‘Thanks. Tomasz orders it for her every month. He even gets her Jewish food.’ She pushed the door open with her foot. ‘Olaf’s busy so I’ve sent the girls home with his parents. I don’t feel safe having them here, but I can’t leave Mum on her own. She’s scared stiff but too bloody stubborn to admit it. That Star of David business has shaken her.’

There was no awkwardness when Agnieszka mentioned her husband. Had he really not told her about LfA and the flash mob?

‘Olaf’s working,’ she said. ‘Someone’s forgotten their tax return and needs some accounts done quickly.’

That wasn’t a good sign. ‘Has your husband spoken to you about an organisation called LfA?’

She frowned. ‘Doesn’t ring a bell.’

‘They campaign against gentrification.’

Confusion spread over her face. ‘Olaf?’

I followed her through the shop towards the stairs. ‘I take it you didn’t know?’

‘I don’t think so. Why? He probably belongs to lots of organisations for his job.’

‘Could you stop a minute?’ I didn’t want to discuss my concerns in front of Rosa.

She turned on the stairs. Put the bags down. ‘What’s this about?’

‘This group, LfA, may have been responsible for the flash mob. We received an anonymous call from someone purporting to be from them. We haven’t been able to trace its source or authenticity. Your husband denies any current involvement with the group, but its website is registered to him.’ I waited for her to absorb the news.

She sank down onto one of the steps. ‘Christ.’ She held her head between her palms. ‘There’s got to be some mistake. What does Olaf say?’

‘That he ceased involvement with LfA years ago.’

Agnieszka let out a deep sigh of relief.

‘However – he hasn’t been able to provide any evidence to support that.’

She stared down at the stairs as she absorbed the implications of what I’d said. ‘There must be some mistake. Surely?’

‘We hope so,’ I said gently.

‘Why didn’t he tell me? I need to speak to him.’ She got up and continued carrying her mum’s shopping upstairs and I followed her, aware that I’d dropped a bomb on her world.

Upstairs, Agnieszka quickly dumped the shopping on the landing and scurried off towards one of the bedrooms. ‘Say hello to Mum if you like,’ she said over her shoulder as she padded across the carpet. ‘She’ll be upset if she knows you came but didn’t say hi.’

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