Dr. Mackay laid a file on the table in front of her and opened it. She scrutinized the text for a few moments, then looked up. “Despite the condition of the bodies, I was able to undertake a complete examination. The police report stated that the two people in the car were not wearing seat belts and the injuries were consistent with that: I mean, consistent with the head of each person being thrown forward and striking the interior of the car. The result was massive trauma. Therefore the cause of death was, in both cases, compression of the brain resulting from a depressed fracture of the skull.”

There was a pause as Dr. Sams wrote his notes. “So the fire was not a factor?” he asked.

Dr. Mackay caught my eye. I saw an expression of sympathy.

“That was a crucial question in my mind,” she said. “Obviously, in each case there was much destruction of skin, subcutaneous and muscular tissue. I took blood samples from both Mr. Manning and Ms. Livingstone. Both tested negative for carbon monoxide.” She looked toward us. “That suggests the two of them were not breathing after the fire started. I also checked the airways and lungs and found no traces of carbon. Also, although the bodies had suffered the burns I mentioned, they showed no signs of vital reaction. I can give you the technical details if you want but, broadly speaking, the sites of burning showed none of the signs of inflammation you would expect if it had happened while the person was still living.” She looked at me once more. “It may be of some comfort to the families to know that the deaths must have been all but instantaneous.”

I glanced across at Hugo Livingstone. He didn’t look comforted. He didn’t even look obviously upset. He was frowning slightly, as if lost in thought.

Dr. Sams asked Dr. Mackay if she had checked Greg’s blood-alcohol level. She said she had and that there was nothing untoward. She said it and glanced at me again, as if that was more good news, another thing for me to be relieved about. Dr. Sams asked if anybody had any questions for Dr. Mackay and once again there was an awkward pause.