‘Nell’s son Robert?’

‘Yes, he was the one who served me.’

‘No Nell this morning, then?’

‘Ill apparently. He said she’d been feeling under the weather.’

Her mother’s gaze turned to the window as she gave a hmmm sound.

‘You think she’s also worried?’

‘What?’ Muriel’s attention snapped back to Anna. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t seen anyone since I heard.’

‘Who told you, then?’

Muriel heaved herself up from the chair and wandered into the living room.

‘Mum?’

‘I got a call, don’t know who it was from.’

‘Really? Well, when?’

‘Four days ago. The day he was released supposedly.’

‘Was it him?’

‘No. No, dear, I think it was probably a journalist or some such person. Anyway, doesn’t matter. It’s how we deal with it, how we move on from here, knowing. Knowing that man is free. Free to do what he bloody well pleases. Can’t believe they let the monster out, can you?’

‘Unfortunately, life rarely means life, Mum. I guess he did his time.’ Anna shrugged. ‘It’s not like they ever found a body even, is it?’

And that had always been the issue; the underlying question the family and villagers had wanted answered.

Where had he hidden her body?

Chapter Eleven

2019

Lizzie

She’d needed the satnav to reach Mapledon. It wasn’t where she remembered it, but that was to be expected; she’d only been a child when she was taken from the village. It was situated south of Dartmoor – with its imposing granite rocks and sprawling moorland – and tucked away in a valley ten miles from the nearest town. What felt like hours of winding lanes, long hills and dense woodlands had passed before she’d finally come to a wider road leading to a sign stating she’d reached Mapledon.

Years of living in other parts of the country had diluted what memories of the place she’d had. Now, driving at a snail’s pace through the centre of the small village, passing a spattering of old thatched-roof cottages, then a few larger, more modern houses, Lizzie’s heart rate soared. So far she hadn’t recognised anything. It wasn’t lack of familiarity that was causing her adrenaline to shoot through her veins, though. It was the thought of what went on here. It was being back. If Dom had known any of her history, he’d have stopped her from leaving. But he didn’t know. Her childhood secrets were hers alone. Well, almost.

There were some other people who knew.

Would they still be here, living in Mapledon?

Would he be here, waiting?

The reason she’d driven all this way was to find out, but now she was here the urge to turn around and leave, go back to her life in Abbingsworth, was so strong she could feel the pull. She should allow herself to be snatched from this place again – she didn’t belong here.

Her foot remained on the accelerator. There was still a part of her – the part that had been in the shadow for years – which couldn’t succumb to the pull. That side of her had to keep going regardless.