‘He’s fine – we just spoke. I’ll be going over there as soon as it’s safe to leave here.’

‘Tell him to be careful and not play the bloody hero. I want him back in one piece.’

Ben grinned. ‘Yeah, I’ll do that, Em. Over and out.’ He was clipping the walkie-talkie back on to his belt when he saw the big fire chief from Windorah striding towards him.

‘I’ve just had word from the blokes working the south side of this fire,’ he said without preamble. ‘They think they found what started it.’

They’d all supposed that the fire had been caused by a lightning strike, and Ben waited anxiously as the other man took a long drink of water and smeared the sweat from his face.

‘There’s a burned-out car and the remains of a petrol can about seven or eight yards away from it. Some damned fool must have left their bloody car in the middle of a stand of trees – hot exhaust probably started the fire. The bloody car must have blown up, because they found the wreckage of a door and a wheel several hundred feet away on the other side of the road.’

‘Bloody hell. Was anyone in the car?’

The big man shook his head, his expression grim. ‘But there was a body about three miles away. Couldn’t tell who it was – burned to a crisp. They’re taking it back to the hospital morgue at Charleville.’

Ben had seen what fire could do to the human body and he shuddered at the memory of blackened limbs and arched spines, the skeleton forever frozen into a grotesque and macabre carving. If, as he suspected, the dead man proved to be Reverend Baker, then his wife must be kept from visiting that morgue at all cost.

*

‘I’m going with you,’ said Gwyneth.

‘No, you’re not,’ said Terence. ‘I can get things done much more quickly if I don’t have you to worry about.’

‘He’s my son. I have a right to be there.’

Terence took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair. ‘Killigarth is at least an hour’s drive away, and you’ve been on your feet all day. I don’t want you keeling over as well.’

‘I do not keel over,’ she retorted stoutly – conveniently forgetting her fainting fit earlier. She rose from her chair and glared at him. ‘Come along,’ she snapped. ‘We’re wasting time.’

‘Gwyneth, it really isn’t wise,’ said Sandra. ‘Terence will treat him and bring him back soon enough, and then you can have a nice long visit with him.’

She ignored Sandra and hooked her hand into the crook of Terence’s arm. ‘Help me down the steps. I’ll wait for you in the ute.’