The new day brought with it a nasty shock in the form of the morning newspapers.   The previous evening’s relatively sensible headlines about the political assassination had been replaced by sensational headlines about Tony Frankland’s brief explanation of why he had killed Moffett:

LOCAL LOONY KILLS MONSTER TO KEEP IT FROM BECOMING STATE PREMIER! blared the front page of the Glen Hartwell Herald Daily Mail.

“My God the Mail’s really gone down hill in recent years,” said Jim Kane, Sergeant of police from Harpertown.   “It’s hardly any better now than the Melbourne Truth or The Picture!”

Ignoring Jim, Mel Forbes asked, “How the Hell did it find out anyway?”

“From Mannas, of course,” replied Bear Ross.   “Obviously the bastard has decided that if he can’t have custody of Tony, he’ll stir up as much trouble for me as he can.”

“The prick!” said Mel with feeling.

*      *      *

That morning also saw the arrival of Ernie Singleton, wanting to speak to Tony Frankland, having promised Rowena that he would do everything in his power to help her father during his current predicament.

“No way!” protested Mike Mannas.   Having found himself unable to take charge of Tony that morning, he still insisted on being part of the murder investigation team.   “He hasn’t even been formally charged yet!”

“Because by Victorian law we have twenty-four hours to formally charge a suspect after taking him into custody,” pointed out Bear, seeing Ernie’s look of surprise.   “Since he was arrested around four yesterday afternoon, we have till 4:00 p.m. today before we have to charge him.”

“But what’s the bloody point in delaying any longer!” demanded Mannas.

“I’m in charge of this investigations bear reminded him.   “So the point is that we don’t officially charge him, till I say so!”   Having sufficiently asserted his authority over Mannas, Bear turned back to Ernie to say, “I suppose it’s all right for you to talk to him for a while….”

“Alone?” asked Ernie.

“No bloody way!” shouted Mannas before Bear had a chance to speak.

“Look, I’ve had a gut full of your bloody high-handedness!” shouted Bear Ross silencing Mannas.   Having himself been about to tell Ernie that he would have to have Mel or himself in the cell with him, just to spite Mannas, he said, “I guess it’s okay for you to speak to him alone for a short while…But only on the condition that if he says anything that could have any bearing on why he killed Moffett, you let us know.”