‘It could be boys as well as girls,’ she said. ‘When he handed out sweets, he said not to tell Mother Superior, or he’d get in trouble. Children who are abused don’t understand right from wrong or what is happening to them. They trust the abuser. They will do whatever they say. If our victim knew Meade was abusing children and threatened to expose him, his life would be over. He’d be defrocked and go to prison.’

‘His only way out would be to silence her,’ Boon concluded.

Jane’s desk phone rang. She picked it up, giving her rank and name.

‘It’s Father Floridia. Are you free to talk?’

She sensed an uneasiness in his voice. ‘Yes. Go ahead.’

‘Bishop Meade just phoned me in an absolute rage. He’s been made aware of an article in the Bromley News Shopper about the nun’s murder and the bodies of children—’

Jane interrupted him. ‘I know. I was at the diocesan archives earlier. I got asked to leave by a priest who’d just spoken with Bishop Meade.’

Father Chris’s tone changed. ‘Did you know about the newspaper article as well?’

‘Not until it was published this morning.’

‘You could at least have had the decency to warn me as soon as you knew about it,’ he said.

‘I’m sorry. It was thoughtless of me. It hit us out of the blue as well. What did Bishop Meade say?’

‘He accused me of being in cahoots with you, a liar and a disgrace to the Church. He said we have been deceitful, and the police were underhand by not being honest from the start.’

‘I’ll speak with Meade and tell him you didn’t know about the murder,’ Jane assured him.

‘I’ve already told him that, but I don’t think he believes me. He said I was not to talk to you again without his authority or a representative of the Church being present.’

‘Then why are you talking to me now?’ she asked.

‘There’s something you need to know, but I’d rather not say it over the phone. Can you come over to the presbytery?’

‘I’m quite busy at the moment . . .’

‘It’s about Bishop Meade. He’s lied to us.’

‘I’m on my way.’ Jane got up and grabbed her coat.

‘Where are you going?’ Boon asked.

‘I’ll tell you later. Write up your report on the Annette Gorman information,’ she said, hurrying out.

*

Father Floridia was dressed casually in his tracksuit when Jane arrived. He took her through to the living room. She could see the anxiety on his face as he took a deep breath.