The Silent Suspect by Nell Pattison (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud .TXT) 📗

Chapter 16

I was nearly home when my phone rang. Sasha. She probably wanted to find out what happened with Roy, but I was still shaking slightly from my encounter with him. I did consider ignoring the call, but I knew I’d have to speak to her eventually.

Even though I wasn’t far from my flat, I pulled over in a lay-by. I wanted to get the conversation over with. Answering the video call, I sat up a bit so I could sign clearly.

Hi, Paige, Sasha said once her face popped up on my screen. How’s it going?

I winced. It didn’t go well at the gym. I briefly described what it had been like and she pulled a face.

Well, at least we tried. There’s another reason I’m calling though, she told me. One of the other social workers has let me know about an incident that happened last night.

What is it? I asked, concerned that something had happened to Lukas, or another of Sasha’s clients.

There was another fire, one street over from Lukas and Nadia’s house. I don’t know many details, but I’m going to go over there and see what I can find out. Do you want to come?

After my experience at the gym I really wanted to go home and curl up in a ball, but I saw an opportunity to find out why Sasha had been keeping things from me. Sure, I replied. Text me the address and I’ll meet you there.

Before I turned my car around, I sent a brief text to Singh, asking what he knew about the fire. I wasn’t sure if he’d give me any information, but if I brought the latest fire to his attention it might give him second thoughts about Lukas’s guilt.

The house I was looking for was obvious as soon as I pulled onto the street. There were plenty of people milling around, including a Police Community Support Officer who was talking to someone wearing one of those white paper suits. I assumed they were investigating the cause of the fire, and I wondered if we’d be able to speak to either of them or if they’d tell us to get lost.

Sasha was already there, leaning against a wall a few houses down from the one that had caught fire. I joined her and saw she was watching the people hanging around being nosy.

Do you have any clients on this street? I asked her, wondering who she was looking for.

No. I just thought I’d have a look at who was around, see if any of them might be willing to speak to us. She looked back at the gathered crowd. I think they’re all just here for the gossip, but one of them might know something, or they might have seen something.

Do you think this fire is linked to the one at Lukas’s house, then? I asked, and she sighed.

I have no idea, but it seems a bit strange to me. Two house fires so close to each other in less than a week? It doesn’t seem like a coincidence.

I looked back at the house and the PCSO posted outside.

Was anyone hurt? I asked Sasha.

She shook her head. No, thankfully. Nobody was at home when the fire started.

What makes you think they might be connected, then?

She started ticking off points on her fingers. Both houses had council tenants who were on social services’ caseload, both fires were extinguished before they caused damage to neighbouring houses, and they happened at almost exactly the same time of night.

That’s a bit tenuous, isn’t it? I asked, not wanting to question her but also wondering if she was grasping at straws a little.

I can’t explain, but something feels off. It won’t hurt to talk to some of the people in the street and see what they know.

I agreed, and we walked closer to the house. I nodded at a young woman who had been keeping her eye on us, and we went over to talk to her.

‘What do you want?’ she asked as soon as we were within earshot.

‘Do you know anything about what happened here?’ I asked her, getting straight to the point.

She sniffed. ‘Who’s asking?’

I explained who Sasha and I were. ‘One of her clients had his house set on fire just a few days ago. We were wondering if they were connected.’

The woman turned away slightly. ‘I haven’t a clue. It’s nothing to do with me.’ She took a step away from us and looked over her shoulder. ‘Someone probably left the gas burning. Or fell asleep with a fag on.’

I signed this for Sasha, but by the time I’d finished the woman had walked away. An older man had been watching us from the other side of the street, but when I caught his eye he too walked away. I wondered if he’d overheard me talking to the young woman. Clearly, questions weren’t welcomed in this area, particularly from strangers.

I grimaced when I realised my own stupidity. I shouldn’t have told them you were a social worker, I explained to Sasha.

She nodded slowly. You’re right, that might mean people don’t trust us. She turned back to the house. Let’s see if she’ll talk to us, then, she signed, indicating the PCSO.

I’d been hoping to build up to asking Sasha about her visiting Lukas without telling me, and about the solicitor, but I felt like I’d missed my opportunity now. We crossed over the road and were approaching the house when I heard someone calling my name. Turning round, I saw Singh walking towards us. I smiled in greeting, but he didn’t return it and I felt my heart sink.

‘I thought I’d find you here,’ he said, annoyance written all over his face. ‘Is there something I can help you two with?’

We heard about this fire and we thought it might be connected to the one at Lukas’s house, Sasha explained, standing shoulder to shoulder with me. I was grateful that she didn’t