‘I don’t think that is all, though, is it?’ she said. ‘You mean something more than that. Tell me.’

‘I mean this has happened before, Laura. And I don’t want you starting a witch-hunt, because it won’t turn out well.’

‘Nate,’ Laura gasped. ‘I can’t believe you even said that. This is nothing like what happened with Saskia.’

Tuesday 14 May

Interview between DC Emily Marlow and Nathan (Nate) Denning, following the fire on Monday 13 May

Marlow:You say your wife texted you to say she was going to be late home last night?

Nate:She did. That’s not unusual, though.

Marlow:What was her reason?

Nate:She said she was held up at work.

Marlow:And how often is she held up and late back?

Nate:Most nights now.

Marlow:Do you know what time she supposedly left the office?

Nate:I don’t. She texted me at about six p.m., I think.

Marlow:So three hours before the building burned down she told you she was still in it?

Nate:Yes. But she wouldn’t have been the only one. There would have been other staff still there at six – it’s not that late, really. Is it?

Marlow:And what was her reason for staying on?

Nate:She said she was meeting the Coopers team members. They’re her main account. They were her main account, rather.

Marlow:Only we now know she didn’t actually meet any of the team from Coopers.

Nate:So I hear.

Marlow:Nathan, I’m sorry to ask you this …

Nate:Please call me Nate.

Marlow:Nate. Have you any idea why your wife might have told you she was meeting up with staff from her old account, when it’s apparent there was never any such meeting scheduled?

Nate:I don’t. You’ll have to ask her that.

Marlow:For some reason, your wife isn’t telling us anything. Either she’s covering up for herself or for someone else.

Nate:(sighs) I wish I could tell you more, I really do.

Marlow:What time did she get home last night?

Nate:It was late, it wasn’t until about ten o’clock, I think.

Marlow:And how did she seem?

Nate:I was already in bed. We didn’t speak. We haven’t been … we haven’t been speaking much lately. After the weekend, I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her last night, so I didn’t acknowledge her when she came home.

Marlow:Had something in particular happened over the weekend?

Nate:Yes, the party happened. Harry Wood’s party.

Marlow:And did you attend it?

Nate:No. I didn’t. My wife went on her own.

Marlow:Had everything been okay between you and your wife until the party?

Nate:(pauses) Not really. She’s been getting … I’ve been worried about her.

Marlow:Worried? In what way?