‘Did he ever mention to you that he was in trouble or had problems with anyone?’ Dan carried on looking round their front room. It was pleasant, comfortable and clean, but he couldn’t escape the feeling of unhappiness that clung to the air.

‘No-o.’

‘What about his ex-wife, Nicola?’

‘What about her?’ There was a tightening in her voice as she spoke.

A chesty, gurgle-y cough erupted from Mr Ryan.

‘Weren’t you keen on her?’

She gave an I-don’t-want-to-say shrug.

‘Is that a no?’

‘She was much posher than him. We always felt that she put pressure on him to make all that money. To support her in a certain lifestyle. You know?’

‘What made you think that?’ Dan asked.

She shrugged and got up from the sofa. ‘We suspected she clocked onto his earning potential from the off.’ She shuffled over to the fireplace where she began rearranging objects on the mantelpiece.

For a moment Dan watched her, considering whether he had got Nicola wrong – but he didn’t think so. People were often quick, when something turned out badly, to blame another person for having a bad influence.

‘Maybe success and money were what your son wanted at the time.’ Maya moved closer until she was beside Sinead at the hearth. ‘Was he easily influenced?’

‘Paddy? Never.’ Her response couldn’t have been more unequivocal.

Dan and Maya exchanged looks.

‘Mrs Ryan,’ Maya said gently, ‘could you have a seat for a moment?’ She gestured to the sofa where Sinead had been sitting, and waited for her to sit down. ‘I’m sorry to say that your son was shot.’

She gasped. ‘Shot?’ Her hand went straight to her mouth.

Dan hoped Maya wasn’t going to mention his tongue.

‘What we don’t know is why. Can you help us with that?’

She sat, frozen, as though she’d been stung. ‘I haven’t a clue.’

‘Do you have any idea who might want to harm him?’

Sinead seemed paralysed. Hands still clasped over her nose and mouth, she continued to shake her head. This time she didn’t ask her husband what he thought, and it was as though she’d given up expecting an answer from him.

‘Can you think of any reason why someone might harm your son?’ Maya asked.

It was a small sniff to start with. Then another and a wipe of the nose. Then she dabbed her eyes with the back of her hand. And then the sobs came full tilt. Huge, loud wracking sobs.

Maya waited for a few moments. ‘Mrs Ryan, would you like a cup of tea? Can I get you some tissues?’

‘Um . . . tissue, please.’ She sniffed and swallowed and dabbed at her face.

Maya passed her a packet of tissues and sat down next to her on the sofa.

For several more minutes Sinead continued to sob and blow her nose.