‘Looks like a dull day at Bromley just got exciting,’ Boon remarked as he hurried out of the room.

‘You’re right about DS Lawrence being good at his job,’ Pullen said. ‘I’ve met him a few times whilst assisting Prof Martin, who also rates him highly. Paul is a very nice man.’ She hesitated. ‘Do you know if he’s single?’

Jane wasn’t sure what to say as Lawrence had confided in her he was gay and lived with his boyfriend. ‘Paul’s not married, but he’s in a relationship with someone.’

‘Is it serious?’

‘As far as I know . . .’

Pullen sighed. ‘That’s a shame. I was thinking of asking him if he’d like to go for a drink sometime.’

*

A smug-looking PC Rogers was on the phone as Boon entered his office.

‘I’ve some new info for you about the—’

Rogers put his hand over the mouthpiece. ‘Can’t you see I’m speaking to the coroner?’ he growled, before resuming the conversation. ‘Yes, sir. I’ll write the death up as natural causes on my report and contact the Catholic archdiocesan office in Southwark so they can arrange a reburial of the nun.’

Rogers was about to put the phone down when Boon grabbed it from his hand.

‘Sir, it’s Detective Constable Boon from Bromley CID—’

Rogers reddened. ‘What do you think you’re doing!’

Boon ignored him. ‘Dr Pullen has found evidence that suggests the nun was alive in the coffin, which means she might have suffocated to death. DI Tennison would like your permission to treat the death as suspicious and also asked if Dr Pullen could carry out a full forensic post-mortem examination.’

As Boon informed the coroner of Pullen’s findings, Rogers’ face turned pale and he slumped back in his chair. Boon handed the phone to Rogers, whispering, ‘He wants a word with you . . . and he don’t sound happy.’

As Jane walked in, a glum-looking Rogers was putting his raincoat on. ‘I take it DC Boon has updated you?’

Rogers said nothing as he trudged out of the room and Jane looked to Boon for an explanation.

‘Coroner said he wanted to see him pronto in his office.’

‘I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes, but he’s only himself to blame. We OK for a full PM?’

‘Yeah, and he’s happy for Dr Pullen to do it as long as Prof Martin agrees. Shall I give him a call first then ask for a lab sergeant to attend?’

‘Yes, please, and I’ll update DI Stanley,’ Jane said, lifting the phone receiver on another desk.

‘Do you think he’ll form a murder squad?’ Boon asked.

Jane shrugged. ‘Depends on the outcome of the full post-mortem and X-rays.’

‘Surely the coroner will want further inquiries made to ascertain who she is and when she died,’ Boon suggested.

‘Yes, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be making them,’ Jane said.

‘Why not? We were assigned the investigation so surely we should continue it.’

‘I agree, but more senior officers may not. If there’s no other post-mortem evidence to justify a murder investigation the coroner may NFA the case, and return the body to the Church.’