‘If it’s not a good outcome, Muriel, then I don’t think it’ll be so easy for Tina Hayes to get through it.’

‘I get your point, Wendy,’ Muriel sighed loudly. ‘I’ll talk to Pat Vern after the meeting, give him a heads-up so he can start looking at the right person. But, Wendy?’

‘What?’

‘Remember you’re a member of the Mapledon community, and you’re part of these meetings. You know we work for the good of the whole village. Don’t forget that.’

‘I suggest we keep a few of the more productive – and faithful – members here after the others have gone, Muriel?’ Nell whispered when the others were all talking among themselves.

‘You’re right. We’ll make a proper plan then.’ Muriel spoke quickly before moving on to the next item on the agenda, and the room once again became quiet.

‘How did the meeting go? Did you come to an agreed plan of action?’ Eric asked as they climbed into bed.

‘Yes. We’ve agreed. I’ll take Bella into the station tomorrow,’ Muriel said. She kept her eyes averted, not able to look at her husband.

‘Mark’s destroyed. Tina is going mad with worry. I’m not sure I can handle it.’

‘You have to, Eric. What’s done is done. You should’ve thought of the consequences before, shouldn’t you?’

‘Likewise, Muriel. Likewise.’

Chapter Eighty-Five

2019

Anna

Friday 19th July

‘I’ll make us a Horlicks,’ Muriel said, her voice bright and breezy as though they hadn’t been sitting in complete silence, neither making eye contact, for the last few hours. Muriel had said nothing following Anna’s accusation. Having thought about it, Anna now felt sure her dad would never have agreed to plant fake evidence to ensure blame was placed on an innocent man. Her mother wasn’t that persuasive; he would’ve stood up to her. Wouldn’t he?

‘What time is it?’ Anna asked.

‘It must be late.’ Muriel walked into the kitchen. ‘Nine-twenty,’ she called.

Anna was exhausted. Mentally and physically. If she could go to bed now, she would. But she knew she wouldn’t sleep. And the uneasy feeling the day wasn’t over – that there was still far more to come – hung around her, loitering like a malevolent force waiting for the right moment to release its devastation.

‘Okay. Sure,’ she said.

Muriel came back into the lounge ten minutes later with a drink in each hand and set them down on the coffee table.

‘Can you grab another coaster, Anna? They’re on the dresser.’

Anna reached across and took one of the old coasters – they’d bought them on a family daytrip to Looe, in Cornwall, a lifetime ago – and as she did, she remembered the letters that had been in the top drawer. She hadn’t had the opportunity to search her mother’s room, and with everything else going on, she’d almost forgotten about them. But now, concerned her dad might’ve been involved in getting Billy sent to prison, the content of those letters was even more significant. If they were from Eric, of course. Even if they weren’t, there was a reason Muriel was keeping them, and the fact she’d hidden them from Anna was a firm indication they were linked to what was going on now. To what went on back then.