‘Well,’ Ben says, ‘the floors were varnished six months ago. All of them were done by a specialist flooring company. Big house. Lots of rooms. All of them have wooden floors so the cost to get them redone is huge. Why would you get them done again within six months? Especially if you’re having a hard time financially. The average for a domestic house is every five to ten years. Commercial properties or those with lots of foot traffic might do every three to five years, but six months? Even the Queen doesn’t get her floors redone every six months. Now, I did consider maybe some damage to one room which could require the floor to be repaired, but she had the whole house done again and, get this, even the flooring company told her it was unnecessary. That is enough to show preparation for fire and will undermine the insurance claim . . . I’ve got a copy of my report ready for the police once it’s signed off.’

Smiles round the table. Nods and mouths turning down in recognition of good work.

‘Well done,’ the boss says, smiling warmly at Ben. ‘Your hundred per cent success rate continues.’

‘Thanks,’ Ben says, shifting uncomfortably from the sudden attention.

‘You’ve got the Underground next?’ the boss asks, already knowing the answer as it was her that gave him the case to work on.

‘I have.’

‘What’s in the Underground?’ someone asks.

‘Trains,’ Todd says with a grin, looking round the table. ‘What? That was funny.’

‘It wasn’t funny,’ Ben says, deadpan.

‘You’re funny,’ he says.

‘You look funny,’ Ben says.

‘Boys, please,’ the boss says with a good-natured smile.

‘Worker was electrocuted,’ Ben explains to everyone.

‘From the rails?’ Claire asks.

‘No, an electrical switch. He’s claiming faulty wiring,’ Ben replies. ‘Dark space, confined, he’s saying his batteries in his head torch were too weak and the circuits or wiring hadn’t been correctly maintained.’

‘Double liability then,’ Claire says. ‘Contractor?’

‘Yeah, his firm are subcontractors so he’s claiming on them for the supply of dodgy equipment and Transport for London for failing to maintain their electrical circuits. Very big potential payout as he’s got the union behind him making noises.’

‘So that’s you tucked up for the next couple of days crawling about rat-infested tunnels,’ the boss says lightly. ‘Good luck,’ she adds with a big grin. ‘Claire, how was the flood?’

‘Wet . . .’

Ben feels his phone vibrate in his pocket and the temptation to check it is overwhelming, but that’s a fate worse than death. The boss is an incredible person but woe betide the person who crosses her, and not checking your phone during Monday morning prayers is inscribed in scripture. Instead, he sits through the meeting and is first out the door with phone in hand when they finally finish.

We need to talk tonight