I move closer to him, standing before him on the edge of the bed. I rub his upper arms. He softens, unfolds his arms and wraps them around the tops of my legs.

‘Look, I’m sorry if I’m stressed. It’s just an awful position to be in. Part of me was hoping it all was truly random, you know. Part of me was hoping it would just disappear, but if someone has cause to do it once then what would stop them doing it again?’ he asks.

It’s a question I can’t answer. ‘We’ve just got to be careful. I don’t know what more we can do.’

His grip on my upper legs loosens and I step back to read his expression. He’s staring at the carpet at my feet, chewing his lip. ‘What’re the rules with an anonymous tip?’

‘What?’

‘Well, what if the police received an anonymous tip? You shouldn’t be talking to the police directly about a client, unless there’s a credible threat to someone’s safety, but if you don’t have that and you’re certain that it’s him …’

‘What if I’m wrong?’

He clicks his tongue. ‘The police ask a few questions then leave him alone, but if you’re right— ’

‘He’ll suspect I put them onto him. It’ll get ugly quick.’

‘Or he’ll be extra careful not to put a foot out of line? And maybe the police find something that ties him to the fire.’

‘Why don’t I call Simms and tell him about Raze first? If Raze is the same person as my client, it won’t matter.’

He thinks for a moment. ‘That might be a better plan,’ he says, before rising from the bed. ‘I’m going to go finish washing up.’

•

You wouldn’t describe sergeant Andrew Simms as excitable, but he is particularly downbeat when I call him.

‘Look, this is bordering on conspiracy theory, Mrs Scott, but as always I’ll note this information and give it due consideration when investigating this case.’

Annoyance swells in my throat. ‘Due consideration? Someone online basically admitted to lighting the fire.’

‘This kind of thing happens all the time. Do you know what trolls are?’

‘Of course I know what trolls are.’

‘Well particularly sick trolls often target people who have gone through a recent crime, the worse the crime the sicker the trolls. Some of the commentary surrounding crimes is particularly horrible. I would tell your son to take some time away from this online community and perhaps consider changing his alias.’

‘The point is, Sergeant, Evan’s identity should always have been anonymous. Someone at the very least has gone to the trouble of tracking him down. Doxing they call it.’