MURIEL FISHER

ANNABELLA FISHER – ‘Child B’ – aka ANNA DENVER

NELL ANDREWS

ROBERT ANDREWS

REVEREND FARNLEY

TINA HAYES

JONIE HAYES

WILLIAM CAWLEY

She inputted all she knew so far about each person.

Anna was an interesting one. Lizzie got the distinct impression Anna didn’t trust her, and currently that feeling was mutual. She’d looked surprised when Lizzie had mentioned she’d been at Muriel’s house before – it appeared genuine. But she’d observed Anna’s change in demeanour: suddenly tense, immediately on the defence. Protecting her mother? Or herself? Lizzie had been equally shocked to learn that Anna was Child B. That’s the piece of information she would concentrate on for now. Lizzie needed to draw out more about what Anna remembered of that day. Then she would try and elicit information from Rob, and move on to the others. Cross-reference it all. She’d also need to find out who the other key people were and find out about spouses and any other children they had, too, of course. This was going to be a huge task, but one Lizzie felt would be worth it in the end.

If she got the answers she was looking for.

But what if she was wrong? If she did all this digging around and only reached the same conclusion the police, and the villagers of Mapledon, had back then? She’d not only have wasted hours of her life on that man – again – she’d also be left with no doubt she shared the genes of a child killer. But then, she’d come here assuming that was the case, anyway. So, would it damage her further if that were right? If she didn’t look into it, and left now, she’d be forever wondering. And that was the opposite outcome to the one she’d come here for. No. One way or another, she was leaving Mapledon with the truth.

Lizzie left her room and rang the bell at reception. A few moments later Gwen appeared from the side door, which Lizzie assumed led to her private side of the B&B.

‘Gwen, hi.’

‘Hello, my lovely, is all okay?’

‘Yes, thank you. In fact, I’d like to extend my stay, please. If possible.’

Gwen popped behind the desk and opened a ledger. ‘How long for?’

‘I’m not sure, exactly. I don’t suppose we could do it as an indefinite stay …?

‘Oh, erm … It is going to get a bit busier come beginning of August – tends to be my busiest time. But looking here, your room isn’t booked again until the end of July. After that there will be another room available if you’re happy to move?’

‘Lovely, thank you.’ Lizzie had yet to see any other guests and wondered why July was quiet. Especially given the weather. It was very rural, though, not to everyone’s cup of tea. How did Gwen make the place pay? Maybe she had another income.

‘Grand. I’ll pop it all on the computer and we’ll do it per week, then. It’ll be cheaper for you to book per week than per night,’ she said, smiling.