‘Like I said before, we have to consider it as a possibility . . .’

‘I don’t think such a thing is possible,’ he said firmly.

A sad-faced Father Chris sat silently staring out of the passenger window on the journey back to the parsonage. Jane wanted to ask some more questions relating to the investigation but decided it was better to leave him to his thoughts. Eventually they pulled up outside St Mary’s.

‘Would you like to know the result of the archives search when I get it?’ she asked, trying to engage him in conversation.

He shrugged. ‘It’s up to you. If I’m doing the reburial service, I’m sure Bishop Meade will give me the details. Thanks for the lift,’ he said, getting out of the car.

Jane could see he was still upset. She got out of the car and followed him.

‘I’m only doing my job, Father Floridia. The thought that anyone could commit such a heinous crime revolts me. All I want to do is find who is responsible . . . no matter who it is!’

He turned around sharply. ‘You have no idea what it means to be a priest or nun.’

‘Then enlighten me.’

‘When a priest is ordained, he becomes a new man, one who can say with St Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” He is changed not because of what he can do, but because of what he has become. He carries out his work in the power of Christ, not in his own power. It is inconceivable to me that a man or woman who has heard God’s calling and accepted his Holy Orders could commit, or even contemplate, the murder of another human being.’

Jane realised it was pointless carrying on the argument, and didn’t want to drive a wedge between them. ‘I realise this whole situation can’t be easy for you.’

He looked sad. ‘You don’t know the half of it, Jane. I think it would be best, for both of us, if we don’t contact each other again,’ he said with regret in his voice.

‘If that’s what you want,’ she replied, taken aback.

‘As I said, it’s for the best.’

Father Chris walked away.

Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Driving back to Bromley, Jane regretted telling Father Chris that a priest or a nun might have been involved in the murder. She sighed, knowing she’d find it difficult to believe if someone told her a police officer had violently murdered a colleague.

But what had he meant when he said, ‘You don’t know the half of it’? Was he referring to something that had happened in the past or the present situation?

Returning to the station, Jane went straight to DI Stanley’s office and told him about her meeting with Bishop Meade and the forthcoming archive searches.

‘Sounds like you just got away with murder,’ Stanley remarked.