'Fine, Constable Styles will go through this book tonight!' Bennett nodded to the young policeman standing at the door.

'You know, this lunatic has to be stopped! It was the fact that some of the patrons raised the alarm and the quick action of the barmen that avoided a major disaster. As it is, there's thousands of dollars damage out there!' Tom Berry said.

'We know, Mr Berry. We're doing all we possibly can. Let's hope there's a lead in this book.' Bennett patted the large book on his lap.

'Well, I hope so. I hope so, because I know the locals around here, and mark my words, it's come to a case of shoot first, ask questions later!' Tom Berry's words hung heavily in the enclosed office. They knew the local farmers and fruit growers would indeed shoot first.

The next day was warm and sunny, the usual conditions for springtime in Lavington. Sam stood on the front veranda with Des and Eric. They were looking across at the club.

'Yeah, there's no doubt about it, we're in for big trouble... real big trouble! Who knows what that b.a.s.t.a.r.d'll get up to,' Des said, rubbing his chin.

'Yeah, to think we thought it was all over,' Eric answered angrily. 'Someone 'round here's coverin' for him! A bloke couldn't possibly keep lightin' all these fires without someone knowin'. Whoever he lives with must've seen something. s.h.i.t, there has to be some clue somewhere! To think people thought it was me. As if I would do all those rotten things and try and kill people!'

'Yeah, I've thought of that too. I agree with you. Someone knows somethin'. Don't reckon they'll come forward... not now. If they had one shred of decency, they woulda spoke up long ago.' Sam sighed loudly. 'After last night's fire, the blokes around here'll be only too willin' to get together and work out what to do. They're gonna be out for blood though.'

'Nat an' Rex will've decided already,' Des said, serious. 'They'll have their shotguns out cleanin' an' loadin' them ready to shoot anyone who sets foot on their properties. They're not gonna mess 'round with cops this time!'

'Yeah, trouble is some poor innocent b.a.s.t.a.r.d could cop it by mistake! Remember poor old Beryl? She was so b.l.o.o.d.y frightened, Nat copped a buckshot from her.' Sam turned to go inside. Placing his hand on the door handle, he added, 'We've gotta get a fool-proof plan in place before things get outta hand!'

The firebug was the talk of every household. The fear everyone thought was long gone had quickly returned, this time coupled with cold fury and desperation, a deadly combination. Once again the lives of the residents of Hamilton Valley were in turmoil.

The men sprang into action and word went around that a meeting would be held at Sars Hotel. The plan was to catch the b.a.s.t.a.r.d and the next fire would have the firebug perched on top like a cracker night scarecrow!

'Oh so seldom does fate cast our enemy into our hands to do with as we will.'

Donna Leon ***

'G.o.dd.a.m.n it, Mary!' exploded Harvey. 'What the h.e.l.l do you want me to do?'

'You made your bed Harvey... now lie in it!' Mary shouted back at him. 'You will not, I repeat, will not get one more penny from me!'

'You b.i.t.c.h... you lousy b.i.t.c.h! All I want to do is set myself up!'

'Huh and then what...? p.i.s.s off with Ellie on my money! Not on your life, Harvey... Not on your life. I'm not that foolish. Maybe I was once, but not now!'

All was not well in the Winters' household. Harvey had approached Mary for a large sum of money. He wanted to start a business of his own. Mary was an extremely wealthy woman. She had inherited her father's fortune and Harvey couldn't keep his hands off it. He now wanted her to finance a business for him. Mary, however, was determined not to let him get his hands on any more. She had lost enough money through his stupidity and hair-brained schemes in the past.

'How dare you even think to ask for more money! You screw around behind my back, and not just with Ellie Fraser! I know about all the others, Harvey, I always have. I feel sorry for Ellie in a way. I think she really loves you, but you... You don't love her, do you? She's just another screw until you tire of her like all the rest. Then you'll discard her as well.' Mary's voice was low and full of bitterness.

'The answer is no, now and always. Don't bother to ask again because I'll never give you another cent!' A look of disdain flashed across Mary's eyes.

'I've gone through h.e.l.l because of you. I have been hurt and humiliated. Now the shoe's on the other foot, isn't it? So grovel, you areshole... I wish Ellie could see just how pathetic you really are.'

'You smarta.r.s.e b.i.t.c.h! ...You f.u.c.kin' b.i.t.c.h!' Harvey grabbed Mary by her arms and shook her viciously.

'Let me go!' she shouted, kicking at him.

'Bah! You're not worth it!' Harvey released his hold, cursed and strode furiously from the house, slamming the screen door behind him. Mary sank down into a chair. She couldn't stop the tears welling up and spilling down her cheeks. She was trembling all over.

'How dare he ask me to finance a business for him, after all he's done,' she said aloud.

'Well, Simmo, we haven't got anywhere, have we?' Detective Bennett leaned back in his chair as he spoke.

'We've still got Chancellor to interview. That bloke's got a cunnin' way about him. I want to keep a real close eye on him. Just a gut feelin', mate!' Simpson replied, looking up from a file he had been studying.

'Yeah, he's been in and out of strife since he was thirteen years old. I don't give a d.a.m.n that he's supposed to have turned over a new b.l.o.o.d.y leaf, that bulls.h.i.t is just too good to be true.' Bennett swung around in his swivel chair to face Simpson.

'I've heard a rumour that he's got it in for that new bloke in town, Darcy Burke. Seems Burke's a bit of a rev head! Gets out on the Weir road racin' that pink beast. Apparently Chancellor lost a few drags to him, and he's one bloke who doesn't like losin'. So we've got a bit of compet.i.tion between those two rat bags!'

'Bit b.l.o.o.d.y stupid if you ask me. S'pose it was the highway blokes who told you about the drags?' Simpson smirked.

'Yeah, they chased them both along the Weir Road past the Bandiana Army Camp. They're b.l.o.o.d.y idiots! They were side by side goin' flat out. The highway blokes got them both and booked them. Got Chancellor for seven defects on his heap, but Burke's car's in good nick!

'One day Chancellor'll do somethin' and have the book thrown at him. Is he still seein' that Miles girl? It's a wonder that family would have him in their house at all, let alone allow him to take their daughter out! It's strange how he wormed his way in there, pretty smooth of the bloke!' Bennett mused.

'You can't tell me a bad egg like that can change so fast.' Simpson snapped his fingers as he spoke.

'Yes, I have quite a few doubts about our Eddie Chancellor I'll have him brought in this afternoon,' Bennett stated.

'It's no f.u.c.kin use dependin' on the cops!' Nat Willis shouted. 'They dunno a b.l.o.o.d.y thing! They're runnin' around scratchin' their heads and pickin' their a.r.s.es an' they're no closer to catchin' the mongrel than we are. I say no muckin' 'round this time!'

He slammed his fist on the table in front of him, slopping beer onto the table. 'Arm ourselves and patrol the area day and b.l.o.o.d.y night! We did it last time but no holdin' back now. Shoot on sight!'

'Right with ya, mate! I'm all for it. I'm b.l.o.o.d.y sure I'm not gonna stand by and let the b.a.s.t.a.r.d burn any more of my hay sheds. I can't afford to keep replacin' stuff. b.l.o.o.d.y insurance companies don't want to know us because of all this. Dawn's at home right now a b.l.o.o.d.y nervous wreck. She's scared stiff the new hay shed'll go up again,' Jeff shouted across the room.

The men were in the public lounge of Sars Hotel. All the farmers and fruit growers had turned up for the meeting. They were desperate men, determined to catch the crazed arsonist who was h.e.l.l-bent on destroying them.

'Shoot the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I say!' an angry farmer yelled.

'Look, we have ta keep level heads about this.' Sam stood up and leant on his hands. 'We need a strategy that we can all work with. We can't let things escalate like they did twelve months ago.'

'What about Eric Mason? What's he doin? How do we know he's not really guilty?' bellowed another farmer.

'Shut your filthy mouth, you a.r.s.ehole!' Karl turned to glare at the farmer.

As he was about to stand and say more, they were interrupted by a commotion just outside the double doors that led to the beer garden. They all turned as Ivy Gelding and four other women burst in.

Ivy advanced on the gathering, waving her arms in the air and chanting, 'Hallelujah, save these poor souls... Hallelujah!' She came to a stop beside the table Sam, Karl and the rest of them occupied.

'What the f.u.c.k?' Sam was so surprised he was rendered speechless.

'h.e.l.l fire and d.a.m.nation is upon us!' she continued to rant. 'The devil has returned to our valley. We're being torched again!' She glared into Sam's face. 'You're the protector of evil. Eric Mason was guilty before and he's guilty now! String him up, I say!'

She raised her arms above her head and spun around in a circle. 'Burn him like he's burnt our sheds, our haystacks and machinery, and now old Harry's hut. He's the devil himself!'

She turned her crazed face to look at the stunned group of men, her lips drawn into a thin line, displaying a downy moustache across her top lip.

Rex recovered first. 'Shut the stupid b.i.t.c.h up, will ya? She's off her head!'

Nat grabbed Ivy by her arms. Forcing them behind her back, he marched her to the doors and pushed her out. 'Get out ya lunatic, an' don't come back!'

'Throw the stupid cow in with that pig'a yours, Nat.' Smelly Smart shouted from across the room. 'She'll think tha devil's after a then!' He doubled over with laughter.

Shouts of 'b.l.o.o.d.y good idea' echoed around the room.

'What about this lot?' another bloke yelled, pointing at the remaining four women. 'Reckon ya pig'd like them?'

The other women had remained silent throughout Ivy's rant and now one look around at the blokes all grinning at them was enough to send them scurrying back outside.

'Well, that was an eye-opener,' Digger said in bemus.e.m.e.nt.

'The woman's taken leave of her senses!'

'She's nuts alright. Did ya see the crazy look in her eyes? She's gone completely mad.' Karl slowly shook his head in astonishment. 'She always was anyway.'

'Well, she did have a point. How do we know Eric Mason's really innocent? The cops thought him guilty enough to arrest him last time.' Bill O'Toole spoke in the silence of the room. 'It was his cousin Des who got him off. Could be both of 'em in it tagether!'

'I'd be b.l.o.o.d.y careful what ya say, O'Toole,' Karl warned in a deadly voice. 'Ya just might find ya self in the lock up for slander.'

'Ha! Talkin' through ya a.r.s.e Mason, for all we know ya've prob'ly been protectin' him all along!'

Karl grabbed the chair that was in front of him and flung it out of his way. Nat ducked just in time as the chair crashed to the floor beside him. 'I'll shove ya words right back down ya throat, a.r.s.ehole.'

O'Toole sn.i.g.g.e.red. He was deliberately goading Karl.

Digger and Sam both grabbed the furious Karl. 'He's not worth it, mate,' Digger said.

'p.i.s.s weak,' O'Toole gloated. He looked around at the of the group of men. 'You'se blokes don't know for certain it wasn't Eric. Don't ya's think it b.l.o.o.d.y convenient those friggin' fires all happened while he was in court? For f.u.c.ks sake, think about it that Ted bloke wasn't at the courthouse; he's capable of gettin' 'round and lightin' a few fires ta get the blame off of Mason.'

His words hung in the air as the rest of the men digested them, then a chorus of angry voices erupted as accusations were hurled left, right and centre.

'You stinkin' a.r.s.ehole!' Karl lunged at O'Toole. His fist connected with brute force and blood spurted instantly from O'Toole's nose.

O'Toole staggered into the man behind him who steadied him, stopping him from falling to the floor. Two of O'Toole's mates leapt to his defence. One of them grabbed Karl and the other raised his fist but it was blocked mid-air.

'I wouldn't, mate.' Digger grabbed the ready fist and held it in a vice-like grip. He shoved him back and the bloke who had stopped O'Toole from falling rushed at Digger, who landed a rock solid punch in the bloke's stomach, winding him.

Karl and O'Toole were at it hammer and tong. Digger shook his fist to get the blood circulating again. The bloke he'd knocked down staggered to his feet and came at Digger for another go.

Meanwhile, Sam was embroiled in a fight with a farmer who had agreed with O'Toole. 'Ya f.u.c.kin' b.a.s.t.a.r.d, blacken a fine young bloke's name! Ya can only say it when he's not around to defend himself! Well I'm here an' I'm not takin' ya bulls.h.i.t!'

Sam had the man by his neck and he raised his fist to land another punch when he was grabbed the farmer's mate.

'Get ya hands off him, Mason!'

Sam felt a blow to his jaw and stumbled backwards.

Nat, Rex and Jeff leapt in to defend Sam and more mates of the farmers joined in the melee.

Tables were upended, chairs, gla.s.ses and beer jugs thrown and smashed.

The lounge at Sars had turned into a boxing ring of angry desperate men pushed beyond their limit, all because of the threat of more fires and unfounded accusations.

The barman had swiftly picked up the phone and called the police when he saw what was ahead. They arrived to a scene of total bedlam. It took some time to settle the angry group. They decided not to arrest anyone. Instead, they gave them a firm lecture. The police knew the strain these men were under; arresting them wasn't the answer.

The meeting had got completely out of control. Ivy Gelding's ranting had given O'Toole the opening he wanted to goad Karl, and O'Toole's insinuations about Eric had certainly triggered the brawl. It was obvious that the perpetrator was someone close to them all, but Eric was innocent and for O'Toole to continue accusing him was like a red rag to a bull.

The police waited to make sure the men left in an orderly manner. Black eyes, bloodied noses, swollen lips and even missing teeth were the outcome of the riot.

Sam, Jeff, Karl and Digger stood out the front beside their cars. All of them sported bruised faces and Sam's jaw was swollen to twice its size. Nat and Rex had ripped shirts and Rex had a split lip.

Karl had the beginning of a black eye and Digger's nose was dripping blood.

Jeff had a split lip and a cut under his eye.

's.h.i.t, mate,' Sam spoke carefully, holding his swollen jaw. 'What a mess!' He gestured toward the hotel.

'Think there'll be a sizeable bill in there! C'mon, we better get home. Reckon we have a bit of explainin' to do. We'll get together with you blokes and sort out a plan ourselves. Won't bother with the rest of them b.a.s.t.a.r.ds,' Karl said to Nat and Rex.

There was no use trying to reason with the others. It would always end up in a brawl, that was obvious. But the damage was done; there was no hope of them being civil to each other now.

CHAPTER NINE.

Sunday dawned a typical warm spring day. Emmie was sitting on the side veranda with Win and Ellie. The men had disappeared down to the orchards very early, still nursing their wounds.

'Well they didn't gain much from their meeting yesterday, did they!' commented Ellie.

'No, I'm very much afraid the men in this valley of ours are close to breaking point.' Emmie's old voice faltered as she spoke. 'I was horrified when they came home in such a state last night.'

'Yes, well Ivy Gelding didn't help things, did she? That woman has completely taken leave of her senses.'

'Yes, she's a real worry. She's always been neurotic but now that she's got involved with this new religious nonsense she's worse.' Emmie tapped her fingers on the arm of the chair, a gesture she made when she was worried.

'From what the men said, she had a really crazed look on her face. They said she took them all by surprise,' Ellie said. 'And that b.l.o.o.d.y Bill O'Toole took advantage of it and provoked Karl into a fight.'

'Yes, Dig said Bill O'Toole started that brawl. He's nothing but a troublemaker,' Win said angrily.