The commissioner stepped forward. ‘I would like to add that the tragic death of the Bromley News Shopper journalist, Rebecca Rogers, is not connected to the Melissa Bailey investigation and a man has been arrested and charged with her murder. Now, unless there are any further questions, we need to make our way to Gatwick airport.’

The journalists, cameramen and photographers quickly packed their belongings away and hurried out of the room to make their way to Gatwick.

‘What a load of shite. They water it down by saying “her death”, when they know full well Missy was murdered!’ Boon exclaimed.

Stanley shook his head in disgust and turned the television off. ‘It’s just as Barnes predicted – a fucking cover-up!’

Boon frowned. ‘As I see it, the commissioner is perverting the course of justice. We should do something about it.’

‘There’s nothing we can do, Boony,’ Jane said.

‘The coroner said it was an unlawful killing – that can’t just be ignored!’ Boon argued.

Jane understood why Boon was upset but thought his remarks naïve. ‘The commissioner knew he couldn’t suppress Dr Pullen’s post-mortem statement or the coroner’s verdict of unlawful killing, especially after Becky’s article in the News Shopper revealed our investigation to the public.’

Stanley nodded. ‘The Met solicitors would have told the commissioner any criminal proceedings were futile, especially as Mother Adele and Bishop Meade are dead, and Sister Margaret is immune from prosecution due to her state of mind.’

Jane put her hand on Boon’s shoulder. ‘You win some, you lose some . . . you move on.’

‘Bloody hell, that’s a bit rich coming from you,’ Stanley remarked.

Jane shrugged. ‘Maybe, but as much I respect him, I don’t want to become like DCS Barnes. He’s made me realise bitterness will eat away at you and end up clouding your judgement. We need to put this investigation behind us, not let it tear us apart.’

‘Sorry to interrupt,’ the duty sergeant said as he entered the room. ‘I thought you might like to know that Barry May has been arrested for assaulting his wife. She’s in Queen Mary’s Hospital with two black eyes and broken ribs. She said to tell DS Tennison she wants to make a statement and press charges against him.’

*

Returning from the supermarket, Tony Barnes walked into his living room carrying two bags of shopping. His wife was sitting on the sofa watching the television as Pope John Paul II descended the steps of a plane at Gatwick. He was dressed in a white skull cap, cassock and pellegrina, girded with a fringed white fascia. A large pectoral cross hung from a gold cord around his neck. On reaching the concrete, he fell to his knees and kissed the ground.

Barnes felt repulsed as he watched Archbishop Malone help the Pope up and then kissed his hand. He dropped the shopping then turned off the television.