‘Yes. They were both found guilty of theft and attempted fraud and sentenced to six months. Not long enough, of course, but the real punishment for Blackman was the disgrace. He sold his cottage in Wormley and they were never seen again.’

Bella raises a triumphant fist. ‘You must have been pleased.’

‘Not pleased, no. Saddened that what could have been a new start for Pa turned into such a nightmare. Saddened that we never found Jimmy,’ Molly says, swallowing down the lump in her throat. ‘Saddened that an individual could bring such terrible evil to a small community – all down to one man and his desperate need to prove himself as Mr Wormley.’

‘You did the best you could, Mum,’ Bella says. After a while she starts to gather her things. ‘I’d better be off. See you on Friday, for the DNA result?’

‘You’ll be here?’

‘Of course. It’s really important. I’ll take the day off, and Lewis can go to a friend’s house after school.’

‘Can’t you bring him with you?’

‘It’s a school day, Mum.’

‘I never see enough of my grandson these days.’

‘I’ll bring him at half-term. That’s only a few weeks away.’ Bella pauses. ‘Will you be all right, Mum?’

‘All right? Of course I’m all right.’

‘I mean, discovering whether they’ve found Jimmy.’

Molly takes a deep breath and thinks for a moment. ‘To be honest, I’d be relieved. At least we’ll know for certain what we always expected, after all these years. I’m only sorry my poor old pa isn’t here. It ate him up for the rest of his life, not knowing, always wondering whether it was something he had done, or left undone. He suffered terrible guilt and would spend hours on his knees, asking for forgiveness, so in a strange kind of way it brought him closer to his God, which he was grateful for – so he told me at the end.’

‘Well, that’s some kind of blessing, I suppose,’ Bella says. ‘Now, can I make you a sandwich or something before I leave?’

‘No, I’m fine, love, thank you. That pub lunch will keep me going for days.’

‘Well, I hope you get a good night, and that you can relax a bit this week.’

She kisses her mother on the forehead, pats her gently on the shoulder. Lately, each time she leaves, Bella finds herself wondering whether this could be the last time. Now she knows it is not: her mother won’t allow herself to die before finding out about Jimmy. Not after all these years.

A few days later Bella is back again, arriving at the same time as the police car, with the same socially awkward man and smiley woman emerging from it. They exchange welcomes and walk up the path to Molly’s bungalow. Once again the little room seems overfilled until they all sit down.