said softly. ‘I get that.’

She shook her head, warding off his kindness. ‘What is it you want?’

Mal took a moment, waiting for Leanne to compose herself despite the fact that she was refusing to show any feelings at all.

‘I’d like you and Frankie to work together on a series of features. In the coming weeks, I want the Courier to acknowledge those acts of bravery, as well as celebrate the lives lost.’

Leanne sat up, her focus remaining on the only mission that mattered. ‘In that case, we’ll need to interview the bereaved families.’

Declan was originally from Donegal, but had come over to England a few years ago. He had been following in the footsteps of his sister, Karin, who had settled in the town a decade earlier. She was one of the bereaved, and she was key to all of this.

‘We’ll only interview those who are willing to speak to us,’ Mal cautioned, ‘and I’ve asked Frankie to concentrate on the victim pieces.’

‘You don’t trust me?’

‘I don’t think it would be wise. Do you?’ he said. ‘Unless there’s one you want to …’

‘No,’ Leanne said quickly. ‘I can’t.’

‘You’re bereaved too,’ Mal chose to remind her, ‘and maybe you don’t feel ready to put that on the page yet, but I need you to acknowledge that your interest in this story is driven in part by your personal connection. If you can’t keep that separation …’

‘I’m fine,’ Leanne insisted. ‘I can do professional detachment.’ She smiled a smile that was as false as her assurance.

Mal scowled at her. ‘I know you’re looking for something to grab the headlines, and that’s exactly what I’m giving you. Look for the heroes, Leanne. Look for the ordinary people who went on to do extraordinary things.’

‘Sure,’ she said, without enthusiasm.