That Billy Cawley was innocent after all.

‘It was all so obvious I can’t believe it took me all those years to see it; to piece it all together,’ Tina said. Her head bobbed as though it were too heavy to keep upright. ‘God, this village. You’re all so good at hiding things, aren’t you?’ She stared at each of the people in the room in turn. ‘Good at misdirection, too. You even had me thinking Billy was an abuser, someone to be fearful of. Even though I felt differently.’ Tina banged her hand against her heart. ‘I knew Billy wasn’t capable of the terrible things you all accused him of. Deep down, I knew. But I allowed you all to persuade me otherwise. God, I even asked Pat to do a background search, check him out because you all thought there was something bad in him.’ Tina stepped back and took hold of Pat’s hand. ‘You did so much to help me, Pat. You always went above and beyond and I’m grateful for that.’

‘And Pat didn’t find anything untoward, did he?’ Lizzie said.

‘Nothing. And that’s when I began to pull back a little from the Mapledon Meetings, because I didn’t want to be part of the baying wolves eager to attack Billy anymore. Billy and I had actually become close at one point – in secret, as I knew what the others would think – but I’d distanced myself again because of the things being said. The rumours. Once I realised they were unfounded, I tried to reconnect with him. Offer my support. But it seemed it was too late. And that’s when my world collapsed.’ Tina swiped at her cheeks, clearing the tears. ‘I was distraught when Billy was accused of abducting Jonie. When Muriel told me Bella had witnessed her being taken into Billy’s truck and driven away, I was furious at myself for being taken in, for believing Billy and not my friends or the villagers. I blamed myself for losing my daughter.’

A heavy silence hung in the room, and so did everyone’s heads. In pity, in sadness or in shame.

‘You shouldn’t have blamed yourself, Tina. You were a good mum,’ Anna said. Her voice sounded uncertain, and Lizzie wondered at the meaning behind the words.

Tina’s gaze steadied on Anna. ‘Oh, Anna. Little, naive Bella. I always welcomed you into my home; loved you coming over to play with Jonie. How could you have lied like that? Why?’

‘She didn’t lie, Tina. Leave her out of this,’ Muriel said. Lizzie sensed she was about to launch into a rant, but she wouldn’t allow Muriel to take control of the room.

‘I’ve been in contact with Billy. My dad,’ Lizzie said, before Muriel could continue.

‘See! I knew it. You are both in on it.’

‘Oh, shut up, Muriel,’ Tina cut in. ‘You’ve done enough damage. It’s about time your daughter found out what you’re capable of.’

Lizzie watched for a reaction from Anna. All she noted was shock. Did she really not know?