‘What was the name of the company when he first started it?’

‘Thomas Durham Builders. He changed it to Thomas Durham and Son when Nick started working for him.’

‘I’ll ask you again, did you or Thomas Durham ever do any work at the convent prior to the purchase of the buildings and land?’

‘No, I told you.’

‘Then can you explain why we have found quotes and invoices for repair work at the convent with the letterhead Thomas Durham Builders, some of which are dated 1960, 1961 and 1962?’

He started to look nervous. ‘I don’t know anything about them . . . honest.’

‘All of them are signed by Thomas Durham . . . who you worked for.’

Lee licked his lips. ‘I suppose we might have done some work back then. Actually, come to think of it we did repair the chapel roof at one time.’

‘There is a quote and invoice for that job,’ Jane told him. ‘By we, do you mean yourself and Thomas Durham?’

‘Yes.’

‘And did you do other repair work back then?’

‘Probably, but it was so long ago it’s hard to remember now.’

‘Does the name Melissa Bailey mean anything to you?’

‘No, should it?’

‘She was a sister at the convent. It was her body we found in the coffin. She was murdered during the time you and Thomas worked at the convent.’

Lee looked shocked. ‘We didn’t know any of the nuns. We never even spoke to them other than to say good morning.’

‘Did you or Thomas Durham murder Melissa Bailey?’

‘No! Why on earth would you think we’d do a thing like that?’

‘Because you both lied about knowing each other, never mentioned you’d worked at the convent and now Becky Rogers is dead.’

Lee started shaking his head from side to side. ‘I swear I’ve told you everything.’

‘There’s something you’re hiding from me, Lee, and I think it’s to do with Melissa Bailey’s murder. If you’re trying to protect Thomas Durham, I can assure you you’ll only make matters worse for yourself.’

‘Thomas is a good man . . . he’s not a murderer,’ Lee said, putting his head in his hands.

It suddenly dawned on Jane what he might be hiding.

‘Amongst the documents we recovered was a quote to repair the fire-damaged buildings. Obviously, a survey must have been done first. Did you do that survey?’

‘No, Thomas did it. But the diocese couldn’t afford to repair the buildings.’

Jane could see he was getting agitated. ‘And as we all know they then sold the convent to Mr Durham.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘Do you know how the fire started?’ Jane asked.

‘No,’ he said, nervously shaking his head.

‘Do you know where it started?’

‘Thomas said it was in the bakery.’

‘When did he tell you that?’

‘Just after he did the survey.’