‘It’s a copy of every bloody report I’ve had to do for him in the nine months I’ve been here. He got screwed over once when he was given duff information by another officer, who then denied what he’d said when the job went tits-up. Barnes ended up getting a reprimand. He quickly learnt the lesson that signed reports can’t be denied.’

‘Sorry, I didn’t realise . . .’

‘Please, Jane, for my and everyone else’s sake, just do the bloody report. Barnes will be in his Orpington office at ten.’

‘He wants me to take it to him?’ Jane asked.

Stanley sighed. ‘No, put it in a stamped envelope. I’ll post it to him on my way home.’

‘There’s no need to be facetious. I’m just surprised he’d want to meet me.’

‘I’ve no doubt you will do a decent report, but there’s bound to be a few questions he’ll want to ask.’

‘I asked Boony to run our victim’s description through the Missing Persons Bureau,’ she said hesitantly.

‘I don’t mind that under the circumstances.’

‘Am I OK to do some overtime to finish the report?’

‘Of course, Boony as well. You’ve both worked hard today in pretty shitty conditions.’ He wagged his index finger at her. ‘And no further investigation until Barnes gives you the go-ahead, understood?’

She realised it was pointless asking if she could speak to Father Floridia. She stood to attention and saluted. ‘Yes, sir.’ Then as she walked towards the door, she suddenly spun on her heel. ‘I just remembered something I forgot to mention earlier.’

‘God help me. What now?’

Jane told him about the jemmy marks on the rim of the coffin and why she and Boon suspected Barry the builder had opened it and stolen a crucifix from around the dead nun’s neck.

‘He must be a sick bastard to steal from a dead nun! Get a couple of the late-turn detectives to nick him and search his home address ASAP.’

‘I haven’t got a home address for him. He was leaving the site as we arrived. Me and Boony were going to nick him tomorrow morning.’

‘You’re meeting Barnes. Get Boony to do it with a couple of the lads and some backup. If Barry resists arrest, they’ve my authority to give the scumbag a good right-hander.’

Jane felt a bit miffed at not being able to take part in Barry’s arrest, but knew her meeting with DCS Barnes was more important, especially if she could persuade him to form a murder squad. She nodded and went back to the CID office.

‘How did it go with mispers?’ she asked Boon, who was sitting at his desk doing some paperwork.

‘Do you know they get about 25,000 misper reports a year. Nearly fifty per cent of them are under eighteen, with thirty per cent in the eighteen to thirty age range, of which females make up—’

‘Anyone matching our nun’s description?’ Jane interrupted, wanting him to get to the point.