Jane interrupted. ‘I would never ask or expect you to lie to him. If you don’t want to come with me to Bishop Meade’s office, I totally understand. He doesn’t know we’ve met or discussed the discovery of the coffin or the nun’s death, so I’m happy to keep it that way, if you are. Then there will be no repercussions for you.’

He gave her a doubtful look. ‘That’s not really possible now.’

‘Why not?’

Father Chris shook his head. ‘I spoke with Bishop Meade last night, after you left.’

Jane was surprised. ‘I thought you said you wouldn’t call him.’

Father Chris looked upset. ‘Don’t worry, he doesn’t know the nun was murdered.’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. This whole situation is my fault.’

‘It’s all right. I understand your concern. After you left last night, I realised I’d have to make an appointment to see the bishop as he’s a busy man. I didn’t want you to have a wasted journey, so I called him. Naturally, he asked what it was about, but I only told him I’d been informed a coffin had been uncovered at the old convent with the body of a nun inside. If Bishop Meade finds out I knew she was murdered before I called him, he’s not going to be a happy man.’

‘Looks like we’ve both dug a bit of a hole for ourselves,’ Jane sighed.

He let out a nervous laugh. ‘We reap what we sow. Bishop Meade also knows you are trying to ascertain the nun’s identity.’

‘Did he say if they had any historical records of the nuns who lived at the convent?’

‘No, and I didn’t ask. He said he’d do what he could to help. I told him we’d be there around half past two.’

‘We best be on our way, then,’ Jane said. ‘Are we agreed we don’t tell him she was murdered – at least for now?’

‘Regrettably, yes. I’ll let you do the talking when we get there,’ he said solemnly.

*

As they got into Jane’s car, she looked at her watch and told Father Chris they had time to go to the mortuary first if he wanted to say a prayer for the nun before the meeting with Bishop Meade. Jane reached over to the back seat, picked up a folder and handed it to Father Chris.

‘We recovered the cross at the builder’s flat this morning. He admitted forcing the coffin open and stealing it. There are some photographs of the cross and coffin in there for you to look at.’

Jane started the car and pulled away from the kerb. She noticed he was looking at a photo of the cross.