Ernie gave Bear a broad smile and received a quick wave in return.

He started to look away when a flicker of movement from behind the policeman attracted his attention.

To his amazement Ernie saw his friend (and possible future father-in-law) Tony Frankland climb the crowd-control rope onto the opposite side of the road.   Stalking straight past Bear, Tony headed across toward the open limousine where Leonard Moffett sat waving and smiling at the crowd.

‘Now what the Hell is he playing at?’ wondered Ernie, watching in horror as Tony pulled a large handgun from under his overcoat, placed the barrel only centimetres from Moffett’s head and pulled the trigger.

The instant before the trigger was pulled, Ernie was surprised to see not a look of fear on Moffett’s face, but a sneer of intense hatred.   Then the handgun fired with a sound like a canon-shot and Leonard Moffett’s head burst open like an exploding water-balloon, spraying blood and brains across Tony Frankland and the other passengers in the limousine.

*      *      *

At the sound of the gunfire the big city cops quickly drew their own handguns and began to converge on Tony Frankland.   Sensing that they were more intent on avenging Leonard Moffett’s murder than on making an arrest, Bear signalled to Terry Blewett and Mel Forbes (sergeant of the Merridale Police Force) and the three policemen hurried to surround Tony as best they could in a protective circle.

Tony handed the revolver over to Mel and offered no resistance as Terry cuffed his hands behind his back.

“All right Ross, we’ll take charge of the prisoner now!” said Detective Inspector Mike Mannas, head of the Melbourne police contingency.

“No way, he’s my prisoner!” insisted Bear.

“And this was my operation!” protested Mannas.

“Which you botched!” chipped in Mel Forbes.

“It might have been your operation,” agreed Bear, “but I’m in charge of Glen Hartwell, so he’s my prisoner!”

“Like heck he is!” protested Mannas.

The argument might have gone on indefinitely, except for the arrival of Mel’s constable, Andrew Braidwood, in Mel’s green 186-Holden Monaro.   While Mannas and Bear continued to argue, Mel and Terry bundled Tony into the back of the Monaro, which sped off to the Mitchell Street Police Station, leaving Bear to follow in his Fairlane.