‘It’s been a long time,’ he said.

Chapter Ninety-Five

2019

Anna

All the air left her lungs.

The man she and her family had framed was standing among them. He didn’t look as she’d imagined him; nothing about him resembled the images from her childhood. But she did sense the same fear she’d experienced when she’d played Knock, Knock, Ginger. She had that same urge to run away now. His solid form blocked the doorway, and even in the dim light she could see the intensity in his eyes. Was it hatred?

A queasiness swelled inside her. If Tina believed in him, though, then maybe he was all right. Perhaps he wasn’t coming after them for revenge.

This thought didn’t dispel the hundreds of butterflies currently loose in her stomach.

Her dad should be here. He was the one who should be facing Billy Cawley.

Anna kept her eyes downcast, afraid she’d catch his attention if she looked up.

Was she being a coward? It must run in the family.

His arrival had sucked the sound from the room – the silence following his opening line lingering for longer than was comfortable. Someone had to break it.

Tina was the first to speak. ‘I think these people have something to say to you, Billy,’ she said, going to his side and putting a tentative hand to his face. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered.

Anna wanted to say something but felt paralysed. Lizzie’s dad had been given a thirty-year prison sentence for something her dad had done. A lot of years to waste for a crime he hadn’t committed.

Eric Fisher was the murderer.

Anna couldn’t get her head around that. How had her mother kept it from her? Self-preservation appeared to be the ongoing theme for the Fishers. Anna realised no one was looking in Billy’s direction – she wasn’t the only one hoping not to catch his eye. Although she’d sensed today would be ‘the big one’, being the anniversary of Jonie’s disappearance, she had to admit, this wasn’t what she’d imagined. This outcome wasn’t one she’d even considered. But then, this couldn’t be the final outcome – not the intended one, anyway. Because the real culprit, the one who’d done the deed, wasn’t even in the room.

How could Billy exact revenge if the right people weren’t there?

‘What do you plan to do with us?’ The voice sounded pathetic, weak. Nell, her head still lowered but her eyes looking up, was wringing her hands together as she spoke. Anna had a sudden disdain for the woman.

‘To do with you?’ Billy asked. He laughed. ‘Have you not listened to any of what’s been said?’

‘Er – yes,’ Nell said.

‘Then you shouldn’t have to ask.’ Billy shrugged.

Nell seemed perplexed; the answer not good enough. ‘I want to know,’ she said.

‘For Christ’s sake, woman. I’ve had a lifetime – or what felt like it – to contemplate, to ruminate and to plan. If I were going to do anything in revenge, it wouldn’t be to bring you all to my old bungalow, lock you in while torching it, and to watch it burn to the ground with you all screaming inside, would it?’