‘I hope it is a murder,’ Boon said.

‘Well, don’t get your hopes up. Like I said, even if it is you may not be on the investigation.’

‘I know I’ve not been a DC long, but this would be a good case for me to gain more experience,’ Boon said, looking hopefully at Jane.

Jane remembered the excitement she had felt on her first murder investigation. ‘If they do form a squad, and I’m on it, I’ll recommend you be part of the team.’

His eyes lit up. ‘Thanks, sarge.’

Jane then rang DI Stanley.

‘We found the body of what appears to be a nun in the coffin . . .’

Stanley was quick to interrupt. ‘Well, no surprise there then.’ He sounded like he was in a bad temper. ‘Hand the case over to the coroner’s officer then get back here pronto. I need you to deal with an indecent assault allegation against a local councillor and take a statement from the victim.’

‘I’m sorry, but I’m tied up here at the mortuary,’ Jane told him. ‘The coroner wants the death treated as suspicious and a full post-mortem done.’

‘On what grounds?’ Stanley retorted.

‘The death may not have been from natural causes,’ Jane said, then recounted her observations and Dr Pullen’s comments.

‘She was buried alive? Bloody hell, I wasn’t expecting that. What about the body – any idea how long she’s been dead or who she is?’

‘No to both at present, but the Church might be able to help us. The full PM should tell us more about her age and when she died, and we might find something in the coffin to give us an indication of who she is.’

‘So, you haven’t started a full PM yet?’

‘No, we’re waiting for a lab sergeant to attend and Prof Martin’s permission for Dr Pullen to do the PM.’

‘I thought you said a pathologist was already there?’

‘Yes, but . . . she’s not quite fully qualified yet.’

‘Then her initial conclusions could be wrong.’

Jane was getting irritated by Stanley’s attitude. ‘She explained her suspicions to me and pointed out visual evidence to back it up. I think she’s right and the nun may have been murdered.’

‘You’re not a pathologist, Tennison . . . and Pullen is a rookie. Personally, I think it best if Prof Martin does the PM.’

She sighed. ‘You’re beginning to sound like PC Rogers.’

‘Who’s he?’

‘The coroner’s officer dealing with the case.’

‘Oh, so he agrees with me?’

Jane waved her hand at Boon who was still on the phone. ‘Have you spoken to Prof Martin yet about Dr Pullen doing the PM?’ she whispered.

Boon nodded as he put the phone down. ‘Yep, he’s happy for Doc Pullen to do the PM and said to ring him if she needed his assistance or advice. DS Lawrence is already working on a murder in North London, so another lab sergeant will be allocated this case and be with us shortly.’