Red Hot

by Cheryl Alldis

  ‘Yep, he knows our plans… what we’re goin’ to do next. Bastard knows us and knows us well,’ Digger said.

  ‘We’ve probably shared a beer with him. Shit! We’ve only discussed plans with each other an’ Nat an’ Rex an’ old man Johnson, none of them would be the traitor. So that leaves everybody else. We can’t even trust our neighbours! This’s no way to friggin’ live,’ Karl said.

  Des muttered, ‘I’m goin for a piss.’ He sauntered off amongst the gum trees.

  The four men were standing in a paddock on Dawn’s vast property. Cows stood huddled together nearby, occasionally flicking their tails over their backs.

  On the other side of the barbed wire fence, wattle trees had bloomed in clusters of bright yellow. Further down the hill, secluded by trees, they were being watched.

  ‘Catch me if ya can!’

  ***

  Friday and Saturday nights were the main nights the firebug would usually strike. In the past he had chosen Wednesdays to strike as well. Now it seemed like weekends were the targeted nights.

  Des came back and they continued with their patrol. They had already done a thorough sweep of the properties and now made their way to Sam’s orchard to do a second round. Then they skirted around the scattering of small homes owned by the other residents of the valley, across Flinders Lane and into Rex Willis’ second orchard before finally climbing through the dividing fence into Kia-Ora’s orchard. Here they stopped, alert.

  ‘What’s that sound?’ Digger asked in a hushed voice.

  ‘It sounds like some sort of hissing or spitting. Dunno, it’s a weird sound,’ Eric replied.

  ‘Holy shit, look!’ Karl pointed in the direction of Arthur’s vacant house.

  ‘Bloody hell, it’s Arthur’s house! C’mon! We’ve gotta get there fast!’ Digger started running.

  ‘Eric, Karl, quick, we have’ta get down there!’ he shouted. ‘You get up to Kia-Ora and phone the brigade!’ he yelled to Des.

  Arthur’s house had been vacant for a few months now. He had found a property out at Culcairn, a small town between Albury and Wagga Wagga. He had moved out there with Daisy. Robert was away in the army and now that Arthur had become deeply involved in his new church, the move away suited him better. He had left his property in the valley vacant, with the knowledge that there were plenty of friends and family to keep an eye on it. He travelled in from time to time to visit, check on it and maintain it, confident that Robert would want to live there when he finished his army stint.

  The house was burning fiercely by the time the men got there.

  ‘Rotten bastard!’ exploded Karl. ‘There’s no way of savin’ it. It’s an inferno already!’

  The house was weatherboard and the heat was so intense that the men couldn’t get close enough with the garden hoses. The fire brigade arrived along with other valley residents woken by the sirens, but their efforts were useless.

  The firemen could only extinguish the flames of the now totally destroyed house.

  ‘I know it’s not much help to Arthur, but at least he’d taken his belongings out,’ Digger muttered.

  ‘I dunno what to say, fellas. I’m lost for words about all this. Never in my life as a firie have I heard of anythin’ like this bastard,’ Frank Smith said in frustration as he leaned against the fire truck after dousing the last of the flames. ‘You’se blokes didn’t see a thing then, as usual? Frank asked.

  ‘Not a bloody thing,’ replied Karl with fury in his voice. ‘We’re bustin’ our guts workin’ all day, sleepin’ in shifts and patrolin’ properties day an’ night… and still this happens!’ He kicked a burnt piece of timber across the yard.

  Headlights shone on them as a car drove up the dirt driveway. ‘Must be the cops,’ remarked Frank.

  The car pulled up, the lights went out.

  ‘That’s not the cops,’ Des said, stepping forwards to get a better look at the car.

  ‘Shit, another bloody fire!’ Eddie said, walking forwards to join the men.

  ‘Yeah, mate,’ Digger answered. ‘Bloody rotten thing to do to a bloke, burnin’ his house to the ground!’

  ‘Yep, low bloody act for sure. Whoever he is, he’s steppin’ it up, eh? Hell, it was bad enough before, now he’s started on houses. Shit, what if someone had been inside!’ Eddie looked at the rubble that had been Arthur’s house, slowly shaking his head.

  ***

  Emmie was thoroughly upset at the news that Arthur’s house had been lost. It broke her heart. Win and Ellie tried to comfort her but she wasn’t coping at all with this latest fire.

  ‘I think you should give the doctor a ring, Win,’ Ellie whispered. ‘She’ll have to have a sedative to get her back to sleep. She’s far too upset.’

  ‘Yes and I think we should also mention that episode on the veranda last Sunday when she was so breathless.’

  Ellie nodded her agreement and Win slipped out of the kitchen and picked up the phone in the hallway.

  Hazel sat beside Emmie, gently rubbing her wrinkled hand. ‘Come now, Mrs Mason, try and sip your warm milk. The brandy in it will calm you down. The girls are worried about you, and to be honest, so am I.’

  Hazel loved Emmie. She had been a part of this family for so many years and she and Ted had centred their lives around the Masons. They had watched Dave and Emmie Mason raise their children to be fine upstanding adults who cared for others and worked hard to keep the Mason legacy going.

  Tammi and Kathy stopped their mother in the hallway after she contacted the doctor.

  ‘Gran’s going to be alright, isn’t she?’ Tammi asked fearfully.

  Win looked worriedly at them. ‘I hope so girls. She’s so upset, I …’ Win didn’t get to finish what she was saying.

  Ellie’s scream echoed up the hallway and all three women ran to the kitchen.

  Emmie was slumped back in the chair, clutching her chest and gasping, a blue tinge forming around her mouth.

  ‘Dear God… Mum!’ Win cried.

  Kathy and Tammi were close behind her.

  ‘Gran!’ they cried in unison. Colour drained from their faces.

  ‘Quick, Win, lay her down and unbutton her nightgown. Someone call the ambulance, hurry!’ ordered Ellie.

  Kathy ran to phone for an ambulance as Emmie was lowered to the floor and Ellie begged Win to remember her first aid training.

  ‘We have to work on her quickly!’

  Hazel looked on helplessly as Win and Ellie worked on their mother feverishly to keep her alive.

  Hazel was whispering prayers. She prayed to God that He would spare this wonderful and wise old woman.

  The doctor arrived and took over from Win and Ellie. Thankfully, the ambulance arrived only seconds behind him. Emmie was rushed to emergency at the Albury Base Hospital. Karl, Digger and the others all heard the siren and saw the ambulance pull in at Kia-Ora. Fear engulfed them both as they ran as fast as they could through the paddocks separating the two properties. They didn’t make it to the house before the ambulance left with Ellie and Win both on board with their mother.

  They rushed in the back door, panting heavily.

  Kathy and Tammi sat at the table with Hazel. They all had tear-stained faces and swollen red eyes.

  ‘God Almighty, what’s happened here? Where’s Win? Where’s Ellie?’ Digger, breathing heavily, asked anxiously.

  Karl was bending over, trying to slow his rapid breathing. ‘Where’s Mum?’ he gasped in a strangled voice.

  ‘Oh Karl, Dig… Mrs Mason, she’s been taken to the hospital,’ Hazel answered, broken.

  ‘Mum? …What the hell happened?’ Karl’s face paled.

  Digger felt his heart miss a beat and sat down hard on a chair beside Kathy.

  ‘Kath, love… Tell us what happened… Is your gran alright?’ he asked, afraid of what she might have to tell them.

  Kathy explained the situation as best she could.

  Karl inhaled sharply. ‘We’ve got to go to her.’ His voice shook as he spoke. �
��I’ll ring and let the rest of the family know.’

  Sam burst through the back door, Des and Eric close on his tail. Kathy explained again about Emmie.

  ‘This was obviously brought on by tonight’s fire.’ Sam choked.

  ‘Yes Sam, Mrs Mason was so very upset. We couldn’t calm her down.’ Hazel brushed tears from her eyes for the umpteenth time.

  ‘Win went to phone the doctor and while she was doing that, Mrs Mason took that nasty turn!’ Hazel’s voice quavered. ‘She… She just collapsed. The pain… she was in so much pain. …Oh dear, oh dear!’ She broke down completely and Sam put his arm around the little woman to comfort her.

  ‘Where’s Ted?’ Digger asked Sam.

  ‘Hell… Still down at Arthur’s! I forgot about him in the rush to get up here.’ Sam looked at Des. ‘You up to goin’ down to get him, mate?’

  Just as he said that, Ted came through the door with Eddie.

  ‘Eddie,’ Kathy cried. ‘Oh Eddie, something shocking’s happened.’

  ‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘You blokes took off so fast I knew it had to be bad.’

  When they explained what had happened, Eddie offered to help in any way he could. He offered to take Kathy to the hospital but she said she would go with her dad and Tammi.

  The kitchen at Kia-Ora became a hype of activity. One by one, the family arrived. After discussions about Emmie’s collapse and the house fire, they headed into Albury to the hospital.

  When they arrived, Win and Ellie were sitting in the corridor outside emergency.

  They couldn’t provide any further information, as no medical staff had emerged from the emergency room since they had taken Emmie in there. All the family could do was comfort each other as much as possible.

  ***

  The police surveyed the scene of the fire, asking questions as usual and getting nowhere. Frank Smith told them all he could. It was the same as the other fires. The firebug had used the delayed action method, mosquito coils. Being an old timber home, it ignited very easily.

  Nat Willis stalked around, swearing and threatening murder. Who could blame him or anyone for losing their cool – enough was enough. Locals were now talking of moving out of the valley. They had another obstacle though: who would want to buy a property in Hamilton Valley now? It was likely to get burned down!

  Detective Bennett warned Nat to calm down and put his shotguns away or they would confiscate them. Nat cursed him and stormed off. Detective Bennett stood watching him.

  Shaking his head, he muttered, ‘There’s going to be trouble. I can see it brewing!’

  There was nothing left to do now except pack up the truck and go home. The police would be back in the daylight to investigate further. The fire trucks pulled out of the yard and everyone else left the blackened scene.

  Darkness settled once again and silence enveloped the now empty space where Arthur’s house once stood.

  ***

  The doctor finally came out to talk to the waiting family. A sea of anxious faces looked at him as he advanced towards them.

  ‘Doctor… She’s okay, isn’t she?’ Win asked, her voice shaking.

  ‘Yes, my dear. She’s stabilized now. We’ve given her a sedative and she’s resting comfortably.’ He patted her shoulder. He had known Emmie for many years and had attended to Dave Mason right up to his death.

  ‘However, the heart attack was serious and she will need to be in hospital for a while. She must also be spared any more shocks or stress of any kind.’

  Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that Emmie had made it. They all realised that somehow they would have to protect her from hearing any more bad news.

  ‘How the hell do we do that?’ Win questioned.

  ‘I have no idea. It’s this mongrel firebug – it’s his fault! He’s to blame for all this!’ Ellie’s voice broke as a sob caught in her throat.

  ‘I suggest you all go back home now and get some rest,’ advised the doctor.

  ‘Can we go in and see her before we go? Karl asked.

  ‘Usually I’d say no, but I will allow two of you only and just for a minute. I’m sorry, I can’t allow you all.’

  Win suggested that Karl and Ellie go in. She knew she would break down if she saw her mother like that.

  It broke Karl and Ellie’s hearts to see her lying there so pale and still. Emmie looked tiny, laying there with the drip in her thin old arm.

  Ellie bent and kissed her forehead.

  ‘Get better, darling. We love you so very much.’

  Karl kissed his mother’s cheek. He held her frail old hand in his big worn one. He had tears in his eyes and his chin was quivering.

  ‘I love you, Mum. Rest and get better; we need you.’ He stood and looked at Ellie who had tears streaming down her face.

  ‘She’ll be okay, Ellie. She comes from good stock.’ He felt a slight squeeze of his hand and glanced down at his mother. ‘I know she will… Come on, she needs rest now.’

  He very gently squeezed Emmie’s hand in response, kissing and placing it on the bed cover. ‘She just needs a good rest and some peace of mind.’ Placing his arm around Ellie, he steered her out of the room.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The news about Emmie’s heart attack travelled around the valley. Numerous phone calls were received at Kia-Ora and piles of get well cards came in the mail during the following week.

  The police made a point of extending their best wishes. They also arranged for reinforcements from other towns to come in for day patrols. By doing this, it eased the burden on the farmers who were so desperately sleep-deprived from keeping watch on their properties twenty-four-seven and also doing their everyday chores.

  One farmer made a valid point, stating that because the firebug used delayed action method with mosquito coils, there was no use for patrolling. He could be out on patrol with them having already set the fire earlier or set it while on patrol!

  This was a very true statement.

  They were all aware the fires could flare up at any time of the day or night. Also, the culprit obviously was known to them. These patrols were essential to watch for any type of suspicious behaviour by anyone at all. They had to watch each and every person around the properties and be on the alert to any strangers.

  Everyone… absolutely everyone was a suspect!

  ***

  ‘What’s happening to our lovely valley?’ sighed Win. ‘Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine our quiet little valley would turn into a place of terror!’

  ‘I know what you mean, Win. This firebug is responsible for so bloody much!’ exclaimed Ellie.

  ‘Dad might still be alive if he hadn’t been under the strain of the fires. Then there was old Harry; you can’t tell me it wasn’t the firebug who caused his death! Now poor old Mum’s had a heart attack from the strain of it!’ Karl drew in a deep and ragged breath.

  ‘I’ll give Nat Willis a hand to shoot the prick!’ he growled.

  They sat in silence. There was nothing left to say. They were each deep in their own thoughts. Interest in eating dinner was nil.

  Win suddenly looked up. ‘Beth!’

  ‘What about Beth?’ Ellie asked.

  ‘Well, Mum did ask her to move into Kia-Ora with us… She seemed adamant that it was the best thing for Beth.’ Win moved forwards in her chair. ‘If Beth went to see Mum and told her she would move in… that would certainly lift her spirits!’

  ‘Hey, that’s not a bad idea,’ Karl agreed.

  ‘Beth didn’t give an answer when Mum asked her. Mum’s been waiting to hear from her. She’s very fond of Beth for some reason. I’ll phone Beth myself tomorrow and ask her about it!’ Ellie was enthusiastic.

  The lights of a car shone up the driveway as it pulled up to the house.

  ‘That’ll be Eddie bringing Kathy home. He’s been very supportive since Mum’s attack,’ Win said, watching through the window.

  ‘Still got me doubts about him,’ Karl mumbled. A leopard doesn’t change i
ts spots. He’s been hoonin’ around town racin’ that bloke of Eileen’s.’

  ‘Ssh! Better not let Kath hear you talking about him like that, Karl,’ Win warned him.

  ‘When Arthur came in to visit Mum, he remarked about Chancellor then. He doesn’t like him at all. He’s always been a pretty good judge of character, old Arthur,’ Karl added.

  Kathy and Eddie came inside to join them. Eddie stayed for a coffee and, when he had gone, Kathy went straight up to bed.

  Digger followed and stuck his head around her door. ‘Are you alright, love?’

  ‘Yes, Dad, just a bit tired. Had a busy day at the salon.’

  ‘Okay then, night love. I’ll just go and tell your sister to take a break; she’s had her head in those books studying for hours!’

  ***

  Harvey left for work early. He was in a bad mood. He had decided it was high time he saw Ellie again. It had been four long, frustrating weeks.

  He obviously had heard about Emmie. He and Mary put on a united front and did the right thing calling into Kia-Ora to extend their get well wishes. At that time, only immediate family had been allowed to visit the hospital, so they delivered flowers and a card to the house.

  Now he wanted nothing more than to spend time with Ellie in their love nest out at the Hume Weir. Driving fast along the Gap Road, he decided to ring her as soon as he reached his office.

  His thoughts switched to Mary. She was so damn sure of herself.

  ‘Damn!’ He swore and thumped his fist on the steering wheel. ‘I need that money. I’m not goin’ to work in an office for the bloody council all my life!’ He pushed his foot harder on the accelerator and the car shot forward, gathering speed, a dangerous speed for the notorious gap road.

  Out at her property in Jindera, Mary sat reading the paper and sipping her coffee. She was fully aware that Harvey was annoyed with her and she felt pleased. For once, she felt like she finally had the upper hand.

  He could go off screwing Ellie all he liked, she didn’t care. She had Karl, dear sweet Karl. Mary sighed and her thoughts drifted from the newspaper to him and the happy times they were able to spend together.