‘He offered me peanuts,’ said Evans, ‘nothing near its real worth. I said no, of course, but he wasn’t put off and next time he brought his muscle. Two of them came with him, one big bloke and one little. Made me the same offer again, and said that he wouldn’t be so generous if I made him stretch to a third. I told him that wasn’t how negotiation works. I told him that when your offer is rejected, you’re meant to up it. You know what he said to that?’

Porter was caught mid-sip with his mug to his lips and a mouth of warm tea, and couldn’t speak, but he shook his head slightly to prompt Evans.

‘He laughed at me. Actually laughed in my face, him and his two babysitters. Found it hilarious, they did. Then he looks at me and asks me what the hell made me think that anything was up for negotiation? The bloody cheek of the man.’ Evans shook his head, still bristling at the disrespect all these years later.

‘And then what happened?’ prompted Porter.

‘First fire was a week after that. No one got hurt, thank God.’ Evans made a quick sign of the cross. ‘But we lost everything in the building. Cost me a bloody fortune, even with the insurance. Second one was only two days later. Third one the day after that. Fire Brigade said it was faulty wiring, but I had those places checked regularly. There was bugger all wrong with that wiring!’

He was practically shouting now, every other word sending tiny grenades of spittle arcing out. Then his voice grew quiet, his story moving into the eye of the storm, his recollection calmer now.

‘Third one was what got me.’ He rolled up his sleeve. ‘I’d worked late and was just finishing up when it started. Ripped through the place like a tornado. No way was that the wiring. A fire moves that fast it’s had help, you know what I’m saying?’ He looked at them both for affirmation. ‘I was just stood watching my life go up in smoke when I heard Danny shouting. Lazy sod had been having a sly snooze off in a corner, and woke up coughing.’

He grabbed the cuff of his right sleeve and started to pull his arm back up it as he spoke.

‘I didn’t even think. Just ran back in. Suppose if I’d stopped and thought about it I’d probably have been too scared to do anything. I found him quick enough and we were nearly out. I could even see the door. There was a container on a shelf off to my right, God knows what was in it, but it went up with a bang and next thing I know my bloody shirt is on fire.’