‘I wasn’t keeping it from you, as such.’ Billy said. ‘It just had to be revealed at the right time. Or what I thought was the right time. It’s a bit of a bombshell to drop on anyone.’

Anna couldn’t disagree there. But it was a bombshell she now didn’t know how to handle. It was incomprehensible that she, as a ten-year-old girl, would have the capability to kill another child. Billy must be wrong.

But neither Eric, nor Muriel, challenged Billy’s accusation.

So, it must be true.

‘How come you’re being so forgiving?’ Lizzie asked.

Billy’s face softened; his eyes closed as he took a long breath in, then released it slowly. ‘I’ve had a long time to mull it all over – I’ve completed loads of rehabilitation programmes – and even though I wasn’t the one who required it, or should’ve even been in prison, I found them helpful. I learned new skills to manage my emotions, and how to see things from different perspectives. I put myself in others’ shoes and walked around a little,’ Billy said. His eyes were focused on Eric. ‘You protected your daughter, something I wish I’d been able to do for Eliza. I guess a part of me was jealous – and another part of me admired you.’

‘But Billy – Dad – the Fisher family stitched you up! Made you the suspect and then, through their lies and help from the other hideous people of this village, ensured you were the one to go down for it. I don’t get why you aren’t going to do anything about it. You’re armed with the truth now. Go tell the police!’ Lizzie said.

‘The truth will set you free,’ Billy said, smiling.

‘Exactly, so make sure everyone knows it wasn’t you.’

‘I am free, now. And the truth is out. Those who need to know, do.’

‘Don’t you want to see Eric behind bars. Anna, even?’

‘Whoa, hold on,’ Muriel interjected. ‘You can’t do that. Anna didn’t even know, not really. She was just a child. It was an accident.’

‘It’s okay, Lizzie,’ Billy said. He gave a weak smile, then laid a hand on her shoulder. ‘You’ve only just learned about this, so it’ll take a long while for it to sink in. Longer before you realise I’m right in letting sleeping dogs lie. They’ve suffered already, believe me. Years of being trapped in their lies. And in many ways, Eric has been a prisoner every bit as much as I was and he all but lost his daughter too. My prison term has ended. His won’t. And Anna’s is merely beginning. They don’t need bars.’

‘The right people should be punished – the person who committed the murder should lose their freedom.’

‘I’ve done the time for it, Lizzie. I’m old now – I don’t see the point of letting Anna go to prison – she’s got a daughter of her own. I’m not going to be the one to rip the Fisher family apart. I’m not as bad as them.’ Billy allowed his gaze to slowly move over Muriel, then Eric and Anna. ‘And besides, I put the ultimate decision into Tina’s hands—’