Page 91 of Lyrebird

The report jumps to video footage of Laura.

‘Her audition made her famous around the world in a matter of weeks, but according to reports she was found wandering the streets of Dublin extremely distressed, and was taken to a police station for her own safety. She is now back in the custody of the show’s producers and is staying at a StarrQuest private home for the finalist contestants.

‘StarrQuest producers jumped to Lyrebird’s defence today, releasing a lengthy statement calling for the nastiness to stop. Jack Starr has described Lyrebird as a gentle, kind, young woman who’s had a challenging life. Laura was abandoned at a cottage by her grandmother at the age of sixteen after her mother died and she lived there for ten years, unknown to anyone apart from her father, who kept her existence a secret. Starr says Laura is finding it difficult to cope, and has been overwhelmed since her first audition. He says becoming the biggest star on the planet so fast is scary and unsettling, as Laura has discovered.

‘Lyrebird has had more than fifteen minutes of fame and stands to make millions from book deals, endorsements and appearances. But fame comes at a price and it seems Laura Button’s beginning to pay for it.’

Solomon stands up and throws the remote control against the wall over the fireplace. It crashes against the brickwork. The back falls off and the batteries scatter to the floor. Bo ducks and huddles even tighter in the corner of the couch. He looks at her, but neither of them say anything, he doesn’t need to; Bo looks as guilty as he feels.

‘We have to do something,’ Solomon says, feeling and hearing the emotion in his voice. He can barely take this, sitting back and watching Laura being picked apart.

‘I’m trying, Solomon,’ Bo says, tears in her eyes.

‘I’ve had enough of trying to talk to her through StarrQuest,’ he paces the lounge, angrily. ‘We have to get to her ourselves. Where is the contestants’ house the news mentioned?’

‘I have no idea,’ Bo says, lost in thought, then she sits up with an idea. ‘But the fansites will know.’

‘I’m a friend of Laura Button’s, I’m here to see her,’ Solomon says to the security guard on the gates outside the contestants’ house.

The guard laughs and approaches him with a clipboard. ‘You and all the others.’

Solomon looks around. A dozen photographers and a camera crew watch him, at first with interest and then with amusement when his wish to pass is denied. Behind a rail are a handful of hardcore fans, sleeping bags lining the grass, a home-made banner that says We Lyrebird.

‘Leave her alone,’ one girl shouts across to him.

Anger rises in Solomon.

‘If you could tell her that I’m here, then she’ll tell you to let me in.’

Security looks him up and down. ‘Why don’t you go ahead and give her a call first? Tell her to call me and ask me to let you in.’

Solomon grinds his teeth. ‘I can’t call her. That’s why I’m here.’

‘Yeah. Well, I can’t let you in. Your name needs to be on the list and you’re not on the list, so I can’t let you in.’

Solomon turns off the engine and gets out of the car.

‘Sir, I’d advise you to stay in the car. There’s no need to get out of your car.’

He’s standing so close to the car door, Solomon can’t open it. He pushes it a little harder. It hits the guard and he takes a backward step.

‘Hey, what are you doing? I said get back in the car!’

‘Then don’t block my door! Don’t block my door!’ Solomon gets in his face as they both shout at each other.

A bored photographer takes a few photographs.

A second security guard appears from the hut. ‘Barry?’ he says, concerned.

‘Great, hopefully you can help,’ Solomon says, pushing his hair off his face and trying to compose himself in front of the crowd. ‘I need to contact my friend Laura Button. I appreciate that I’m not on the list but if you call her, which will take one second of your time, then she will immediately let me in. Okay?’

‘Who?’ he asks, looking from his colleague to Solomon and back.

‘The Lyrebird,’ Barry says.

‘It’s actually Laura. Laura Button is her name,’ Solomon gets het up again.

‘Leave Lyrebird alone,’ the fan shouts at him again. ‘People like you aren’t helping her!’