I politely declined a cup of tea, all too aware that the conversation wasn’t going to be an easy one. I’d prepared what I wanted to say on the way over, but now I was here, it felt wrong.

Rosa must’ve picked up on my preoccupation, as she said, ‘What is it, dear? Has something happened?’

‘I’m afraid I have some bad news which affects you both. It looks like the soup shop was targeted by the arsonists in error. We now believe that the intended target could have been this place, the newsagent’s.’ I ploughed on. ‘That has a number of implications. For the police, it means refocussing our investigation. What we need to know is who might want to target you, Rosa, or the shop? Next, it means that the arsonists may still have plans to set fire to this place.’

‘You’re kidding?’ Agnieszka’s face paled in horror. ‘Here?’

‘We think it’s possible.’ I explained that we didn’t know whether the target was the shop or Rosa, but the outcome was the same: it would be best for her to move out until we’d concluded the investigation.

‘Definitely not.’ Rosa didn’t waste a moment to state her position, and her look of defiance wasn’t lost on her daughter. ‘I’m not being chased out of my home.’

This was what I’d expected, so I took the two of them through safety precautions and explained the limitations of police support. ‘Now, I need to ask who might want to harm you or the shop?’ I fixed my attention on Rosa.

‘Mum’s freeholders are the most obvious candidates,’ Agnieszka chipped in. ‘They’d do anything to get Mum out of here.’

‘That’s preposterous,’ came Rosa’s response. ‘You’ve been watching too much TV.’

I studied her facial expression and body language. Despite Rosa’s bravado, I could see the news had unsettled her. ‘Has anyone been threatening you recently? Any petty vandalism?’ Again, I directed my question at Rosa.

She shook her head. ‘Apart from the star.’

‘Anyone complaining about the business?’

‘No.’

‘Either of you seen a tall, thin guy, hanging around?’

They both looked blank.

‘This part’s a bit delicate. Is the shop insured?’

‘Of course.’ Rosa’s face was a mixture of indignation and anticipation. ‘Mr Stein, the freeholder, organises the building insurance – which we then pay for – and Józef always did the contents.’

‘Now, I have to ask this too. Did either of you decide to help things along? Get the shop burnt down maybe?’ It was an unpleasant question to ask, and I had no idea how it would land.