‘We found a bleach bottle in one of the outside bins. Did you use it to clean up?’
‘I used a towel first to clean up the blood on the floor, then put it in the case and took it out to the car. When I came back, I used the bleach and some toilet roll to make sure there was no blood left. I flushed it down the toilet and put the bleach bottle in the outside bin.’
‘OK, I need to ask you a few questions about your relationship with Tom.’
Lee nodded.
‘When we first met, I asked you who the man with the dog was. You said you didn’t know him, and then Thomas Durham never mentioned he owned the convent and land. Was there something you were hiding from us?’
‘Tom was mad at me about the discovery of the coffin.’
‘Why was that?’
‘When Tom first bought the property, the chapel and the land it had been deconsecrated so he was OK to start the renovation work. He was exploring the crypt and found the coffin hidden under a tarpaulin with some other old rubbish right at the back. I helped him drag it out to the stairwell area. We suspected there was a body in it but we didn’t open it. Tom said his wife would be upset if she knew there was a dead body in the house and told me to bury it well away from the convent.’
‘Did Tom know he should have informed the diocese?’
‘We both did. Tom was worried the renovation work would have to stop and he’d need to get solicitors involved to apply for some petition thing... all of which would cost him more money.’
‘Why on earth did you bury the coffin on land you knew you were going to dig up?’ Boon asked.
‘I told a couple of labourers we’d been given permission by the bishop to bury the coffin down by the lake. I paid them to move it. The lazy beggars must have thought it was too far to carry and buried it near the burnt-out buildings.’
‘What were their names?’
‘I can’t remember now. I think one was called Jordan.’
‘Why didn’t you rebury it when you dug it up last week?’ Jane asked.
‘Because Dermot phoned the police while I went to tell Tom about it.’
‘Why the big pretence you didn’t know each other?’
‘Because we didn’t want anyone to find out what we’d done with the coffin. We were also worried it might affect the current building work and we’d lose thousands.’
‘You’re a pair of idiots. If you’d just told us the truth about the coffin none of this would have happened,’ Jane said.
Lee sighed. ‘I know.’
Jane decided it was time to ask Lee some crucial questions about Becky’s death.
‘You said earlier you were angry with Becky because she wouldn’t leave when asked.’
‘I was more annoyed than angry,’ he replied.
‘Did you lose your temper and push her down the stairs?’ Jane asked.
Lee looked distraught. ‘No. It was all a terrible accident. If she hadn’t tried to go down to the cellar, none of it would have happened.’
‘Why didn’t you just call the police and say there’d been an accident?’ Boon asked.
‘Because I thought no one would believe me and I’d be arrested for something I didn’t do.’
‘Why have you packed a suitcase?’ Boon asked.
‘Nick phoned me late last night. He told me about Tom’s heart attack while you were searching his house. I was scared. I didn’t want to go to prison for something that wasn’t my fault. I was going to stay with a friend in Spain.’
Boon glared at him. ‘Which conveniently happens to be a country we have no extradition treaty with.’
‘I swear on my life, I didn’t push her.’
Boon shook his head. ‘I don’t believe you and I doubt a jury will either.’
A terrified Lee looked at Jane. ‘Am I going to be charged with murder?’
‘That’s not for me to decide. A post-mortem is being carried out later this morning. We will interview you again after the pathologist has completed her examination of Becky’s body. There are a couple of other things I need to ask you about the convent. Did you or Thomas Durham ever do any work there prior to the purchase?’
‘No.’
‘How long have you been working with Thomas Durham?’
‘Since he started the company, which was about twenty-five years ago.’
‘What was the name of the company when he first started it?’
‘Thomas Durham Builders. He changed it to Thomas Durham and Son when Nick started working for him.’
‘I’ll ask you again, did you or Thomas Durham ever do any work at the convent prior to the purchase of the buildings and land?’
‘No, I told you.’
‘Then can you explain why we have found quotes and invoices for repair work at the convent with the letterhead Thomas Durham Builders, some of which are dated 1960, 1961 and 1962?’
He started to look nervous. ‘I don’t know anything about them... honest.’
‘All of them are signed by Thomas Durham... who you worked for.’
Lee licked his lips. ‘I suppose we might have done some work back then. Actually, come to think of it we did repair the chapel roof at one time.’
‘There is a quote and invoice for that job,’ Jane told him. ‘By we, do you mean yourself and Thomas Durham?’
‘Yes.’
‘And did you do other repair work back then?’
‘Probably, but it was so long ago it’s hard to remember now.’
‘Does the name Melissa Bailey mean anything to you?’
‘No, should it?’
‘She was a sister at the convent. It was her body we found in the coffin. She was murdered during the time you and Thomas worked at the convent.’
Lee looked shocked. ‘We didn’t know any of the nuns. We never even spoke to them other than to say good morning.’
‘Did you or Thomas Durham murder Melissa Bailey?’
‘No! Why on earth would you think we’d do a thing like that?’
‘Because you both lied about knowing each other, never mentioned you’d worked at the convent and now Becky Rogers is dead.’
Lee started shaking his head from side to side. ‘I swear I’ve told you everything.’
‘There’s something you’re hiding from me, Lee, and I think it’s to do with Melissa Bailey’s murder. If you’re trying to protect Thomas Durham, I can assure you you’ll only make matters worse for yourself.’
‘Thomas is a good man... he’s not a murderer,’ Lee said, putting his head in his hands.
It suddenly dawned on Jane what he might be hiding.
‘Amongst the documents we recovered was a quote to repair the fire-damaged buildings. Obviously, a survey must have been done first. Did you do that survey?’
‘No, Thomas did it. But the diocese couldn’t afford to repair the buildings.’
Jane could see he was getting agitated. ‘And as we all know they then sold the convent to Mr Durham.’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Do you know how the fire started?’ Jane asked.
‘No,’ he said, nervously shaking his head.
‘Do you know where it started?’
‘Thomas said it was in the bakery.’
‘When did he tell you that?’
‘Just after he did the survey.’
‘The thing is, Lee, we had the bakery examined by a fire investigator. Even after all these years he was able to tell it was a case of arson. In his expert opinion, someone poured oil from a paraffin heater in three separate areas and set light to it.’ Jane noticed Lee’s eyes widen. ‘The Mother Superior and the sisters at the convent had nothing to gain by setting fire to the outbuildings — whereas you and Thomas Durham had everything to gain. So, my question is, did you set light to the bakery?’
Lee’s lips began to tremble, and he put his head in his hands.
‘You wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for Thomas Durham. Everything dishonest he’s asked you to do has now ruined your life.’