Dora was still looking at Steve in expectation and repeated for the upteenth time, 'Steve-the letter-what does it say-who is it from please- is it your mother?' Steve had been silent for some time-as if in a trance. Finally he answered, 'Yes Dora it's from my mother- she's in trouble.'
'What kind of trouble?' Dora was becoming more alarmed, her heart was beating faster.
'Serious trouble Dora, that fire was deliberately arranged. It seems my mother had been warned on the phone a couple of times by someone calling himself 'your worst nightmare'. Ha, fancy having a name like that! It's obvious Dora, it's someone I must know, who I helped get put inside-cos he attacked one of my mum's friends! His name is Stewart Higgens.' There was a long pause between them both.
'But why would he want to burn the farm down -and nearly...... kill you Steve!' said Dora.
'Because it's the way he is Dora-deranged and revengefull-a complete nutcase-a psycho!' Steve explained further, 'When I worked in Liverpool, I used to go with mum and her friends out for a drink sometimes-just to keep an eye on her -make sure she was alright,especially when coming back home'. An' there was this guy, an ex- boyfriend of one of mum's friends and he was always getting drunk an' tryin to chat them all up-including my mother, Dora. He was always having one pint too many! She must have accidently told him where I lived I suppose. 'Then one night he went too far, began beating up one of her friends-he even stabbed her with a blade.'
'Was this in the pub, Steve? said Dora'
'No, replied Steve, 'it happened down this allyway- I followed him because I knew he was going to do something to her.' I intervened, and kept hitting him!'
Dora knew that Steve could box well-like Slugger- but Steve had a terrible temper when provoked and fear was now written all over Dora's face.
'The police eventually came Dora but by then he had managed to leg- it and I told them who it was.' The police said that she was lucky I had been around and heard her screams!'
Steve continued, 'I testified in court and being the second witness, he was had up for attempted manslaughter -the blood on him had matched hers apparently. But it should have been attempted 'murder', Dora-thats what the police and I thought bt there were some mitigating circumstances.'
'Anyhow, somehow he's been let out early- and now he wants revenge!