Syd POV
Today Yanni and I are both being discharged from the hospital, three days after finally seeing one another, three days that had been filled with conversation with topics as varied and benign as our favourite superheroes, foods and dream holiday destinations, to more serious subject matters, such as our views on religion, war, marriage and love. There was rather a lot of 'virtual sex' too, both of us overly aware of the other almost continuously since the night we first 'sexted' one another.
I have found Yanni to be an incredibly articulate, expressive and romantic man, the ability he has to use the written word to convey his innermost feelings is breathtaking. I could read his musings forever, the images they conjure as detailed as if really experiencing those moments, I become fully immersed in them. He is also just as adept at describing in minute detail some of the most arousing scenarios.
I have to say, moving into the room with Yanni did make me feel safer, which I believe helped me heal faster, but it did not help me relax, my body aflame all the time. It's been exhausting!
Yanni is also recovering well, despite the mild wound infection he has. He will be discharged with oral antibiotics to clear that up, and must re-attend the hospital in one week to have his sutures removed.
I am actually terrified to leave the hospital. In the last three days we have learned who The Six are, and have been visited by police officers to give statements. The only person I could be sure had been involved was of course Harry, him being the only one not to hide behind a mask.
I have given the police every detail I have noticed about each of The Six, the unique physical features each of them have, the accents, blemishes, moles and tattoos, plus descriptions of their colognes and even their penis shapes and sizes... everything I can remember. The tiniest detail could help convict them.
To say I was surprised to find out who they were is a monumental understatement.
All but one of them are fathers, three of them married.... and all are very well known and popular with the public.
Number 1 is Peter Von Buren, 52 years old and one of the UK's most beloved and well respected daytime television hosts, recently divorced for the third time and father of two teenage sons.
Number 2 is 43 year old ex-footballer and now commentator Anton Bouchard, engaged to a reality TV airhead and soon to be first time father... God help that child!
Number 3, the sadist, is Ronnie Goldman, Hollywood film producer, 58 years old and married with four daughters. Responsible for some of the biggest box office hits in recent years.
I had recently interviewed him after the screening of his latest movie and thought he was a creepy pervert then. I now know just how perverse he really is!
Number 4 is actor Colman St Vincent. He is 29 and plays a cop in the same show as Harry. He is single, extremely handsome and widely thought to be gay. Apparently not!
Chase Marchant, a 34 year old British singer/songwriter who is currently promoting his most successful album yet, recently married and with one young daughter is Number 5.'
Number 6 is none other than Harry's own father, Henry Hartwell!
That one shocks and horrifies me more than any of the others.
DCI Marshall is keeping us informed of any developments.
Four of the six have already decided to take plea deals to avoid having their names dragged through the mud, only Henry and Ronnie Goldman yet to decide whether to plead or take their chances in court.
I don't know much about Ronnie's character, but I know Henry is arrogant and narcissistic enough to presume he could sweet talk a jury into allowing him to go free. I am worried that he might just manage it, especially as he can afford the best lawyers to represent him.
Harry has also yet to decide whether to go to trial or not, and like his father he is conceited enough to believe that he can charm his way out of this.
I do not want to go to trial. The idea of having to sit in a courtroom with any of these men turns my stomach, and having to answer questions about the whole ordeal in front of the public terrifies me.
Ferdi is going to represent me if we go to trial. He has been clear with me that the defence teams will try to tear me apart, make me look like a tease, a temptress.... a slut.
The victim in these kinds of cases often made to look like a wanton hussy who participated in a consensual act and has then had a crisis of conscience and cried rape.
During a consultation with him yesterday I asked if I would have to give evidence and was told that if called by the defence then yes, I would be expected to take the witness stand.
"Ferdi, Harry is the kind of man who will go to court with this just to torture me, to make me re-live it all, to shame me before strangers. He is an evil bastard. Is there any way to convince him to take a plea?" I beg hopefully.
"Sydney, he would be insane to go to trial with this. If I know his lawyers at all they are advising him to take a plea and quietly do his time, they'll likely plead diminished responsibility in the hope of a lesser sentence. We could be looking at a sentence of only a few years, or possibly even committal into psychiatric care, as I understand that his recent evaluations have been completed and are..... what did they say.... oh yes... 'COLOURFULLY EXPLANATORY' were the words used." he mutters with a frown whilst looking through the papers in his case.
I've always used the terms 'Mad', 'Insane' and 'crazy' so flippantly before now, somewhat like sentence enhancers.... "The beach is insane" or "The vibe is mad". I never considered them as anything other than words, but now I finally understand their true meaning.... I have met madness, suffered at the hands of craziness, and been married to Insane, and I never want to experience it again.
I need to sort my life out. I have to make changes.
"Ferdi. Can you do me a favour please?" I ask as he places some documents for me to read and sign on the wheely table beside me.
His eyebrows raise as he looks up at me and replies, "Sure, shoot!"
"Please tell Noah that I'm ready"
"Anything else?" He frowns quizzically
"No, he'll know what it means. Thanks Ferdi, you're the best!" I call after him as her walks away, waving his hand dismissively.
My phone pings. Picking it up I open the message to read,
"So, are you going to tell me what's up between you and Noah, or do I have to wait to find out just like everybody else?"
Raising my eyes from my phone I look across the room and find the sender of the text glaring at me, pure fury on his face. He is looking fine today, dressed in grey joggers and a loose fitting white longline T-shirt, and a pair of trainers with soles so bouncy it wouldn't be ridiculous to presume he could jump from here to the moon in them. Ridiculous shoes!
What is the point? They probably cost as much as a small car and I bet aren't as comfortable as they look either.
What am I doing?!?
Stress has my mind wandering into the realms of nonsense again. I mentally shake myself..... 'FOCUS SYDNEY!! You have things to tell him. He says he loves you..... he deserves to know all of you. Everything'
And I want him with me, supporting me, when I talk to Noah, but he looks so mad I'm not sure it's a good idea.
"Of course I want you to know before everyone else Yanni, I do.... but even I have no idea! That's why I asked Ferdi to ask him to come and see me. The day I woke up here Noah tried to tell me why he helped Harry get me back, but I wasn't ready to hear it. I needed to process WHAT happened, I didn't have the capacity to know WHY at that moment. I do now, and I want you with me while he explains, BUT... you are to keep quiet and let him speak. We won't interrupt, it's going to be hard enough for him without us chiming in and throwing him off his way. I don't want him to miss anything out"
"Are you serious!!?" he asks incredulously! "You're concerned about how his voluntary participation in your kidnap, torture and..... worse..... will effect HIM??!!"
"Yanni! He is your brother, well, as close as your brother, you boys are all brothers, you should have faith in him...and I know Harry. You and Noah may believe that he was a willing participant, but I can guarantee you that he wasn't. That is Harry's Satan given skill..... manipulation!"
He looks wounded at my words, and I hope they have struck enough of a chord within him to keep him quiet for long enough for Noah to say what he needs to.