‘Come in,’ Barnes said in a gruff voice. ‘I take it you must be DS Tennison.’ He looked over the top of his half-moon glasses as he put a folder in a filing-cabinet drawer, then used his foot to close it.

Barnes was a short, thin man in his early fifties, with combed-back grey hair. He looked quite dapper, dressed in a brown two-piece suit, light blue shirt, navy blue tie and brown shoes.

‘I’m really sorry I’m late, sir, but I was—’

He held his hand up to stop. ‘In my book, if I give up my time, you should be respectful by arriving on time.’

‘Sorry, sir. I was on an early morning search which took longer than expected. I got here as fast as I could,’ Jane said, feeling foolish.

‘That’s obvious from the state of you.’

Jane dabbed her forehead again and Barnes told her to take a seat. She was surprised at how soft, yet strong his voice was.

‘Was the search connected to the nun’s murder?’

‘Yes, sir. We suspected one of the builders had forced the coffin open and stolen a silver cross. He’s denying it, but we found the cross at his flat.’

‘Good. I like positive results.’

‘I also told the site manger to stop all digging work while I made further inquiries regarding the body.’

‘Is he aware the nun was murdered?’

‘No, and neither is Barry May, the builder who stole the cross.’

‘Good, those sorts of people have big mouths, so keep it that way for now. Have you done a report for me?’

She handed him the folder.

‘I think I’ll have a coffee while I read it.’

Jane stood up, intending to go to the canteen. ‘I’ll get it. Milk and sugar?’

He pulled a sour face. ‘I never drink the dishwater they serve in the canteen.’ He pointed to a cabinet in the corner of the room, on which was an electric kettle, a cafetière and a china teapot.

‘The ground coffee is in the cabinet. If you want tea there’s lapsang souchong. I don’t take milk or sugar. If you want anything different, the canteen is on the next floor.’

Jane flicked the kettle on and put some coffee in the cafetière. She watched Barnes out of the corner of her eye as he slowly read the report, occasionally turning back a page to check something. She decided to have a tea and put some tea leaves in the pot.