‘Has she been hurt?’
‘We think she may have been hit by a car so we really need to find her.’
The man began tapping his fingers on the back of his phone. ‘I should get out there and help look for her. She can’t be far. She must be hurt. Maybe she has concussion and has wandered off.’ He stood and stopped. ‘I can’t leave Cally.’
‘It might be best if you stay here until we locate Mr Braddock. Are you able to stay?’
He nodded and ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up. ‘Yes, of course. I’m really worried now.’
‘We are too but we have a lot of officers out there looking for her and conducting door-to-door questioning. We also have a dog team out there so we’re doing all we can.’
He exhaled and sat back down.
‘Can we try her husband?’
Wyre nodded and pressed the numbers into her phone, which went to voicemail. She left a message with her number and ended the call. ‘Nothing.’
Gina turned her attention back to Evan who was now scratching his stubble. ‘How well do you know Annabel?’
‘As well as any neighbour would. She and her husband have been good neighbours. We get on well. I sometimes sit in their garden for a couple of beers when the weather is nice, as do the other neighbours. We’re a close community on this row. We all get on. The Braddocks had a Christmas party last year and we all came. It was lovely.’
‘So you’re friends of both of them? Mr and Mrs Braddock.’
‘Yes, and Grant’s brother, Seth.’
‘Do you live alone?’
He leaned back. ‘Yes. I used to live with my father but he died a couple of years ago and I stayed in our family home.’
She smiled and continued. ‘Can you tell me how Annabel was earlier this evening, before she left?’
‘She seemed fine. Nothing unusual to report. She mentioned going out with her friend, Jennifer. Jennifer was already here when I arrived. I think Annabel had been to her house beforehand with Cally as Cally mentioned all the sweets that she’d been eating. Anyway, Annabel thanked me for looking after her and they left for the pub.’ The man’s brows furrowed and he shifted position in his chair and sighed. ‘They went to the Angel Arms, I remember that much.’
‘Did she say anything else?’
‘No.’
‘How are Annabel and her husband?’ Gina had to explore why Annabel had been taken. It was possible that she knew the person who ran them over.
‘There is something that concerns me, but it’s nothing to do with me or you, or anyone. I know they’ve had problems. Annabel and Grant wouldn’t be happy if I said anything as it really isn’t any of my business. It’s got nothing to do with tonight anyway. You said it was an accident.’
‘We think it was an accident. Please, Evan. Go on.’
‘They’re going to hate me for telling you this.’ He stared at Gina, then at Wyre. ‘Okay.’ He put his head in his hands and ruffled his hair again. ‘They’d been arguing and I know he left with a bag earlier. The whole street could probably hear it.’
‘What were they arguing about?’
‘I wasn’t eavesdropping but it was so loud, I couldn’t not hear as I was in my garden feeding the rabbit. He’d been sleeping with someone else. She already knew he’d been playing her as he’d been previously banished to the spare room. Their relationship has been going down the pan for ages. The truth is, when she asked me to babysit, she was upset. The reason she didn’t ask her usual childminder was because Grant had been sleeping with her. She must have found that out just then, which would explain the argument. I could see that she’d been crying but I didn’t say anything. It wasn’t my place. I just said yes, like a friend and neighbour would. As I already said, she left with her friend at about seven thirty and that was it.’
‘Do you know the childminder?’
‘Not well. I’ve spoken to her in passing and I’ve seen her around. Her name is Taylor. I gave her a lift home once when her car was being repaired at the garage so I have her location on maps.’ He scrolled through his phone. ‘It’s seventeen Cherry Drive.’
He bit the inside of his cheek as he stared into the dark fireplace. ‘Wait.’
‘What is it?’
‘No, it’s silly. In fact, it’s ridiculous.’
