Red Hot

by Cheryl Alldis

  CHAPTER TEN

  On Monday morning, the newspaper carried headlines reporting the fire at the Valley Sports Club on Friday night. The police had still been unable to get any further with their investigations and asked for anyone with information, no matter how trivial it may seem, to report it immediately.

  ‘Just look at all this bullshit!’ Sam exploded as he tossed the paper onto the breakfast table. ‘Cops haven’t got a clue, just like last time!’ He pointed to the headlines.

  ‘Yeah Dad, I know. There’ll be a bloody murder in the valley before this’s finished. Nat’s gone gun crazy up at his place an’ Rex’s settin’ rabbit traps everywhere. He says he’ll catch the bastard one way or another.’ Des munched on his toast as he spoke.

  ‘He’s right. Des and I were up there yesterday and he was showin’ us his guns, loaded an’ ready to go! There’s friggin’ guns an’ traps everywhere!’ Eric frowned.

  ‘Well, can’t say as I blame ‘em and they’re not the only farmers thinkin’ along those lines. They’re all armin’ ‘emselves and even sleepin’ out in their sheds. No one’s takin’ chances this time,’ Sam said, worried. ‘Nat lost all that machinery and shearin’ equipment last time. He can’t afford to lose any more! Rex’s packin’ shed got burnt to the ground. We’re sure as hell gonna have to tread mighty careful until this bastard’s caught. Don’t you go anywhere alone, Eric!’ Sam warned. ‘You can’t be seen in the wrong place, mate!’

  ‘I know Sam… I know only too well. I’ll be careful!’

  ***

  ‘You look tired, Kathy. Is everything alright, love?’ Win sipped her morning cuppa as she eyed her daughter with concern.

  ‘Yes, Mum, everything’s fine. I’m a bit weary that’s all.’

  ‘Are you sure? Is everything okay with you and Eddie?’

  ‘Yeah, everything’s okay with him. He did get called in and questioned about the club fire. It upset him a fair bit and we ended up having a few words, but then we made up.’

  ‘Well as long as everything’s alright. Look after yourself, won’t you darling.’

  ‘I will, Mum, don’t worry. I’m running late again, bugger it. You know, I’m seriously thinking about getting a car of my own. I hate having to rush for the bus every day.’ Kathy kissed her mother’s cheek and headed for the door.

  Win watched her go, a thoughtful expression on her face, just as Emmie came in for her breakfast.

  ‘Morning, Mum. Had a little sleep in?’ Win greeted her.

  ‘Yes, it is a bit later than usual. I’ve been lying in bed doing some very serious thinking.’

  ‘Have you now? What have you been thinking about?’ she asked, handing Emmie a coffee.

  ‘I want to wait until I have Ellie and you together before I tell you.’ Emmie sipped her coffee. ‘Where is Ellie this morning?’

  ‘She went to town early to do some shopping. She should be home about lunch time.’

  ‘When she comes in, we’ll have a cuppa on the veranda and I’ll tell you my idea.’

  Win looked at Emmie curiously, wondering what her mother had up her sleeve.

  ‘If that’s what you want, I have to go out myself for a while. Dawn asked me to help with the tidying up of the hall. It needs a slick of paint as well to spruce it up for the Christmas dance. Jeff’s staying on the property because of the firebug.’

  ‘I wonder if it’s worth holding the dance this year. Most people will want to stay home and keep an eye on things,’ Emmie replied.

  ‘Yes, I mentioned the dance to Dig. He’s discussed it with the other blokes and they say that they will take it in shifts so everyone can make it to the dance, even if only for a short time,’ Win told her. ‘Anyway, I have to get a move on. Tammi’s still in bed, she starts school later today, she has to be there by eleven o’clock but she takes so long to get herself ready that if I don’t drag her out of bed now she’ll be late.’

  ‘She’s been studying hard for her exams, hasn’t she? You get her up and I’ll make sure she leaves in time for the bus. Bye love.’

  ***

  After showering, Mary applied her makeup, pinned her hair up, and then went in search of Mick.

  She found him giving the tractor an oil change. She looked out over her property and smiled as she admired the beautiful view.

  ‘And it’s all mine,’ she thought. ‘Harvey, you won’t be getting a cent. If it’s the last breath I take, I will see you penniless, just like you were when I met you.’ She turned to face Mick who was quietly behind her.

  ‘Mornin’ missus,’ he greeted her. ‘Nice day.’

  ‘It’s a lovely day, Mick, lovely day.’ She smiled. ‘I have an errand for you to run so when you finish with the tractor, would you come up to the house? I want you to deliver some jams and relishes to Mrs Mason at Kia-Ora.’

  ‘Sure thing. I’ll be all done here in about half an hour.’

  Mary smiled and went back to the house. Mick whistled as he worked on the tractor.

  ‘Kia-Ora, eh? This’s gonna be interestin’.’ He smirked to himself.

  ***

  ‘We’ll get the blokes together at my place tonight,’ Jeff was saying. He had called in to see Karl and Digger.

  They were all chatting in the orchard at Kia-Ora with Sam, Des and Eric.

  ‘The meetin’ at Sars was just bloody useless. We got friggin’ nowhere with that. I think if we get Nat and Rex on board again, between all of us we’ll organize these patrols and sort out any other ideas we might come up with. We worked well last time but we need to be on the ball twenty-four-seven this time ‘round.’

  ‘Yeah, I agree, mate. I reckon we should leave those other bastards out of our plans. That meetin’ at the pub was only an excuse for a fight; some of those blokes are just hell bent on bluein’!’ Sam said angrily. ‘We need to take action now if we’re gonna ever get this arsehole!’

  ‘Righto, we’ll finish work a bit earlier and meet at your place, Jeff, around seven if that suits you?’ Digger agreed.

  ‘Listen, I’ve told Eric not to go anywhere alone; it’s far too dangerous. There’s too many fools out there who still blame him and it would only take one wrong move and they’d be at him again,’ Sam told them.

  ‘Good idea. Eric’s had enough trouble and that mad Geldin’ bitch needs ta be locked up. She’s a bloody loose cannon, runnin’ ‘round the place shriekin’ like a friggin’ banshee.’ Karl placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

  ‘Strewth, I couldn’t put up with it a second time. I know there’s still people who blame me. I feel their stares and I hear their whispers. It makes me feel rotten. I wish we could get our hands on the real culprit!’

  ‘We will mate… We will!’ they said in chorus.

  ***

  ‘Every day brings us closer, my love.’ A sigh escaped the man’s lips. Suddenly his head jerked backwards, saliva dribbled from the corner of his mouth and trickled into the stubble on his chin, his eyes rolled back and a hoarse cry echoed in the room.

  ‘Ya prick teasin’ bitch! I’ll make ya suffer for everythin’! I’ll fix ya… for good!’ He was gasping for air. ‘I’ll get ya good, just ya wait and see!’ He took several gulps of air before calming himself.

  He felt in his breast pocket. The photo was still where it had been for so many years.

  He sat on a nearby chair, his ruddy skin had paled. He wiped perspiration from his face with a filthy handkerchief.

  ‘I can’t keep this up, I just can’t,’ he moaned.

  ***

  A knock sounded at the back door. Mary turned around from wiping the jars she was sending to Kia-Ora.

  ‘Oh Mick, you’ve finished. Come in for a minute. I’ll have the preserves ready in a tick.’

  Mick followed her into the kitchen, admiring her backside.

  ‘Here you are. Give my love to everyone at Kia-Ora.’ She smiled, handing him the box from the kitchen table.

  ‘Rightio, missus. Anythin’ else I can get you whi
le I’m out?’

  ‘No, not that I can think of. Mick, are you alright? You look a bit peaky.’

  ‘Good as gold, missus. Got a bit hot before workin’ out in the sun, that’s all. Better get goin’ then. See ya later.’

  He hurried out the back door. Mary watched him drive off in his old car thinking what a good worker she had found… but he was a tad odd!

  ***

  ‘Ok Mum, now what is it you want to talk about?’

  Win and Ellie had joined their mother on the veranda as she had requested.

  ‘I don’t know what you are both going to think about my idea.’

  ‘What is it? What have you in mind?’ they asked.

  ‘Well… I’ve been thinking and I want to ask Beth to move in with us!’

  There was stunned silence as Win and Ellie digested this piece of information.

  ‘Well, what do you think?’ asked Emmie.

  ‘Well that’s a bit of a surprise. Why? For what reason?’ Win stammered.

  ‘Whatever made you contemplate that?’ enquired Ellie. ‘She seems happy at the boarding house.’

  ‘Maybe so, but she’s obviously had a terrible childhood and she’s such a lovely young woman. I feel as though I’ve known her for years.’ Emmie smiled wistfully as she spoke. ‘She deserves a family atmosphere. She should be coming home from work to a hot meal and a family, not to a lonely room!’

  The two women looked at each other. It was obvious their mother had made up her mind. She was renowned for her kindness and, over the years, had provided help to many people who found themselves a bit ‘down and out,’ as she would put it.

  Emmie Mason had a genuine heart of gold.

  ‘Well, if it’s what you think is right and what you want to do, I suppose that’s okay with me.’ Win still looked puzzled.

  Ellie said she had no argument either. However, she too looked a little bit puzzled.

  Emmie sighed and smiled contentedly. She stopped speaking as they heard the sound of tyres crunch on the gravel drive.

  ‘I wonder who that is.’ Win got up to have a look as Mick walked around the corner.

  ‘Oh… you startled me.’ Win stared at him with a look of surprise on her face as she recognized him from the club.

  He smiled up at her as she stood staring down at him from the veranda.

  ‘Sorry if I frightened you. Mrs Winters sent me to deliver these goodies,’ he said in his low gravelly voice, showing her the box of preserves.

  ‘Who’s here?’ Ellie asked, coming to see who Win was talking to.

  ‘Why, hello there. What brings you to Kia-Ora?’ she asked.

  Mick explained his reason for being there to Ellie.

  ‘Well come on up. So you work for Harvey and Mary then?’ Ellie asked.

  ‘That’s right, I’ve only just started there. It’s a good job.’

  ‘Yes, and they’re nice people, you’re lucky. Come up and I’ll introduce you to Mum.’

  Mick passed close to Win. He turned and looked directly into her face. Her eyes met his and a shiver ran down her spine.

  ‘Those bloody eyes… those cold grey eyes!’ she thought, shuddering.

  Ellie made the introductions and Mick handed the box to Hazel who had wandered out to see who was visiting.

  ‘It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Mason,’ he said very politely. ‘Lovely place you’ve got here. Anyway, I must get on me way. I’ve plenty of work waitin’ back at Jindera.’ He walked to the edge of the veranda, gave a two fingered wave and, casting another glance in Win’s direction, winked and added, ‘Enjoy those goodies!’ Then he hurried down the steps.

  Win couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. Something about this Mick bloke really unsettled her.

  ***

  ‘Okay fellas! We all agree?’ Jeff spoke to the group of men gathered around his kitchen table.

  ‘We do. The situation’s critical to say the least. None of us can afford any more losses,’ old Mr Johnson said. ‘Me and my wife certainly aren’t getting’ any younger. This constant fear hangin’ over us isn’t good for her or me. Her heart’s not the best and she’s frightened all the damn time. She won’t go outside after the sun goes down. She even gets scared goin’ to the washin’ line to hang out the bloody washin’. She’s a prisoner in our own home. It’s bloody terrible!’

  ‘Too right it’s bloody terrible! That latest attempt on the club proves the bastard doesn’t give a damn how many people he hurts or kills.’ Karl stood up. ‘Day or night, the bastard can strike, we all know that. Look at Eric’s court day – bloody fiasco!’ He rubbed his hand over his face in frustration, adding, ‘You were talkin’ about getting’ a German Shepherd guard dog Jeff, but he has us over a barrel there too. He’ll bloody bait it’ poor bastard. No use anyone gettin’ a bloody guard dog. Remember poor old Towser. Fuckin’ hell, this is a mess!’

  ‘Mate, all we can do is try. Surely this nut has ta slip up somewhere. What else can we do? No one has any answers, not the cops, not anyone. Never heard of anyone doin’ what this fucker’s doin’ and gettin’ clean away with it,’ Jeff stated. ‘We just have to stick together. That’s all we can do.’

  ‘Right, first patrol tonight then: me, Dig, Des and Eric. We’ll just get a bite to eat and head out by eight. We’ll go through till one o’clock then Sam, Jeff, Nat an’ Rex can take over. I reckon between us we’ll manage alright. You blokes can go through til five,’ Karl said, sounding tired and utterly frustrated.

  ‘No problems. It’ll work out if we sleep until one and you blokes hit the sack when you get in at one. We’ll at least get some sleep,’ Sam agreed.

  ‘If we can catch this bastard then it’s bloody well worth havin’ no friggin’ sleep, I reckon!’ Jeff added.

  ‘We’ll probably be a bit tuckered out, but it has to be done,’ Rex added.

  ‘Bloody oath, mate!’ Nat swore. ‘I’m not losin’ one more bloody thing to this arsehole!’

  ‘You just take it easy with those shotguns. We don’t want an innocent person ta get shot, mate!’ Digger warned.

  ‘Right, let’s all get home,’ Mr Johnson muttered, tired.

  They all left for their homes, once again hoping their plan would allow them to catch the culprit and have him behind bars where he belonged. Maybe then they could finally get their lives back to some kind of normality.

  A figure slunk away between the sheds close to Dawn’s house.

  ‘So that’s what they’re up to now. They’ll never get me. Bloody idiots – even the cops can’t figure it out. I saw the stupid bastards hidin’ in the long grass, what fools! Don’t they know by now that I know every inch of the valley?’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Once the men adjusted to having less sleep, their routine fell into a relatively easy pattern. They didn’t have any trouble nor did they come across anyone or anything suspicious. It was a catch 22. They desperately wanted to catch the firebug, but they were relieved there had been no recent fires or anything suspicious to report. They had been fooled in the past into believing it was all over, only to be woken again in the dead of night by the wail of sirens as the fire brigade sped to another deliberately lit fire.

  The firebug had used this trick before. He lit fire after fire and then he would stop and everyone thought it was over only to find out differently. So battle on they would, this time they would not be letting their guard down.

  Preparations were coming along nicely for the approaching Christmas dance, which again would take place in Hamilton Hall. Win had a good eye for decorating and Dawn welcomed her help. It was so much better having Win there instead of Jeff and Eileen with their constant bickering.

  The vet where Eileen worked part time had offered her fulltime hours, which she happily accepted. She was enjoying going out with Darcy; their relationship seemed strong and she was the happiest she had been in a long time. The two were ideally suited really, both being a bit rebellious.

  Kathy and Eddie were still seeing each other but thing
s were not perfect. Kathy was restless and not sure how she felt about being so involved with Eddie.

  Darcy and Eddie posed a slight problem for both Eileen and Kathy. From the time they met at the club, it was obvious they were going to be rivals. Although they had been polite enough, the hostility toward each other was evident. If Darcy remarked he had done something, then Eddie had done it better. If Eddie had clocked his car at a certain speed, Darcy had driven his faster!

  To the utter horror of the girls, Darcy and Eddie often challenged each other to drag races along the Weir road. This road was notorious for youths who wanted to race. The local paper was always reporting accidents with soldiers ending up in the Wodonga hospital after racing on their way back to the Bandiana Army Camp. Practically every Friday and Saturday night, someone would be involved in an accident or booked by the police for speeding and reckless driving.

  Eileen and Kathy did their level best to discourage Eddie and Darcy but the two rivals refused to give in. Darcy always outdid Eddie and this made him furious.

  The rivalry between them grew and it was common knowledge throughout the valley.

  Eddie had been the cool dude of the valley until Darcy had arrived and cramped his style.

  Emmie asked Beth if she would like to move in to Kia-Ora; they had a lovely spare room that would be perfect for her. Beth was surprised and touched at the gesture. She promised to think about it. She had grown fond of Francis and she knew he had her, so she had a lot to think about.

  ***

  ‘It’s too good to be true!’ Digger remarked while on patrol one Saturday night.

  ‘Yeah, somethin’s gonna happen soon. I can feel it,’ Des commented.

  ‘Trouble is, it’s obviously goin’ to be a fire somewhere and we don’t know where or when!’ Karl said worriedly. ‘This bloke’s damn smart. I give the bastard ten outta ten for cunnin’. He’s sly as a friggin’ fox!