I couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation that Jackie and I’d had yesterday evening in the Morgan Arms. ‘Jackie’s just finished an investigation in Manchester. Criminal gangs are using eleven, twelve and thirteen year-olds there to deliver drugs and collect money. What if those kids we met in Brick Lane earlier are involved with something similar?’ The implications filled my mind. ‘How the hell are we meant to protect them? Homelessness is off the scale in London, and so is child poverty.’

‘Sadly, I think there are going to be a load more kids in that situation,’ Dan added. ‘Every day, there are more people needing asylum, and more vulnerable kids. I guess we can start with these jokers.’ He gestured to the block where Sophie lived. ‘I’ll chase the technicians for Sophie’s comms data. I have a feeling that’s going to be interesting.’

But something else was worrying me. ‘That poor girl hasn’t a clue what she’s getting mixed up in. She’s so upset about her parents’ divorce, and so worried about her mum, she’s going anywhere there’s drugs and booze.’ I turned to Dan. ‘I really hope it wasn’t her mother in the fire with Simas. She’s not coping as it is, and it doesn’t sound like Daddy wants to know.’

Maya, 1 p.m.

Maya, 1 p.m.

Now in daylight, and without the enhanced reality of artificial floodlights, the arson scene was grey and drab. The ambulances, fire engines and two aerial platforms had returned to base. The building carcass was still water-drenched, and debris had been pushed into piles. The remaining apertures had smoke-stained gashes round them. The entire roof had caved in and two new forensic tents stood at either side of the shop.

Something had happened.

Dougie met Dan and I at the cordon. ‘We’ve had engineers working through the night to try and strengthen the rooms where the floors and ceilings collapsed,’ Dougie told us. ‘Unfortunately, they’ve had to demolish what remained of the top floor as it simply wasn’t safe. The ceiling collapsed just after I spoke to you.’

I groaned. ‘That’ll mean limited forensics from that section then.’

‘Unfortunately. The two bodies came down with the ceiling.’ He pointed at the tents. ‘Dr Clark has just left, and the CSIs are preserving evidence.’

I surveyed the scene. ‘I hope this speeds up identification of the woman.’

‘Should do. The bodies had quite a fall though, and a load of debris came crashing down on top of them so that’s going to work against us.’

‘Any idea when we can get them over to the mortuary for PM?’

‘They will be taken over any minute now. I don’t want the bodies exposed to the elements any longer than necessary. We’ve already lost twenty-four hours.’ He hesitated. ‘Do you want to see them?’ He paused. ‘They aren’t pretty.’