Julie smiled. ‘We were not nuns in the strict sense of the word. Although nuns and sisters are addressed as “Sister”, there is a difference. Nuns take solemn vows and live a cloistered life. They live, pray and work within the confines of a convent or nunnery. As “Sisters” we take simple perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. We can live in a convent or amongst the community, serving in healthcare or educational institutions. Nuns under solemn vows can only be released by the Pope, while sisters under simple vows can be released from them by the bishop.’

‘You learn something new every day,’ Boon smiled.

‘Do you think there was anything else, besides convent life, that was making Missy unhappy?’ Jane said.

Julie nodded. ‘I did wonder that, but I figured if Missy wanted to tell me she would, in her own time. I woke up in the early hours of the morning, Missy wasn’t in her bed . . .’ Julie started to cry. ‘I . . . looked on top of the wardrobe for the little case she’d brought with her when we first joined the convent. But it wasn’t there. She’d also taken her underwear and toiletries. At the time I thought she must have slipped out in the middle of the night. I was heartbroken she hadn’t said goodbye, but I understood why.’

‘How did Mother Superior find out?’

‘She asked me why Missy wasn’t at breakfast. I said I didn’t know and thought she’d got up before me. I was trying to give Missy as much time as possible to get far away from the convent. Mother Superior was furious when she realised Missy had run away. She accused me of helping her and Sister Margaret waved her cane in my face demanding to know where Missy had gone. I kept saying I didn’t know and Sister Margaret flew into a rage and beat me with her cane. Mother Superior said if anyone asked about Missy, I was to say she had decided to leave the sisterhood and left during the night. Back then there was an unspoken rule: when a sister left the community, we were not to mention her name again.’

‘That’s awful, Julie. I understand now why you believed she had run away. If I were in your shoes, I’d have thought the same thing,’ Jane said.

‘Me, too,’ Boon added.

‘Did they send anyone out to look for Missy?’ Jane asked.

‘Mother Superior said she was going to inform the police.’

‘Do you know if she did?’

‘No, but I very much doubt it, as a nun running away would be an embarrassment and could have caused them problems, especially if their abusive behaviour was ever revealed. However, she did tell Bishop Malone.’

Jane wasn’t surprised to hear his name come up again. ‘Isn’t he the archbishop of Southwark now?’

‘Yes, I heard he is.’

‘How did you know she told Malone?’