‘Yes, now you mention it … I remember.’

‘Well … he hasn’t been seen for two or three weeks.’

‘Sister … couldn’t these people have simply moved on? They’ve no work to keep them here, no fixed abode.’

‘Oh, my child …’ Sister Cassie gave a sad smile. ‘Let’s not find reasons not to investigate, mmm? You are a police detective, after all.’

Ever the school-ma’am, Lucy thought. ‘You said that three of your regulars have gone missing?’

Sister Cassie was thoughtful. ‘The last one is a little more troubling. For a brief time, I was unsure whether to include him on the list, because he can really be rather naughty. Frederick Holborn … you know him?’

Lucy shook her head.

‘Ah. Probably a good thing. No doubt he would attempt to impugn your honour.’ The ex-nun arched a disapproving eyebrow. ‘As he regularly does mine.’

‘I’m sorry …’ Lucy was puzzled. ‘You’re saying he’s assaulted you?’

‘Perhaps “assault” is too strong a word. Let’s just say that he has several times sought sexual favours from me. I think he regards my religious calling as a challenge to be overcome.’

From what Lucy knew, it wouldn’t have been much of a challenge. Sister Cassie might don the trappings of a nun and adopt the role of carer with her fellow vagrants, but she had a heroin habit all of her own, and she needed to earn the money for it.

‘I almost stopped including him in my nightly rounds,’ the ex-nun added, ‘but though drink and other poisons have ravaged many of these poor creatures to a point where they are closer, frankly, to God than they are to men, they still have needs and desires. I don’t mind admitting, there’ve been times when I’ve almost complied—’

‘Sister, please. If you’re not actually making a complaint against Fred Holborn, can we get to the point?’

‘Well, he’s vanished too, child. Completely … as if he was never put on this Earth.’

The door opened, and Tessa Payne stuck her head in. ‘Sorry, Lucy, but Sergeant Cullen’s wondering what the delay is.’

Lucy signalled that she’d be out shortly.

‘You’re a very kind person, Sister,’ Lucy said. ‘And I know you genuinely care for those in want. The fact you make these nightly rounds at all is … well, it’s going to win you a lot of brownie points with the Lord, even if it doesn’t get you anything down here.’