‘You’ll stay within sight of me at all times and do as I say when I say it.’ The works manager reels off the instructions. ‘Walk directly behind me and do not touch anything without asking first. We are not going anywhere near the live rails but there are still dangers inherent with an underground rail service. Do you understand, Mr Calshott?’

‘I do and you can call me Ben, mate.’

The olive branch is ignored so they walk in silence through the next maze of corridors until they’re in the high-arched tunnels with their footsteps echoing. Ben feels the vibration of trains passing through other tunnels and stays close behind the works manager until they reach a lit platform adorned with an old-style sign proclaiming they’re at Aldwych. Ben recognises it from movies and knows they keep it for film and television locations and guided tours. They get on the platform and head into the main tiled corridor once used by the public. The manager unlocks a side door and they go into a dark room complete with a bank of electrical switches and circuits.

‘In here?’ Ben asks.

‘Yep.’

‘What happened?’

‘I wasn’t here was I? I didn’t see it.’

‘Fair enough. Has anything been touched since the accident?’

‘Sparky came down and made it safe.’

‘An electrician?’

‘S’what I said.’

‘An electrician has been in here since the accident?’

‘S’what I said.’

‘Who? I wasn’t told anything about that.’

‘Not my responsibility.’

‘Who then?’

‘Personnel manager.’

‘Which wire did he say caused it?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Yes you bloody do, you’re the works manager. Which wire?’ Ben snaps, showing a level of firmness instead of an easy-going smile.

The manager huffs and walks to the second bank of switches. ‘This one.’ He points to a wire leading into a switch.

‘What does that do?’

‘It provides electricity to the switch.’

‘Not the wire, the switch. What does the switch do?’

‘Operates the lights on the stairwells.’

‘Why was he working on it?’

‘It’s booked for filming. They want to change the lighting for a period film.’

‘And?’

‘And what?’

‘What was the purpose of the visit by the worker to this room?’

‘Ask him.’

‘I am asking you.’

‘He was tasked to check the fittings in accordance with the instructions of the production company so they could arrange manufacture of the right size of lights and equipment.’

‘He’s saying he touched the switch and got zapped,’ Ben says, pointing at the switch. ‘Which suggests the wiring within the switch was loose and made the whole casing live. Did the electrician who attended find anything?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Know what,’ Ben snaps, ‘I am not your enemy, mate. I am not employed by the insurance company . . . I am independent. I just find out what happened and report back.’