Mother Lynne knelt down beside her and touched her hand. ‘There are some police officers here who’d like to speak to you,’ she said.

Sister Margaret looked at Jane and Boon with a stern eye. ‘If they’re real police why aren’t they wearing uniforms?’

Jane showed Sister Margaret her warrant card. ‘We’re detectives, Sister Margaret. We don’t wear uniforms,’ she said.

‘Would you like me to stay while they talk to you, Sister Margaret?’ Mother Lynne asked.

‘Do what you want. I don’t care, now you’ve turned my music off,’ she replied tersely.

‘I think she might be having an off day,’ Mother Lynne whispered to Jane. ‘I need to have a word with one of the nursing sisters. I’ll be back shortly.’

Jane realised it would be a difficult, as well as pointless, interview. ‘I’m Jane and this is Simon . . .’

Boon showed her his warrant card. ‘I’m a detective as well.’

Sister Margaret laughed. ‘Simple Simon met a pieman, going to the fair.’ She laughed again and Boon smiled.

Jane knelt next to her. ‘Do you remember when you lived at the Sisters of Mercy convent in Bickley?’

‘Where’s that?’ Sister Margaret asked with a puzzled look.

‘Bickley, in Bromley, London. The Mother Superior was called Adele Delaney.’

‘Was she?’

‘Yes. You were both there together and used to run the orphanage.’

‘What orphanage?’

Jane turned to Boon who was looking at the carved ornaments on the dressing table.

‘Can I have the folder a minute?’

He handed it to her and Jane took out a copy of Julie Dorton’s 1958 convent photo.

‘Do you recognise anyone in this picture?’

Sister Margaret peered at it, then smiled. ‘Is that me, sitting on the bench?’

Jane smiled. ‘Yes, it is. Do you know who this is next to you?’ she asked, pointing to Adele Delaney.

‘It’s the Mother Superior?’

‘Yes! Can you remember her name?’

‘No.’

Jane was baffled. ‘Then how did you know it was the Mother Superior?’

Sister Margaret looked at Jane as if she was stupid. ‘Because a Mother Superior is in charge and always sits in the middle.’

Jane sighed, put the photo back in the folder and looked at Boon.

‘I think this is a pointless exercise. We may as well head back to the office.’

‘Can I have a chat with her?’ he asked.

‘Is there any point?’

‘Hi, Margaret. I’m Simon.’

She smiled. ‘The pieman’s friend!’

‘That’s right, you remembered me,’ he replied with an over-exaggerated smile, then picked up the record sleeve. ‘What’s your favourite piece in Handel’s Messiah?’

‘“The Hallelujah Chorus”,’ Sister Margaret replied.

He smiled. ‘That’s my favourite as well. It’s at the end of part two, isn’t it?’ Sister Margaret nodded. ‘Were the words taken from the bible?’ Boon asked.