He didn’t acknowledge her, maintaining eye contact with Sister Margaret. ‘Is there anyone else you remember in the picture?’

Sister Margaret scanned it again. Her eyes started to widen, and her nostrils flared. She pursed her lips and her head started to shake angrily.

‘Who is it you recognise, Sister Margaret?’ Jane asked.

‘He’s a bad man. God will punish him for his sins!’ she exclaimed.

Jane and Boon knew she was talking about Meade as he was the only man in the photograph.

‘What was his sin?’ Jane asked, watching Margaret’s face turning red with rage.

There was fury in her eyes. ‘He broke his vow of chastity to Almighty God! He is a fornicator, a sinner who will suffer in purgatory,’ she shouted.

‘Who did he break his vow with, Sister Margaret?’ Jane asked.

She prodded the picture with her finger. ‘With her, with her. May God forgive us our sins.’ Sister Margaret threw the photograph to the floor and broke down in tears.

‘What on earth is going on!’ Mother Lynne exclaimed as she entered the room. She embraced Margaret to calm her.

‘She became upset when we showed her an old group photograph taken at the convent, I’m afraid,’ Jane said.

Mother Lynne glared at Jane and Boon. ‘I’d like you both to leave.’

‘I’m really sorry, Mother Superior. We didn’t intend for this to happen,’ Jane said.

‘Please, just leave.’

*

Jane and Boon walked in silence to the car, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Boon spoke first. ‘She was obviously talking about Meade and Missy Bailey.’

Jane nodded. ‘This is a step forward for us, but as evidence in court it’s worthless, due to her state of mind. Did you hear the last thing she said?’ Jane asked.

‘I was distracted by Mother Lynne walking in. I heard something about forgiving sins,’ he replied.

‘She said, “May God forgive us our sins.” It could be she was referring to herself and others.’

Boon removed the owl from his pocket. ‘I wonder if this is made from birch wood like the slivers found on the knife tip and Missy’s habit.’

‘If it is, that makes things even more interesting. Mother Adele clearly knew how to handle a whittling knife. Phone Julie Dorton when we get back. Ask her if she knew anything about Mother Adele being a whittler. At least she’s a reliable witness.’

‘You think Adele Delaney might have killed Missy?’ he asked.

Jane sighed. ‘I don’t know, it’s all so bloody confusing now. You could argue Mother Adele and Meade both had a motive. However, if Meade and Missy were intimate enough to be touching hands in the photo, it begs the question, why would he want to kill her?’

‘Maybe Meade just turned on the charm because he wanted to have sex with her,’ Boon suggested.