‘The villagers all huddle together and act as one when there’s a problem.’

‘Quite. Sometimes I feel it’s a little like a vigilante group. If they get wind you think Billy’s back … well, they’ll form a lynch mob or something. You need to be sure it’s him.’

And Anna wasn’t. As much as everything pointed to it being him, she couldn’t rule Lizzie out. Before she could say anything more, Sandie echoed her thoughts.

‘It may seem obvious to you that it must be Billy, given the timing, but you can’t be sure it really isn’t teenagers. It’s not the same world now – teenagers play far more risky games than the ones the kids played back in your day. Simple Knock, Knock, Ginger wouldn’t cut it nowadays. They’re all so obsessed with the internet and games and the like – kids now would need to up the stakes. All they’d have to do was search the internet and find out all about Billy Cawley and what happened in Mapledon, and together with what their parents would’ve told them as they grew up – that would be enough.’

‘You could be right,’ Anna conceded. ‘I need something more. Actual evidence.’

‘Yes, I think that would be a better idea. Stay up, put up a camera, anything. But make sure you have something solid, then take it to the police.’

After some further, more light-hearted, conversation, Anna finished her coffee and got up.

‘I’d best be getting back to Mum.’

‘Of course, love. Well, it was really great to catch up at last. Don’t be a stranger, eh?’

Anna smiled, but in truth, she was aiming to be just that. As she was leaving, she remembered Pat.

‘Does Pat Vern still live locally?’

Sandie frowned. ‘Yeees, although as you know, he’s been retired for some time now. Why?’

Anna hadn’t known that, but continued. ‘Well, he was an officer at the time and would remember a lot from then. Plus, he may be able to offer some advice about the situation. He’d be worth chatting to, unofficially. Is he still in the cottage on the edge of the village?’

‘Didn’t your mum tell you?’

‘Tell me what?’

‘He’s with Tina, love. Has been living with her for over ten years.’

Anna narrowed her eyes, deep in thought. Why hadn’t her mum, or Tina, mentioned that? Seemed a strange omission. She was surprised; she would never have put Pat with Tina. She recalled he’d been to Tina’s house a few times while she’d been over playing with Jonie. Had something been going on, even back then? Behind Mark’s back? An affair?

‘No, she didn’t say a thing.’

‘Don’t suppose she thought to mention it; it’s old news now. It was no surprise, really, after Mark. To have lost her daughter to murder, then her husband to suicide …’ Sandie let out a long breath. ‘Pat was a godsend, a huge support. Everyone knew how he felt of course; it was no secret that he’d always carried a torch for Tina. When this all happened, he kind of slipped in, moving into Mark’s shoes so to speak.’