Marlow:Okay, let’s go over yesterday again. You didn’t get to the office until around midday, is that correct?

Laura:Yes.

Marlow:And when you came in you were searching for Mia Anderson.

Laura:I just wanted to speak to her.

Marlow:Your husband was worried about your relationship with Mia, wasn’t he? He thought you were getting obsessed with her?

Laura:No, he didn’t think that. He was a little worried, maybe, but that was only because he could see how upset I was.

Marlow:But something like this had happened before at work with a woman you were friends with.

Laura:What happened with Saskia was different. It was …

Marlow:Go on.

Laura:It was just different. Saskia had set me up, and my husband knew that, so I have no idea why he’s worrying about me now.

Marlow:How had Saskia set you up?

Laura:She made it look like I was making mistakes. On one occasion she altered a brief from a major client before it got to me, so I worked on something altogether different and …

Marlow:I can see this is distressing for you.

Laura:I really don’t know why you’re talking to me about her.

Marlow:But when you returned from maternity leave you thought Mia Anderson was doing the same thing?

Laura:I’ve already gone through all this with you.

Marlow:After the issue with Saskia, you were advised to take some time off from work, weren’t you, Laura?

Laura:I wasn’t advised to.

Marlow:It wasn’t a suggestion from your boss, Harry Wood, then?

Laura:He asked if I wanted to, and I agreed I could do with a break.

Marlow:And did you end up being prescribed any medication at this time?

Laura:You told me I was here to help you investigate the fire. I don’t see what my past medical history has to do with it. I don’t want to answer any more of these questions. I assume I don’t have to, do I? I’m not under arrest? I can leave at any time, isn’t that what you said?

Marlow:You can, Laura, and that’s fine. Let’s go back to the night of the fire instead. You texted your husband at six p.m. on Monday evening to say you were still in the office, and that you were meeting with your old account team from Coopers, so you would be late, is that right?

Laura:(pauses)

Marlow:Laura?

Laura:Yes.

Marlow:Was it true?

Laura:(shakes head) No.

Marlow:Why did you lie to your husband about why you were still at the office?

Laura:Because I was working on something he didn’t know about and so – I don’t know – maybe … maybe I just felt guilty about being late again. Everyone was making me feel guilty, especially my husband.

Marlow:Guilty about what?