‘I know who she is, I read your article,’ Beth said with a bitter laugh. ‘I recognised her from the photo, although I have to say, that story of hers was a real work of fiction. It took me a while to realise the distraught woman she practically carried out of the theatre was supposed to be me.’

‘I’m sorry about that. I have spoken to her again and she told me it was you who helped her.’

‘No, I didn’t!’ Beth said, her eyes blazing. ‘I thought I was helping Karin. I thought she was the one holding my arm.’ She wrapped a hand around her upper arm to illustrate. ‘When I realised my mistake, it was too late. I’d lost Karin, and that stupid woman wouldn’t let go of me.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Leanne said, knowing she was inflicting pain, but continuing anyway. ‘Mrs Brody said she heard Declan calling out for Karin. If she was next to you, you must have heard him too. He was up in the circle. Did you see him? Did you see anyone with him?’

‘I don’t know!’ Beth looked as if she didn’t want to say more, but this new piece of information forced her to reconsider. ‘A year ago I would have said absolutely not, but Karin goes over it again and again and I’ve forgotten what’s real and what isn’t. She obsesses over the tiniest detail of every account of the disaster like she’s expecting to find pieces to her own puzzle.’

‘I want to help.’

‘No, you don’t,’ Beth said, spitting her accusation back at Leanne. She took a step towards the front of the car, heading for the driver’s side, only to realise she would be leaving Karin unprotected. She pressed a button on her key fob and locked the car.

Leanne stared at the collection of keys in Beth’s hand. There was a torch dangling from a chain.

‘That key ring,’ she stammered. ‘Did you get it from Declan?’

Beth hesitated, confused by Leanne’s reaction. ‘We had a whole drawer full once,’ she said. ‘They come in handy when we’re walking along the canal in the pitch dark. Not that they last long. Not that we go out for walks in the dark any more.’

‘It’s the same key ring Amelia Parker remembers holding,’ Leanne said, trying not to read anything into it. Lots of people would have had them.

‘So what?’

‘I’m revisiting some of the stories I reported on the Empress fire. Carole Brody isn’t the only one who stretched the truth.’

Beth shuffled her feet, growing restless. If Leanne was going to keep her attention, she needed to shock her. There was nothing else for it. ‘I don’t think Claudia Rothwell saved Amelia,’ she said.