the doll had been almost identical to the one you used to own,’
Tina said. ‘Your dad told me about how the dress had been
found in his truck and seized as evidence. I searched for a
close match on the internet, tore a piece from it and stained
it with red food colouring. I remember Muriel telling the
women at the Mapledon Meeting about it. She’d seen Eliza in
it one day, noticed the bloodstains – jumped to her usual wrong
conclusion. She’d no idea the blood was Billy’s of course; she
assumed it was Eliza’s. And she wouldn’t have known if it had
been washed or thrown out in the time between Eliza being
taken by social and Jonie being killed. But she’d remembered
it and knew it would look bad for Billy – add to the public’s
perception he was an evil child killer once the news was out
– so she found it and got one of the local boys to pop the lock
on Billy’s truck and stuff it inside before Bella gave the police her witness statement. Knowing they would search his truck
first.’
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‘The local boy being?’ Lizzie asked.
‘I thought I was doing something good, for Eliza,’ Rob said.
‘That’s why I agreed to do it.’
‘Robert! Don’t say another word,’ Nell said.
‘It’s fine, Mum. You don’t need to protect me,’ he said. ‘Muriel told me what Billy had done to Eliza, the abuse he’d inflicted
on her and because of what had happened . . .’ Rob’s face flushed.
‘Anyway, I knew Eliza had been hurt, so I wanted to help. Make
sure Billy was punished. I didn’t realise until years later I’d been lied to.’
‘You don’t even know how to break into a vehicle, Robert
– don’t be so stupid. You were only nine.’ Nell’s eyes were wide.
Hadn’t she known Muriel had asked for her son’s help?
‘Yep, and I’d been breaking in and out of the shop for months,
Mother. Picking the locks was easy, so I didn’t think the truck
would be too hard. And as it was, it was unlocked anyway. But
I didn’t tell anyone that because I wanted to appear tough.’
‘God, so you got everyone involved in this? How did you keep
it all from Tina and Mark?’ Anna looked straight at Muriel, but
then jumped in again, answering her own question. ‘Oh, hang
on, don’t tell me. Let me guess. For the good of the community.
You told everyone who was complicit in the lies they had to stay
quiet, close ranks, because Mapledon looks after their own. The
real villagers, not the outsiders.’
‘Something like that,’ Muriel mumbled.
‘Look, can we get back to the main point,’ Rob said, his tone
frustrated. ‘Why would Eric plant evidence? It seems a pretty
drastic thing to do to pin an abduction on Billy just to finally
get rid of him from the village. Didn’t Eric realise by doing that it allowed the real abductor to get away with it? There’d have been zero chance of Jonie being found alive – the police would’ve stopped looking once they had someone for it. How the hell
could you have let that happen, Muriel?’
‘Exactly, Rob. How could she?’ Tina said.
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‘There was no abductor, was there, Muriel?’ Lizzie said. ‘There was no rush to find Jonie Hayes because she was dead from day
one.’
All eyes were squarely on Muriel Fisher.
‘Only one way she could know that, too,’ Rob said.
‘Yes. Because she knew who’d done it,’ Lizzie said, glancing
towards Anna.
‘Fucking hell, Muriel,’ Rob gasped. ‘Knowing Jonie was
already dead meant you weren’t worried about the police not
looking any further. You made Anna lie to them about what
she’d seen to get what you wanted. Billy gone from the village.’
‘But that wasn’t the main reason,’ Lizzie interrupted. ‘Muriel
ensured an innocent man got sent to prison in order to protect
someone else.’
Anna felt her legs give way.
‘It was Eric Fisher who murdered Jonie,’ Lizzie said.
‘No. No, you’re wrong. My dad would never hurt anyone.
Why would he?’ Anna said.
‘Almost everyone else in this village back then was complicit,’
Muriel said, ignoring Anna’s distress. ‘Don’t forget that when
you’re pointing the finger and judging me. If this gets out, me
and Eric won’t be the only ones to go down. You’ve heard of
joint enterprise, aiding and abetting, accessory, perverting the
course of justice and all that, I assume? We’ll take you with us.’
‘Jesus, Mum.’ Anna’s mouth gaped. ‘I can’t believe I’m hearing
this.’
‘I would say I’m sorry, Anna. But I’m not,’ Tina said.
‘Is this true, Mum?’ Anna asked. ‘Dad killed Jonie? I can’t
– I mean . . . it’s impossible.’
Her mother said nothing. Anna wanted to launch at her, shake
her until she gave answers. What reason would her father have
to kill Jonie? ‘Was it an accident, Mum? I assume it was an
accident?’
‘I’m sorry, love.’
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Anna needed to know more. Every detail. But it seemed her mum had shut down for now. ‘Where do we go from here, Tina?
What exactly is it you want us to do?’ Anna asked, all power in
her voice gone.
‘I just want to know where my little girl is.’ Tina’s face crum-
pled – the years of pain evident. ‘I’m too tired to do anything;
I’m not interested in going to the police. Billy’s done his time.
It’s not like we can reduce the years he’s lost inside a cell. But he’s out now and deserves to at least know he’s been vindicated,
don’t you think? And I deserve closure.’
‘Well, Mum. You know where he is, don’t you?’ Anna butted
in. ‘Eric is the only one who can tell us where he took her.
Unless, of course, you know?’
Muriel staggered backwards, her frail body hitting against the
lounge wall. A few clumps of plaster dislodged and fell near her
feet. ‘Yes. I know where he is. No, I don’t know where . . . where the body is.’ She sounded dazed. Anna almost felt sorry for her.
But it was brief. Her mother had lied, covered up a murder,
framed an innocent man and helped the real killer get away.
She understood Muriel had loved Eric, but to protect him to
that level, above all else, was incomprehensible. If James had
murdered a child and she knew about it, there’d be no way she’d
be able to lie for him. Especially at the expense of her best friend.
No wonder Tina hadn’t spoken to Muriel for years. How had
she waited until now to say anything?
Her mother was as evil as Eric.
‘I’m so sorry, Tina,’ Anna said. And she really was. Her family
had inflicted so much on her. Even Anna had been involved –
lying to the police about seeing Jonie get into Billy’s truck. How could she have done that? She tried to remember she’d only
been a child – doing as
she was told. She hadn’t meant for the
lies to hurt people. Muriel would’ve made sure she’d drummed
it into her – how she had to do right by her dad. Anna had
loved him so much; she’d always been a daddy’s girl. She knew
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she would’ve done what she was asked if it meant keeping him safe. If only she’d known then that he’d up and leave her anyway.
‘Yes. I’m sure you are, Bella.’
But Anna still had questions storming her mind. The impor-
tant ones being: how and why had her father killed Jonie?
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Chapter Ninety-Two
1989
A roadside in Mapledon
Wednesday 19th July – the day of
She was dead. There was no doubt – her pretty blue eyes were
glazed, staring blindly up towards the mottled sky. A huge lump
stuck out on her forehead, causing her petite face to look too
big for her body. Deformed – fake, almost – like a broken doll.
Panic set in, his breathing becoming fast, shallow – no oxygen
was reaching his lungs.
Think, think.
There was no time for thought, only action. Someone would
walk by, catch him if he weren’t careful. He reached his trembling hands out, pushing them beneath her body. Her skin was cool
to the touch.
Stupid, stupid man.
He frantically cast his eyes all around him. He couldn’t see
anyone. Would he get away with this? He lifted her – she was
so light. Tears ran down his face; snot gathered on his top lip,
slipping into his mouth.
What was he going to do now? Should he go to the village
– own up? Say how it was an accident: she’d run out in front
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would be distraught, but they couldn’t blame him. The police couldn’t blame him. Could they?
Would a post-mortem indicate otherwise?
More panic. His heart was galloping, his head swimming. He
couldn’t pass out now.
Come on, Eric. Sort yourself out.
What would Muriel say?
He laid Jonie Hayes’ lifeless body inside the boot of his car.
Breathless, leaning against the driver’s door, Eric took another
good look around him. He felt certain no one had witnessed
him doing it. Now all he had to do was dispose of the body.
He retched, doubling over, pain searing through his guts.
‘Jesus Christ, forgive me.’
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Chapter Ninety-Three
1989
Fisher residence
Wednesday 19th July – the day of, 10.15 p.m.
‘It isn’t how it should’ve been, granted. But it’s happened now.
You have to stay calm, Eric.’
‘But what I’ve done . . .’
‘Is done, Eric! It’s okay.’
‘How can you say that? How is this okay, Muriel? Are you
bloody insane?’
‘No. But you’re acting like it. How can you turn on me? I’m protecting you. Now listen,’ Muriel said. She held his hand,
flipping it over and placing something on his palm. ‘Take this.’
He shook his head, bemused.
‘Seriously, Eric? Right – you have to go to Billy Cawley’s place
and get inside. Don’t break in, or not obviously anyway. Wear gloves too – can’t have your fingerprints anywhere.’ Muriel’s
voice was harsh. ‘Are you listening properly, Eric?’
‘Yes, yes. Get inside, don’t be seen, don’t leave prints. But do
leave this.’
He pointed at the necklace. ‘But this is Bella’s necklace, Muriel.
I don’t understand.’
‘It’s identical to Jonie’s.’
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‘Why don’t I just take Jonie’s then.’
‘Do you have it?’ Muriel snapped.
Eric stared blankly about him for a moment. ‘I thought I
did . . .’
‘If it turns up afterwards, this will come back to haunt us.’
Muriel chewed her bottom lip. ‘If Tina and Mark have it, or it’s
found at the scene . . . Shit, Eric. You should’ve been more
thorough.’
‘Sorry, Muriel. It wasn’t as though I was thinking straight.’
‘You weren’t thinking at all.’
He bowed his head.
‘For now, take Bella’s and we’ll search for Jonie’s. Hopefully
we’ll find it before the police.’
‘Talking of the police, what are we going to do about calling
them?’
‘I’ve got a plan that might work. I’ll need some help, but I’m
owed a few favours and the others will fall in when I tell them
how this way we can be rid of Billy Cawley.’
‘You think after they find out that they’ll help us? You may
be over-estimating people’s belief in “the good of the commu-
nity” on this one, Muriel.’
‘Maybe. Maybe not. We have to try. I’ve already laid the
groundwork, prior to this happening. It should work.’
‘I don’t think I can do this. Let me hand myself in to the
police—’
‘Over my dead body, Eric. Billy has had this coming to him
– he’s the perfect answer to our problem.’
‘Don’t you feel guilty?’
‘I can’t afford to.’
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Chapter Ninety-Four
2019
Lizzie
Friday 19th July
It seemed to be going to plan. The truth was emerging as her
dad had predicted. Almost in the order he’d predicted too. Lizzie gazed around in the dim light the mobile phones and two oil
lamps offered. At each ashen face. She wondered what they’d
look like in a minute.
‘So, we’ve ascertained Billy Cawley is innocent of the crimes
he was sentenced to, yes?’ Lizzie said, her voice strong and clear.
Heads nodded slowly, silently. Being in charge of this reveal
gave her a bit of a kick, if she was honest. She imagined the
headlines, the sensational story that would go with this scoop.
William Cawley exonerated in 30-year-old murder case. Mapledon villagers guilty of cover-up. Lizzie slipped her hand in her jacket pocket, closing her fingers around the small, digital recorder.
The last headline in her mind was one that might take more
time. Real killer discloses where he dumped 10-year-old Jonie Hayes’ body.
‘Good.’ Lizzie sucked in a deep breath before delivering her
next line – the one she knew would get a big reaction. ‘But I
think you should tell Billy Cawley to his face,’ Lizzie said.
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Heads snapped up. Uneasy glances passed between those gathered.
The lounge door opened, and Billy walked in.
Lizzie sensed the tension in the room, noting the awkward
shuffling of fe
et. Billy looked very different from the young man who’d left Mapledon. No longer scrawny-looking, straggly. He
was stocky, muscly, hard-looking. If Lizzie didn’t know better,
she’d also assume he was someone to be afraid of: tough, with
a ready-to-fight-anyone stance and intense, moody eyes.
‘It’s been a long time,’ he said.
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Chapter Ninety-Five
2019
Anna
All the air left her lungs.
The man she and her family had framed was standing among
them. He didn’t look as she’d imagined him; nothing about him
resembled the images from her childhood. But she did sense the
same fear she’d experienced when she’d played Knock, Knock,
Ginger. She had that same urge to run away now. His solid form
blocked the doorway, and even in the dim light she could see
the intensity in his eyes. Was it hatred?
A queasiness swelled inside her. If Tina believed in him,
though, then maybe he was all right. Perhaps he wasn’t coming
after them for revenge.
This thought didn’t dispel the hundreds of butterflies
currently loose in her stomach.
Her dad should be here. He was the one who should be facing Billy Cawley.
Anna kept her eyes downcast, afraid she’d catch his attention
if she looked up.
Was she being a coward? It must run in the family.
His arrival had sucked the sound from the room – the silence
following his opening line lingering for longer than was comfort-
able. Someone had to break it.
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Tina was the first to speak. ‘I think these people have something to say to you, Billy,’ she said, going to his side and putting a tentative hand to his face. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered.
Anna wanted to say something but felt paralysed. Lizzie’s dad
had been given a thirty-year prison sentence for something her dad had done. A lot of years to waste for a crime he hadn’t
committed.
Eric Fisher was the murderer.
Anna couldn’t get her head around that. How had her
mother kept it from her? Self-preservation appeared to be the
ongoing theme for the Fishers. Anna realised no one was
looking in Billy’s direction – she wasn’t the only one hoping
not to catch his eye. Although she’d sensed today would be
‘the big one’, being the anniversary of Jonie’s disappearance,