As Leanne began packing away her things, she tried not to dwell on why she had brought Claudia into this particular conversation. She didn’t seriously think Claudia had anything to do with Amelia’s rescue, even though she couldn’t articulate exactly why. It was a gut feeling.

‘Will my story be in this Saturday’s paper?’

Leanne wasn’t sure there was much of a story to tell, but the idea of a pensioner keeping the crowd calm had a certain appeal. She could make it work, and besides, didn’t Mrs Brody deserve her fifteen minutes of fame along with everyone else? ‘I expect we’ll save it for the weekend after next, which will be our commemorative issue.’

‘Don’t you want to take my picture before you go?’

‘I certainly do,’ Leanne said, retrieving her Nikon DSLR from her rucksack. The Courier had one full-time photographer, and Mal reserved Henry’s professional treatment for the likes of Claudia Rothwell, not Carole Brody. ‘Do you mind if I open your blinds so there’s enough light to show off the lovely colours in your hair?’

‘I can give you the number of my hairdresser if you like,’ Carole promised.

While Carole touched up her make-up, Leanne worked out the right angle to take the photo. Carole had already decided which was her best side and was happy to direct.

‘I tell you who I did see,’ Carole said as she flicked through the images Leanne had just taken.

‘Who?’

‘Well, maybe I didn’t see him exactly, but I did hear his voice.’ Carole handed back the camera, allowing the tension to build. ‘I think the second one will do, don’t you? Or perhaps number eleven?’

‘Second one’s perfect,’ Leanne said, switching off the camera. ‘You were saying, you saw someone?’

‘The bloke who caused the fire.’

Leanne almost dropped the camera. ‘Declan Gallagher?’

‘That’s the one. I didn’t put two and two together at first, and for a long time, I couldn’t think about the fire at all, or what I’d seen. But when I read about him being from Northern Ireland, I knew it had to be him. It was the accent.’

‘But you said it was noisy in there. How can you be sure?’

‘He was calling out to his sister. Her name’s Karin.’

‘Yes, I know,’ Leanne said, not liking that this corroborated the general view that Declan had been looking for his sister. Carole was edging her towards the front door, she had her Zumba class to get to, but Leanne was reluctant to leave. ‘But if you didn’t see him, you might be mistaken.’