‘It’s fine,’ she said. ‘Really. You’re right, Bobby could do with going home – he doesn’t sound well.’ She glanced over at her son in the back and reached out for his chubby arm.

‘Maybe we should look into babysitters again soon,’ he said. ‘Go out on our own instead?’

‘We’ll need one for Harry’s party,’ Laura muttered. ‘He mentioned it during the week. It’s five weeks away now.’

‘How about asking Louise’s daughter, across the road?’ Nate asked. ‘She’s about fifteen. Wouldn’t she do it?’

‘We don’t know her,’ Laura said. ‘I don’t want just anyone looking after Bobby.’

‘She isn’t anyone,’ he laughed. ‘She’s a neighbour. Anyway, no point worrying about it. If it’s going to be a problem, you can always go on your own,’ he went on. ‘Though it would be nice to come out with you.’

‘No. I want you there,’ Laura said. ‘I’m definitely not going on my own. We’ve got a few weeks to sort something out. Hopefully by then some amazing Mary Poppins of a babysitter will fly into the area, but if she doesn’t, I won’t go. I’m not actually that fussed about it anyway.’

‘You’re a wonderful mummy, you know that? And the most amazing wife. Me and that little man in the back would be lost without you.’

Laura’s eyes welled with tears again. ‘I know,’ she sighed. ‘And I’m sorry for getting annoyed. I really don’t know what I’d do without either of you.’

Chapter Eighteen

Five weeks before the fire

On Monday morning Laura opened up her PC and found the number for a woman called Katie Burton. She tapped it into her mobile and strolled over to a spare meeting room, where she closed the door behind her, so she wouldn’t be heard.

It didn’t take long for her to answer. ‘Hello? Katie speaking.’

‘Hi, Katie,’ Laura started. ‘I’m hoping you can help me. I’m phoning up about someone who used to work for you.’

‘Oh?’

‘You gave me a reference for her a few months ago. I was wondering if you might be able to give me a bit more insight.’

‘Okay. Well, I’ll see what I can do. I mean, this isn’t the channel we’d usually adopt.’

‘Yes, I realise that and thank you, I’d just like a bit more information.’

‘Who are you calling about?’

‘Her name’s Mia Anderson. I believe she temped for you. She left seven months ago now, so you might not remember …’

‘I remember Mia.’

‘Oh, okay, great. Then—’

‘But she wasn’t a temp,’ Katie said. ‘I don’t know what gave you that impression. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been anything in the reference?’