Red Hot

by Cheryl Alldis

  ***

  ‘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 t
he 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… Don’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.’

  ‘I want a proper answer! Where’d’ ya go after ya finished doin’ the patrol with ya Dad?’ Digger thundered, clenching his fists.

  ‘Hang on a minute.’ Arthur moved in between Digger and Robert.

  ‘Shut up, Arthur. I want to hear it from him!’ He jerked his head at Robert.

  Still standing between the two, Arthur told his son to hurry up and answer. He could see how agitated Digger was and didn’t want this to erupt into a full on blue.

  ‘Well, I wasn’t at any place in particular. I drove around a bit. Went into town and cruised Dean Street ta see who was around, drove up to the Monument, parked up there a while, then I came home.’ Robert was feeling a bit scared. Digger’s foul mood was enough to scare anyone.

  Sam, Jeff and the others arrived all as bewildered as Arthur.

  ‘What’s the trouble here?’ Sam asked as they trooped through the door, glancing from Digger to Arthur and taking note of the frightened look on Robert’s face.

  ‘Where the hell is Des?’ Digger snapped at them.

  ‘Not sure, mate, he’ll be around somewhere. Why? Why have ya dragged us down here so urgently? Don’t forget we’ve got shifts to do tonight!’ Sam replied warily. It was plain Digger was in a foul mood.

  Digger told them about the phone calls and how he’d forbidden the girls to leave the property alone… ever!

  He went on telling them that they all had to do whatever it would take to capture the bastard. He looked at them with extreme determination that told them without using any words that he meant whatever it took. They all knew what he was getting at and agreed to back him.

  ‘I’ve forbidden Kath to see Chancellor again. I’ve never trusted him and until we’ve got the mongrel doin’ this, I won’t have her near him! She’s not happy about it but he’s high on the list of suspects. That brings me back to you, Robert.’

  He turned on Robert again and said, ‘If I find out you’ve had anything to do with these calls, or if it was you who tried to scare Kathy and her aunt by following them at any time, I’ll personally deal with you. Understood?’

  Robert mumbled, ‘It’s not bloody me, I done nothin’.’ Arthur told him to go home to Daisy.

  ‘You’ve gone a bit too far, mate! He’s not the culprit. You must know that, for heaven’s sake, Dig.’

  Arthur had allowed Digger to have his say. He understood him being full of rage about Win and Kathy getting the phone calls. Regardless, he was furious Digger had more or less insinuated that Robert could be responsible.

  ‘He’s your son, Arthur. Of course you believe in him, but he’s still a suspect, just like Des is!’

  ‘Now hang on, Dig,’ Sam interrupted. ‘You surely don’t suspect Des? What tha fuck’s the matter with ya? You’ve gone mad! Rob and now Des! For fuck’s sake man, they’re bloody family!’

  ‘I suspect everyone until we catch whoever is doin’ this to us!’

  ‘Well, fuck ya!’ Sam exploded. ‘Des wouldn’t do these things to his own family! Neither would young Rob! You’re off your fuckin’ rocker! Sort him out, Karl, or I bloody will!’ Sam stormed out, calling, ‘See ya later.’

  Karl put a hand on Digger’s shoulder. ‘Sam’s got a right to be pissed off, mate. Des isn’t to blame. He wouldn’t phone the women and talk to them like that. Neither would Rob!’

  ‘Des wouldn’t burn our stuff. No way would he burn my tractor,’ Eric added.

  ‘We’re all under a huge strain. We have’ta pull together in this; we all know that none of us would run ‘round burnin’ each other’s properties and tractors and stuff. I think if we get a rest this afternoon, it’ll clear our minds,’ Jeff butted in.

  This situation had to be resolved before any more was said and there was a family rift. Life-long friendships had already been damaged beyond repair from accusations being hurled at each other around the valley. They couldn’t let it start to tear families apart.

  ‘We’ll need to be on the alert tonight, mate,’ Karl reminded Digger. He was concerned about his brother-in-law. He too remembered the incident with Merv Dyer.

  ‘I still say they’re both suspects, just like others in the valley. I won’t rest until I’ve got the bastard.’ Digger was sticking to his guns. He was desperate to protect his family.

  It was clear that there was someone very sinister lurking in the valley.

  What else did he want? …Or who?

  Jeff left with Eric and Arthur while Karl attempted to convince Digger he needed to rest before night fell.

  ‘Listen mate,’ he said. ‘I know how bad ya must be feelin’. Ya can’t lose it now. Jeff’s right, we have’ta all pull together. Yeah, someone ‘round here is the firebug. It’s someone who knows us all real well, but it isn’t one of the family. C’mon, go have a rest and ya’ll be thinkin’ clearer when ya wake up. If ya hell bent on catchin this prick then ya need ta be alert or he’ll outsmart ya every time. Ya can’t be friggin’ exhausted, buddy.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  He sat on a tree stump near old Harry’s hut, thinking as he idly traced circles in the dirt with a stick.

  ‘They can play bloody detective all they like but they’ll never catch me. I’m one step ahead of ‘em… all the time.’ Laughing he, threw the stick at a bird. ‘That fuckin’ Digger Miles. What a smart arse. Full of shit, always flappin’ his jaws about somethin’!’

  ‘Reckon I just might ave’ta do somethin’ ‘bout im’, the arsehole!’

  He rolled off the tree stump onto his back and put his hands behind his head. ‘Yeah, I’ll’ think of a way to get you, Miles!’ he thought.

  ***

  Tammi wasn’t at all happy about the restrictions Digger had implem
ented.

  ‘He’s gone a bit far, don’t you think?’ she said to Kathy.

  ‘Too damn right he has. I’m not allowed to even look at Eddie. He’s not the bloody firebug, Tam. Dad’s going over the top now!’

  ‘We think Eddie’s innocent, but Dad’s never liked him, has he?’

  ‘No he hasn’t, but Eddie isn’t what people think he is. He has his reasons for being an angry ant! He gets blamed for every bloody thing and is always talked about behind his back. He really misses his dad too. Imagine it, Tam, wouldn’t that get your hackles up?

  ‘For sure. I can see what you’re saying Kath. It is unfair.

  ‘The more people shunned him over the years, the more he became bitter. He needs someone to believe in him for a change. He treats me right and I have no fear of him at all.’ She thought back to the times she had spent with him and sighed. ‘Tam, I don’t think I can stop seeing him.’

  ‘You’ll have to, at least until Dad calms down.’

  Kathy looked away from Tammi, thoughts whirling through her mind.

  ***

  Patrols remained in place day and night regardless of everyone’s exhaustion from lack of sleep. The week so far had gone by with no more fires or sinister phone calls.

  Kathy moped around. Tammi was bored senseless and spent a fortune in phone calls to Laura who had gone back to Cooma for the last couple of days before school resumed.

  Mary and Harvey settled on a property at Jindera, a small country village outside of Hamilton Valley and about a twenty minute drive from Kia-Ora.

  The night before they moved out, Harvey took Ellie to one side. They hadn’t been together since he had poured his heart out to her and gone to her room. Speaking quietly so Mary wouldn’t hear, he whispered, ‘I’ll contact you as soon as I settle her in, darling. We’ll have to arrange a place to meet alone!’

  ‘Okay, Harv. I want to see you alone too. I may just have an idea,’ she assured him. He squeezed her hand and went back inside to Mary who was in the lounge room with Win and Emmie. Emmie had wanted to speak to Mary alone but she had steadfastly avoided her as much as she could. Mary was still very embarrassed, knowing that Emmie was aware of her drunken behaviour.