A VOW OF OBEDIENCE an utterly gripping crime mystery (Sister Joan Murder Mystery Book 4) by VERONICA BLACK

Author:VERONICA BLACK [BLACK, VERONICA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller and cozy mystery
Published: 2021-01-31T00:00:00+00:00

Eight

‘Detective Sergeant Mill is on his way here,’ Mother Dorothy said. ‘Sister Joan, you will be the one most fitted to answer any questions he has. I’m afraid he will expect to be shown inside the postulancy in order to look for signs of an illegal entry. Sister Elizabeth and Sister Marie, you will remain in chapel until the detective has gone, though he may also wish to question you in which case you will be sent for to the parlour.’

Her voice was as calm as if a member of the community came every morning to tell her that a threatening message had been left in luminous paint, but her hands were tense.

Father Stephens had been and gone, bound for a clerical meeting somewhere or other. Saturday, marked out from other days by the general confession in the evening, unfolded rapidly from a cold, grey dawn into a cold, sparkling forenoon.

The two novices knelt and went docilely towards the chapel. The Prioress looked at Sister Joan.

‘You did well to wait until morning before you informed me of what had occurred,’ she said with rare approval. ‘Of course it was impossible to hide it from the novices, but there is no need to alarm the rest of the community. Ah, there is the car now.’

She went into the hall and opened the door, Sister Joan at her heels. On the step Detective Sergeant Mill lowered his hand from the bell rope.

‘Good morning, Mother Dorothy.’ He shook hands politely. ‘Your message was very clear. Sister Joan, good morning. You haven’t washed out the paint?’

‘Not yet. Sister Joan will show it to you. I have kept it from most of the community but the two novices in the postulancy couldn’t avoid seeing it. If it’s absolutely necessary to question them they can be summoned from chapel.’

‘Thank you, but I’ll try to avoid it. My driver will be taking fingerprints though I have no hopes in that direction. We will need to enter the building.’

‘Sister Joan will accompany you. Perhaps you will take a coffee with me when you have completed your business — your — er, driver too, of course.’

‘Wilcox will be more at ease in the kitchen,’ Detective Sergeant Mill said with a grin. ‘He’s a rabid Methodist and terrified of being converted.’

‘Whatever you both wish.’ If she was amused she didn’t show it.

Walking round the side of the main house, the constable trailing at a little distance, he commented, ‘Your prioress seems marginally less prickly this morning.’

‘She understands the importance of co-operating with the police. There is something more which I haven’t yet mentioned but may well be linked.’

‘Yes?’ He slowed pace, turning an interested face towards her.

‘On my first evening back I received leave from Mother Dorothy to walk for twenty minutes in the enclosure. I had discovered that poor girl’s body and I was more shaken than I realized. I saw — caught a fleeting glimpse . . .’

‘Of what?’

‘Of what I took to be one of the other sisters.

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