A fire is discovered in the early hours at the farm of one Lucas Farly, together with a spot of vandalism in the shape of graffiti, the word Pig being daubed on a tractor seeming to imply a personal grudge.
Except that two further fires subsequently occur at different disparate locations, the third taking place at the winery of non other than Archie Hughes, who just happens to be Martha Lloyd's old flame.
A further incident occurs that of a break-in at a local boat shed, that initially appears to be totally incidental, but could provide at least useful clues.
The Police Chief Superintendent C. Woods, has the appearance of being something of a martinet, that impression comes across most certainly in her bearing, and in the approach that she assumes to those officers under her command.
She I assume is a woman on a clear mission, of her own personal elevation up the police promotion ladder, in the shortest conceivable time scale.
She also seeks to be fully on song, with the changes being brought about in the local policing structure, namely the ultimate phasing out of local stations.
She has already sought to make that situation clear to D. I. Goodman, and also has her beady eyes firmly set on D. S. Esther Williams.