When each of them noticed the other two, they glanced from one to the other, searching for an explanation as to what they were doing here. Each of them mirrored the others’ panic in their own faces, and it seemed clear by now that at least one of them must know what had caused the fire.

Mia spoke first. ‘Who did this?’ She waved a hand in the air towards the offices, as if her question needed explanation. ‘Was it you?’ Her gaze darted to Janie and her chin jutted defiantly, her finger now pointing in Janie’s direction. All of it could, of course, have been an act. No one was sure.

Janie shook her head, her mouth agape as Mia’s finger swung now towards Laura.

‘No,’ Laura shouted, a little too aggressively, for she said it again, this time softer. ‘No.’

The truth was they all looked frightened. Something had happened to each one of them that day, and in the days leading up to it, and even if they hadn’t lit the match that burned down Harry’s office, the thought had been present in all of them that maybe they could have done. Maybe they had wanted to.

‘It was you.’ A shaking finger prodded at Janie again. ‘You.’ Mia laughed. ‘You did it, didn’t you? You bloody well burned down that office. Oh, I can’t believe you did it. Because of her?’ Now the same finger was thrust in Laura’s direction. ‘Because you thought they were having an affair? They weren’t, you know; she never would have, for what it’s worth. Any fool can see that.’

Janie’s eyes flicked towards Laura, scanning the woman’s face for signs of either denial or confirmation. She no longer knew if she cared what the answer was; it would just be nice to know the truth.

Laura shook her head, glaring at Mia. Everything Mia had told Tess Wills had been part of her act. ‘You think I was having an affair with Harry?’ she said to Janie.

‘Weren’t you?’ Janie replied, her voice toneless.

‘No!’ she cried. ‘Absolutely not. I love my husband, my family—’ Laura broke off. Nate had no idea where she was. He thought she was in a meeting with Coopers, but he must have expected her home by now. She hated that she had been lying to the one person she loved most. ‘I would never have an affair with your husband,’ she said to Janie.

For some reason Janie thought she believed the woman.

‘So what are you still doing here?’ Mia turned on Laura now. Somehow she had assumed the role of detective, tossing questions at the two women, deflecting attention from herself – her body soaked with alcohol, her head hazy.