She focused her gaze on the small gathering of uniforms grouped beside one of the fire engines. A fireman was gesturing, pointing fiercely towards the building, while another one yelled behind him, calling others over. She hadn’t imagined the fire would spread so quickly.

Suddenly it was apparent that something was happening. Something urgent, for even from here she could sense the apprehension in the air. It had darkened somehow, become thicker with foreboding.

Automatically she inched forward until she was trapped in the beam of a street light. Her heart pounded even more heavily against the wall of her chest as she strained to get a better view, edging closer still, along the narrow pathway that ran in front of the waterside houses.

Everything told her she should leave. She should be at home with her family. At some point there would be a call about what had happened and, when it came, that was where she needed to be.

And yet at the same time she couldn’t tear herself away from the scene.

One of the firemen had now stood aside, allowing her a perfect vision of the stretcher on the pavement. A body was being carried out of the burning building, laid upon the stretcher, and then a circle of people closed around it and she could see no more.

Her body felt like liquid, as if at any moment she would melt away and sink into the ground.

What had she done? It had seemed such a perfect solution. But now she could see that it was by no means an end. It was only the beginning. Now she could see that her actions would strip her of everything that was truly important.

Her family.

She clutched her stomach and bent double, retching on the path beside her. Her hands shook violently.

Revenge and anger had blinded her, and now she might very well lose the two most important people in her life. And it was too late to do anything about it.

Tuesday 14 May

Initial interviews between DC Emily Marlow and the staff of Morris & Wood, following the fire on Monday 13 May

Bryony Knight, Account Assistant

Bryony:Is anyone dead?

Marlow:I’m afraid we can’t answer that at this moment.

Bryony:Can’t answer? (pauses) Okay. Well. In answer to your question, I’ve worked there for eighteen months.

Marlow:And who do you report into?

Bryony:Well (laughs), it was Laura Denning, before she went off on maternity leave. Then it was Mia, who replaced her, and now – it’s both of them! It doesn’t really work but … Do you know what’s going to happen? I mean, am I going to carry on getting paid? I’ve got rent to pay and if I can’t work …

Marlow:These are all things you’ll have to ask your Human Resources department. As I’m sure you can appreciate, I’m investigating the fire.