Deborah gestured at the back door and the pair of them picked their way cautiously through the wreckage toward it.
“It’s an old-fashioned wood-and-glass door with a solid, traditional lock. The bolts weren’t across, but when we turned up this morning, the door was locked—from the outside. Look, the key is as we found it.”
Helen peered through the devastated door and sure enough, the key was poking out of the heavy iron lock on the wrong side of the door.
“Our arsonist was taking no chances,” she muttered. “So why the change in MO? Why not carry on as before?”
“Who’s to know? We’ve a different house layout here. No cupboard under the stairs. Plus, the stairs down to the basement do not link up to the main staircase. That could be relevant or it could be there was some other factor driving such a direct attack.”
“A particular hatred for the victim?”
“Or some kind of time pressure. Perhaps the extra boots on the street have made him nervous. Perhaps he was worried about getting caught and wanted to get this one done as fast as possible.”
“Perhaps he’d had a close shave earlier in the night?” Helen offered.
“Very possibly. Either way, dousing another human being in paraffin and then discarding the empty bottle nearby represents a definite escalation. Whether it’s fear, desperation or sadism driving him, I really couldn’t say.”
And Deborah wasn’tsayingit, but the implication was clear. It was down to Helen to answer this. She thanked Deborah and picked herway toward the front door, her mind whirling. The nation’s press was camped outside waiting for a statement, but what was she supposed to say about a case that still had far more questions than answers?
Helen had never felt under so much pressure, but there was no point putting these things off. When you’re leading an investigation of such magnitude and complexity, there always comes a point when you are called to account. So, summoning her courage, Helen put on her most authoritative face and walked out of the house toward the awaiting press pack.
It was time to face the music.
94
“Can you give us an update on the number of casualties?”
The first question was from the BBC’s South of England correspondent. Helen was surprised that she couldn’t see Emilia Garanita present. This was her patch—she was adept at elbowing her way to the front of the pack and always asked the first question. Detective Superintendent Jonathan Gardam and the station’s Media Liaison officer flanked Helen, but apart from them there were a lot of unfamiliar faces in the crowd today.
“I am sorry to have to report that a young woman died in last night’s fire. She has yet to be identified formally. Beyond that we only had minor injuries at this site and those of the other fires. The fire at the PlayTime Nursery was contained very effectively by the fire services, but the blaze at the First Buy cash-and-carry was extremely severe, gutting most of the property.”
“Do we take it from that that you are critical of the way the fire services have dealt with these blazes?” the correspondent continued.
“Not at all,” Helen replied calmly. “This is a unique set of circumstances and very challenging for us all.”
“Do you have a suspect in custody?” Sky’s reporter piped up. It was said innocently, but everybody knew that Richard Ford had been released.
“We have several active lines of inquiry, but no suspect in custody currently.”
“Have the extra boots on the street made any difference at all?”
“We’re still evaluating that—”
“Can the public be assured that they are safe?” A journalist from theTimeswas now attempting to get in on the act.
“We’re reiterating the advice we gave to the public earlier, which is to make sure all windows and locks are secure at night and to remain vigilant at all times.”
“Are you any closer to catching the perpetrator?”
“Our understanding of this individual is growing day by day.” Helen knew it was baseless flannel and got the response it deserved.
“I’ll ask again, are you any closer to catching the perpetrator?”
“We’re doing everything we can—”
“Would you consider a curfew?”
From theTelegraphthis time and the question Helen had been dreading.
