I called my brother in Malta. He was overjoyed to hear my voice after so many years. He had had no idea where I was or what had happened to me. We both felt guilty about the way we had treated each other and agreed to resolve our differences. He wants us to open a restaurant together in memory of our parents. Everything on the menu will be from my mother’s recipe book.

I will never forget you, Jane. You are a wonderful woman, and I will always cherish meeting you and our friendship. If ever you are in Malta, please come to our restaurant where I will make you the best soppa tal-armla, and kwarezimal for dessert.

With love.

Christopher x

Jane felt deeply sad, knowing Chris was returning to Malta, but pleased that he valued their short time together. She wished she could have got to know him better but knew she would see him again one day. She read the letter one more time before tearing it into tiny pieces and putting it in the bin.

Jane could only surmise what had happened to Melissa before Meade had witnessed her brutal death. It seemed Mother Adele and Sister Margaret suspected Melissa had feelings for Meade and caught her going to meet him. Whether Sister Margaret had attempted to strangle Melissa with her cincture would remain unknown. She thought Bishop Meade’s confession was credible and Malone was guilty of a cover-up, not just for the sake of the Church, but his own career as well.

Jane sighed, knowing she could never reveal the contents of Father Chris’s letter and Archbishop Malone would yet again escape prosecution.

Chapter Thirty-Two

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Jane, Stanley and Boon spent the next few days in Stanley’s office, compiling a report of the investigation for the commissioner. They had been instructed by DCS Salmon to ‘stick to the facts’, detail the interviews they had carried out and evidence they had uncovered. They were not to express any personal views as to who they thought might have been responsible for Sister Melissa Bailey’s death. When the report was completed, Salmon took it straight to the commissioner who had arranged a live press conference for nine o’clock, six hours prior to Pope John Paul II landing at Gatwick airport.

Stanley brought a portable colour television to work so they could sit in his office and watch the press conference.

The commissioner introduced Archbishop Malone, who was standing to one side dressed in his formal attire.

‘That smug smile on Malone’s face is a giveaway,’ Stanley remarked as he turned the volume up.