‘That’s brilliant work, Boony. I was at the diocesan archives earlier. I think Meade knows more about the convent fire than he’s letting on. I’m beginning to wonder if it was arson.’

‘Pity no one examined it at the time,’ Boon remarked.

Jane held her right finger and thumb close. ‘I was this close to getting my hands on a list of former St Mary’s priests. With Meade’s name on it and Annette’s recollection of “Father Bob”, we’d have undeniable evidence to link him to the convent and the nuns.’

‘You might not need the list,’ he suggested. ‘Mrs Gorman is in regular contact with a lady called Julie. She used to be a nun at the convent. I’m waiting to see if she’ll speak to us. If she says Meade was a regular visitor to the convent, he’s screwed.’

‘You’ve had a productive day, Boony. Barnes will be pleased. How on earth did you find Annette Gorman?’

‘Believe it or not, PC Rogers’ daughter, Becky. She is really nice – unlike her old man. As a thanks for her help, I said she could attend the press conference.’

‘Be careful, Boony. I know from personal experience that journalists can be very underhand. They turn on the charm to get what they can out of you.’

‘She’s just a junior reporter,’ he said, ‘and her heart’s in the right place.’

Jane raised her eyebrows. ‘Sounds as if you like her.’

‘I’m not so stupid I’d mix business with pleasure,’ Boon said quickly.

Jane didn’t comment further. She knew many of her colleagues would disapprove of her dating Nick if they found out. It was early days, but she’d tell them when the time was right and duly suffer the raised eyebrows and cynical remarks.

‘What else did Mrs Gorman tell you?’ Jane asked.

Boon opened his notebook and went through his conversation with Annette.

Jane felt physically sick hearing how the children had been treated by some of the nuns. ‘Those poor kids. An orphanage is supposed to be a safe place, not a bloody prison camp.’

‘I just can’t understand why the nuns Annette said were nice, like Sister Julie, didn’t do something about it,’ Boon remarked.

Jane thought for a moment. ‘Maybe our victim tried to . . . and that’s why she was murdered.’

Boon nodded. ‘If you’re right, it points to nuns being involved more than Meade. Mrs Gorman said all the children liked him.’

‘I don’t doubt that, Boony. But what Annette told you raises a stronger possibility for me. Men who abuse children need to win their trust. Father Bob’s stories and boiled sweets may have been a means to an end.’

‘You think he was sexually abusing young girls?’ Boon asked in a shocked tone.