'Mate, are ya alright?' Digger asked urgently.

'Yeah, I'm alright,' he groaned, holding his head. 'Feelin' a bit dizzy, but I'll be fine. I'm kickin' meself for not gettin' a good look at the bloke.' He told them how he'd heard someone and while he was looking through the trees, they got him from behind.

'You didn't get a look at him at all then?' Karl asked.

'Nope, just caught a glimpse of the b.u.g.g.e.r as he took off down the path, but it was a blur, me gla.s.ses went flyin' when he hit me.'

'Towards Kia-Ora...' Digger asked anxiously.

Ted told them everything he could remember. Panicking, they hurried up to the house. A myriad of thoughts were going through their minds.

'Ted, we'll take ya straight home to Hazel. Ya better get checked over by the doctor, mate. We'll ring him from the house and get him to come out and have a look at ya. Hazel's all alone down there and she'll be worried about ya,' Karl insisted, taking no notice when Ted argued he was alright and didn't need a doctor.

'We'll head up to the house check on the women then take a look around outside,' Digger said worriedly.

To their relief, the women were fine. a.s.suring them that they'd explain later, Dig and Karl ran off to check around outside.

They searched around the house and then went to look around the packing cases and finally, the machinery shed.

Karl found poor Towser. He lay on his side, white froth spewed from his mouth and it was obvious he was dead. Equally evident was that he had been poisoned.

'f.u.c.k no, b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l!' Karl swore, his mouth turned down in a curve of distaste. 'Dig, stay there a minute, mate.' He turned and stood in front of Digger, blocking his view of the dog.

'What is it?' He knew Karl had found something dreadful.

Karl had to tell Digger. There was no choice. 'It's your dog, mate. The f.u.c.kin' b.a.s.t.a.r.d's killed Towser!'

Digger pushed past Karl and knelt by his dog. Tears ran down his face. 'The cruel mongrel... Rotten cruel b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Towser, me mate,' he wept. 'Why do this to him...? He didn't do anythin' to anyone!' Digger openly sobbed, his voice echoing into the now dark night. Digger wept for Towser, for Dave... Harry... the whole wretched situation. It all came out in a flood of tears from the man who had not so long ago displayed such ferocious anger and gruelling strength.

'C'mon... Come up to the house, mate. I'll come back down and fix Towser up.' Karl helped a heartbroken Digger to his feet.

When they walked in, Digger went straight to the sideboard and poured a stiff whiskey. Karl told Win and Ellie what they'd found. Win put her arms around Digger and tried to comfort him.

'What can I say?' Ellie felt sick. 'What a cruel, heartless mongrel! Why do that to a poor defenceless dog!' She brushed tears from her face and, watching Digger slug down the whiskey, she glanced at Win who had tears trickling don her cheeks as well. Win knew the look Ellie was giving her meant that Dig was in a bad way and he needed to calm down. He looked like he was ready to murder someone.

'He did it to hurt me. This makes me even more determined than ever! The b.a.s.t.a.r.d'll hang... I'll hang the a.r.s.ehole with me own hands or gladly pull the trigger to blow his brains out.' Digger spoke quietly, his voice taking on a murderous tone.

Win looked at Karl. He gestured behind Digger's back and went quietly out the back door. He would take care of Towser and give Arthur a ring. Digger would be better off having a couple of whiskeys and hitting the sack... if they succeeded in calming him down.

Word flew around the valley about Digger's dog and Ted's attack. The elderly were petrified. People now kept pets inside where possible. No one knew what would happen or what they'd find next.

Win tried to convince Digger to tell the police everything. At first, he wasn't agreeable. In his opinion, telling them changed nothing at all, so why bother.

'Clobbering Ted, killing poor Towser... This mongrel has proved again just what he's capable of, love. We know this psycho will bash, kill, burn... he's deadly,' she pointed out. 'So, we have to tell the police. We can't do this alone, Dig.' She ended up bursting into tears of frustration and heartache.

Eventually, after opening up to Win that he felt defeated and a failure, how he felt guilty about Ted and Towser, he wept again for not being able to protect his four legged mate from the insane mongrel. Finally, he gave in and rang the police. He conceded it was the best thing to do.

The detectives weren't impressed that they hadn't been informed about the latest phone calls immediately.

'This is extremely serious!' they told them. 'We're dealing with someone very dangerous; you're all aware of that! You must inform us of every incident, no matter how trivial you may think it is. Any information you have is vital. Don't withhold a thing. You keep telling us to catch this lunatic but you hold back information that we desperately need, for G.o.d's sake!'

Looking at Digger, Detective Bennett said sternly, 'Don't take matters into your own hands, Mr Miles. It's our job to deal with this. Just keep us informed, that's all we ask. We can't act if we don't know what's happening. You lot are forgetting we are on your side here; we want this b.a.s.t.a.r.d just as much as you do.'

Kathy and Tammi had never seen their father cry before; he had even kept his emotions in check at Dave's funeral. To see him so upset broke their hearts and shocked them. The killing of Towser had sickened them and broken their hearts. The thought that the firebug would actually kill a poor defenceless dog like that terrified as well as angered them. Towser had been in the family since they were little kids.

'He's a cruel phsycho!' Tammi said. 'I'm really scared to death now, Kath!'

'Yep, well we knew that before but doing this to Towser, I just don't and can't understand that. The dog didn't stand a chance. Someone has to find a way to catch whoever this is before he hurts anyone else. Poor Hazel's frantic with worry about Ted too.' She sighed loudly. 'When will this ever end?'

'I don't blame Hazel either. Ted's lucky he wasn't hurt worse than he was, like poor old Harry. He was defenceless as well. This bloke's a b.l.o.o.d.y coward to do these cruel things to old people and a poor animal,' Tammi replied, tears welling in her eyes.

Kathy put her chin in her hands and stared thoughtfully out the window. 'Every night now I go to bed wondering what will happen next. I really hate living this way!'

'Me too Kath, it's horrible,' Tammi whispered.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Ellie organized a cabin at the Weir and had taken a month-to-month lease.

She sat on the bed, looking around the spotless little cabin.

'I'll put flowers on that small table in the kitchen,' she mused aloud. 'This little place will do nicely.'

She had one more look around before closing and locking the door behind her.

Ellie slipped the keys into her bag and drove back to town. She knew Harvey was taking a job as an overseer for the Council, so if she timed it right, she might catch him for lunch. First, she wanted to shop for new bed linen for the cabin and some nice crockery and gla.s.ses.

'We might as well be comfortable if this is the way it's going to be,' she murmured.

She had her arms full as she walked back to the car.

A voice from behind her asked, 'Need a hand, lady?'

Startled, she froze on the spot. Two hands reached out and took the parcels from her arms and she turned and looked into Harvey's smiling face with relief.

'You b.u.g.g.e.r, Harvey! That voice didn't sound like yours at all. You gave me such a fright!'

'I'm sorry, sweetheart. I wouldn't frighten you for the world.' He kissed her lightly on the cheek. He acted in a brotherly fashion in case there were any onlookers.

'I know you wouldn't, it's just with everything that's happening it makes me so jumpy.'

'You've been doing a fair bit of shopping by the looks of all that.' He smiled and pointed at the parcels.

Ellie told Harvey about the cabin. He was delighted and his mind immediately whirled with erotic plans for nights alone with her. She ripped open the parcels and showed him the new linen. He was pleased to see her so excited. It was a change. 'A very refreshing change,' he thought.

They were eager to be together but they couldn't even steal a kiss. There were too many watchful eyes in a small town and it was bound to get back to someone. Gossip in this town would rage like one of the firebug's fires. They simply couldn't take the risk but they made a date for the next evening after Harvey finished work.

Ellie gave Harvey a key which he put in the back of his wallet. With a wink and a promise to see her the next evening, he went back to work. He was already planning an excuse for Mary as to why he would be late the next evening.

'Mum, we've been stuck at home all day. It's not fair!' Tammi wailed.

'I know, love. You have to understand though, it's for your own protection!'

'Do you think Dad would let us out with Francis for a while tonight?' Kathy asked.

'Well, I think Dig would agree to that, just don't do anything to upset your father. He's had enough.' Win gave Kathy a look of warning.

They promised her they would be careful. Neither of them wanted to upset their father any further. He was devastated about Towser and furious about what happened to Ted. Digger was reaching the end of his tether fast.

He agreed that they could go out as long as Francis was with them the whole time. He just wanted to protect them, not to make their lives miserable. He knew he came across as harsh, he couldn't help it: it was sheer concern for everyone's safety.

They decided to pick up Eileen as well and all go to visit old Harry at the hospital before going on to the pub.

Digger warned the girls and Francis, once again, that they were not to go anywhere alone. He explained that he was just extremely worried, not trying to be a dictator.

'I know how you feel, Dig,' Win said. 'But we can't make them feel like prisoners in their own homes. It's just not fair to them.'

'I know... I know... but if anything happened to either of them... Win...'

'Don't think like that. Come on, Ellie's in the lounge room, let's join her and have a drink.'

While she was pouring the drinks, Karl came in.

'Arthur's out on patrol for a few hours tonight. I told him we'd check on Daisy so they can concentrate on what their doin'. She's bound to be jittery down there on her own.'

He sat down and took the whiskey Win handed him. 'I nearly went to sleep readin' me western. All these patrols and work are really makin'me b.l.o.o.d.y exhausted. Can hardly keep me eyes open if I even relax for a minute!'

Just as Karl spoke, there was a loud knocking at the front door. Ellie hurried to answer it.

'Is Karl Mason here?' the burly detective's gruff voice boomed.

'Yeah, what's up?' Karl asked, walking up behind her.

Standing at the front door were three men: detectives Simpson, Bennet and a newcomer.

Bennett greeted them and formally introduced Senior Detective Riley from Sydney. He was a tall man dressed in an immaculate dark suit. He exuded confidence and power. He was a man at ease with his position in life.

'Have you been home all evening?' Senior Detective Riley asked, brushing non-existent fluff from his jacket. Karl told the detective he had certainly been at home. Digger backed him up. While they were answering the detective's questions, they heard heavy footsteps on the back veranda. Win started towards the door when it opened and another detective barged straight in. He was short and balding with a couple of chins that made Win instantly think of a fat little bull dog.

Before she could say a thing, he introduced himself. 'I hope I didn't startle you. I'm Senior Detective Moore from Sydney. I'm here with Senior Detective Riley.' He strode past Win to where Karl and Digger stood with surprised looks on their faces.

'What the h.e.l.l do you think you're doin', bargin' in like this! Don't you city blokes have any manners?' Karl demanded. 'What the flamin' h.e.l.l were ya doin' out the back anyway?'

The detectives explained a local had spotted someone lurking in the top paddock at Dawn's where her hayshed had been. Then he was seen to be heading down in the direction of Kia-Ora.

'So, with Senior Detective Riley here, Simmo and I came in to talk to you blokes. Senior Detective Moore took a look out back,' Bennett explained.

'Who saw this bloke? Why didn't they get hold of us?' Karl asked. 'We'd be a lot faster than you blokes. We know the area like the back of our hands all the short cuts. We would 'ave been there in a flash.'

'Yeah, everyone 'round here knows we're all lookin' out for each other. Why didn't anyone ring here and let us know some b.a.s.t.a.r.d was headin' down here? That's what would usually happen. I find that b.l.o.o.d.y odd really.' Digger eyed their faces.

'Yeah, and why didn't they ring Dawn and warn her and Jeff?' Karl added. 'Seems strange to me as well, mate!'

The detectives wouldn't elaborate on who had made the call. They refused to disclose any names.

They said they were checking the whereabouts of everyone.

After asking several more questions, they turned to leave, adding, 'We're sorry for any inconvenience but we have to do our job. Goodnight to you all.'

After the detectives left, Karl and Digger discussed their visit at length.

'Somethin' doesn't sit right about this!' Karl said 'Yeah, the cops were pretty cagey about it, weren't they,' Digger agreed.

'If you saw someone hangin' 'round where they shouldn't be, wouldn't you let one of us know...? h.e.l.l, the whole valley knows we're all doin' stakeouts!'

Karl looked at Digger thoughtfully.

'Well, it'd be the sensible thing to do,' Win said.

'You don't think the police made it up, do you?' Ellie asked.

They all thought about this for a minute, then Karl stood up, shoving his hands in his pockets. 'Those cops are completely baffled by what's happenin' 'round the valley. You might just be right, Ellie! They've come up with nothin' time and time again. They'd be desperate for someone to blame!'

'And you think they might be tryin' to lay the blame at our doorstep, Karl?' Digger voiced what they had all been thinking.

'I do! I reckon they'd try an' pin it on any one of us. They probably actually believe in their over-active brains that one of us would be capable of doing this to our own families! The 'bug' has 'em dancin' to his tune and they're also feelin' pretty foolish!'

'Well,' Win said angrily. 'They can try all they like but they're wasting valuable time when they should be out there looking for the real culprit. Surely to goodness they can't seriously think one of us would do such vile things to our own family!'

'Well, I say it's a d.a.m.n cheek just walking in like that detective Moore did,' Ellie said angrily. 'I reckon he sneaked around the back to listen to what was being said in here.'

'And goodness knows how long he'd been out there,' Win added. 'Maybe they're listening in on our conversations right now!' She raised her voice for the last two words.

'They're desperate, Win!' Karl said, sighing loudly. 'They can listen all they like, they won't hear anythin' that they can pin on any of us.'

'Still, it isn't a nice feeling wondering if the police are hiding outside listening in on what we say. It's bad enough worrying about the d.a.m.n firebug being outside,' Ellie replied.

'Well they might as well join the b.a.s.t.a.r.d. There's no privacy in this valley anymore. Like I said, Ellie, they're desperate. I wouldn't be surprised what they'd do. C'mon Dig, let's get on down to Daisy's and check on her.' Karl moved toward the door and looked back at Win, pointing to the keys on the hallstand.