‘Could you please tell us when you last saw Ava, Mr O’Brien?’
O’Brien hunched slightly. ‘Wednesday. We had dinner at her house as usual.’
‘Do you mean you normally saw her on a Wednesday evening?’
‘Unless one of us was sick, yes.’
‘You usually checked on her a couple of times through the week too, Liam?’ Kelly added.
‘A quick call Saturdays and Mondays, usually.’
‘And did she seem her usual self on Wednesday?’ Jake asked.
‘Yes. She carried on about burning dinner and fussed over some girls she used to look after, but that’s Ava. Always the worrier.’
‘Was she concerned about anything or anyone in particular?’
‘Ava always wants everyone to get along,’ O’Brien said. ‘She mentioned a couple of girls from the home bickering, or some such.’
‘Do you know their names?’
‘I never really paid attention to that kind of thing,’ he said.
Jake looked at Kelly, who nodded. Good. There should be records to help them to identify the girls Ava had referred to.
‘And you haven’t seen your sister since?’
‘That was only two nights ago.’ O’Brien’s face fell. ‘I had no way of knowing that would be our last meal together.’
How much could Jake push him at this point? ‘If you don’t mind my asking, Mr O’Brien, where were you last night?’
‘At the pub.’
Aiden Kelly frowned. ‘Bit unusual for you, Liam?’
‘I was at a loose end, so I went out for some company. Drank far more than was good for me, so I stayed in one of the rooms upstairs.’
‘Was it a special occasion?’ Jake asked.
‘Excuse me?’
‘You said you were at a loose end. Was there any particular reason for that?’
Liam O’Brien waved a hand at a surprised Max Campbell. ‘Young Max here. Normally I see Mason on a Thursday evening to play some chess, but as Max is visiting Mason suggested we hold off until next week.’
‘You didn’t say anything, Dad?’
‘You only bother with me once in a blue moon,’ his father replied, ‘so I figured chess could wait a week.’
Jake was willing to bet that Mason Campbell’s attitude toward his son was a key reason they rarely saw each other.
‘And you’ve lived in Dunton for how long, Mr O’Brien?’ Jake asked.
‘Nigh on thirty years.’
‘You came here to run the girls’ home with your sister?’
O’Brien shook his head. ‘I just helped out occasionally. She ran the place.’
‘Did Ava have many friends?’
‘No, she mostly preferred her own company.’
Come on, Jake demanded silently, give me something. Someone either hated or feared your sister, or what she stood for. No one tortures, kills and dumps a frail old woman without motive.
‘Did Ava have any trouble with neighbours?’ he asked aloud. ‘Other people in the past?’
‘I don’t think so. Everyone liked her …’
‘She was a fine woman, your sister,’ Mason Campbell said.
‘Can you think of any reason why she might have been around here, or in the vineyard, last night?’ Jake continued.