They were in studio three. As before, Tracey and Martin were sitting opposite each other. The segment had to be broadcast live, so Martin drove to Melbourne to the TV station earlier that day.

He would have preferred to have it taped in Eden, as he done previously, but the man that Martin knew only as Trevor insisted that it had to be done live. Martin was not in a position to refuse. Trevor was holding Natalie somewhere. One week earlier, a photograph of Natalie was left in his van. She was sitting, mouth taped, and eyes wild with fear. Her hands were tied together in front of her, leaning on her chest was a current edition of The Age newspaper, proof that Trevor had her that day.

Trevor had reassured Martin that Natalie would be released unharmed one hour after the show finished. There were only two conditions. The segment had to be live and Martin was to say exactly what he had been instructed to say. Accompanying the photograph was a typed A4 sheet of paper containing all the relevant points he had to cover.

Trevor did not say what would happen to Natalie if Martin did not heed those two conditions, but Martin did not want to find out.

He contacted Tracey immediately, but even with his best efforts and influence she now exerted, it still took a week to set it all up.

Martin was sick with worry. He was instructed to tell no one and hence concocted the story of Natalie visiting a sick aunt to Arthur. It was obvious to Arthur that something was troubling Martin, but when he asked, Martin dismissed him, claiming to have a sore throat and a mild cold, nothing else.

It was time. Tracey was given the signal and looking into the camera, smiled and said, ‘good evening, tonight I again have the pleasure of introducing Martin Brophy. Those of you who watch us regularly have no doubt seen Martin’s two previous interviews. This will not be so much an interview. Martin has requested to make a statement of clarification. There will no questions from me. Martin, all yours.’

To the people who knew him, it was obvious that Martin was not his normal self. The word had quickly got out that he would be on Today, Now again, and almost every TV set in Eden was tuned in as Martin began to speak.

‘Thank you Tracey for giving me the opportunity to speak to your audience again. I’ve done a great deal of soul searching and what I’m about to say, I say with a heavy heart, but it needs to be said, nevertheless. Most of you by now know the results of the so called ‘Social Experiment’ that was conducted in Eden. The Eden Effect as it has become known. Tonight, I have to confess to you, the people of Eden and to people everywhere that I was not completely honest with you last time I was on this show promoting the results. You will recall, the results were positive as far as the people’s reaction were concerned, but negative from a scientific basis because they did not reach statistical significance. I chose to emphasise the positive and dismiss the negative, as if it did not matter. Well, tonight I want to tell you that it does matter. The whole point of the exercise was to demonstrate scientifically that the Eden Effect existed and in that we failed. And it is the science that matters above all and if we ignore that, then we are no better than snake oil salesmen and the other charlatans that try to market useless treatments.’

‘I have come to realise that I did just that. I ignored the science because it did not fit with my preconceived ideas, and chose to believe what I wanted to believe. And worst still, I made you all believe that too.’

‘I’m a fraud. I’m ashamed of myself and unreservedly apologise to all of you. There is no Eden Effect, there never really was.’

The camera swung to Tracey who was staring at Martin, mouth open in a most undignified and non-celebrity way. She realised the camera was on her, tried to smile a little.

‘Thank you, Martin. I don’t know what to say. It would be fair to say that have taken all of us by surprise. We have a lot to think about. Thank you for you honesty, and candour. This could not have been easy for you.’

Martin took off his microphone, stood up and without a word to Tracey or anyone left the studio. Five minutes later he was sitting in his car reading the note that had been left for him in the front passenger seat. The note had an address written on it, nothing else.

Martin entered the address into the car’s GPS and was relieved to see that it was nearby. Five minutes later he pulled up in front a Victorian terrace house in a small street in South Melbourne. He raced out of his car, climbed the three steps up to the porch and was about to knock on the door when he realised it was open. He went in, walked briskly down the long corridor calling out for Natalie. He could hear muffled sounds coming from straight ahead. In the kitchen he found Natalie sitting on a kitchen chair, her legs tied to the chair, her hands tied in front of her and her mouth taped. When she saw him, tears welled up in her eyes. He went over to her, untied her hands and legs, and carefully as he could pulled the tape off her mouth.

‘Ouch! Careful.’

Martin helped her up, hugged her.

‘Are you okay, Natalie?’ he asked, his voice breaking.

‘I’m okay, Martin. Thank God you’re here. What took so long? What the hell is going on?’

‘Let’s get out of here and go home. I’ll tell you everything on the way.’

It was 10pm when Martin’s car pulled into the Eden dairy. On the drive to Eden he filled Natalie in on the events of the last week, culminating in his TV appearance that evening. Natalie said little, from time to time gasping, ‘oh my God,’ as Martin told the story.

All the lights are were on. Arthur was in the lounge room pacing, glass of whisky in his hands.

‘Martin, what the.’ He stopped when he saw Natalie.

‘Natalie, you’re back. How’s your aunt? Sorry to hear that she is not well.’

‘My aunt, Arthur? What are you talking about? I don’t have an aunt.’ And to Martin. ‘Haven’t you told him?’

‘Told me what?’ Arthur asked before Martin could answer.

‘I couldn’t tell him, Natalie. I couldn’t tell anyone. Trevor was adamant about that.’

‘Who’s Trevor? What the hell is going on, Martin? And where has Natalie been?’ Arthur was sounding frantic.

‘Let’s sit down, Arthur, and I will tell you. You should go to bed Natalie. You must be exhausted.’

‘I will, Martin. I don’t think I’ll sleep though. Come to bed as soon as you finish telling Arthur. Good night, Arthur.’

‘Good night, Natalie.’ And to Martin. ‘Okay Martin, let’s hear it. It better be good, especially after your performance on TV tonight.’

Arthur took a long gulp of whisky and waited. Martin spoke for the next half hour telling Arthur everything.

‘We won’t let him get away with that, Martin,’ was Arthur’s response once Martin had finished speaking.

‘Who is behind all this? Who is this Trevor?’

‘I’ve got no idea, Arthur. He did not say. But whoever they are, they’re serious people. I was in no doubt that Natalie would be harmed if I did not cooperate. And I don’t want to go through that again, Arthur. And I definitely don’t want to put Natalie through anything like that again. So, I guess whoever this is will get away with it. Even if I wanted to, I can’t take back what I said. It’s all over. The Eden Effect. I’m done.’

‘Don’t be so sure, Martin. It kept going even with all the negative publicity. What makes you think it won’t continue? And anyway, outside of Eden, how many people watch this show? Don’t be so negative, Martin.’

‘I don’t care anymore, Arthur. As far as I am concerned, anyone can watch, read or listen to anything they want to. None of my business. Not anymore. You’re welcome to do what you want, leave me out it.’

‘You are upset, Martin. Understandable. I bet you’ll feel differently in the morning.’

‘Good night, Arthur. I’m going to bed. Natalie is waiting.’

‘Good night, Martin. Tomorrow, I’ll do the round on my own. You stay in bed, spend the morning with Natalie.’

‘Thanks, Arthur. Good idea. Thanks for that.’

At 10.30 the next morning when Arthur had returned from the delivery round he found Martin and Natalie waiting for him.

‘Arthur, we’ve made a decision,’ Martin announced once Arthur had joined them at the kitchen table.

Martin continued. ‘Natalie and I are leaving Eden. We have plans to travel. We’re going to take an extended holiday and see the world. And when we come back it won’t be to Eden. Don’t know where yet, just not here.’

Arthur waited. There was obviously more.

‘I’m putting the dairy up for sale. I’ll give it three months, but I doubt there will be a buyer. I’ll close it. The people of Eden will manage with the supermarket. What we discussed before still applies. I will make arrangements to transfer the 10 million to your account in the next few days. I presume you’ll also be leaving Eden. Back to leafy suburbs of Melbourne where you really belong, Arthur. I hope we can still keep in touch. Be friends.’

‘Always, Martin, always. I’m going to change now. Three months you say. I’ll leave the same time as you do. I guess I’ve got plans to make too.’