The journalist returned to the manor house, leaving her daughter with the old police sergeant, very early one morning.
She sat outside waiting for the door to be opened. She eventually barged her way in where she met the 'dead' girl who had been living in Canada with relatives.
The photos had not been faked - she was shown many more such photos of boys and girls, all villagers.
One of those children was herself, she had blanked it out. We had an earlier clue this was the case by a drawing she had done as a child, of the manor house with a camera in the top window.
She met her mother outside the house. I am unclear as to how much the mother was aware of, but they were very tense.
The journalist drove off without her, and went to see the inspector in hospital, where she told him about the photographs,.