Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
I took out my phone, then decided it was too much to explain by text, so instead I tucked Hilda up in her bed, then stomped up the towpath and over the bridge to speak to Liam in person.
It had felt unexpectedly reassuring to share my concerns with him earlier and to receive his message saying he had my back, and I wanted his take on this latest development.
Dusk was falling as I made my way to Castle Mill Stream.
The backwater was home to temporary moorings, and in the height of the summer holidays it was normally busy, but at the moment the Lydia was the only boat tied up on this stretch.
The motor cruiser stood out even more than usual because her deck area was lit up by a collection of ring lights.
Liam was standing chatting away to a camera fixed in the centre of one of them, animatedly holding up a water bottle which contained a sludgy green concoction.
I hovered on the bank, not wanting to interrupt his flow.
‘Travelling around like I do, I have to make sure I’m looking after number one.
That’s why I drink Prasinos Viridis Protein smoothies, who I’m proud to say are the sponsors of today’s video.
’ He paused and held the bottle closer to the camera, then took a big glug.
‘Mmm, so tasty,’ he added, although the slight gagging noise he made after somewhat contradicted his words.
‘Nutritious and totally delicious, these smoothies are my absolute favourite. Honestly, if I wasn’t sponsored by these guys, I’d still be recommending them to you.
Did I mention they’re super tasty and full to the brim with goodness?
Check out the description below to get 25 per cent off if you sign up for a subscription using the code Boaty Liam.
Yes, folks, you heard me right, a whopping 25 per cent off. And now back to the video.’
He reached forward and covered the lens with his hand, then turned the camera off and spat over the side of the boat into the river, pouring the rest of the bottle’s contents in as well.
I took a step back, deciding it would be better to pretend I hadn’t been standing there the whole time, but I ended up treading on a stick which broke in half with a loud crack.
Liam looked up from the railings and grinned ruefully at me.
‘Caught in the act. I can never keep the disgusting stuff down for long, plus it gives me a dicky tummy.’
‘If that’s the case, why do you advertise it online?’ I asked, disconcerted by the contrast in his behind-the-scenes behaviour.
‘Straight to the point, Molls. It pays well and needs must. The company’s giving me a percentage of the sales from my discount code as well as the usual sponsorship fee, so I had to make it convincing.
Don’t worry, I believe most of the claims they make on the packaging are true, even if it does taste absolutely rank to me.
’ He gave an exaggerated shudder then laughed in his usual charming manner, but I couldn’t smile along with him.
I understood the pressures of trying to get by, but to be actively deceiving your audience like that?
It didn’t sit right, and I was unsettled by this different side of him.
I wondered whether I’d made a mistake coming here this evening.
But Liam was carrying on in his usual chatty manner like there was nothing wrong in what he was doing, and before I knew it, he’d ushered me on board the Lydia.
‘Welcome to my crib,’ he said.
I’d watched his online tour, but seeing the place in person made me realise how much money he must have spent on fitting it out.
‘I had to get inventive to make sure I could get all the mod cons installed, but as my social media following started growing, I saw an opportunity to monetise and I’ve not looked back,’ he explained as he took a couple of ciders out of his fridge and gestured for me to sit down on deck.
‘Cheers.’ He clinked his bottle against mine.
I hesitated, then took a sip of the chilled liquid and surveyed my surroundings, trying to relax into the moment.
The river was gently bubbling past the boat, carrying a collection of blossom petals on the surface, while insects danced around in the golden light from the setting sun.
There couldn’t be many more beautiful places in the world.
I was desperate to be able to continue living here.
Undoubtedly Liam was equally as keen to continue his live-aboard lifestyle.
Was I being too quick to judge his disingenuous behaviour?
‘Shoot, what’s on your mind?’ he asked.
I dragged my thoughts away from my current dilemma back to my original reason for coming to visit him.
‘Am I that transparent?’ I said, playing for time as I questioned whether it was a good idea to confide in him further.
‘I know we’ve only known each other a short amount of time, but I can see something’s bothering you. That sunny Molly disposition has a few clouds on the horizon.’ He waved his hand around, as if trying to brush them away. ‘What’s he done now?’
‘I don’t know for definite that Jack has done anything,’ I prevaricated.
‘You don’t know, but you have a strong feeling, I can tell.
You should trust your instincts,’ said Liam.
‘Let me guess. Is it something to do with the lengthy chat I saw him having with the head honcho of the Boating Association a little earlier? The pair of them looked as thick as thieves. I got a bad vibe about their conversation.’
‘Eric is a decent guy. He follows the rules. I know he wouldn’t be involved in anything dodgy,’ I defended him, even as my pulse accelerated in panic as I realised my hunch must be correct.
‘Is that his name?’ Liam reached across and squeezed my hand. ‘Your friend Eric might be one of the good guys, but the man he was talking to certainly isn’t, and that’s how trouble starts. Tell me. What’s happened?’
I reluctantly explained about the looming boat inspection.
‘I’m sure I’ve got nothing to worry about, but I can’t help being concerned regardless.
Everything on the Bookship is in order, I know it is.
But I hate being put under such scrutiny, plus the inspector could turn up at any moment.
What if they make an appearance in the middle of my next event and start being difficult?
It wouldn’t be a good look and it’s exactly the kind of thing which could start rumours flying around and damage the shop’s reputation. ’
Liam took a drink of his cider. ‘I can understand why you’re worried. Let’s examine the evidence and see if we can prove who’s behind it.’
‘That’s the thing. There isn’t any evidence. Eric couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me who’d given the Oxford Boating Association the tip-off which triggered the need for the inspection.’
‘I wonder,’ said Liam thoughtfully. ‘It’s the second questionable thing that’s happened to you of late, isn’t it?
First the cable theft, then this. Don’t you think it’s strange these things started occurring not long after Jack Siddall appeared on the scene?
It can’t be a coincidence. This kind of behaviour is straight out of his playbook, trust me. ’
I chewed my bottom lip. Liam seemed so convinced, but I was getting more confused by the second. ‘Perhaps. But actual sabotage? Wouldn’t that be rather an extreme way of doing business?’
‘Exactly the way Jack prefers it. I was like you back in my corporate job. The warning signs were there but I kept ignoring them because I thought he was my friend, then it was too late and I was out on my ear. I don’t want the same thing to happen to you, Molls.’
‘I won’t let it happen,’ I said. ‘I still don’t understand why Jack chose his mooring in the first place. Yes, there aren’t many going spare in Oxford, but if he’s so keen to create a business that will scale, why didn’t he choose somewhere on land for it?’
‘As you know a floating shop has a very unique selling point. Jack appreciates a challenge. Opening a wine bar like everyone else’s wouldn’t be as interesting to him. He looks down at the rest of the world, yet still has this desperate need to show he’s the alpha businessman.’
I thought back to Jack’s disparaging comments during the first Blind Date with a Book night. He’d certainly demonstrated his superior attitude then. ‘And never mind who might get hurt along the way?’
‘Exactly. You saw that for yourself when he smashed into the Bookship.’ He frowned thoughtfully and took another sip of his cider.
‘What is it?’ I asked.
‘Molls, you trust me, right?’
If he’d asked me half an hour ago before the whole protein shake incident I would have immediately answered with a wholehearted yes, but I still felt a niggling sense of unease about his somewhat unscrupulous sales technique.
‘I enjoy spending time with you,’ I answered instead, but thankfully Liam didn’t seem to notice my hesitation.
‘As your friend, can I give you some advice? Given the escalation of events, it’s time for you to take back control.
Up until now, Jack’s plan has been going perfectly.
He’s got you seriously worried with his underhand tactics, but it’s only a matter of time before he makes his move and does something even more dramatic to force you out of your mooring so he can take it over.
The only way you can stop him doing that is by being proactive. ’
‘And how do you suggest I do that?’
‘You should call him out. On camera. Trust me when I say there are tens of thousands of reasons why he would have to behave himself if you confronted him live on my channel. My viewers would be so shocked to see the true colours of the Siddall heir.’
‘But couldn’t he sue me if I made accusations like that without proof?’
Liam shrugged casually. ‘He wouldn’t dare. The court of public opinion would back you.’
I wasn’t convinced. And I didn’t think Liam believed that either, otherwise why hadn’t he done his own Jack exposé video? I looked around the deck, suddenly conscious of the cameras he’d got fixed at strategic positions.
‘You’re not filming our conversation now, are you?’
Liam looked hurt. ‘Of course I’m not.’ He sounded genuinely upset I’d even think that of him.
‘I’m sorry. I guess I’m feeling a little paranoid what with everything that’s been going on.
’ I shook my head. ‘Thanks for the offer, but it’s not something I want to do at the moment.
I need to carry on gathering evidence, and then when I’ve got incontrovertible proof he’s been trying to sabotage me, I will talk to him about it.
Most likely off camera.’ Although whether that would make any difference, I had no idea.
‘You’ve got to do what you feel is best,’ said Liam doubtfully. ‘I can only speak from my own experience, but you need to look out for your own interests where Jack Siddall is concerned.’
I had every intention of doing just that. But I wanted to do it on my own terms. I certainly didn’t trust Jack, but now I wasn’t so sure I could fully trust Liam either.