‘Almost everyone else in this village back then was complicit,’ Muriel said, ignoring Anna’s distress. ‘Don’t forget that when you’re pointing the finger and judging me. If this gets out, me and Eric won’t be the only ones to go down. You’ve heard of joint enterprise, aiding and abetting, accessory, perverting the course of justice and all that, I assume? We’ll take you with us.’

‘Jesus, Mum.’ Anna’s mouth gaped. ‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this.’

‘I would say I’m sorry, Anna. But I’m not,’ Tina said.

‘Is this true, Mum?’ Anna asked. ‘Dad killed Jonie? I can’t – I mean … it’s impossible.’

Her mother said nothing. Anna wanted to launch at her, shake her until she gave answers. What reason would her father have to kill Jonie? ‘Was it an accident, Mum? I assume it was an accident?’

‘I’m sorry, love.’

Anna needed to know more. Every detail. But it seemed her mum had shut down for now. ‘Where do we go from here, Tina? What exactly is it you want us to do?’ Anna asked, all power in her voice gone.

‘I just want to know where my little girl is.’ Tina’s face crumpled – the years of pain evident. ‘I’m too tired to do anything; I’m not interested in going to the police. Billy’s done his time. It’s not like we can reduce the years he’s lost inside a cell. But he’s out now and deserves to at least know he’s been vindicated, don’t you think? And I deserve closure.’

‘Well, Mum. You know where he is, don’t you?’ Anna butted in. ‘Eric is the only one who can tell us where he took her. Unless, of course, you know?’

Muriel staggered backwards, her frail body hitting against the lounge wall. A few clumps of plaster dislodged and fell near her feet. ‘Yes. I know where he is. No, I don’t know where … where the body is.’ She sounded dazed. Anna almost felt sorry for her. But it was brief. Her mother had lied, covered up a murder, framed an innocent man and helped the real killer get away. She understood Muriel had loved Eric, but to protect him to that level, above all else, was incomprehensible. If James had murdered a child and she knew about it, there’d be no way she’d be able to lie for him. Especially at the expense of her best friend. No wonder Tina hadn’t spoken to Muriel for years. How had she waited until now to say anything?

Her mother was as evil as Eric.

‘I’m so sorry, Tina,’ Anna said. And she really was. Her family had inflicted so much on her. Even Anna had been involved – lying to the police about seeing Jonie get into Billy’s truck. How could she have done that? She tried to remember she’d only been a child – doing as she was told. She hadn’t meant for the lies to hurt people. Muriel would’ve made sure she’d drummed it into her – how she had to do right by her dad. Anna had loved him so much; she’d always been a daddy’s girl. She knew she would’ve done what she was asked if it meant keeping him safe. If only she’d known then that he’d up and leave her anyway.