Their conversations always skirted the subjects that were important to them now, the ones they’d once have dissected at length over a bottle of wine and tapas. They’d never dived into the depths of the choice Janie made five years ago because they didn’t have to. They both knew the real reason behind her giving up her career and moving to the south coast, even if neither of them had ever voiced it out loud.

Even when her own husband had buried his head in the sand and lied to himself that his wife was happy to give everything up, it was Sophie who would have understood. But then Sophie was also the only person who was aware of the part Janie had played in 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

Marlow:You said you worked with Laura Denning before she went on maternity leave?

Bryony:I did. I work with all the account directors – I’m there to assist them.

Marlow:And you carried on working with her when she came back?

Bryony:Yes. But it was different.

Marlow:In what way?

Bryony:Well, at first she didn’t ask me to do much. But then, as the weeks passed, she threw more and more at me.

Marlow:And you carried on working for Mia Anderson too?

Bryony:Yes, as much as I could, really.

Marlow:Did you notice Laura Denning was upset when she returned from her maternity leave?

Bryony:Laura? No. Laura Denning doesn’t do ‘upset’ – not like that. I mean, she doesn’t cry or anything. She just gets tougher. Like, bossier. But then that’s how she gets where she is, I suppose.

Marlow:How do you mean?

Bryony:Well, so successful. On the same level as all those men.

Marlow:Did you think Laura seemed bothered by the fact that the main part of her job had been given to her replacement?

Bryony:Of course she did. She was angry. I saw her in Harry’s office a few times; voices were raised, though you couldn’t hear what they were saying. You know it’s very clever, those glass offices: you can see everything inside them, but you can’t hear a thing. They’re soundproof. Quite annoying, really.

Marlow:Do you think she was angry with him?

Bryony:I don’t know whether it was him in particular, but you could tell she was annoyed by the way she would throw her arms around when she spoke. But then, from what I hear, Harry didn’t have much choice. Mia is so amazing at the job. And she’s such a lovely person. Everyone likes her, you know? And Coopers love her. That was the point.

Marlow:What was the point?

Bryony:They wanted her to stay on their account. They didn’t want Laura back.