Jane thanked her and took the envelope to her desk. The only photo she was really interested in was the close-up of Meade and Missy’s hands. When she looked at it closely, her suspicion was confirmed. Their hands were touching, with their little fingers entwined together.

‘I got two cheese toasties with tomatoes and a bowl of chips. Is that OK?’ Boon said, carrying in a tray of food and two coffees.

‘It’s fine, thanks. Have a look at this,’ she said, showing him the photograph.

‘Bloody hell, you were right. That’s a strong bit of evidence for the report,’ Boon said.

‘It’s enough to arrest Meade,’ she said, ‘since he’s denied knowing her. And what you said about him using Missy could be right. If she threatened to expose their relationship, he’d know he’d be defrocked.’

‘It also makes it more likely she went to the presbytery the night she left the convent,’ Boon suggested.

‘Only Meade knows the answers. I think Barnes will arrest him when he sees this photo. It proves beyond a doubt he’s lying through his teeth. What time are you meeting Becky Rogers?’

‘It’s supposed to be seven o’clock at The Chequers in Bickley. I’ll phone her and cancel,’ he said.

‘No, you won’t,’ Jane said. ‘We’ve got a couple of hours yet. If we haven’t finished by half six, I’ll complete the report.’

‘Thanks, sarge,’ Boon beamed. ‘I gave the owl carving to the SOCO. He said he’ll take it up to the lab in the morning to see what kind of wood it’s made from.’

Jane phoned Lloyd Johnson at the lab.

‘I got a message to call you about the seeds in Melissa’s stomach.’

‘Right. We got a botanist to look at them. Turns out they are Digitalis purpurea seeds, which are poisonous and commonly known as—’

‘Foxglove,’ Jane interjected

‘How did you know that?’ Lloyd asked.

Jane explained about the Scott Davies calendar.

‘Bloody hell, that was a good find,’ Lloyd said.

‘So how does it work as a poison?’ Jane asked.

‘The botanist said foxglove contains digoxin, which is commonly used as a drug to treat cardiac arrhythmia because it slows the heart rate down. Large doses can cause symptoms like vomiting, giddiness and unconsciousness. In excess, it slows the heart rate so much the brain becomes starved of oxygen; the body’s reflex response is to try and increase the heart rate, which can result in a heart attack and death.’

‘So you’d have to have a good knowledge of plants to know how to use it?’ Jane asked, thinking of Mother Adele.