Red Hot (22 page)

Eric was stunned. He looked at Sam.

‘Go on, mate. You go too, Des. We’ll have to stay here a bit longer. Just until it’s out properly, but you two go on. Chancellor’s right, Con and Kathy shouldn’t be alone. Go on and see how much damage’s done to that tractor,’ Sam said, patting Eric on his shoulder.

‘Righto,’ Eric answered in a deflated voice.

Eddie took Des and Eric back and showed them the damaged tractor. Eric thanked Eddie for what he had done and shook his hand. Eddie then took Kathy home. It was way past twelve thirty but neither of them were concerned: Digger would have heard Eddie up at the fire.

‘Come in, Eddie, I’ll make us both a hot choccy. It’s turned into a rotten night,’ she urged.

‘Nah… not tonight, the place’s in an uproar. I’ll get home to Mum. She’s alone too, you know. She hates bein’ home alone now as well. I’ll see you soon, honey, real soon.’ He took her in his arms and kissed her. She clung to him for a moment which urged him to add, ‘C’mon, I’ll walk you to the door.’ He kissed her again at the door and with a salute and a smile, left her and went back to his car. She watched him drive away. She felt very proud of Eddie Chancellor tonight.

Eric was extremely upset and pissed off at himself. His tractor wasn’t insured; he hadn’t got around to it. He’d stupidly forgotten with all the drama going on. He was furious at himself for overlooking something so important. The tyres were completely ruined along with the fuel line and every other rubber and plastic item on the thing. The paint was melted as well. It was a complete mess. He would be up for a lot of money in repairs.

***

The fire at Dawn’s was out and everyone had gone back to their homes. Quiet descended on the valley. Up the top end of Centaur Road, Mr and Mrs Johnson had again retired to their bed. Their neighbour Sid Jackson flicked the light off and crawled into his bed, pulling the sheet over him and heaving a tired sigh.

Over at Nat Willis’s place, he took one last drag on his cigarette, ground it out in the ashtray and walked to the kitchen door to lock up before he too crawled into bed for what was left of the night. ‘
Bloody crazy bastard… Wonder who the prick is… If only we could get a lead…’
His thoughts came to an abrupt halt and his heart leapt to his throat… ‘What the fuck…’ He slammed his way out the door and raced to the side of his house … ‘This just can’t be happenin’…’ His eyes took in what his mind was scrambling to accept. His huge woolshed was on fire
and burning fiercely.
Nat felt utterly helpless. He hadn’t heard a sound, but now as he stood rooted to the spot, he could hear the sound of iron falling. He knew without a doubt that he would lose the lot. The fire was too fierce to have any hope of saving a thing. Adrenalin spurred him to action and he ran inside to ring the fire brigade and alert his brother Rex.

It wasn’t long before the sound of the fire brigade’s sirens ringing throughout the valley alerted the other blokes and they arrived to help. However, it was just as Nat already knew: there was no possible hope of saving a thing.

They watched on as the fire destroyed the shed and everything in it. Overhead shearing equipment, wool presses bins and bales of crutchings were all destroyed.

This was only one of many fires Nat would endure at the hands of the firebug.

The men were standing around feeling utterely useless when a shout from old Mr Johnson drew their attention. His huge hayshed was on fire! Again, the fire was so fierce that the shed and 400 bales of hay were completely destroyed.

This was just the beginning. Over the course of the firebug’s rampage , Mr Johnson would lose a further three sheds and 1,350 bales of hay and other goods.

Mr Johnson’s neighbour, Mr Sid Jackson, was also a target. The firebug made three attempts to burn his tractor and a huge packing house was burnt to the ground.

When the first fire had occurred at Hansen’s, no one had any idea of the destruction the crazed arsonist would bestow on them. The terror and heartache, the damage to the people
and
their lives,
along with the destruction
was indescribable.

***

‘This bastard needs stringin’ up for what he’s doin,’ Eric said to his uncle when they met at Arthur’s place.

‘That’s everyone’s point of view, mate. He’s bloody dangerous and he’s bloody game. It’s terrifyin’ having him comin’ so close to the house. What’s next? Will he start on our homes next?’ Sam questioned. ‘An’ to set so many fires in the one night like he did last night just goes ta show how bloody determined he is ta break us all.’

‘There’s somethin’ else on my mind too, Arthur,’ Karl interrupted, turning to look at Arthur. ‘There’s been talk about young Robert. Dig’s heard the blokes at the pub. They’re sayin’ he could be to blame for all this.’

‘What!’ Arthur blustered. ‘Robert wouldn’t do a thing like this. Ya know that well as I do! He’s family! There’s no way on God’s earth that he’d stoop to somethin’ as bad as this!’

‘Hang on, mate. We don’t agree with them, but I wanted to let you know what some of the local blokes are sayin’ before ya heard it elsewhere. The cops’ll probably drop in on him and question him because, after last night’s fiasco, there’s sure to be more tongues waggin’ than ever.’

‘Karl’s right, mate. Might be an idea to warn him about the gossip,’ Digger advised.

‘Now… when the firebug was chased along the creek, you said he was a big bugger and coulda had dark hair,’ Karl quizzed.

‘We all could see he was tall and well-built, but not much more than that,’ Digger replied.

‘You watch it then too, Des, because a few locals are talkin’ about you as well!’ Karl told him.

‘Me?’ Des said in surprise. ‘They reckon I’d set fire to my own family’s stuff and burn my aunty’s bloody hayshed full of hay I helped stack? What bullshit! An’ I helped old man Johnson build that shed’da his… Why the fuck would I burn it down…’

‘We’re all suspicious of everyone, Des. Just be careful,’ Sam told his son. ‘Look, the local blokes are as edgy as cut snakes. Until we get this bastard, we all have to be on our toes. Every one of us is gonna be suspects, just don’t let them get to ya. We all know it’s not one of us an’ that’s all that matters.’

‘Yeah, ya all heard O’Toole havin’ a go about me at the meetin’. Ivy Gelding has been tellin’ everyone I’m the bug!’ Eric added.

‘She’s just a stupid ungrateful old woman. She should watch what she’s sayin’. I might just wander over an’ have a word to her about that,’ Sam replied.

Eric grinned. ‘Nah, let her go. She’ll get sick of it sooner or later. She’s just an old trouble maker. Shouldn’t have bothered tryin’ to save her bloody haystack.’

‘Well, after last night’s fires, we’re gonna have ta take even more precautions. Old Mr Johnson’s settin’ up outside lightin’ after what went on up there last night. He’s got a lotta shearin’ equipment he don’t want lost and those other three sheds and all that other hay he’s got ready. Sid Jackson’s settin’ rabbit traps all ‘round his place. Says he can’t afford ta lose any feed he’s got stored for his cows an’ he’s parkin’ his tractor where the lights’ll shine right on it. Then poor bloody Nat losin’ his woolshed and all his equipment has set him back no end. He’s bloody beyond furious!’ Karl inhaled on his cigarette and blew the smoke out through his nose.

‘Rabbit traps are a great idea. Hope the bastard steps in one; that’ll slow him down for sure! There’s not a lot more we can do, is there?’ Arthur ran a weary hand through his hair.

‘What’d’ya reckon these city blokes’ll do?’

‘Stuffed if I know, mate,’ Sam replied, shaking his head slowly. ‘Stuffed if I know. Well, we better head up to Dawn’s. We told Jeff we’d give him a hand cleanin’ up after the fire. Poor bloody Dawn’s lost a fortune too. We’ll all have’ta throw in an’ help with feed for her cows an’ then give Jeff a hand ta rebuild the shed. We’ll all have’ta help Nat an’ the two old blokes too.’

‘Yeah, me an’ Des are gonna see what we can do to fix the tractor then we’ll wander up an’ see if Mr Johnson an’ Sid want a hand too,’ Eric told them.

‘You and Robert are doin’ the first patrol this mornin’, aren’t ya’s?’ Karl asked Arthur.

‘Yep, then Rex an’ Nat’ll take over. Nat said it’s gonna take a bit ta get things cleaned up at his place; the insurance has’ta come an’ look at everythin’ before he can make a start an’ o’course the cops’re gonna be crawlin’ all over the place too. Dunno how we don’t at least get a glimpse of the mongrel. It’s like the bastard’s invisible!’

Karl and Digger were doing the first shift that night, so they were going to attend to the day’s jobs and get a bit of sleep before their shift started. Sleep was fast becoming more scarce with the number of fires increasing.

***

Win was reading the newspaper when the phone rang. Taking her coffee with her, she picked up the receiver. ‘Hello, Win Miles speaking!’

‘Well, well, well. Winnie… Dear Winnie …I’ve been wantin’ ta talk ta ya, me lovely. Fancy a bit’a slap an’ tickle? I’d be real happy ta oblige ya!’ The man began panting heavily into the phone

‘Oh!’ She dropped the receiver back in its cradle. Her face had gone chalk white. ‘Oh… Dear God… Who is doing this? Where’s Dig?’ Win panicked. She bolted out the back door, rushing past Francis as she went, not even stopping to apologize for knocking the books he was carrying out of his arms.

‘Shit… Aunty’s in a hurry,’ He said to Towser, the dog.

‘Where was Mum going in such a hurry?’ Kathy had come downstairs in time to see Win run out.

The phone rang again just as Francis answered that he didn’t know where Win had gone in such a rush.

Kathy picked up the receiver.

A raspy voice spoke into her ear.
‘Ya better tell that hoity toity Winnie Miles that if she hangs up on me again, she’ll be sorry. An’ tell her not to forget… she’s got two very lovely daughters!’
The line then went dead.

Kathy stood staring at the phone she still held in her hand. Her face had completely drained of colour.

Francis grabbed hold of her. ‘Kath… Shit… What’s wrong, kid?’

Kathy tried to speak but no sound came out.

‘Here, sit down!’ Francis dragged a chair over and shoved her into it. ‘Wait here, I’ll fetch Win back!’

Francis ran after Win and found her with a grim-faced Digger.

He told them about Kathy’s phone call and they hurried straight back. She was sitting, shaking all over, where Francis had left her.

‘Kathy, sweetheart, did you recognize the voice on the phone?’ Digger knelt beside her.

She shook her head. ‘ No, I… I… don’t… know… He just said…’ She swallowed hard. ‘He said if Mum hung up on him again to tell her she’d be sorry… She’s not… to… to… forget… she’s got… two lovely daughters!’ She broke down shaking so hard that Win had to hold her tightly.

‘This’s too much!’ Digger leapt to his feet and with one vicious swipe he knocked the phone to the floor.

Win was as pale as Kathy.

‘Dig, we should call the police.’

‘Police…
Police
! What the hell will they do? They don’t know what to do any more than we bloody do!’ Digger’s face was red with rage. ‘No, we’ll handle it ourselves!’

‘Dig, please, calm down. Kathy’s upset enough. What can we do? This is a nightmare!’

‘Bloody more than what’s bein done,’ he roared. ‘No bastard’s gonna terrify my family. Not as long as I’m alive!’ He grabbed the phone from the floor and dialled Jeff Hickson.

‘Jeff! Get hold of Sam and the boys, mate. Get your arses down here, quick smart!’

Arthur was next. ‘Arthur! Get that blasted idiot son of yours and get up here on the double!’ He hung up, giving neither bloke a chance to argue, then he turned back to Kathy and Win.

‘Where’s Tammi?’

‘Er, she’s gone to the Weir with Laura and some friends.’

‘Well, when she gets home, she’s not to leave the house! As for you, young lady.’ He looked sternly at Kathy. ‘You are not to set foot off Kia-Ora unless someone’s with you…
No!
’ He held up his hand when Kathy tried to speak. ‘Be quiet and listen! You
will not
associate with Eddie Chancellor anymore… D
on’t interrupt
…’ He silenced her again when she tried to speak. ‘He’s a suspect
and
… until the firebug’s caught, you
will
stay away from Eddie…
Understood?
’

‘Dad, Eddie’s not the firebug,’ Kathy whispered through stiff lips. ‘How can you be so cruel? You haven’t given him a chance.’

‘I don’t care. I forbid you to see him, and remember, no leaving the property alone!’

Win stood, shocked by Digger’s tirade. He was usually a placid man. She could only remember him ever being this angry once, many years back, and that was when he was defending her after that crazy idiot, Merv Dyer, confronted Win in front of him and hurled all those disgusting insults at her. If Karl hadn’t intervened, she was sure Digger would have killed him.

Win’s mind slipped back to so many years ago. She started to tremble. She shook her head to rid herself of the horrific vision her mind’s eye began to replay.

Dig had every right to be furious then. Merv was a psychotic case and had soon after was committed to a mental home and rightly so: he was very dangerous. As far as Win knew, he was still there. He would probably die there… she hoped, with very good reason.

Now Digger had every right to be just as furious. Once again a member of his family had been targeted, and again the situation was extremely dangerous! Whoever it was terrorizing the family had crossed the line by miles.

‘Take Kath and give her drink… A nip of brandy will settle her. You could do with one yourself,’ Dig suggested as he paced the floor, a frown furrowing his eyebrows. He looked ropable.

Arthur arrived with a scowling Robert in tow.

‘What’s goin’ on here?’ he asked as he strode through the door.

‘Tell ya when Hickson and the others get here,’ Digger replied, turning to Robert.

‘Okay, tell me where ya’ve been today.’

Robert, taken aback by Digger’s abrupt attitude, replied nervously ‘Hangin’ ‘round… Just cruisin’ ‘round.’