‘Please, take a seat,’ he said, then hung her coat in the hallway. He sat down in the other armchair. ‘What was the outcome with the coffin?’

‘There was a female body inside dressed in nun’s clothing.’

‘That’s sad. Do you know her name?’

‘At the moment we have no idea who she is or when she died. Does the diocese keep records of all the nuns who lived and worked at the convent?’

‘I’m not certain, but I would think so. I had to give them my details and next of kin should anything happen to me. I suspect the convent would have kept their own records as well. They would have been passed on to the diocesan archives when the convent closed.’

‘Where are the archives kept?’

‘Archbishop’s House in Southwark. I’m sure the diocese will arrange for her to be reburied in a cemetery.’

‘I was wondering if you’d informed the bishop about the coffin?’

‘No. I was waiting to hear back from you first. I’ll call him now.’ He walked towards the phone on the writing desk.

‘This may sound odd,’ Jane said, ‘but I’d be grateful if you didn’t just now.’

He turned back to her with a puzzled look. ‘Why?’

Jane realised she’d dug a bit of a hole for herself. ‘I shouldn’t really be here discussing the investigation. My senior officers won’t be very pleased with me if they find out.’

He frowned. ‘And I’m afraid Bishop Meade will be angry with me if he finds out I didn’t tell him.’

‘I’m sure I’ll be able to tell you tomorrow. Look, I’d better go . . .’

‘This is putting me in an awkward position as well,’ he said. ‘Is there more to the nun’s death than you’re telling me?’

‘I’m sorry, but I can’t say at the moment,’ Jane said.

‘Trust works both ways, detective,’ he said with a meaningful look.

Jane sighed, but felt she had no other option than to trust him. ‘The post-mortem revealed she was murdered.’

‘Murdered? Bloody hell! How was she killed?’ he asked, clearly stunned. ‘I’m sorry, I apologise for swearing.’

‘Tragically, she must have suffered a slow, agonising death,’ Jane said before telling him about the examination of the coffin and the post-mortem findings.

Using his right hand, Father Chris traced the sign of the cross.

‘In nomine Patris et Filii, et Spiritus Sanсti. Amen.’ He held his hands together, eyes closed in silent prayer for a few seconds before looking up at Jane with a sorrowful expression. ‘It saddens me when I hear what human beings are capable of doing to each other.’

Jane was moved by his words. ‘If whoever killed her is still alive, I’m determined to find them.’

‘I hope you do.’

‘We also think a builder on the site forced open the coffin and stole a crucifix from the nun’s neck. The outline of a cross and chain was on her clothing.’

He shook his head in disgust. ‘That’s sickening. But you do realise a crucifix and a cross are not necessarily the same thing.’