‘Fat chance.’ He snorted. ‘Look at me.’ He patted his belly and, as he moved, Dan noticed the sweat under his arms. ‘Do I look like a man who’s got time to do campaign work? I work long hours and I’ve got three kids. I haven’t got time to wash my car let alone organise demonstrations and rallies.’ He snorted at the idea.

‘Who runs it now then?’

‘No-one. I let the payments lapse on the website.’

‘When was that?’

‘Several years ago.’ His face clouded over and his posture tensed. ‘Can’t remember exactly but I should have the details in my email somewhere. What’s this about?’

‘Someone called the police today,’ Maya explained, ‘and said that LfA was responsible for the flash mob in Brick Lane yesterday. Do you know who that might have been?’

‘No. Co ten pierdolić?’ His gaze was loose for a moment.

Dan wondered if he was trying to make sense of the news or prepare excuses.

‘How can they be responsible? LfA was a socialist organisation not a . . . a . . . I don’t know what.’ Olaf unbuttoned his cuffs and began rolling his sleeves up. ‘Did this person say the flash mob or the fire?’

‘We were hoping you might tell us.’ Dan’s kept his tone solemn.

‘I’m not sure what you’re insinuating, Sergeant. I don’t know anything about the flash mob, or the fire, other than what I’ve seen on the news. I was at work all day yesterday until 6 p.m. and I certainly haven’t been making phone calls to the police.’ He fished in his trouser pocket for his mobile and swiped at the screen. ‘I should have the renewal failure email in my Gmail. Gówno. Bloody phone. Battery’s dead.’ He cursed under his breath. ‘Do you want to come through to the kitchen and I’ll plug it in?’ He strode past them and out into the hall.

The kitchen was wall-to-wall white cabinets, leaving little room to move. Fitted at floor and eye level, so as to provide maximum storage, they covered the entire circumference of the room. Each child had their weekly activity timetable stuck to the fridge-freezer.

Olaf plugged his phone into a mains charger. ‘My laptop’s at the office. I’ll be able to start it up in a minute or two.’ He glanced round the kitchen as though he didn’t know what to do. ‘I’m trying to get my head round all this. Someone from LfA has claimed responsibility for the flash mob? That’s preposterous. Or a hoax. LfA doesn’t exist anymore.’

‘We’re going to need to see that email, buddy,’ said Dan.

Olaf thumbed at his screen which still didn’t seem to be responding. ‘Jezusa Chrystusa.’ He flung the mobile back on the worktop.