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Special Dispensation 5 and 6 (plus 5, Appendix 1)
by Mark Hodder (2006) Page 1 Internal Communiqué, The Craille Institute Security Level: SteelCage 1 To: George William Coutts IV From: Sir George William Coutts III Date: 31 December 2005 Subject: Special Dispensation 5 and 6 (plus 5, Appendix 1) George, I extend to you my heartiest congratulations. As you take over the Directorship of The Craille Institute, I step down secure in the knowledge that the organisation is passing into highly competent hands — furthermore, it ‘remains in the family’; a fact which fills me with immense pride and satisfaction. That this should happen on its 50th anniversary would no doubt please its founder — old Eustace Craille always had a taste for symmetry. In the days leading up to your promotion, I have given you a full handover bar one thing: you have undoubtedly noticed the absence of any references to Special Dispensation 5. You must also be aware that I have not handed over the key to the security vault or box containing that file. There is a reason for this. Vault 3 Box 5 contains material which bears a particular and very special significance to our family. I have left it until now to brief you for the simple reason that the content of those files is rather astonishing to say the least — were you made aware of it before today, you may have found it difficult to keep your mind focused on the task at hand. Now, however, you are ready. When the Director’s Office is opened to you at midnight tonight, you will find in the safe, on the middle shelf, the key to V3 B5. You will be able to read the ‘official’ reasons why Special Dispensation has been granted to 5 and 6. But first, I want to tell you about it non-officially, in my own manner, for the individuals concerned are, without any doubt, the most extraordinary and the best men I have ever met. Security Level: ExtraNet - SteelCage 1 From: Edward Carter [address withheld] To: Sexton Blake [address withheld] Sent: 18 December 2005 13:37 Subject: Home for Xmas! Chief I have good news — I’ll be home in time for Mrs Bardell’s Christmas pudding! The Kestrel Conspiracy turned out to be a dud. Lawrence Kestrel is, as you suspected, a descendent of Leon but it seems the vital genes got left out when he was cobbled together. Far from being a ‘Master Mummer’, he turns out to be a ‘Minor Meddler’ — and a darned ugly one too. He has definitely inherited his great-grandfather’s physiognomy but not, I’m glad to say, any of his genius. Lawrence is a petty swindler and nothing more. Actually, I should write ‘was’ — as he is now banged up inside a Swiss prison and unlikely to bother anyone again for the next couple of years. Anyway, that’s the end of that and I’ll be packing my bags tonight and heading home first thing in the morning. Yours, as ever Tinker Letter: To: Mr and Mrs Reginald Howard From: Sexton Blake Date: 20 December 2005 Dear Reg and Susan, Thank you for your letter of last week. I’m delighted to hear that Pedro’s training is complete, though his rapid progress comes as no surprise. As you know — having trained his sire — Pedro comes from a long line of extraordinarily intelligent bloodhounds, each named Pedro and each a vital and beloved member of the Blake clan. This latest will, I am sure, be a credit to his illustrious ancestors. May I extend to you, once again, my heartfelt thanks for the sterling work you have done over the years. Your breeding and training program is of such high quality that it feels as if I’m accompanied by reincarnations of my faithful friend, rather than successive generations. Last time we met, you mentioned your plans to open kennels in Hampshire and Dorset. I hope that the enclosed will help to finance these worthy ventures. Please do not attempt, as you did last time, to return the cheque. As far as I am concerned, this is money very well spent. Tinker will be over to collect Pedro on the morning of the 23rd. Merry Christmas! I wish you prosperity and happiness for the New Year and beyond. Your friend Sexton Blake Letter: To: Mr Sexton Blake From: Mrs Martha Bardell Date: 19 December 2005 Dear Mr Blake Which I am imforming you of the readyness of the Baker Street reticence. The bilders have completed their work and I might say a right noise they has been a-making these past three months too. I tell you now Mr Blake that these contiguous changes are too much for an old woman of my age to put up with. First Baker Street then Barkly Square then Baker Street again then all them forin places and now back to Baker Street. Far be it for me to say in writing and all but why don’t you and master Tinker just stay put for once in your lifes? There now, I have said my peace, but in writing like what I said, I mean wrote, just now, and we will leave it at that. Your furnishings was delivered yesterday morning and a fine thumping them men made as they stumped up and down the stairs. Already the new carpits are near worn to shreds. They arranged everything as you instructured but it looks a fine muddle to my eyes and so I shall put it right afore you arrive for Christmas. Which I must also mention that I am an old woman with corns and there is more dusting and cleaning and arranging to do than any woman of my age should do, though I does it for you with good grace like what I always do and always have done and will do do. And saying, I mean writing, that, I should now mension the matter of my wages what you pays me. Mr Blake, far be it for me to interject in your finanshal affairs but this is not a sensible amount of money and I suspend that you might have made a miscalsification. I do not requite nor request such an absorbent sum and does advertise you to be more circumcised with your money. Please pay what you payed before and we shall say or write no more about it. Now I must tell you that the kitching, dining room, living room and bathrooms will all be ready for Christmas but your insulting room, file room, labarotry, bed room and Master Tinker’s bed room and sitting room are all in a state of dismay and will not be habitual until the new year. The desecrators are due back after Christmas to paint and paper. I daresay you can sleep in the bed rooms straight away if you don’t mind the kerfuffle. Today a young man came round and gave me cheek and delivired a kennel out back, by which I presumates that the gallumping great Pedro is coming back. I will not stand for my best crookery being smashed again, Mr Blake! That aminal is a hazzard! Anyways, I is expecting yourself and Master Tinker on Christmas Eve. Dinner will be served at 8. On the subsequenshal day, what is Christmas Day itself, I understands that we shall be joined by that nice gentleman Lord Coots and his son. I will serve the fetid dinner at 2pm and high tea at 8pm. Dispite the misheavals, I am very pleased you are back, sir. With felicitudes and congrements Mrs Martha Bardell The Daily Post 20 December 2005 Afternoon Edition Page 4 Kent’s ‘Conspiracy Couple’ Killed World ‘conspiracy theory’ expert, Michael Loring (52), shot dead his young wife, Helen (28), then took his own life after a furious argument last night. Shocked friends, who’d been attending a dinner party at the Loring’s home just outside Tankerton in Kent, described how the couple had been discussing the contents of a manuscript they’d recently received through the post from an anonymous author. Its subject matter, the supposed manipulation of the western world’s press by a secret organisation, had caused a disagreement between the husband and wife team which quickly escalated into a full-blown row. “They were going at it hammer and tongs,” says Mark Griffin, one of the three guests, “And we simply couldn’t calm them down”. Off-duty policewoman, Joanne Harker, was also at the party: “I noticed that Helen was jumpy earlier in the evening. I suspect they may have been arguing before any of us arrived.” The third guest, Rupert Billings, described how the Lorings had locked themselves in their study: “We were left feeling awkward in the dining room and started to wonder whether it would be better to leave. Mark went upstairs to the bathroom and I wondered into the living room thinking I might put on some music to cover the noise of their row. I opened the French windows for a breath of fresh air when suddenly there was a loud gunshot from the study, quickly followed by another. I heard Mark and Joanne run down the hall and struggle with the study door, which appeared to be locked, so I ran out and across the front of the house to look in through the windows. I saw Michael and Helen lying on their backs in the middle of the room. He had a pistol in his hand and both of them were bleeding from head wounds. The windows were also of the French type and were locked shut, so I picked up a rock from the edge of the driveway, smashed the glass, reached in and unlatched them. I ran into the room and felt the Lorings’ pulses but they were both dead.” Michael Loring wrote two best selling books during the 1980s: ‘The Chains of Consumerism’ and ‘The Devil’s Dynasty’, both dealing with alleged conspiracy theories. He then embarked on a succession of lecture tours, during which he met journalist, Helen Mannering. They married in 1999. In recent years they devoted their time to research and to collecting conspiracy theory works by unpublished authors. Michael Loring once said during a BBC interview that “if an editor considers a particular manuscript of this type to be a bad commercial proposition, there’s a good chance that the manuscript in question contains an element of truth”. The full contents of the manuscript which caused the argument and subsequent tragedy will never be known as it was found burned to ashes in the study’s fireplace. |