‘DCI Lawson,’ the solicitor emphasised Jackie’s rank, ‘as you know, my client was not charged with any offences on that investigation. Please move on.’

‘Let’s discuss the murder of Ali Kousa.’ Jackie sat back. Tapped her biro on her fingers. ‘In that room at Duckett House, we found your DNA. And we found it on Ali’s body.’

‘DCI Lawson.’ The solicitor put his pad on the table. ‘If you have evidence against my client, please state what it is.’

‘If the firearm which killed him had been discharged at very close range, there’d be blood, skin and tissue on the barrel. We’ve established that the Glock 19 that we found in your flat has all of these on it, but we also have gunshot residue from that gun on Ali’s skin and clothing, plus skin cells and hair which belong to you.’

Hayes stared at his brief. ‘You got this?’

‘I need a word with my client,’ Taylor said.

Maya, 5 p.m.

Maya, 5 p.m.

Across the table from Dan and I, Tomasz Feldman sat hunched in his chair, looking dazed. His eyes bulged with shame, and he looked as though he’d aged ten years in as many hours. As I hadn’t cautioned him in the garden at the shop, we had to go over some of the questions again before we could move on.

‘Did you tell Kenny Hayes to make sure no-one got hurt in the fire at the newsagent’s?’

‘I told him to make sure the building was empty, and to get Mum involved with the flash mob when the fire started, and far enough away that she’d be safe. I knew she loved music and dancing, and wouldn’t be able to resist leaving the shop and joining in.’

‘How did you learn that the soup shop had been torched rather than your mother’s shop?’

‘Several friends called me. I was at the bar and got a dozen or so calls from people in Brick Lane.’

‘Were those calls the first you heard that he’d got the wrong shop?’

He nodded.

‘Did Mr Hayes call you?’

‘No. We agreed he wouldn’t. I called him that day when you came to the bar.’

‘How much did you pay him to perform the arson for you?’

‘Five grand. And six months free rent.’

‘In cash, presumably?’

‘Yes.’

‘How do you know Kenny Hayes?’

‘I’ve known him since we were kids. Not well, but we both grew up round here. He left London and went up north a few years ago, and when he came back to Brick Lane, I tried to help him out. I didn’t realise that his criminality had got worse not better.’

‘Did Mr Hayes ever tell you how he made a living?’