Original Nine Airdate: 24/05/2011
When Hammersley’s crew visit remote Stokes Island to collect a prisoner for transport, Kate is appalled at the inhumane methods by which he’s been restrained. She learns how the Stokes Island Monster received his nickname, however, when the man tries to bite off her ear. Later, Swain is shocked to find the man dead.
On the mainland, Mike and Maxine meet for a drink and Mike raises the question of whether Ryan could be his son. A shocked Maxine assures him – no. Meanwhile Dutchy gets R.O. onto the task of hacking into ASIO to find dirt on Madelaine Cruise.
Hammersley’s crew learn that the monster died from a tumour pressing on his brain. On Stokes Island, Kate meets the drunken resident G.P., Dr John Wallace, and a young cancer patient named Ruby. Wallace informs Kate he believes the oceans surrounding the island are poisoned and causing cancers in the locals. But the doctor’s alcoholic demeanour and illegal brandy distillery do little to inspire faith. Fisheries officer Jason Merritt dismisses Wallace’s theory as the musings of an alcoholic, but when a drunk Wallace calls Kate and tells her he has new evidence of toxic waste, Kate decides to check it out. On their way to view the evidence, Dr Wallace’s clinic explodes! A traumatised Wallace believes someone sabotaged his distillery and when he informs Kate that Ruby suffers from the same rare kind of tumour as the monster, she is mobilised. A shaken Wallace gives Kate a water-tester.
Back on Hammersley Robert is disgusted to discover his investigations into Madelaine Cruise have caused his laptop to crash. He is also unimpressed when Kate requests he investigate the Stokes Island shipping patterns. Robert’s investigations turn up a suspect trader and things start looking up – until the trader is found to contain only palm oil. When Merritt returns, a slip of the tongue makes Kate suspicious and she makes it clear she suspects him of involvement in the explosion. Caught, Merritt arranges to meet Kate to spill the beans about Braxton Mining Company, but when Kate turns up for the meeting she finds Merritt dead.
Dutchy is called to see Madelaine at Navcom where she grills him for using Robert to hack into the secure website. Madelaine also informs Dutchy he’s a security risk because of his reputation with the ladies. Kate researches Braxton Mining Company and is shocked to later spy 2Dads with cards bearing the company’s logo. When 2Dads tells her he pinched the cards from the trader, Kate puts two and two together.
Hammersley chases down the trader and Kate’s test of the waste water proves it laden with toxic residue. The team board the trader, are able to overcome the crew and stop the ocean dumping. Back on the mainland, Kate visits Ruby in hospital and encounters Wallace, who thanks her for finishing what he couldn’t. She informs him the Braxton executives are under arrest for dumping, arson and murder.
At Maxine’s house, Maxine plies Mike with wine before telling him she lied about the possibility of Ryan being his son. She tells him it’s possible. Mike is shocked, and more so when a hug of comfort and friendship turns into a kiss.
