Hi sweets!

My flight takes off at 03:00 Canberra time, but confusingly for me arrives in London at midday the day before I had even left, even though I'd been on a plane for over 23 hours.

Twenty three hours during which I had eaten half a stale cheese sandwich and one small packet of salted peanuts, slept for a grand total of 3 hours, drunk 8 whiskies, pee'd 9 times and watched 12 episodes of Family Guy. Once I turned my phone on I found that I had received a total of 37 text messages and 43 missed calls.

Oh dear!

I immediately turned it off again, not quite brave enough to read the messages or listen to the numerous voicemails yet.

Thankfully I haven't got to wait for the carousel to spit out a suitcase for me as my hold-all was carry on luggage, so I clear customs in minutes and head outside to hail a cab to take me home, preferring not to call my dad for a lift. I'd like to get some sleep before being force-fed tea and sandwiches, told I've lost weight and need to look after myself better... the same drill as every other time I've returned home from assignment!

After settling into the back of a cab and giving the driver my address I take out my phone and turn it back on, ping after ping sound in quick succession, the cabbie making comment that someone has obviously missed me. If only it was a loved one excited to see me!

Ive only been on 'Terra Firma' for 20 minutes and already the text tally has risen by 14, the missed calls now at a total of 64!

I am definitely in trouble!

45 minutes later I awake to the sound of a Cockney voice booming "Oi Darlin' we're 'ere!"

Wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth and apologising for falling asleep I pay the driver and stand on the road outside my home, feeling quite emotional to be back.

I key in the code to open the security box and remove my doorkey, stepping over the threshold which is littered with takeaway menus and local newspapers, my parents obviously haven't visited for a few days.

After collecting up the junk mail and placing it straight into the recycling bin I head upstairs and jump in the shower, I need to wash over 25 hours worth of sweat from my aching body.

My stomach gurgles loudly, shouting for sustenance, so after wrapping myself in leggings, a vest top with a grey fleecy hoodie over and pink slipper socks on my feet I head down and retrieve one of the pizza menus from the recycling and place a delivery order. My local pizza restaurant delivers alcohol too, so I add 2 bottles of Prosecco to my order.

I've really noticed the cold since landing, December in the UK is around 20 degrees cooler than Australia! I curl up on the sofa and pull a blanket over my legs, the heating not on as I've been away. I'm too cold to get up and do it now so decide I'll turn it on after I collect my dinner at the door.

I message Laura and tell her I'm back in London and want to see her ASAP. I've really missed seeing her face in person, FaceTiming just isn't the same, you can't hug a video or photo and I'd love a hug right now. I've so much I want to tell her, and even more to ask her. Almost instantly I receive a reply, 3 rows of screaming faces!! I think that means she's happy. A few moments later she texts back to say that she is free tonight so I should make sure I'm home around 9pm. Where else would I be?

I'm aimlessly flicking through the TV channels finding it filled with the same old tripe as ever, re-runs of films I've seen numerous times, game shows, wall to wall 'reality' programmes that are infact anything but reality, and depressing, sad news. I turn it off and ask Alexa to play my favourites playlist. Taking a deep breath I open the message app on my phone and click on the first.

"Where are you?" Sender: Yanni

The second...

"Sydney, please tell me you're safe. We are targeted for threat often. We need to know you are safe. Call me!" Sender: Yanni

"Babe, I hope you're ok. Please come back, we can sort out whatever it is that's caused you to run. Is it Yanni? Is it because of him you've left? Sydney, he's so worried about you, we all are. Please call me, please babe.... please" Sender: Jimmie

"Please tell me you haven't been stupid enough to go to London Sydney?! You have haven't you! Fuck, I should have seen that coming. Jesus Christ. Right, ok, ok... that's ok. Listen, please call me as soon as you get this message. There are things I need to tell you. Sydney.... I'm sorry!" Sender: Noah

Guilt hits me. I was so concerned with getting to London without incident I completely disregarded their situation and feelings, and what the hell is Noah's message about? Why is he apologising, what has he done? Why is he so upset I've come to London?

So many questions already, I decide not to read anymore text messages or listen to any of the voicemails, but do text back.

"Yanni, I'm sorry to have left in such a hurry and without telling you where and why I was going, but I didn't want a fight with you. I have checked my contract and I am entitled to holiday periods, so think of this as a holiday. I haven't broken our contract. I'll call you in a few days and update you as to when I will return to you. I'm safe.

Love you sweets, 😘S xx" immediately pressing the send button.

Realising I've automatically signed off in the silly informal way I do with Laura I try to edit the message but find that the flag that appears when a message has been read is present. He has already seen it, so no point changing it now! Oh my... shit!! How embarrassing.

I open up my laptop, I may as well do some work on the book as there's nothing else to do, and I need the distraction, my mind full of images of a seriously sexy, angry, gruff, gorgeous, bossy, gentle bully!? So many confusing contradictions in his character.

My pizza arrives a few minutes later and I shout at the door, telling the delivery man that I'll be with him in a second as I grab my bag. I open the door whilst searching through my purse for cash amongst the receipts, mumbling 'Hi' as I pull out some cash and offer it to him, only looking up when I am rushed by a strong pair of arms in a blur of red fabric.

It is NOT my pizza!!

"Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!! Syddie!!! I fucking missed you!" yells the blur, placing wet kisses on my cheek!

"LAURA!! Jesus CHRIST, you fucking bitch! My heart just fell out of my arse! FUCK! Let me go you idiot!" I jest, my hand on my chest, heart rate finally beginning to slow down to one slightly more conducive with life.

She lets me go and nudges me down the hallway after closing the door, then flings herself onto my sofa with an enormous sigh while I head to the kitchen.

Returning with plates, glasses and napkins and placing them on the coffee table before sitting on the opposite couch I tease "You're earlier than you said you'd be. How'd you swing that? Not enough crime and murder in London right now?"

"What's the point in being the boss if you can't skip out early sometimes?" she shrugs with a smirk, "Besides, we really do need to talk about this case Syd! Your name keeps rising up the suspect list and it's getting harder and harder for me to detract others from following that line of enquiry", her face now a mask of solemnity.

She's kidding right!? She has to be, I mean, how could I possibly be a suspect in a murder case when I know it wasn't me, and I don't know who it was.... hell, I don't really even know the other players in this tragic and farcical situation! Deciding on deflection as a strategy I reply with... "Haha, good one Laura! Nearly had me there" while winking, clicking my tongue and shooting a finger gun at her to illustrate my disbelief of her previous statement.

She does not laugh!

"You're not kidding, are you?!" I gulp, my head whipping to the side when there's another knock on my door. I stand on unsteady legs, the gravity of this situation beginning to bear down heavily on me. Laura raises a quizzical brow, silently asking me if I'm expecting further guests. Shaking my head slowly at the unspoken but obvious question I mumble the word 'pizza' and head to the door, leaving Laura to take her coat off.

WHERE THE FUCK IS THIS PIZZA!!?

My first fleeting and disappointing thought upon opening the door is about my stomach, before being replaced by the realisation as I look up into the visitors face, that standing at my front door over 10,500 miles from where he should be, and with an expression on his face that could terrify Lucifer himself is....

Yanni!!

He doesn't speak, smile or wait for an invitation, and marches into my home, heading directly for the Lounge, my eyes following his form, shocked and anxious at his arrival, but awed by his confident and assertive movement. I push the door closed without looking away from his behind, but hear the door hit something before it should have latched itself. I turn to the door and easily diagnose the problem. An arm is holding the door open. I pull the door wide and find that the arm belongs to...

YANNI!!??

Im definitely not drunk although I feel I must be, but I haven't even had any Prosecco because it HASNT BLOODY ARRIVED!!

I'm becoming increasingly hangry, as well as stunned and confused!

Turning my attention back to 'Doorstep Yanni' I silently blink at the man who stands on my doorstep, exhaustion etched into his face. He wags his finger and shakes his head "Hi Sweets.... " he says, stepping forward and into my home, bringing his face close to mine and whispering,

"I decided that I didn't want to wait for you to return to me, so I came to collect you and escort you back to Oz. Oh, by the way....You look beautiful Syd..... and this time in something not chosen by me!" giving me a wink whilst biting his bottom lip. Uhhhh....

THIS is indisputably the Yanni I messaged, clear from the way he called me 'sweets'. Also the way he made reference to what he said to me as I left for my date with Jimmie. So who the hell is the 'Lounge Yanni' who stepped in just seconds before him??

"Let's find out!" I whisper and quietly click the latch in place, securing the 4 of us inside.