Marlow:Well, for a start, there was the incident at Harry Wood’s party four nights ago. I assume yesterday would have been the first time you’d seen Laura Denning again, after what happened?

Mia:(laughs) I wasn’t upset about that. At least, not enough to not go into work.

Marlow:And there’s the ongoing issue with Laura.

Mia:I don’t have any issue with Laura.

Marlow:So it was simply an appointment? That you forgot? Nothing else deterred you from going to the office? Only from what I hear, it’s unusual for you. I believe it’s the only day you haven’t gone in since you started eight months ago.

Mia:There was nothing else.

Marlow:It’s just that someone did actually see you in the office late that morning. You apparently stepped out of the lift onto your floor and then vanished again pretty quickly.
     Is that right?

Mia:(pauses) Yes, I had forgotten my appointment. Like I told you.

Marlow:And you didn’t think to tell anyone when you were there?

Mia:Is any of this relevant?

Marlow:I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to find out. I’ve been wondering whether something did happen in the short time you went into the Morris & Wood offices yesterday that you aren’t telling me? The same offices that are now nothing more than a pile of ashes.

Mia:I told you. Nothing happened.

Marlow:Okay. So let’s go back to last night. You were driving around the roads? Did you stop anywhere?

Mia:Not that I recall.

Marlow:Did you drive to the offices?

Mia:No.

Marlow:Or anywhere near them? Somewhere you might have been able to see the fire?

Mia:No.

Marlow:How about the other side of the river? There’s a very clear view of Morris & Wood from there. Did you go to the quay last night?

Mia:No.

Marlow:Are you sure about that, Mia?

Chapter Ten

Seven weeks before the fire

‘She’s here to stay.’ Laura repeated Patrick’s words to Nate, not for the first time that weekend. ‘Now she’s permanent, Nate, Harry can’t just get rid of her. Why the hell has he done that?’

Nate shook his head. ‘I don’t know,’ he said, following Laura into the kitchen, a bundle of washing stacked in his arms.

‘Let me do that.’ She reached out to take it from him. ‘You know I don’t expect you to pick up everything.’

‘It’s fine. Go and be with Bobby.’ He nodded towards their son, who was wobbling precariously on his playmat before toppling onto his back, which made Nate laugh.