‘Is it important?’

‘Yes, very. It’s connected to the investigation.’

‘Go on then, but don’t be long. Barnes is in a bad enough mood as it is.’

Boon waited until Stanley had left the room, then phoned the News Shopper office, asking to speak to Becky Rogers.

Stanley told Barnes that Boon would be a couple of minutes, and Jane went to get some coffees while they waited for him.

When Boon finally walked in, she thought he looked anxious.

‘You all right?’ she whispered, handing him a coffee.

‘Becky still isn’t at work. I’m a bit worried about her. I’ll tell you why later.’

They were interrupted by Barnes. ‘Is there something you two would like to share with me and Stanley?’

‘No, sir,’ they replied in unison.

‘Just so you both know, the commissioner told me not to go near Meade or Malone without his approval. He’s meeting Malone at the Yard at ten. He said he’d assess the situation and decide what was to happen after their meeting.’

‘So you might still be running the investigation, sir?’ Boon asked hopefully.

‘Afraid not, son. I’m history.’ He shrugged. ‘I’m not particularly bothered. I’ve done my thirty years, so I can retire if I want on a full pension. Did you contact the Kingston police, Tennison?’

Jane nodded, then told Barnes about locating the Baileys, her conversation with Lawrence Bailey and the dental records matching Melissa.

‘Fucking Malone is involved up to his neck. He knows Meade murdered Melissa and now we can’t speak to either of them!’

‘Things might change once the commissioner is aware of all the evidence,’ Stanley said.

‘And pigs might fly,’ Barnes retorted. ‘Stanley updated me about your visit to Sister Margaret. Although I despise the woman for what she did to those poor children, it’s bad news she has dementia. That said, her reaction to seeing the photo of Meade and pointing out Melissa can be used against him as evidence.’

‘She wouldn’t be a credible witness,’ Jane said.

‘You two would be. You witnessed her reaction; you saw her point at Sister Melissa.’

‘We couldn’t actually see who she was pointing to,’ Boon said.

‘Come on, it’s bloody obvious, so what’s the harm in saying it was her?’ Barnes shot back.

Jane knew what Barnes was suggesting, but she wasn’t going to lie in court. She handed him the close-ups of Meade and Sister Melissa touching hands. ‘This is stronger evidence they were in a relationship, which proves he’s lied to us and implicates him in her murder.’

Barnes looked at the photos as Jane continued.

‘There’s something else that’s come up which suggests Mother Adele may have been involved.’ Jane then explained about the foxglove seeds in Melissa’s stomach.

‘All very interesting, but as Mother Adele is dead, not much use.’