Regardless of what Billy and Tina had said about not wanting to involve the police, Anna felt certain they’d come calling on the Fishers sometime soon. If Tina wanted Eric to tell her where he’d taken Jonie’s body, they’d obviously want a proper burial – a full funeral. So, the police would become involved whether they wanted it or not.

Mapledon’s secrets would become public knowledge. It was inevitable.

Unless Billy was planning on still taking the blame. If he was the one to disclose the whereabouts of Jonie’s body, no one else would need to be implicated. Maybe he’d say it was his final confession. Surely, though, the opportunity to clear his name would override everything else. Anna’s head throbbed. It was all too much to take in; too much to consider right now, past midnight in this derelict, ghostly bungalow. As the six of them, the remainers, stood looking uneasily at each other, Muriel began muttering.

‘The fact is, you have no evidence … not really, it’s all just hearsay and circumstantial.’

Anna laughed. A hysterical cackle she had no control of. Tears joined in, and before she knew it, she was sobbing.

How could her mother be so damned ironic? Could she not hear herself?

‘Calm down, Anna,’ Lizzie said, coming to her side. She placed an arm around Anna’s shoulders. ‘It’s been a hell of a few hours, hasn’t it?’

That was one way of putting it. Anna had lurched from one emotion to the next without warning. She was drained. Her thoughts chaotic. She took a few shuddering breaths in, enough to regain her composure without inhaling further dust particles.

‘I can’t calm down! We’ve just heard the same story, haven’t we?’ Anna gave Lizzie an incredulous look as she shook her arm off. ‘When did you find all this out, Lizzie? Or did you come here already knowing the answers?’

‘No, honestly; I was as in the dark as you were – until reaching Mapledon, anyway. Then there was a slow, creeping realisation that things weren’t as they first appeared. Once I met Billy, and heard his side, some of the lies came to light. Then he told me stories that rocked the foundations I’d built, made me question what I thought I knew. It wasn’t all from Billy, of course. Pat also helped fill in some gaps. As did Gwen, from Bulleigh Barton. I was surprised at her knowledge of the villagers, being she’s a relative outsider – although I guess most of it was based on gossip. But those present here tonight have confirmed most to be true.’

‘Get a roomful of people together – all of them trying to hide a secret – throw in one accusation and watch as the panic sets in,’ Billy said. ‘Doesn’t take long for the first person to break – then the others to follow; the truth usually comes rolling out, each attempting to blame another. Self-preservation at its best.’

‘Which is why I asked everyone to meet here. It was the quickest way to pull all the threads together – get to the heart of the matter,’ Lizzie said.