‘I wish I could remember you, Mum,’ she whispered.

Lizzie felt the weight of a hand on her shoulder and she fell sideways, her legs scrambling to get purchase on the earthy ground.

‘Shitting hell!’ she shouted.

‘Sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you,’ the man said, his hands up in front of him, fingers splayed indicating he came in peace.

‘Well, you did. I thought you’d gone.’

‘I had, but I heard what you said, and it forced me to come back.’ He kept a comfortable distance between them, and Lizzie felt herself relax a little.

‘I had a feeling you’d be here.’

‘So, you’re Eliza, are you?’

Lizzie caught his faint smile in the illumination of her phone light.

‘Yes. It’s been a long time, Dad.’

Tears shone in his eyes and Lizzie was lost for a moment, she didn’t know what to say, how to be. She’d been told a great deal of second-hand information about a man she’d no memory of: the man now standing in front of her. Awful things, disturbing things. She felt unsure, wary. But she didn’t feel how she imagined she should – no fear, no disgust. This moment wasn’t as she’d expected. He wasn’t as she expected. It was dark, she knew, but he appeared younger than she’d imagined. He was grey, with a growth of stubble that suggested he hadn’t shaved in a few days, probably since his release – but he wasn’t old when she considered he’d been in prison for thirty years. For all the things she’d wanted to say, had rehearsed so many times in her mind – now faced with William Cawley, she was lost for words.

‘I know you’ll remember the bad things. I suspect you hate me, or at least have grown up with hatred in your heart. But you’re here for a reason. What made you come looking for me after all this time?’

‘I guess I want the truth. Straight from the horse’s mouth.’

‘You could have got that if you’d visited me in prison. You could’ve known the truth years ago.’

‘Yes, but I didn’t know then. I thought I knew the truth already, which meant there was no point seeing you. I didn’t want to put myself through it. Yes, I hated you. You ruined my life. You took away my childhood. Why would I even consider visiting a child murderer?’

Billy frowned and made a deep, grunting sound, like a hurt animal. Lizzie noted his fists were balled, by his sides. She may have misjudged this situation. Put herself in the direct line of fire.

‘What’s changed?’

‘I came here. And since I stepped foot in this village, I’ve seen things differently.’

He nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

Was she being naive?

‘If it’s the truth you want, it’ll take some time. It’s not a short story. I suggest we do this in the daytime, somewhere neutral. I can’t be seen here.’

‘Okay. Let’s agree to meet later this afternoon. Where are you living?’