‘Okay, I understand. Can I get you a drink?’
Gina shook her head. ‘Have you seen anything of Mr Braddock?’
‘No, I have your number. If I see him, I’ll call you straight away. Are you any closer to finding Annabel?’
‘We have leads to follow so we’re getting closer.’
‘I hope you find her soon. This is just horrible. Her father still hasn’t managed to tell little Cally. I called him up to see if there was any news, earlier. The poor child thinks her mother is on a spa break and that her father is working away. She’s such a good friend and neighbour and her little girl adores her. We all just want her home and safe.’
‘As do we all.’
Evan paused and placed his hands in a prayer position in front of his mouth. He shook his head and removed them. ‘I don’t know if this is relevant but Grant was doing drugs. I know I should have said something earlier but I thought Annabel would come home and this would all be a mistake. The more I think about it, the more I feel it could be relevant. Grant was dealing in amphetamines and other things, but I can’t remember what they were. I know that because he tried to sell me some. I’m not into drugs or anything like that. I really didn’t think that what Grant was doing would have anything to do with what has happened to Annabel but I can’t stop thinking about it. What if he owes a drug dealer and they’re using Annabel to get to him? I haven’t seen Grant either. He’s missing too.’ He shook his head. ‘Maybe I’ve been watching too much TV.’
‘Thank you for telling us. How well do you know Grant?’ It wasn’t news to them but it was news to know that they had a witness that could verify that Grant had tried to sell them drugs. They could definitely arrest him on those charges and further question him about his wife. If only they knew where he was. He hadn’t come back for his car at the gym and his other car hadn’t flagged up.
‘As well as a neighbour would. I watch their home when they go on holiday and they do the same for me. I’ve looked after their dog, they do the same for my rabbit. You came over when I was babysitting for Cally. We’re good neighbours, that’s probably how I’d describe us. We’ve played golf together and been boating in the past, but he doesn’t tell me his problems. We’re not that close.’
Gina allowed her gaze to rove around the room and she stared at a photo on a shelf. ‘Is that you and Grant on a boat?’ The ancient-looking cabin cruiser was a relic from the sixties with its brown stripe running through the middle and its mustard-coloured curtains poking out of the one window.
‘Ah yes. Grant bought that boat off me and I went out on it with him on many occasions. That was taken a couple of years ago.’
‘Does he still have the boat?’
‘Its days were numbered when I had it but I think Grant wanted a boat as his brother, Seth, had one. You can see how old it looks in the photo and I didn’t maintain it well. I sold it to Grant for next to nothing because it wasn’t worth anything. It was a bit of a fad on my part. Novelty soon wore off.’
‘What’s his brother’s full name?’
‘Seth Braddock. I’ve been friends with Seth for years but he works away a lot so you might not be able to catch him about. He’s a nice guy but I know he and Grant have had their differences.’
‘What differences?’
‘Sibling rivalry. Seth looks like Grant but he’s that bit more handsome. He’s successful, well respected, funny and fit. He’s also free. I mean, without ties. No wife or kids.’ Evan let out a chuckle. ‘I shouldn’t laugh but even I wish I was Seth. He’s just one of those guys.’
‘What does he do?’
‘He’s a well-respected professor. At the moment, he’s contracted at a university in Amsterdam. He comes back during breaks. Maths and computer science, I think. I don’t think he’s in the country at the moment but then again, he doesn’t have to check in with me, though he does normally call me when he’s back to ask if I want a pint with him.’
Gina made a note of Grant Braddock’s brother’s name and details. ‘Do you have Seth’s phone number?’
‘Yes.’ Evan noted it down and passed it to Gina.
‘Where is the boat that Grant owns now? What happened to it?’
‘I think it got scrapped as Grant used it a few times then said it was too knackered to take out. Annabel and Cally got scared on it once. He took it out on the river in really bad weather. I remember Annabel saying never again. You might need to ask him what he did with it as he never told me. I’m assuming he scrapped it because that would be logical. Or maybe it’s still at the boatyard, rotting away.’
‘So, you didn’t get another boat?’
‘No. I’d never get one again. Too much work. Like I said, the novelty wore off.’
‘What was the name of Grant’s boat and where was it kept?’
‘It was calledFreedom. It would have been registered to Grant and last I knew it was kept at a boatyard in Bidford-on-Avon. That’s where I kept it. He took over the storage payments when he bought the boat. I really don’t know what he did with it after. I was glad to get rid of it. I told him it was in a state but he said it didn’t matter.’
‘What’s the name of his brother’s boat?’
‘Erm…’ He scrunched his brow. ‘Something to do with fruit. Maybe a strawberry or raspberry.’
‘Do you know where that is moored or stored?’
