Pullen agreed. ‘If she was originally put in the coffin on her back then a rear entry wound that high up on the spine would suggest she sat up or was let out before being stabbed. It’s also possible the killer heard her cries for help and opened the coffin to stab her.’

Boon let out a long sigh. ‘That poor woman. What kind of person could do that to a nun?’

‘Murderers come in all shapes and sizes, Boony,’ Lloyd said as he took some photographs of the body in the coffin.

Boon looked at Jane. ‘Do you think another nun or a priest might have done it?’

‘Right now, who knows. Father Floridia said the Sisters of Mercy lived and worked at the convent from the mid-1800s until the 1960s. Let’s say 1850 to 1969, which gives us a possible time span of . . .’ Jane paused to work it out.

‘A hundred and nineteen years,’ Boon said instantly, looking pleased with himself.

‘Whoever killed her could be long dead by now,’ Lloyd remarked, as he placed some sticky-backed ruler paper on the coffin lid to photograph the scratch marks.

‘Finding out who she is and when she was born should help narrow the time frame down,’ Jane suggested.

‘That’s not going to be easy if she’s been dead for a hundred years,’ Lloyd said.

Pullen picked up her mortuary gown and latex gloves. ‘Right, I think it’s about time we got the body out of the coffin and onto the examination table. I’m going to need everyone to help move her. We’ll have to be gentle as I don’t want any bits of her crumbling or coming away in our hands.’

The mortuary technician picked up a roll of green disposable post-mortem aprons, tore some off and handed one to Boon, then pointed. ‘There’s some plastic arm sleeve covers in the box over there.’

Jane noticed Boon grimace. ‘If you want to get involved in murder investigations, then you need to learn to cope with the unpleasant side of things.’

‘Yes, sarge,’ he replied glumly, putting on the plastic gown.

When everyone was appropriately dressed and ready to go, they gathered around the coffin which was on an adjustable table. Pullen lowered it to a suitable height and the mortuary technician put the portable examination table in front of it.

‘The mortuary technician and I will take either side of the torso and arms,’ she said. ‘Jane and Lloyd take the legs and feet, and DC Boon hold the head. We will lift on my count of three, then once we’re all steady and ready to go, shuffle forward and slowly put her down on the table in front.’

Everyone got into position. Boon was turning his head away as best he could to avoid the smell. They all lifted the body on Pullen’s count and when everyone said they were ready she gave the order to shuffle forward.

‘I distinctly told you not to start the post-mortem without me, Tennison!’ Stanley bellowed as he stormed in the room.