Линда Ла Плант - Unholy Murder

Jane could only surmise what had happened to Melissa before Meade had witnessed her brutal death. It seemed Mother Adele and Sister Margaret suspected Melissa had feelings for Meade and caught her going to meet him. Whether Sister Margaret had attempted to strangle Melissa with her cincture would remain unknown. She thought Bishop Meade’s confession was credible and Malone was guilty of a cover-up, not just for the sake of the Church, but his own career as well.

Jane sighed, knowing she could never reveal the contents of Father Chris’s letter and Archbishop Malone would yet again escape prosecution.

Jane, Stanley and Boon spent the next few days in Stanley’s office, compiling a report of the investigation for the commissioner. They had been instructed by DCS Salmon to ‘stick to the facts’, detail the interviews they had carried out and evidence they had uncovered. They were not to express any personal views as to who they thought might have been responsible for Sister Melissa Bailey’s death. When the report was completed, Salmon took it straight to the commissioner who had arranged a live press conference for nine o’clock, six hours prior to Pope John Paul II landing at Gatwick airport.

Stanley brought a portable colour television to work so they could sit in his office and watch the press conference.

The commissioner introduced Archbishop Malone, who was standing to one side dressed in his formal attire.

‘That smug smile on Malone’s face is a giveaway,’ Stanley remarked as he turned the volume up.

The commissioner smiled. ‘This is an auspicious and historic day, with the first ever visit of a reigning Pope to the United Kingdom. With that in mind, I won’t keep you long as I know you will be wanting to get to Gatwick for Pope John Paul II’s arrival in a few hours. As you know, a coffin containing the body of a woman was unearthed at a building site in Bickley nearly two weeks ago. She has been positively identified as Sister Melissa Bailey, who lived and worked at the former Sisters of Mercy convent. It is believed she died in August 1962. Following a post-mortem, the Bromley coroner asked for a criminal investigation to be carried out. This was overseen in a meticulous manner by Detective Chief Superintendent Salmon, who compiled a report for the coroner and our solicitor’s department.’

‘I hope Barnes isn’t watching this!’ Stanley exclaimed as the commissioner continued.

‘Although Sister Melissa’s death has been deemed an unlawful killing by the coroner and a thorough investigation has taken place, I’m sad to say there is insufficient evidence to identify those responsible. However, Sister Melissa’s death will remain on file, and should any new evidence come to light the investigation will be reopened. I’ll now hand over to Archbishop Malone to say a few words.’

Malone stepped forward. ‘I would like to thank the commissioner, DCS Salmon and his detectives for their hard work and dedication in investigating Sister Melissa Bailey’s death. When I was the diocesan bishop, I often visited the Sisters of Mercy convent up until the day it sadly had to close. To the credit of the now departed Mother Superior Adele Delaney and all the sisters who lived and worked there, I found it to be a happy and peaceful place where orphaned children were lovingly cared for. I’m relieved to say there is no evidence that anyone in the convent was involved in Sister Melissa’s death. However, I hope that one day the person, or persons, responsible will be caught and brought to justice.’

‘Why did Bishop Meade commit suicide?’ a journalist asked.

‘Since his death, I have been made aware Bishop Meade was suffering from severe depression. I can’t go into the details as his suicide is currently being investigated by the diocese and there will be a coroner’s inquest. However, I can tell you it is not connected to the death of Sister Melissa Bailey. Thank you for your time and may God be with you.’ He made the sign of the cross.

Jane felt sickened by Malone’s lies, but knew she could never betray Father Chris by revealing the truth.

The commissioner stepped forward. ‘I would like to add that the tragic death of the Bromley News Shopper journalist, Rebecca Rogers, is not connected to the Melissa Bailey investigation and a man has been arrested and charged with her murder. Now, unless there are any further questions, we need to make our way to Gatwick airport.’

The journalists, cameramen and photographers quickly packed their belongings away and hurried out of the room to make their way to Gatwick.

‘What a load of shite. They water it down by saying “her death”, when they know full well Missy was murdered!’ Boon exclaimed.

Stanley shook his head in disgust and turned the television off. ‘It’s just as Barnes predicted — a fucking cover-up!’

Boon frowned. ‘As I see it, the commissioner is perverting the course of justice. We should do something about it.’

‘There’s nothing we can do, Boony,’ Jane said.

‘The coroner said it was an unlawful killing — that can’t just be ignored!’ Boon argued.

Jane understood why Boon was upset but thought his remarks naïve. ‘The commissioner knew he couldn’t suppress Dr Pullen’s post-mortem statement or the coroner’s verdict of unlawful killing, especially after Becky’s article in the News Shopper revealed our investigation to the public.’

Stanley nodded. ‘The Met solicitors would have told the commissioner any criminal proceedings were futile, especially as Mother Adele and Bishop Meade are dead, and Sister Margaret is immune from prosecution due to her state of mind.’

Jane put her hand on Boon’s shoulder. ‘You win some, you lose some... you move on.’

‘Bloody hell, that’s a bit rich coming from you,’ Stanley remarked.

Jane shrugged. ‘Maybe, but as much I respect him, I don’t want to become like DCS Barnes. He’s made me realise bitterness will eat away at you and end up clouding your judgement. We need to put this investigation behind us, not let it tear us apart.’

‘Sorry to interrupt,’ the duty sergeant said as he entered the room. ‘I thought you might like to know that Barry May has been arrested for assaulting his wife. She’s in Queen Mary’s Hospital with two black eyes and broken ribs. She said to tell DS Tennison she wants to make a statement and press charges against him.’

Returning from the supermarket, Tony Barnes walked into his living room carrying two bags of shopping. His wife was sitting on the sofa watching the television as Pope John Paul II descended the steps of a plane at Gatwick. He was dressed in a white skull cap, cassock and pellegrina, girded with a fringed white fascia. A large pectoral cross hung from a gold cord around his neck. On reaching the concrete, he fell to his knees and kissed the ground.

Barnes felt repulsed as he watched Archbishop Malone help the Pope up and then kissed his hand. He dropped the shopping then turned off the television.

‘Sorry, but I can’t bear watching that crap,’ he snorted.

She frowned. ‘Well, I want to watch it, like thousands of others. History is being made today and you should appreciate it.’

‘That’s Malone with the Pope and I can’t bear the sight of him! Yet again, he’s made a fool of me!’

‘For Christ’s sake, Tony, let it go. You’ve allowed him to eat away at your soul for nearly thirty years now. You’re retired. You need to put the police service behind you and move on... for both our sakes.’ She turned the television back on.

The commentator expressed his thoughts. ‘There is nothing sentimental about this pope. He comes to proclaim the truth as he wrote in a poem twenty years ago. “ If I have the truth in me it will break out one day — I cannot repent .”’