We arrive back at the house and find Muriel in the kitchen drinking tea with a dark haired, familiar looking young man. She looks surprised to see us and immediately jumps to her feet, anxiety written across her features.
"Hey you two! You're back sooner than I expected. Nice afternoon on the beach?" she asks, her usually loud and confident voice deserting her.
"It was thanks Mrs T! Things got a little heavy though so we've called it a day. Hi, I'm Jimmie, this is Sydney" Jimmie states confidently, nodding in my direction while crossing the kitchen and offering his hand to the stranger, who stands as he is approached.
"Hi, I'm Ben" he replies with a nervous expression on his face too.
"Ben is my son, come to visit his old mum ain't ya boy. That's ok isn't it Jimmie?" Muriel asks, voice wavering.
"Of course it is Mrs T! Nice to meet you Ben. Crikey, You've grown up since I last saw you"Turning to address me he continues, "Ben was a few years behind me at school, was always pretty small too if I recall. You're a twin right?"
"Yes, my brother's called Grant, but nobody could tell us apart so we were known as 'The Turner Twins' throughout our entire school career" Ben tells us with a tight smile. "Listen, mum, I gotta go, settle in to my hotel and get some sleep. Nice to meet you guys, see you again maybe?!" he says, giving us a small wave and heading towards the door. "Walk me out mum?" Muriel nods and follows him to the door, telling us she'll be back shortly to put some dinner on.
"He looks so familiar, I feel like I've met him before" I muse aloud.
Jimmie tells me that he probably just has one of those 'universally recognisable faces'. I've never heard of such a thing, but feel sure I've seen him before. Maybe Muriel has shown me a photo? I hate not being able to place people, but it will come to me with time.
"I'm off for a nap before dinner Syd, you'll be alright on your own won't you?!" Jimmie says as he heads out of the kitchen with a glass of water in hand and a huge bite of muffin in his mouth.
"Absolutely! You go and rest, I'll see you later..... oh, and Jimmie... Thankyou for today, for trusting me with your story. I have so much respect for you and will do all I can to help you with your aims. Sleep well" blowing him a kiss as he heads upstairs.
Muriel reappears, busying herself with dinner preparations. I offer to help but she declines, apparently 'Too many cooks spoil the broth'!
"So Muriel! Ben seems nice. Will he be visiting for long? It must be lovely to see him. What does he do for work? Does it keep him away a lot?" I'm aware I'm prying, but hey, it's my job as well as my nature!
"Ben! Oh, he's a fireman. Loves his work but has had a sabbatical this past year, went to England recently actually to learn more about tackling high rise fires as most of what he deals with here are bush fires, but he is planning on moving into the city. I think the pressure was getting a bit much for him to be honest, there were a few fatalities he feels he should have been able to save which knocked his confidence. On top of that his girlfriend had left him and moved overseas which gutted him" she tells me with a hint of sadness and concern.
"That's why he's staying in a hotel, he's not been back in Oz for long and needs to find a place to live in the city for when he starts his new job. He couldn't bare to stay in the home they had shared after she left. She broke him, but snapped her fingers and he rushed overseas for her like a little lap dog! I'd have liked to ring her bloody neck for hurting him as badly as she did, cow, but it seems someone beat me to it!" she declares fiercely, her face flaming.
"Wow, Poor Ben! Seems like he's had a terrible time recently, no wonder he needs his mum" I reply sympathetically whilst making a mental note to call my own parents later, it's been almost two weeks since I last called them. Bad girl!
"What happened to his girlfriend Muriel? Did you seriously mean she was killed? In an accident, or...…."
"Nah, no accident. The little trollop came a cropper a couple of months ago. Probably pushed someone else too far with her demands, bad attitude, greed and cheap behaviour. Got herself bumped off in some hotel in London. I can't say I care, she was bad news, but my poor boy loved her more than anything and has taken it really hard. I don't really know how I can help him.
Me and his brother are trying but Ben won't rest until whoever killed her is punished. I'm not sure how he intends to make that happen but he's determined." she utters, scratching her head.
Why does this story sound so familiar? I gently press Muriel for a few more details to confirm my suspicions.
"I can't imagine how hard that's been for him, being on the opposite side of the earth must make it tough for him to get updates and information. Poor guy. Maybe I could help him get some information? I have a few friends in the police in London, and finding things out IS kinda my thing!" I offer with a shrug and a small smile.
Muriel ceases chopping carrots and looks hopefully at me. "Really Syd? Could you? That would be fantastic, Ben'll be stoked! Thanks darl!"
"No trouble, I'd just need her name" I tell her, my insides bubbling with anticipation.
Revulsion and distaste dance over her face as she replies "Lola! Lola Livingstone, although I guess we can call her Deadstone now eh!?" She chuckles at her own joke.
The girl I have been reading about for weeks now. The girl whose murderer I've been imagining finding. I can't believe I know someone who knows her. This could be very interesting, but also quite distracting too.
I decide I will look into it in my own time, outside of the scheduled work hours I have given myself.
Christmas is not too far away now and I plan to go back to London for a week or two to visit my parents, although I have been procrastinating over bringing the subject up with the guys. I can catch up with Laura too, who just so happens to be a Murder squad Detective Inspector with the MET. How wonderfully convenient! She won't tell me too much for confidentiality purposes but I'm certain I can prise some useful details from her.
Is it wrong that I am actually excited by this?