The old man smiled and took Miller’s hand in a grip that was surprisingly firm. ‘Jack and I are old friends, Sergeant. For fifteen years or more he ran the boxing team for me at the Dockside Mission boys’ club. Shall we sit in the porch? A pity to miss the sunshine. It’s been a hard winter.’

Brady opened the door and Father Ryan preceded them. He sat on the polished wooden bench that overlooked the quiet graveyard with the row of cypress trees lining the road beyond the high wall.

‘I understand you might be able to help us with our enquiry, Father,’ Miller said.

The old man nodded. ‘Could I see the photo again?’

Miller passed it across and for a moment there was silence as Father Ryan examined it. He sighed heavily. ‘Poor girl. Poor wee girl.’

‘You know her?’

‘She called herself Joanna Martin.’

‘Called herself …?’

‘That’s right. I don’t think it was her real name.’

‘Might I ask why?’

Father Ryan smiled faintly. ‘Like you, I deal with people, Sergeant. Human beings in the raw. Let’s say one develops an instinct.’

Miller nodded. ‘I know what you mean.’

‘She first came to my church about three months ago. I noticed something different about her at once. This is a twilight area, most of the houses in multiple occupation, the tenants constantly coming and going. Joanna was obviously the product of a safer more ordered world. She was out of her element.’

‘Can you tell us where she lived?’

‘She had a room with a Mrs Kilroy, a parishioner of mine. It’s not far from here. I’ve given Detective Constable Brady the address.’

Somehow, the fact that he had used Brady’s official title seemed to underline a new formality in the interchange. It was as if he were preparing himself for the question that he knew must come.

‘I know this must be a difficult situation for you, Father,’ Miller said gently. ‘But this girl had problems and they must have been pretty desperate to make her take the way out that she did. Can you throw any light on them?’

Brady cleared his throat awkwardly and shuffled his feet. The old man shook his head. ‘For me, the secrecy of the confessional must be absolute. Surely you must be aware of that, Sergeant.’

Miller nodded. ‘Of course, Father. I won’t press you any further. You’ve already helped us a great deal.’

Father Ryan stood up and held out his hand. ‘If I can help in any other way, don’t hesitate to get in touch.’

Brady was already moving away. Miller started to follow and hesitated. ‘One more thing, Father. I understand there could be some difficulty regarding burial because of the manner of death.’