‘I’ve marked up the ones that need further action and NFA’d the others. Some of the information received from former convent pupils is high priority. Allocate them to members of the squad to carry out interviews ASAP.’

Barnes saw Boon putting the phone down. ‘Any luck with Sister Suzanne?’

‘She’s happy to be interviewed and confirmed Adele Delaney is dead. She’d also heard through the grapevine that Sister Margaret Wilde is at a convent on Canvey Island. I rang the local Essex Old Bill. They said there’s a Sisters of Mercy convent on the island, which also has a large Catholic school on the site.’

‘Another home for abusers and the abused, no doubt,’ Barnes said, shaking his head.

‘According to the officer I spoke with, there’s no orphanage. But the school has a couple of hundred local kids. I’ve got the address and phone number. Shall I give them a ring and make an appointment to speak with Sister Margaret tomorrow?’

‘No, I don’t want her to know we’re coming,’ Barnes said. He called Stanley and Jane over. ‘Tomorrow morning, me and Stanley will pay Bishop Meade a visit. Boon’s got a possible location for Sister Margaret. Tennison, I want you to go with Boon to the convent on Canvey Island. If Sister Margaret is there, interview her – and don’t go easy on her.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Jane replied.

‘As things stand, are you going to arrest Meade tomorrow?’ Stanley asked.

‘You were right to question my decision earlier,’ Barnes replied. ‘The press conference and talking about Stephen’s death got me worked up. I think we need to turn the heat up slowly with Meade. Make him squirm a bit in a preliminary interview.’

Stanley nodded in agreement. ‘I gave Special Branch at Heathrow a call. Malone is booked on the seven o’clock BA flight which lands at ten. It will take him at least forty-five minutes to travel back to Archbishop’s House.’

‘We’ll leave here about half nine to interview Meade,’ Barnes replied.

‘Don’t you think we should aim to be there for nine, in case the archbishop returns?’ Stanley said.

‘On the contrary. I hope the son of a bitch does turn up!’ Barnes said.

‘What happens if they don’t let us into the diocesan offices?’ Stanley asked.

‘Then I’ll kick the bloody door in,’ Barnes said.

‘Are you going to interview Malone as well?’ Stanley asked.

‘Not yet. I want to make him squirm a bit first, too,’ he grinned.

Chapter Twenty-Three

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE