‘I had . . . ultragarsu at the hospital in the morning for the baby. After that, Marta and I went for lunch to celebrate, then to a salon for facials and masažas.’

‘What time did you leave home to meet your sister?’

‘Nine-ish?’ She glanced at Marta for confirmation.

‘Were you with Marta the whole time until you came to Brick Lane?’ This would mean they were each other’s alibis.

‘Таip.’ She let out a heavy sigh. ‘Am I a suspect? Is that what these questions are about?’

‘I’m sorry. We do need to know whether you were involved with the arson, yes.’ I winced as I said it. It was horrible to think Indra could have been responsible, and even worse to have to raise it so soon after she’d lost her baby.

‘Kristus.’ Indra raised her arm in irritation and let it fall back on the bed. ‘Why would I kill my husband? And set fire to my own business? We’ve worked our arses off trying to get it off the ground. We wanted to expand.’

‘Which day do you normally close the shop?’

‘We never close in the daytime. Neither of us has had a day off in two years. We work seven days a week. We were trying to build up the business so we could open another shop. Maybe set up franšizės around London.’

‘Has your husband ever suggested closing the shop before today?’

‘Ne.’

‘When you spoke to him, did he mention having any visitors at all?’

‘Ne.’

‘He didn’t say that anyone had called round to see him or that he’d arranged for someone to come round? Your GP? Or a friend?’

‘He was sick. I told you. He called me. Said he was in bed with a fever. That was it.’

‘Was he in your bedroom? The left-hand room at the front of the house?’ I gestured with my left hand to make sure there was no misunderstanding.

‘Of course.’ She frowned. ‘Where else would he be?’

‘I have to ask this, I’m afraid. Can you think of anyone who might wish your husband harm?’

Anguish spread over Indra’s face, and she looked at her sister and then me. ‘No. I cannot.’ No Lithuanian this time.

‘You told the 999 operator that you thought someone had tried to kill your husband. Why did you think that?’

She blushed.

‘Mrs Ulbiene?’

Dan had joined us again. He gave me a subtle thumbs-up.

‘If I remembered saying it, I’d say.’ Indra’s tone of voice told me she knew exactly what she’d done and why, but something was stopping her from saying.

‘Are you saying you don’t remember calling 999 or you don’t remember saying it?’

Marta sucked a breath in through her teeth.

‘Calls to 999 are recorded and this one was traced to your mobile.’

‘She said she doesn’t remember.’ Marta’s expression was mutinous.