‘Well done, the pair of you. Dorton’s information is another step in the right direction. It yet again proves Meade is lying.’

‘I can’t say I was sorry to hear Mother Superior was dead after the way she treated those poor children,’ Boon remarked.

‘Julie’s account suggests Missy didn’t even get out of the front door of the convent before she was murdered,’ Jane said.

‘Dorton might have lied about her relationship with Missy because she was involved in the murder?’ Stanley suggested.

Jane shook her head. ‘I’ve no reason to doubt her whatsoever. I certainly don’t think Julie was putting on the tears for effect. She also got a severe beating from Sister Margaret.’

‘OK, fair enough, but it’s a question that needed to be raised,’ Stanley said defensively.

‘If Missy was murdered inside the convent when she was attempting to leave, it was probably in the early hours of the morning, which rules Meade out as he lived a mile—’

Barnes interrupted. ‘Come on, Jane, it’s bloody obvious Meade is lying through his teeth and involved in some way. Who’s to say Sister Missy didn’t go there to confront him if he was abusing the children?’

‘I’m not doubting he’s involved. I’m just saying it makes him less likely to be the killer if he was tucked up in bed. It’s also a bloody long way to drag a coffin from the presbytery to the convent,’ Jane replied.

‘Not if there’s two people carrying it. I’d bet a pound to a penny Malone is involved in some way,’ Barnes insisted.

Jane told Barnes about Julie’s meeting with the then Bishop Malone: how he wanted to protect the good name of the convent and grant Sister Missy a dispensation so it appeared she’d left the sisterhood of her own free will.

He nodded. ‘That just confirms my suspicions about Malone.’

Boon raised his hand. ‘Can I say something?’

‘I know Julie’s account suggests Mother Superior and Sister Margaret thought Sister Missy ran away, but it’s clear they both had violent tempers.’

‘It’s a valid point, son, but Missy’s post-mortem revealed her death was extremely violent and has all the hallmarks of a male assailant,’ Barnes said.

Jane thought there was more merit to Boon’s idea. ‘They could have been involved in a cover-up . . . or forced into one by Meade or Malone.’

‘I agree, that’s possible,’ Barnes conceded.

‘Well, Mother Superior can’t help us as she’s dead,’ Stanley remarked.