‘With hindsight, we shouldn’t have gone in. It’s my fault. I let impatience get the better of me.’ I cursed my stupidity. ‘Ali had given us a false address first time around, and from the outside of the block, when we arrived, we thought he might be dossing there. He was – but we only realised it was a junkie squat once we were inside.’ This was what had happened, but I wondered what Dan had told her.

I could see Jackie was thinking.

‘In addition to the danger aspects,’ she continued, ‘the outcome is that we have now lost a significant witness.’

‘I’ll find Ali.’

‘That is not the point, Maya, and you know it.’

‘No, but it’ll get our witness back and make sure he’s safe, won’t it?’

‘Listen to me, Maya. You’re a first-rate detective. What makes you different is that you really care. We all have the utmost respect for you. But you are not to put yourself, or any of your officers, in danger for a personal crusade. Do I make myself clear?’

I nodded. Resigned.

‘Follow procedures in future, and that means waiting for back-up and wearing protective clothing.’

‘OK. Sorry.’

‘You don’t need to apologise. I’m sure you thought you were doing the right thing. But your judgement slipped, and it could’ve ended badly.’

*

Jackie’s words echoed in my ears as I made my way towards Stepney Green to see Rosa at the shop in Brick Lane. For once, the traffic was light, and I was half-way up Bromley Street when an urgent call-out came over the in-car radio.

‘Control to DI Rahman. Immediate attendance required in Stepney. Over.’

I stifled a curse. ‘Go ahead, Control. What’ve we got?’

‘A suspicious death. Male body found at the Manor House development. First responders say it’s linked to the fire in Brick Lane. DCI McLean wants you to attend, Ma’am. Immediate attendance, over.’

‘Can you get hold of DS Maguire, please, and tell him to meet me there? I’m on my way. Over.’ My thoughts rushed to whoever had torched the wrong shop. Was this going to be their body? I checked the SatNav. A red light was flashing to show a traffic incident on Commercial Road. I flicked on the blue lights, checked my mirrors and stuck my foot on the accelerator.

*

I reached the Manor House site before Dan. It was a half-finished development. Luxury apartments, penthouse suite and gym, and not something the locals were happy about. While I was waiting for the foreman to meet me, I rang Alexej for an update on the arson investigation. Indra had confirmed that she and Simas were Jewish, and they’d left the bagel shop’s Star of David in place as they liked it. Alexej had questioned Solomon Stein about the freehold on Rosa’s newsagent’s.

‘What’s Stein like?’