‘We don’t know for certain yet. But with what you’ve just told us, it’s an even stronger possibility. When did you first meet Missy? If you can recall any dates, it would be very helpful.’

‘We joined the convent as novices in February 1953 and shared a room together. I was nineteen and Missy was eighteen. We felt segregated from some of the older sisters, who stuck to a strict religious routine and rarely spoke to us younger novices. Missy and I got on well and quickly became close friends.’ Julie undid the top button of her dress and withdrew a cross on a chain. She took it off and handed it to Jane.

‘We were given these when we took our final vows. Mine is the same as Missy’s, apart from the initials, of course.’

‘Can you recall if there was anyone else at the convent with the initials MB?’ Jane asked.

‘There were a couple of sisters called Mary. I think one’s surname was Brown; the other one I can’t remember. Mind you, they were both a lot older and probably took their vows in the 1940s.’

‘Do you know what part of the country Missy was from?’

‘She told me her parents emigrated to Canada just after the war. She came back to the UK to become a nun when she turned eighteen.’

‘Do you know where they lived in Canada?

‘Whenever we said how cold it was in winter, Missy would laugh and say, “Try living in Kingston, Ontario. It’s so cold you poop snowflakes.”’ Julie smiled at the memory.

‘Did she talk about her parents by name? What they did for a living or anything like that?’ Jane asked, knowing she would need to trace them.

‘I’m sorry. I don’t know their names. I recall her saying something about her dad being a university teacher.’

‘Do you know when Missy’s birthday was?’ Jane asked.

‘The fifth of August. I remember making a cake for her twenty-seventh birthday . . . just before she left.’

‘Can you give me a bit more detail on why you think Missy left the convent?’

‘She couldn’t stand how the children were treated by Mother Superior and Sister Margaret. At the time I thought it had been eating away at her so much she just decided to walk out the door one night and never return.’

‘Annette Gorman told us about some of Mother Superior’s horrendous punishments and assaults on the kids,’ Boon said.

‘I know. I spoke with her earlier. Everything Annette told you is the truth.’

‘I don’t for one second doubt her, or you, Julie,’ Jane assured her.

‘Annette also told me about the article in the News Shopper. I read it myself. The bit about the bodies of murdered children being buried at the convent is utter nonsense.’

‘I know,’ Jane said, ‘but as investigators we can’t totally ignore it as a possibility.’