‘Do you have it?’ Muriel snapped.

Eric stared blankly about him for a moment. ‘I thought I did …’

‘If it turns up afterwards, this will come back to haunt us.’ Muriel chewed her bottom lip. ‘If Tina and Mark have it, or it’s found at the scene … Shit, Eric. You should’ve been more thorough.’

‘Sorry, Muriel. It wasn’t as though I was thinking straight.’

‘You weren’t thinking at all.’

He bowed his head.

‘For now, take Bella’s and we’ll search for Jonie’s. Hopefully we’ll find it before the police.’

‘Talking of the police, what are we going to do about calling them?’

‘I’ve got a plan that might work. I’ll need some help, but I’m owed a few favours and the others will fall in when I tell them how this way we can be rid of Billy Cawley.’

‘You think after they find out that they’ll help us? You may be over-estimating people’s belief in “the good of the community” on this one, Muriel.’

‘Maybe. Maybe not. We have to try. I’ve already laid the groundwork, prior to this happening. It should work.’

‘I don’t think I can do this. Let me hand myself in to the police—’

‘Over my dead body, Eric. Billy has had this coming to him – he’s the perfect answer to our problem.’

‘Don’t you feel guilty?’

‘I can’t afford to.’

Chapter Ninety-Four

2019

Lizzie

Friday 19th July

It seemed to be going to plan. The truth was emerging as her dad had predicted. Almost in the order he’d predicted too. Lizzie gazed around in the dim light the mobile phones and two oil lamps offered. At each ashen face. She wondered what they’d look like in a minute.

‘So, we’ve ascertained Billy Cawley is innocent of the crimes he was sentenced to, yes?’ Lizzie said, her voice strong and clear. Heads nodded slowly, silently. Being in charge of this reveal gave her a bit of a kick, if she was honest. She imagined the headlines, the sensational story that would go with this scoop. William Cawley exonerated in 30-year-old murder case. Mapledon villagers guilty of cover-up. Lizzie slipped her hand in her jacket pocket, closing her fingers around the small, digital recorder. The last headline in her mind was one that might take more time. Real killer discloses where he dumped 10-year-old Jonie Hayes’ body.

‘Good.’ Lizzie sucked in a deep breath before delivering her next line – the one she knew would get a big reaction. ‘But I think you should tell Billy Cawley to his face,’ Lizzie said.

Heads snapped up. Uneasy glances passed between those gathered.

The lounge door opened, and Billy walked in.

Lizzie sensed the tension in the room, noting the awkward shuffling of feet. Billy looked very different from the young man who’d left Mapledon. No longer scrawny-looking, straggly. He was stocky, muscly, hard-looking. If Lizzie didn’t know better, she’d also assume he was someone to be afraid of: tough, with a ready-to-fight-anyone stance and intense, moody eyes.