FATHER KELLY PLAYED shtum with the aplomb of a habitual criminal. ‘I told you, young Rafferty. The secrets of the confessional are inviolate.’
‘Can’t you just nod if I’m right? You don’t have to say anything.’
As Father Kelly still said nothing, Rafferty took the lack of response as agreement, and said, ‘Alice Pickford had you visit the house just after her sister’s murder. Was it unusual for you to do so?’
After a few moments’ consideration, Father Kelly nodded.
‘And it was to hear her confession?’
Another nod.
‘Did she want to confess that she’d stuck a knife in her sister?’
No nod this time. But no denial either.
‘I suppose Dahlia saw her?’ God knew how, as she had been in her own flat at the time.
This time the priest shook his head.
‘She didn’t see her?’ No. ‘What, then?’ Ra
