As Barnes walked out, he stopped by the deputy commissioner. ‘We both know you can’t punish or discipline me if I retire.’ He handed him his warrant card. ‘Tell the commissioner to stuff this up his arse.’
Boon started to clap slowly. He was joined by another officer, then another, until the whole room was filled with applause for Barnes. Jane could see he was deeply moved by their show of respect and admiration. He raised his hand in acknowledgement and left the room.
Salmon shook his head in disbelief. ‘Just so you all know, I am Detective Chief Superintendent Rufus Salmon. I am now in charge of this investigation and need to be brought up to speed with everything. To that end, I will hold a full office meeting in twenty minutes. I want to hear what each and every one of you has been doing and what evidence you have accumulated.’
Stanley whispered to Jane, ‘What a load of bullshit. Now Meade’s dead, he knows full well the investigation is all but over. This is all about damage limitation with the diocese.’
‘I agree, but he needs to get his priorities right. Excuse me, sir,’ Jane said, trying to get Salmon’s attention.
‘And you are?’ Salmon asked.
‘DS Tennison. Are you aware we are also investigating the disappearance of a young journalist called Becky Rogers?’
‘No, I was not, though I did hear DCS Barnes mention her name just now.’
‘She hasn’t been seen or heard from since yesterday afternoon. We have evidence that—’
Salmon raised his hand. ‘You can tell me all about it during the office meeting.’
Jane was astonished by his lack of interest. ‘It’s possible Becky has come to some harm.’
‘Did you not hear me, Tennison?’
‘Becky is a serving police officer’s daughter,’ she continued undaunted. ‘He and his wife are worried sick about her.’
‘We have evidence that suggests Bishop Meade arranged to meet her,’ Stanley chipped in, ‘and a witness who saw him leave his office at the same time Becky left hers. The press has been informed of her disappearance and will shortly be making an appeal for assistance to find her. Needless to say, we can expect a deluge of phone calls. I doubt Becky’s parents, or the press, would be impressed if we didn’t answer the calls because of an office meeting.’
Boon decided to add his voice to their pleas. ‘I’m DC Boon. I know I can speak on behalf of us all. Investigating Becky Rogers’ disappearance must be a priority. Every second is precious if we want to find her alive and well.’
Salmon looked embarrassed. ‘OK, the office meeting can wait. Carry on as you were. I’ll read through the reports and we can have a meeting tomorrow if need be. I’ve a few things to do back at the Yard. Keep me informed of any developments, DI Stanley.’
‘I will, sir.’
Stanley waited a few minutes in case Salmon returned, then spoke to the team.
‘I think we all know what’s going on here. As far as I’m concerned, Sister Melissa Bailey’s death is still under investigation, since it could be connected to Becky Rogers’ disappearance. Meade may or may not be responsible, but either way we need to find out what’s happened. If you get any calls or information that you feel needs an immediate response, tell me, not Salmon.’
Chapter Twenty-eight
Jane sat at her desk to read through the shorthand in Becky’s notebook. She felt sad thinking of the aspiring young journalist writing notes on her first major investigation, full of enthusiasm and keen to impress her editor. It reminded Jane of herself as a young detective, going over the evidence in her mind and writing down her thoughts.
‘This fax just came through for you from BT,’ the civilian indexer said, handing over four sheets of paper.
Jane put the notebook to one side and looked through the calls. She found nothing of relevance until she spotted a number she recognised. Stanley was reading through some reports in Barnes’s office when Jane walked in holding up a fax sheet.
‘There’s a two-minute call on here made from Meade’s office yesterday afternoon.’
‘What’s interesting about a bishop phoning a presbytery?’ Stanley asked.
‘The call was made at a quarter to two, just before Meade left in a cab. He phoned St Mary’s Church presbytery. Father Floridia lives there. He’s the resident priest.’
‘So, Meade phoned a priest... what’s the big deal?’
‘You are hard work at times, Stanley,’ she said.
‘Then get to the point.’
‘I’ve two thoughts here. One, Meade simply phoned Father Floridia and asked if he could speak with him at the presbytery. Two, Meade asked if he could use the presbytery to meet Becky Rogers in private.’
Stanley nodded. ‘Now you’re making sense. Do you think Father Floridia could be involved in Becky’s disappearance?’
Jane sighed. ‘I very much doubt it. Father Chris has helped me from the start of this investigation. Meade told him not to talk to me and he put his job on the line by doing so. Maybe Meade went there to discuss our investigation and see if I’d been in contact with him.’
‘Why would Meade go all the way to the presbytery when he could just as easily ask over the phone?’
‘I agree, that’s odd. However, there are a lot of prying eyes and ears in Archbishop’s House,’ Jane suggested. ‘But if Becky did go to the presbytery, I don’t believe she would have come to any harm there.’
‘You can’t be certain of that,’ Stanley said, opening the phone book and picking up the phone.
‘Who are you calling?’
He started to dial a number. ‘The presbytery. I want you to speak with Father Floridia, ask him if he’s spoken with Bishop Meade recently and gauge his reaction.’
Jane put her finger on the disconnect button. ‘I’ll do it, but face to face.’
‘Take Boon with you,’ Stanley said.
‘No. I need to go alone. I’ll know if he’s lying.’
‘Just because someone is nice, it doesn’t mean they are not dishonest. Meade being a prime example.’
‘I know that, but Father Chris isn’t like him or Malone.’
‘Sounds like you’ve got to know him well in a short space of time,’ Stanley remarked.
‘I consider him a friend,’ Jane said.
Stanley raised his eyebrows. ‘Just a friend?’
‘Yes,’ she said, frowning. ‘And I resent your insinuation.’
Jane knocked on the door of the presbytery. Father Chris opened it, looking pleased to see her.
‘Hello, Jane. What brings you to my door?’
‘I’m here in an official capacity. I need to ask you some questions about Bishop Meade.’
His smile faded. ‘You’d better come in. Is Bishop Meade not willing to talk to you?’
They walked through to the living room.
‘I’ve some bad news about Bishop Meade.’
Father Chris looked concerned. ‘Has he been arrested?’
‘Bishop Meade is dead, Chris. He hanged himself in Archbishop Malone’s office this morning.’
Chris slumped onto the sofa, a stunned expression on his face.
‘I was one of the officers who found him.’