A VOW OF DEVOTION an utterly gripping crime mystery by VERONICA BLACK

Author:VERONICA BLACK [BLACK, VERONICA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books Crime thriller and mystery
Published: 2021-02-27T22:00:00+00:00

Seven

Sister Joan stood rigidly, looking down. This wasn’t the first violent death she had seen but that didn’t make it the less horrible. Automatically the rules of common sense came into operation, blanketing the shock. Nothing must be touched or moved. Sister Elizabeth was dead. Sister Joan broke her own rules and touched the inside of the dead girl’s wrist. The skin felt cold and damp. Her open eyes held no expression at all. Sister Joan would have liked to close them, to cross the stiffening arms on the motionless breast, but she turned away, went into the kitchen again, closed the door of the lay cell softly behind her.

Mother Dorothy was already awake when she tapped on the door of her cell. Her nightcapped head was raised from the pillow, one hand reaching for her spectacles, her voice low as she said, ‘Something has happened, Sister Joan?’

‘Sister Elizabeth is dead, Mother.’ Sister Joan spoke bluntly, aware that the Prioress was one of the few completely controlled people with whom one could be blunt. ‘She didn’t respond to the morning salutation so I looked in on her. Someone bludgeoned her across the forehead as she slept, I think.’

There was a slight intake of breath. Mother Dorothy glanced across to the other bed where Sister Hilaria still slept.

‘Rouse the rest of the community for chapel,’ she instructed quietly. ‘I will telephone the police and inform Father Malone what has happened as soon as he gets here. I will break the news after Mass. The police will be here by then and will wish to make the usual enquiries. You are sure Sister Elizabeth is beyond help?’

‘I’m certain, Mother Dorothy.’

‘Very well, Sister. Continue with the salutations.’

‘Christ is risen!’ Sister Joan backed out of the door, whirring her rattle again.

From within Mother Dorothy’s voice answered, ‘Thanks be to God!’

‘Thanks be to God!’ Sister Hilaria had woken and was dipping to her knees.

There was comfort in following the usual routine. Sister Joan went on down the corridor, making her announcement, hearing the responses in varying stages of alertness. Sister Elizabeth’s absence from chapel might be noted but nobody would comment on the fact yet. This early hour was for contemplation and worship.

She had reached the foot of the staircase when Mother Dorothy went past her, heading for the parlour. She would be telephoning the police. Sister Joan went on into the kitchen and stood uncertainly there, looking at the closed door of the lay cell. She was tempted to look in again, to see if anything out of place there had escaped her first horrified glance, but that would be for the police to decide.

‘Sister Joan!’ Mother Dorothy came in, her voice having regained its usual sharpness.

‘Yes, Reverend Mother?’

‘Did you unlock the door leading into the chapel wing?’

‘It was open when I came into the hall this morning,’ Sister Joan said.

‘Thank you, Sister. I’ve rung the police and also Father Malone. He will come at once to offer Mass so that the police can get on with their enquiries as quickly as possible.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.