The discovery of the stolen red monoplane on the dry, flat bottom of Emu Lake meant many things to many people.

For Elizabeth Nettlefold, the chance to nurse its strangely ill passenger meant a new purpose in life.

For Dr Knowles, brilliant physician and town drunk, it meant the revival of a romantic dream.

For a person or persons unknown, it meant a murder plan gone badly awry.

And for Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, it meant one of the toughest cases of his career.