‘You’re Billy Cawley’s daughter, Eliza. And it’s obviously you who’s been terrorising me.’

Chapter Forty-One

2019

Lizzie

Muriel had now let the cat well and truly out of the bag. It would be a matter of minutes, hours if she were lucky, before the entire village knew her true identity. She wondered how long it would take them to run her out of the place. Not long if Muriel had anything to do with it, she guessed. The dark look, the penetrating stare she was currently being treated to, was one that hurt – even though she’d predicted what would occur when people found out she was Billy’s daughter.

She wasn’t the person who’d done wrong. She hadn’t taken and murdered young Jonie Hayes. In fact, if anyone was to blame, it was Muriel. And she was itching to tell her as much.

Lizzie turned away from Muriel’s death stare and looked at Anna. Her face wore a shocked mask.

‘Anna, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you when we spoke, but, well … it’s not the easiest confession to make. Under the circumstances. And I think you understand really, because I got the distinct impression you weren’t honest with me, either.’

Anna stuttered. Then, failing to utter a sentence, sat back heavily on the chair.

‘I’m just a little … dumbfounded? That might be the word,’ Anna said, finally.

‘I’m sure you aren’t going to be the only one,’ Lizzie sighed.

‘What are you doing here?’ Muriel said. She’d also seated herself back at Lizzie’s table. ‘Is it revenge you want?’

‘God, Muriel. Revenge for what? My dad—’ She lowered her voice, sitting further forward, closer to Anna and Muriel. ‘My dad deserved what he got. The reason I didn’t want to disclose who I was, was because I assumed, and probably rightly, that the people of Mapledon would want some form of retribution themselves, and if faced with the daughter of child killer William Cawley, I might be the one they focused that revenge on. I’m certainly not after any form of payback here. Not from the innocent villagers, anyway.’

‘What do you mean, innocent villagers? Do you think there are guilty ones, and you just want them to pay?’ Muriel said, her voice rising in pitch. A woman on the next table gave them a curious glance.

‘Please, listen. Stop all this revenge talk,’ Lizzie whispered. She shifted in her seat again. ‘The only reason I’m here is to find out if my father came back. And to face him. My being here has nothing to do with any of the others.’

Muriel looked unconvinced. ‘So, you think he’d come back here, to Mapledon? Why?’

‘He still owns the bungalow. Where else has he got?’

‘But I’ve just had this conversation,’ Anna said. ‘He couldn’t come back here even if he wanted to. There will be restrictions in place – boundaries and whatnot. His victim’s family still lives in Mapledon. He wouldn’t be allowed within a certain distance. His solicitor will probably sell his bungalow. Haven’t you been contacted?’