O’Brien shook his head.

‘Even when she lived at the home she never went in there.’

‘Is that right, Mr Campbell?’

‘No one’s allowed near my grapes.’ Campbell’s eyebrows met again. ‘Unless they’re working for me.’

Max Campbell muttered something sotto voce.

Jake was aware that neither Kelly nor his daughter were contributing to the conversation. He glanced in their direction. They appeared to be as engrossed in the exchange as spectators at a tennis match.

‘Did your sister have a car?’ he asked O’Brien.

‘A little red two-door thing.’

‘Any chance you have a spare key? And perhaps one to her home as well?’

O’Brien pulled a crowded keyring from his trouser pocket and handed it to Jake. ‘They’re the ones with a red strip of tape on them. You can have them.’

‘We’ll be sure to return them to you.’

‘I don’t need them. And you can just give all her things to charity.’

In Jake’s experience, family members often regretted their initial impulse to give all of a loved one’s things away. ‘That’s up to the executor of her will. But wouldn’t she have any mementos you’d like to claim? Family heirlooms perhaps?’

‘I’ve already got what’s important to me.’

‘We’ll do everything we can to find out what happened to your sister, Liam.’ Kelly said finally, indicating the interview was at an end.

‘Thanks, Aiden.’

‘I talked to you about moving her into a home a few times. It’s a pity she didn’t or maybe this could have been avoided.’

‘I know, but she was stubborn.’

‘Was Ava experiencing health problems?’ Jake asked.

‘No, it’s more …’

‘Women on their own,’ Mason Campbell interjected. ‘It’s not right, is it?’

‘Same for old men,’ his son niggled.

‘Pah.’ Mason waved a dismissive hand.

‘Ava insisted she had earned the right to live exactly as she wanted,’ O’Brien said, ‘and that was by herself.’

‘Would you like one of us to drive you to the hospital to identify her?’ Jake offered.

O’Brien looked at Kelly. ‘Do I have to go straight away?’

‘No. Tomorrow’s fine. Or Monday if you prefer.’

‘I’d rather do it then.’

‘I’ll have either Patrick Murphy or Hunter here take you.’

‘Righto. I … I guess I’ll be off then.’

Having removed the two keys with red tape on them, Jake handed the keyring back. ‘Do you have anyone to be with right now, Mr O’Brien?’

‘A few friends in town. Might go for a drink tonight, raise a glass to Ava.’

‘Sounds good,’ Kelly said as they all rose from the table and headed down the hallway.

As they bid O’Brien farewell at the front door, Jake realised Evelyn Kelly had been resolutely silent during the entire exchange. Where was the counselling she was apparently being paid to deliver?

‘If you’re all off, let me grab you a bottle each.’

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, Dad, no.’ Max glanced apologetically at Ms Kelly. ‘Sorry.’

She gave the barest of shrugs.

Mason Campbell ignored his son to shuffle to a hulking sideboard in the foyer and gingerly bend over. He retrieved two wine bottles and presented them with a flourish to Jake and Kelly. ‘I hope it’s not considered a bribe.’ He winked.