‘Rogers, Becky Rogers . . . investigative reporter for the Bromley News Shopper.’

Barnes pointed to the journalist who had his hand raised.

‘I spoke with someone at the diocesan offices this morning. I was reliably informed they were not aware the nun was murdered until after the News Shopper article. Why weren’t they or the press informed immediately after the post-mortem last Thursday?’

‘Because I wanted to try and identify the victim first,’ Barnes replied, with an edge in his voice.

‘If you’d informed the diocese immediately or done a press appeal, you might have identified her by now,’ the same journalist said.

‘As I already said, the convent records were destroyed in a fire and the diocese was unable to help us,’ Barnes said.

‘Unable or unwilling?’ the journalist in the pinstripe suit interjected.

‘We will continue to seek their assistance. It’s up to them whether or not they want to help or hinder us,’ Barnes replied, clearly losing his cool.

The same journalist picked up on Barnes’s comment. ‘As an investigative journalist for The Times, I know of many allegations of child abuse made against Catholic priests and nuns. In my experience, the hierarchy of the Church withholds information from investigators and the press. They turn a blind eye and protect their own using medieval canon law. They allow the abuser to confess their sins without fear of a public prosecution. Do you think the nun’s murder is being covered up by members of the Catholic Church?’ he asked pointedly.

There was an air of expectation in the room after such a direct question. Everyone looked at Barnes, keenly awaiting his reply. Jane knew this was Barnes’s opportunity to air his feelings of injustice over Stephen Phillips’ death. She watched as all the journalists hold their pens to their notepads, ready to write down his reply.

Barnes took a sip of water. ‘I had a similar experience investigating the suicide of a twelve-year-old convent orphan. At his post-mortem we discovered he’d been beaten so badly you could see the outline of a belt and buckle on his skin. Old bruises and scars revealed this was a regular occurrence. I wanted to interview other children at the orphanage, but my request was refused by senior members of the diocese who said they would carry out an internal investigation.’

‘And did they?’ the journalist asked.

‘I was told by a bishop that the priest who “chastised” Stephen had been moved to “pastures new”,’ Barnes said in a sarcastic tone. ‘Personally, I’m in no doubt Stephen took his own life as a direct result of the pain he suffered. Those responsible for his injuries should have been charged with assault and held accountable in the Crown Court. The diocesan investigation was nothing more than a cover-up. I will not let that happen again. My team of officers will not rest until this case is solved . . . with or without the help of the diocese.’