It took several knocks to rouse Indra, and her pretty face was bleached of colour when she finally opened the door of her sister’s flat in Upton Park. A white hospital wrist-band stuck out of the arm of a fluffy silver dressing gown.

‘I’m sorry it’s so late.’ I smiled apologetically. ‘I know you’ve only just got home but I need to ask you a couple of urgent questions. Could I come in?’

Indra groaned loudly, and I didn’t blame her. She turned slowly, as though it was uncomfortable to move, and led me inside. A waft of something floral greeted me. Despite her surgery, her movements were agile and graceful, as if she’d had dance training.

A pang of guilt jabbed at me for descending on her so quickly after her discharge. I’d keep it as brief as possible so she could get some rest.

‘Marta’s at work. I’d just got into bed when you knocked.’ Her speech was flat, and I got the feeling that the last couple of days had squeezed almost every trace of life out of her.

I followed her into the kitchen.

‘My sister left some food out for me but I’m not hungry.’ She stood at the worktop, coat-hanger thin in the baggy gown. Next to a pot of multi-vitamins and the microwave, cling-film lay over a plate of chicken and potatoes. ‘I don’t know how to tell her, but I don’t want this food. Or vitamins. Or bloody lavender oil.’ She sounded exhausted. ‘I just want to lie down and sleep.’

I took a gulp. ‘Why don’t you pop it in the fridge? You might fancy it tomorrow.’ I paused while she got her bearings, then gestured to the table. ‘Shall we sit down?’ I pulled a chair out for her and got myself settled. ‘As you know, we’ve been fairly certain from the start that the male body in the fire is your husband’s, and we’ve had DNA confirmation of that.’

She didn’t comment, just nodded her head up and down in large sweeps. ‘And the woman?’

‘That’s what I need to ask you about. We still don’t know who she is.’ This was going to be a hard question to ask, but we had to know. ‘I realise you might not feel sympathetic towards her, and I’d probably feel the same, but we’d really appreciate your help. She will have relatives who will be wondering where she is.’ I paused again to see how my request was landing. ‘She may have dependents who are relying on her.’

Indra faced me, pools for eyes.

I swallowed hard. ‘If you have any idea who she might be, please tell us.’

Indra’s hands were shaking and she lowered her gaze.