“I don’t need a lawyer,” insisted Tony Frankland.

Mannas raised his eyes to the ceiling, then gave Bear a look as if to say, ‘Who does he think he’s kidding?’

Bear sighed from exasperation.   “Frankly Tony, I’ve never seen anyone who needed a lawyer more than you do right now!”

They continued to interrogate him for another three hours without getting anywhere before the two policemen decided to take a break.

“Are you sure you don’t want a lawyer?” asked Bear as he stood up to leave.

Tony shook his head by way of answer.   But then as the policemen headed toward the door of the tiny cell, he suddenly said, “I had to do it Bear.   I couldn’t let that monster become the next premier of Victoria.”

Startled by this sudden comment, after four hours of silence, Bear and Mannas almost collided with each other as they both reversed direction hurriedly to return to where Tony Frankland was seated on the small bunk.

“What do you mean by that?” demanded Mike Mannas.

“I couldn’t let that monster become the next premier of Victoria!” repeated Tony.

“That’s a strange comment coming from a farming man,” said Bear, deciding to try a more subtle approach than Mannas.   “Most rural people regarded Leonard Moffett as the saviour of the Victorian farming man.”

“The saviour!” said Tony, almost at a shriek.   “That’s a laugh!   John Cain might not care much for the needs of the farmer…But at least John Cain is human!”

Mannas and Bear exchanged a look of astonishment.   “What do you mean by that?” demanded the Detective Inspector from Melbourne.

Shaking his head, refusing to explain further, Tony Frankland buried his face in his hands and began to sob lightly.

Sneering his disgust at this display of weakness, Mike Mannas stormed from the holding cell.   Bear Ross watched his friend sob for a moment, wanting to go across to comfort him, but torn between his friendship for Tony and his duty as a policeman.

After a moment Bear sighed heavily then turned and headed out into the small office at the front of the police station.