‘I don’t think so. He rarely visited and was usually with other people when he did.’
‘Did no one think it strange that Missy didn’t say goodbye?’ Boon asked.
Julie shook her head. ‘There’s a “shroud of secrecy” when a Sister chooses to leave. They are under strict orders not to tell anyone or say goodbye and usually leave during the night. You have to understand that obedience was paramount in everything we did.’
‘What happened to you after the meeting?’
‘Mother Superior removed me from teaching the children and I ended up doing all the worst jobs around the convent for months. But I didn’t regret what I’d said to Bishop Malone about the abuse because I knew Missy would have been proud of me.’
‘I don’t wish to sound insensitive, but did you ever wonder why Missy didn’t try and make contact with you?’ Jane asked.
‘I like to think she wrote to me, but Missy knew all our incoming and outgoing mail was checked and censored by Mother Superior and Sister Margaret in case it contained something offensive to our vocation. They would have destroyed any letters Missy sent me. Some of my own letters from home were so inked out by them there was hardly anything left to read. I used to cry, worrying over what my mother had been trying to tell me, but there was no way I could ever know. It never occurred to me Missy might be dead. To now know she was murdered is beyond belief. Are you really sure it’s her?’
‘I hate to say it, Julie, but even more so now.’
‘But why? It just doesn’t make any sense. Who on earth would want to kill Missy?’
‘Right now, I can’t answer that, but I promise you we will find out who and why,’ Jane said reassuringly.
‘Could it have been an accident?’
‘I’m afraid the injuries she received rule that possibility out. Can you remember the date when you thought Missy ran away?’ Jane asked.
Julie closed her eyes and thought about it. ‘I think it was in August 1962. Shortly after her birthday.’
‘Was that before or after the fire?’
Julie closed her eyes again. ‘I’m not sure now... but I think it was before the fire.’
‘What do you remember about the fire?’
‘I was asleep in bed when I was woken by Sister Maria shouting that the outbuildings were on fire. I could see the flames as I ran through the gardens. When I got there, the bakery and schoolhouse next to it were ablaze and the flames were spreading rapidly to the other buildings. Mother Superior and some of the nuns were throwing water from the well on it. The heat got so intense they couldn’t get close enough with the water and had to stop trying to put it out. By the time the fire brigade got there, all the outbuildings were on fire.’
‘I was told the fire started in the bakery. Do you know if that’s correct?’ Jane asked.
Julie nodded. ‘That’s what Mother Superior thought. She was convinced one of us had failed to make sure the baking oven fire was extinguished at the end of the day. She thought a cinder must have started it. After the fire Mother Superior became an emotional wreck and started drinking even more. I think she knew in her heart the buildings wouldn’t be rebuilt and the convent would close... which of course it did.’
‘Do you know the Mother Superior’s full name and Sister Margaret’s surname?’
‘Adele Delaney was Mother Superior.’
‘Do you know where she is now?’
‘She died some years ago.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Sister Suzanne Lincoln told me. We were at the convent together and still keep in touch. She works at St Joseph’s Hospice in Mare Street, Hackney. She went there after the convent closed.’
‘Do you know where she lives?’ Boon asked.
‘The convent is situated in the midst of the hospice buildings. Mother Superior was in palliative care there, suffering with hepatocellular carcinoma.’
‘What’s that?’ Boon asked.
‘A form of liver cancer that occurs in people with alcoholic cirrhosis.’
‘The demon drink got the better of her in the end,’ Boon remarked.
Jane thought his remark inappropriate and glared at him before Julie continued.
‘Sister Margaret’s surname was Wilde. Which we all thought rather apt due to her fierce temper.’
‘Do you know where she is now?’ Jane asked.
‘I haven’t a clue. Suzanne might know.’
‘Does the name Father Bob mean anything to you?’
Julie smiled. ‘Yes. He was the priest at St Mary’s. He used to come to the convent and read stories to the children. He was a lovely man. I shouldn’t say it, but some of us younger sisters fancied him... but not in a carnal way, of course,’ she said with a grin.
‘Did Missy like him?’ Jane asked.
Julie laughed. ‘Yes, she used to refer to him as the “forbidden fruit”.’
Jane suddenly found herself thinking of Father Chris and the moment he’d kissed her.
‘Why did you ask about Father Bob?’ Julie asked.
‘Annette Gorman mentioned him, but wasn’t sure about his surname.’
‘It’s Meade.’
Jane didn’t want to press Julie about Meade possibly abusing the children, as it was clear she liked and trusted him, so she changed the subject.
‘There’s a tunnel from the crypt to the outbuildings. Was it in use while you were there?’ Jane asked.
‘Yes. We used it to take food from the bakery and gardens to the main building in bad weather. During the fire, part of it collapsed. Mother Superior had a builder look at it. He said it was dangerous, so we were all banned from using it. As I recall, the tunnel door in the crypt was removed and bricked up.’
‘Do you know who the builder was?’
‘No, I’m afraid not.’
‘Did any builders ever carry out repair work at the convent while you were there?’ Jane asked.
‘Sometimes, but I didn’t really take any notice. I recall a leaky roof in the chapel being repaired by a couple of men.’
‘Can you describe them?’
Julie shook her head. ‘Like I said, I didn’t really take any notice.’
Boon took a picture of the coffin from a folder and handed it to Julie. ‘Did you ever see this coffin when you were at the convent?’
‘I recall some metal ones like that in the crypt. And there were also a few wooden coffins down there.’
‘Would a nun be buried in a metal coffin?’ Boon asked.
‘No, the wooden ones were for us.’
Jane stood up. ‘That’s all we need to ask you for now, Julie. I’m sorry our conversation has been so upsetting for you. What you’ve told us has been incredibly useful to our investigation. DC Boon will compile an official statement at the station from his notes. Would you be happy to sign it and give evidence in court if required?’
‘Of course. I’ll do whatever you need if it helps catch whoever killed Missy.’
Boon tentatively raised his hand. ‘Can I ask you a personal question, Mrs Dorton?’
‘Of course.’
Jane gave him a sideways glance as a warning he’d better not upset her.
‘What made you leave the sisterhood?’
Julie smiled. ‘I found my own piece of forbidden fruit, fell in love and married him. My surname is Davidson now. Carl, my husband, is an ambulance driver,’ she said proudly.
As they walked to the front door, Jane remembered something.
‘Do you have any photographs of Missy from when you were at the convent?’
‘I’m sorry. Our vow of poverty meant we couldn’t have things like cameras.’
‘I guess the artist’s impression will have to suffice then,’ Jane said.
‘Actually, come to think of it, I’ve got a group photograph of us all with the children in a cupboard upstairs. Give me a second while I look for it,’ Julie said.