Sam Mullins

Elaine's mom told Elaine to grab her coat. The Devon police would be calling her at seven o'clock. And this phone call would be the most important call of Elaine's life. Sergeant Bill McDonald introduced himself, told her that they'd found a body in the midsummer that they'd ID'd as Ron. He asked her about his tattoo and Rolex. But then, a bombshell.

Even over the phone, Bill MacDonald could sense that Elaine was suddenly distant.

Even over the phone, Bill MacDonald could sense that Elaine was suddenly distant.

As Detective Ian Clenahan drove up to Harrogate to meet Elaine for the first time, after months of follow-ups leading nowhere and every tiny bit of progress earned the hard way, it felt like the truth was now the one pursuing them.

As Detective Ian Clenahan drove up to Harrogate to meet Elaine for the first time, after months of follow-ups leading nowhere and every tiny bit of progress earned the hard way, it felt like the truth was now the one pursuing them.

It had been one week since Peter Redman had accidentally discovered that David Davis appeared to be living as Ronald Platt in a small village in Essex called Woodham Walter. And one week since the chief of police ordered his detectives to figure out who the man living in the little London farmhouse really was.

It had been one week since Peter Redman had accidentally discovered that David Davis appeared to be living as Ronald Platt in a small village in Essex called Woodham Walter. And one week since the chief of police ordered his detectives to figure out who the man living in the little London farmhouse really was.

So the police put out a flurry of inquiries.

So the police put out a flurry of inquiries.

A week later, Clenahan sat across from Elaine for the first time in Harrogate, where things would accelerate even further.

A week later, Clenahan sat across from Elaine for the first time in Harrogate, where things would accelerate even further.

It was clear to Clenahan that Elaine was very suspicious of David Davis herself and was still spooked about the phone call.

It was clear to Clenahan that Elaine was very suspicious of David Davis herself and was still spooked about the phone call.

And the next question that emerged from their chat... Why, in all of his conversations with police, had Davis failed to mention a little ditty about him paying for Elaine and Ron to move overseas?

And the next question that emerged from their chat... Why, in all of his conversations with police, had Davis failed to mention a little ditty about him paying for Elaine and Ron to move overseas?

Elaine told police that Davis named them directors of his company, funded their apartment, bankrolled Ron's TV repair business, and that he essentially paid for their whole move.

Elaine told police that Davis named them directors of his company, funded their apartment, bankrolled Ron's TV repair business, and that he essentially paid for their whole move.

While the interview with Elaine had been thoroughly illuminating for police, Elaine left their conversation more bewildered than ever.

While the interview with Elaine had been thoroughly illuminating for police, Elaine left their conversation more bewildered than ever.

Just before the detectives were about to head back to Devon, Elaine, quite shaken by all of this, asked, what should I do if Davis shows up or tries to contact me? And they said, not to worry. He likely won't. So in late October 1996, at the end of a very fruitful week of discovery, the police took stock of what they had.