‘Wait. Please,’ Phillipa said. Her expression remained fixed, but the iron rod up her backside appeared to have buckled. ‘I know what you think of me, and I understand why. I’d feel exactly the same if I’d lost someone dear to me.’

Leanne stepped back, her calves knocking against the chair. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘I made it my job to find out everything I could about those who died,’ Phillipa said, far too softly. ‘If I hadn’t taken it upon myself to renovate the theatre, it would still be hiding behind a row of dilapidated retail units, and Lois Granger would be living her best life, with her best friend.’

‘No, don’t you dare mention her name.’

‘I’m sorry for your loss, I truly am,’ Phillipa continued. She too had tears rimming her eyes. ‘I can’t change what happened, however much I’d like to try. Hate me if you must, but please, sit back down and let’s start again. I believe I’ve misjudged you.’

Leanne was torn between her desire to escape and her need to understand what was behind the sudden switch in her disposition. When Phillipa sat down, Leanne followed suit, but she kept her rucksack on her lap.

‘If it helps, I hate myself too,’ Phillipa began. ‘When the fire station was closed down, I was as worried as the rest of the town, but I could appreciate that efficiency savings had to be made. So one of the first things I did was to bring in an expert to check over the house and improve our fire safety.’

‘While the rest of us could burn.’

‘I put my family first, yes,’ Phillipa said, looking away briefly. For someone who objected to being shamed about an affair, she was content to pour shame on herself. ‘But I did make fire precaution a priority at the theatre too. Not that it was enough, but there you have it.’

‘Why are you telling me this?’

‘I simply wanted to apologise. My heart breaks for each and every one of the victims and, since I know you’re going to ask, that does include Declan. I worked with him for over two years, and I’d go as far as to say I liked him. He was attractive,’ she said, arching an eyebrow. ‘He was also very charming, but a bit too much of a charmer in my view. I could certainly understand why his wife divorced him. He wasn’t my type, Leanne, not by any stretch of the imagination.’

‘As I’ve already stated, I’m not interested.’