A few more innocuous questions follow for each of us. Yanni was asked when he last physically saw Lola, when they last had physical relations, did he know anything about her death or anyone who could want to hurt her and where he was when she was killed. My questions were similar, aside from the physical intimacy question of course, Grant jotting things in his pad before he thanks us both for our time. He will send this information to the UK police and they will contact us directly if they need to, then he bids us goodbye and leaves, Yanni escorting him to the door. A few minutes pass before he returns to the kitchen and he takes the seat at the island beside me, where we spend a few minutes silently processing all the new information we have discovered this morning.
Our quiet contemplation is interrupted when Noah bounds into the kitchen wishing us a booming 'Good morning', the huge smile on his face evaporating as he eyes us both sitting silently, lost in our own thoughts.
"Who died?" he enquires, pouring himself a coffee and refilling our mugs too.
"Lola!" Yanni answers softly.
I look up at Noahs pale face and am struck by a realisation. He was reading the story of Lolas murder on my laptop on the day at the poolside when he made his comment about me not knowing what he was capable of!
I thought he was threatening me, but maybe he had something to do with this? He would surely have recognised her name, wouldn't he?! If he wasn't hiding something he'd have acknowledged that he knew her, surely?
Every hair on my body stands to attention, a shiver running down my spine making me shudder. Noah is staring back at me, a silent plea in his eyes willing me to remain silent. I hold my questions for now, but he and I need to talk. That thought terrifies me. If he is involved then I might be in danger. Yanni could be in danger! I wonder if this is divine retribution, the universe punishing me for writing those stories that seem to have affected so many lives.
"Jesus!! Yanni, I'm so sorry man!! I know things didn't end well between you and Lola, but I know how special she was to you once. Christ! What happened? Accident? Illness?" he asks, his eyes never leaving my face.
Yanni shakes his head. "Murdered" he croaks, his eyes filling with tears. Oh no! He still loves her!!
I feel my heart crack and wonder if it is out of sympathy for a man who has lost a love, or for myself because I will never have that love myself?
Yanni stands and looks at us both in turn, then silently walks in the direction of Eloises room. It's only natural he would want some comfort after that shocking news, but I'm hurt that he doesn't turn to me for that, and, I realise, I'm as jealous as hell!!
Noah replaces Yanni in the seat beside me and I immediately tense. I'm sitting in a room alone with a man who could be a killer! I attempt to stand but Noah throws out a hand and pins my arm to the counter. A whimper leaves my throat, fear freezing me. My heart is pounding. What do I do? Scream? Attempt to run? Hit him?
I do none of these things and remain silent and still, waiting for Noah's next move and hoping it doesn't involve physical violence.
"Sydney….." he begins, his voice low
"Did you have something to do with it?" I blurt accusingly
"What??!! No!! Of course not, what do you take me for?" he bites back, hurt clearly evident in his tone
I again attempt to stand and he releases my arm and let's me. I pace around the island, figuring that a barrier between us can only be a good thing, and look into his face for any hints as to whether he is being truthful. I see a tormented man with secrets that are weighing heavy on his conscience, his posture poor, shoulders slumped and eyes glassy, but he genuinely appears to be telling the truth, at least about actually killing her. I have my doubts about him being 100% innocent though, biting on his thumb and shaking his head conveying feelings of guilt. The image of him at the fan sign with Ben springs to mind.
Turning my laptop around I open the videos and play the footage from the fan sign, then twist the screen back around to show Noah. He looks down at the screen and I watch his face closely again, searching for any signs of recognition. I've watched this footage so many times now that I can tell from the ambient noise that the point where Ben and Noah talk has arrived on screen.
And there it is!
He looks like he is about to throw up, eyes wide, sweat beading on his forehead, his tongue darting out in an attempt to moisten his dry lips, a death like pallor to his skin. He definitely recognises Ben, and understands that I know that.
"So Noah, we need to talk. Wanna start?"
"Mooooorning!" Teddi trills, flouncing into the room, Parker following closely behind him.
"Breakfast anyone, I'm cooking. Bacon and eggs? Me and Teddi really worked up an appetite last night, if you know what I mean!" Parker giggles with a wink before rifling through the fridge for ingredients. Teddi playfully slaps his arm and rolls his eyes at me. I shake my head, politely refusing the offer with a weak smile.
"No secrets with this one" he sighs with a smile, indicating Parker with his thumb.
Noah takes this opportunity to leave, muttering something about not being hungry before almost running from the room and heading upstairs. Silently cursing Teddi and Parker's terrible timing I close the fan sign footage and concentrate on the flight information that I had been reviewing before Grant arrived. I need to go to London. I need to see Laura. I need answers.
Fuck!
I need to see Harry.
I book the next available flight to the UK, which is tonight. I resist the urge to make it one way only, although the temptation to run away and be done with this is huge. I'm hopeful that holidays are allowed as part of my agreement and I won't end up in court for breaking the terms of our contract.
I head to my room to pack, and attempt to get a little sleep before the very long flight, one I didn't expect to be making for another nine months.