Sam Mullins

With only 40 minutes until Davis arrived, Elaine had to scramble to prepare herself.

She called the Devon police and said she needed McDonald. Fast.

She called the Devon police and said she needed McDonald. Fast.

He's going to be here in 20 minutes. What do I do?

He's going to be here in 20 minutes. What do I do?

So she gets off the phone and stares into space, adrenaline coursing, trying to prepare herself when her boss swung by.

So she gets off the phone and stares into space, adrenaline coursing, trying to prepare herself when her boss swung by.

With just a few minutes to spare, Elaine devised a plan with her boss Carolyn and her colleague Ken to create an escape hatch. They'd stay close, keep an eye on her, and after 15 to 20 minutes had passed, they'd stop by Davis and Elaine's conversation to urge Elaine back upstairs to the office. And then it was time.

With just a few minutes to spare, Elaine devised a plan with her boss Carolyn and her colleague Ken to create an escape hatch. They'd stay close, keep an eye on her, and after 15 to 20 minutes had passed, they'd stop by Davis and Elaine's conversation to urge Elaine back upstairs to the office. And then it was time.

She looked to the door and there he was, Mr. Davis. Smiling the smile from the day he first walked into Elaine's art auctioneer job and offered her the world. It felt like a lifetime ago.

She looked to the door and there he was, Mr. Davis. Smiling the smile from the day he first walked into Elaine's art auctioneer job and offered her the world. It felt like a lifetime ago.

And now it was the day before Halloween, 1996. Over three years since they'd last seen each other. So naturally, they had a lot to catch up on.

And now it was the day before Halloween, 1996. Over three years since they'd last seen each other. So naturally, they had a lot to catch up on.

In the pocket of their brief, strange conversation, Elaine had to keep reminding herself of what the police told her. But even though she was advised not to ask any questions, she couldn't help herself. She asked him how often he would see Ron in Essex. He said that they'd meet up about once a week for coffee, just like this.

In the pocket of their brief, strange conversation, Elaine had to keep reminding herself of what the police told her. But even though she was advised not to ask any questions, she couldn't help herself. She asked him how often he would see Ron in Essex. He said that they'd meet up about once a week for coffee, just like this.

It was supremely uncomfortable for Elaine to sit with him. But thankfully, right on schedule, Elaine's colleagues showed up to bail her out.

It was supremely uncomfortable for Elaine to sit with him. But thankfully, right on schedule, Elaine's colleagues showed up to bail her out.

He finally let on that he was nervous about the police calling him so often. He told Elaine that they contacted him earlier in the week and they wanted him to come in yet again to give another statement about Ron.

He finally let on that he was nervous about the police calling him so often. He told Elaine that they contacted him earlier in the week and they wanted him to come in yet again to give another statement about Ron.

Her colleagues, angels as they were, motioned for Elaine once more.