‘Anti-Semitism.’ Rosa’s voice was a whisper. ‘We had it for years before you and Tomasz were born. It came in waves. Several spates of it when you two were kids. Your father wouldn’t have it. He scrubbed it off. But it was often a sign of things to come.’

Agnieszka glanced at me and I caught the worry in her eyes. ‘It’s probably just bored kids mucking about. Thinking they’re clever.’ She adopted a calming tone. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing, Mum. We can—’ She broke off, as though something had dawned on her. ‘Hang on. Wasn’t there something in the newspaper recently about people marking premises when they plan to steal a dog?’

‘But I haven’t got a dog.’

‘I know. People do similar recces for places to burgle. They mark them to come back to. Maybe that’s what this is.’ She turned to me. ‘What do you think?’

‘I’m not sure.’ The scratched symbol looked new. ‘It could be any of those things or a coincidence.’ As I heard the words leave my mouth, I was aware I didn’t believe them.

Rosa’s laugh feigned courage and although she was trying to make out she’d recovered her composure, she was trembling. ‘They won’t find much worth stealing in there but I’m not keen on being bashed over the head or having my precious photographs damaged. They’re all I’ve got left of your father.’

‘I don’t like you living here on your own, Mum. Thank goodness we’re staying with you.’ Agnieszka faced her mother, as though she was hoping she’d realise something. ‘But we can’t stay forever.’ She gestured to the upstairs bedrooms. ‘The kids need more space and Olaf misses them. I do wish you’d come and live with us for a bit. Sell this bloody shop.’

My thoughts were spinning. I didn’t know what to make of the star. Hopefully Rosa was safe with her daughter staying for now, and this was family business. I needed to leave them to it. But as Dan and I walked away, I couldn’t shift the nagging suspicion that there was more to the symbol than a few kids messing around.

Maya, 4.30 p.m.

Maya, 4.30 p.m.

‘Yes, it’s neighbourly to call Indra and tell her the shop’s on fire, but something feels off,’ I said to Dan.

We were in Shoreditch to interview Tomasz Feldman.

‘He doesn’t really know her or Simas. How has he got her number? And why?’

‘You’re the one that knows him,’ Dan replied.

Trendy and upmarket, this part of London was packed with clubs and bars. Whereas many places were struggling to get customers through the door, Tomasz’s champagne bar, restaurant and nightclub clearly wasn’t having difficulty attracting customers. A string of affluent trendies was filing into the building’s plush entrance.