Nate pulled her into the kitchen and filled a glass of water, which he thrust into her hand. She didn’t want it – she thought she was definitely going to be sick now – but she held onto it anyway, making every effort to steady herself.

He shook his head as he regarded her, and she felt the bitterness dripping off him. She wanted to roll into bed and fall into a sleep that would, at least temporarily, take away the memories of this awful evening, but she also knew how much bigger they would be when they came searing back in the morning.

‘Why did he bring you home?’

‘I don’t know,’ she shrugged. ‘I was going to get a taxi, but Harry was there, insisting that he’d drive and …’

‘And he just left his own party?’

‘I know. I didn’t want him to, Nate; he was offering, and I wanted to get out of there and—’

‘Christ!’ He shook his head and laughed bitterly, running his hands through his hair. ‘This is unbelievable. You are unbelievable.’

‘Nothing’s going on,’ Laura cried. ‘If that’s what you’re thinking, you couldn’t be more wrong. I wouldn’t. I would never …’

‘Go to bed,’ he spat. ‘I’ll be in the spare room. Your son isn’t well, by the way; he’s been sick,’ Nate added as he started to walk out of the kitchen. ‘If you care.’

‘Oh my God, of course I care,’ she said, running after him. ‘Nate!’ She grabbed his arm, tugging at the sleeve of his T-shirt, slopping water over the carpet as she did so. ‘Don’t say that,’ she sobbed. ‘Don’t ever say that to me – you know I care about Bobby. What’s wrong with him?’

He stood and watched her for a moment before eventually shaking his arm free, but when he spoke his voice was gentler. ‘He’s just been sick,’ he said. ‘But he doesn’t have a temperature. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. Get some sleep.’

‘You should have called me,’ she said, her voice quiet.

‘Why?’ He paused and looked at her. ‘What would you have done?’

Laura opened her mouth to protest, even though she knew there was no point. Nate was right. What could she have done for Bobby that his father wasn’t already doing much better? She clutched hold of the bottom of the banister as she steadied herself. ‘I’m his mum,’ she said weakly as if that were all she had left to offer. But even that no longer felt like it was enough as Nate stared at her coldly and then turned to walk up the stairs.

Friday 17 May

Interview between DC Emily Marlow and Janie Wood, following the fire on Monday 13 May

Janie:When can I go?

Marlow:You’ve been arrested for murder. The best thing you can do right now is start talking.