Jane found herself thinking about Nick and wondering if he had used her in the same way. Could it be that his surly, offhand attitude was a deliberate ploy to get her to end the relationship now that he’d got what he wanted?

‘If they were in a sexual relationship, it would have to have been away from the convent. Maybe at the presbytery,’ Jane said. ‘Then again, if Missy realised Meade had an ulterior motive, or thought she was being used, she might have threatened to report him to the bishop, which could be a motive for killing her.’

‘I’d say it would be a pretty strong motive,’ Boon agreed. ‘He’d lose everything if the Church threw him out.’

Jane couldn’t stop thinking about Nick and changed the subject. ‘That was good work, getting Margaret to connect with her past. At first I thought you were pulling my leg about the music being from Handel’s Messiah.’

‘My father was a professional musician, so I grew up listening to that kind of music. I’m sorry the conversation with Sister Margaret went a bit pear-shaped at the end.’

‘Don’t be hard on yourself. You’ve got a good way with people. I was getting nowhere with her.’

‘My grandad suffers from dementia. Thankfully, he’s not in a home as my grandmother looks after him. She taught me how to communicate with him. I visit when I can. We do jigsaw puzzles, word games, listen to classical music and look at old photographs to try and stimulate his mind. Sometimes he knows who I am, but more often than not he doesn’t,’ he said sadly.

‘I’m sure he’s very fond of you, Simon, and your company means a lot to him.’

‘I’ve got a confession to make,’ he said with a grin.

‘Spit it out,’ she said.

‘What I said yesterday about mixing business with pleasure was wrong.’

‘What made you say that?’ Jane asked, wondering if he’d overheard her on the phone to Nick.

‘I’m meeting Becky Rogers for a drink after work later. I’ve told her it’s strictly social and I won’t discuss the case with her.’

‘That’s fine by me, but I wouldn’t tell anyone else for now.’

‘We’re also going on a proper night out on Saturday.’

Jane forced a smile. ‘She’s a nice girl . . . I really hope it works out for the pair of you.’

Chapter Twenty-Five

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

‘How did it go with Meade?’ Jane asked Stanley as she and Boon walked into the incident room.

He waited until she was up close before replying. ‘It’s best we discuss it in Barnes’s office.’

‘I’ll give Julie Dorton a call about whittling, then join you,’ Boon said.

‘What’s whistling got to do with anything?’ Stanley asked with a bemused look.