Free Vow of Obedience by Veronica Black

Padraic Lee may bend the law occasionally but he’s very far from being a criminal. And he most certainly isn’t a murderer.’
    For a moment he faced her coldly, his authority threatened, his judgement called into question. Then he said annoyingly, ‘If you say so, Sister. Thanks for your help.’
    ‘Did anyone see or hear anything unusual last night?’ Detective Sergeant Mill was asking.
    There were sidelong glances, a shaking of heads.
    ‘No barking from the dogs?’
    ‘They bark all the time. Nobody pays heed,’ one of the men said.
    ‘And by now any clue will have been trodden underfoot,’ Sergeant Barratt said. ‘I must say that I cannot fathom how people can live in this mess.’
    ‘You ought to stand for the council,’ Sister Joan advised sweetly. ‘Then you could figure out how to get running water and adequate sanitation up here on a very limited budget.’
    ‘Barratt, get on to the doctor and the photographer again,’ Detective Sergeant Mill interposed somewhat hastily. ‘We’ll need some extra men here. I’ll go and see the parents. Anybody have an address?’
    ‘They’ll know at the bread shop,’ Padraic offered.
    ‘I’ll try there first. Sister Joan, you’ve been a tremendous help. I may need to call upon you later. Meanwhile give my respects and apologies to Mother Dorothy.’
    From Detective Sergeant Mill she was more willing to take a dismissal. Padraic stepped forward, escorting her to her car with innate courtesy.
    ‘Who’s the other one then?’ He jerked his head over his shoulder towards Sergeant Barratt. ‘Bit of a pig, ain’t he?’
    ‘Sergeant Barratt is an extremely efficient officer who’s been transferred here from Birmingham,’ Sister Joan said severely.
    ‘Oh, a foreigner.’ Padraic nodded as if all was now understood . ‘This is a rotten business and no mistake. There’s been another one done in too, I hear. In the school.’
    ‘Put there after she was killed and after the area had been searched,’ Sister Joan said sombrely. ‘It is, as you say, a rotten affair. I would advise you to co-operate with the police though, even if you don’t like Sergeant Barratt. After all nobody suspects for a moment that anyone from here has had anything to do with murder. The girl wouldn’t have been left on the premises so to speak.’
    ‘And murder’s not in our line except in temper,’ Padraic said self-righteously. ‘Now a bit of poaching
    ‘Don’t tell me anything about any poaching,’ Sister Joan warned. ‘How is your wife?’
    ‘Middling fair.’ His swarthy face had lengthened slightly. ‘She has a bad do now and then. We’ve all got our troubles though, and she’s a good wife. I wouldn’t swap her for the world.’
    Madge Lee, struggling halfheartedly against alcoholism, had a better husband than she merited. Sister Joan patted his arm and got back into the car, lifting her hand in salute as she drove away.
    Soon another family would hear about the death of a loved one, be inundated by the sympathy of neighbours, the curiosity of passers-by.
    ‘You’re very late, Sister.’ Mother Dorothy, meeting her in the hall, frowned ominously.
    ‘I’m very sorry, Mother. I was needed to help with the police enquiries.’ Swiftly she explained what had happened and saw distaste and distress on her Superior’s face.
    ‘This is a terrible business, Sister.’ Her hand rose to bless herself while her mind coped with the new tragedy. ‘Of course, if you can assist further it is your duty as a citizen to do so. You may take my permission as read – provided that you don’t neglect your duties in the community. Fortunately Sister Teresa is proving most competent. You had better go and have your lunch and get on with your work.’
    Since her return she hadn’t eaten once with her sisters in the refectory. She went through to the kitchen, accepted the bowl of warmed over soup, slice of bread and ripe pear that had comprised lunch.
    The rest of the day passed