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have history all around us. Marriages, births, and deaths are all recorded somewhere. That’s a start. Computers have made it impossible to hide anything. A parent wouldn’t leave a baby on a doorstep without a good reason. The circumstances would have to have been pretty dire to result in such an action.”
    “An unwed mother might have…”
    “I don’t have the statistics in front of me, but I’m afraid that in the last couple of years, few pregnant mothers have gone to the Church for help to find loving parents for an unwanted child,” said Sister Angela. “They either keep the child and become single parents or offer to become surrogates to a family seeking a baby on the Internet.” Sister Angela cleared her throat. “And this particular unwed mother kept the child for two years before she decided to abandon her.”
    Sister Daniela suddenly spoke up. “I can’t imagine why a mother would leave a baby, unless she was in trouble and thought the baby would be safer with the nuns.”
    “Exactly, Sister,” said Sister Angela. “And the fact that the nuns didn’t report the child to the authorities makes this an interesting case. I must meet with these ladies in person.”
    “But first we have to wait for the police to figure out who might have used our basement as a bedroom,” said Sister Daniela. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to put it out of my mind when I return to the classroom tomorrow.”
    “What did the nuns say to you when they delivered the child two years ago, Mother?”
    “I haven’t spoken with them directly. Sister Liona and Sister Trista picked her up and brought her to the orphanage. There are so many rules. We have to follow procedure so a child’s family can’t come after us claiming we took the child. With all the problems in the Church, you can imagine what a relative might think. We know the Church doesn’t collect children as future priests and nuns, Sister, but others might not be aware of that.”
    “In this case, however, we’re open to scrutiny already,” said Sister Liona. “We don’t even know if Pia’s an orphan.”
    “The nuns at the convent are liable here,” said Mother Faustine. “They took in a child without reporting her. The police didn’t know to investigate a possible crime.”
    “I suppose you’re right, but Mission House hasn’t conducted an investigation into Pia’s circumstances over the last two years either,” said Sister Angela. “You accepted a child who might still have parents and placed her in your orphanage. Surely Sister Liona understands what I’m trying to say.”
    “You have a point, Sister,” said Sister Liona. “Mission House could probably fight culpability because law enforcement was involved in the transfer of the child to our facility. Unfortunately, we’ve opened ourselves to a fight if the relatives find out what happened. That fight would cost us money and reputation. I believe we should tread carefully when investigating this crime. Sister Angela may solve the crime but involve all of us in legal entanglement that obliterates all the good our organizations do.”
    “You’re right, Sister Liona. I must work with the police to find out what happened. I can’t do it without them. I’ll keep you all informed about my findings. But you must know that my primary purpose will be to find Pia. If we don’t find her, no matter what we reveal to those involved, the Church may be negligent in the eyes of the world.

    Sister Angela sat in a comfortable chair and let one of the other sisters serve her coffee. “The dinner was delicious,” she told Sister Liona who sat down beside her.
    “I know you didn’t want to discuss what happened today during dinner, but can we discuss it now? People are dying to hear about what Sister Daniela found.”
    “I suppose, as long as Sister Daniela does the talking.”
    The other nuns grabbed chairs and put them around the room. Sister Daniela was given an easy chair near Sister