Case Note 17

Author: Fitzgerald Williams,

Pharos Agent (PA) S2660

Subjects: Kensington Grey, PA A2713;

Maxim Grey, PA A2714

 

Kensington and Maxim Grey were admitted as Pharos agents-in-training at the age of eleven years and one month.

FIELDWORK

On a recent school History tour to Rome, Kensington, Maxim and three of their friends and co-agents-in-training – Autumn Lee, Carlos Rodriguez and Misha Thornhill – were instrumental in solving two major interlinked crimes: the first being the opportunistic kidnapping of Nico Vitale, son of the Prime Minister of Italy; and the second, a plot holding the Prime Minister to ransom over the control of the wheat and pasta industry by the highly elusive crime syndicate known as the Diavolo.

Misha Thornhill had been tasked with befriending Lola Lemmler, a fellow student at Central London Free School, in order to gather intelligence on the girl’s father (alias Steve Lemmler, real name Sergio Leonardi), a known kingpin of organised crime. Through the children’s efforts, Sergio Leonardi was revealed as the head of the Diavolo, working alongside the President of Italy and a gang of thieves led by a woman disguising herself as a nun. The Diavolo is notorious for a wide range of criminal activities, including petty theft, extortion, money laundering and arms dealing. Their crimes and misdemeanours run to practically all areas of life in Italy.

The impromptu mission was sanctioned by Dame Cordelia Spencer while the children’s teachers and agents – Monty Reffell, Romilly Vanden Boom, Elliot Frizzle and Lottie Ziegler – were also mobilised. The other agents-in-training on the trip were not involved and the civilian students among the group remained completely unaware of the events that unfolded. I was able to assist the children in the final phase of their assignment with the help of Lottie Ziegler and the twins’ uncle, Rupert Spencer. Alessandro Grimaldi, Head of the Italian Secret Service, was in charge of the arrests at Quirinal Palace, where the President of Italy and his associates were intercepted and taken into custody. Following the completion of their mission, Kensy, Max, Autumn, Carlos and Misha continued their school History tour.

SKILLS, STRENGTHS AND VULNERABILITIES

Maxim consistently astonishes his teachers with his photographic memory. While it was his ability to remember maps in exceptional detail that initially caught everyone’s attention, Maxim’s visual recall capabilities have excelled in all manner of situations. Meanwhile, Kensington has recently been honing her skills in robotics in addition to her interest in mechanical engineering. This has led to some surprising and slightly alarming inventions, which have proven both interesting and useful. Her knowledge of machinery was extremely helpful when the washing machine at Ponsonby Terrace recently broke down.

TRAINING

In the week before Christmas, Kensington and Maxim participated in intensive training exercises at Alexandria, the countryside headquarters of Pharos. During this time they were given instruction on tactical strategies via a range of stealth, combat and marksman-ship activities. The children were trained in the use of firearms and other weaponry, such as crossbows and regular bows and arrows. Kensington and Maxim learned to drive with Esmerelda, the computerised vehicle responsible for teaching all Pharos agents. Despite both children displaying impressive skills, an unfortunate mishap rendered Esmerelda almost completely destroyed. The twins were lucky to survive the fiery incident.

The children have also continued developing their proficiency in code-breaking and orienteering with Maxim emerging top of the class in both areas, although he tied with Autumn Lee in code-breaking. Kensington’s ability to pick locks is unsurpassed and her use of the regulation school hairclip to assist her in this area has been creative, to say the least.

Several new gadgets have been revealed to them, including the Blunderbus Bubble Gun, which was used to remarkable effect by Rupert Spencer during a car chase in Rome; lasso shoelaces, which both twins have access to; and poison-dart glasses currently being trialled by Maxim.

EMOTIONAL STATE

While Maxim has maintained a stable emotional state, it has become apparent that Kensington is struggling to deal with recent events. A sudden growth spurt is likely not helping either. She has been prone to outbursts and has fallen behind in some areas of her studies, which has landed her in a spot of bother with several of her teachers. One notable incident occurred in an Art lesson, where Kensington absent-mindedly painted over a canvas that Elliot Frizzle was partway through completing for the London Landscape Prize. Despite Kensington’s somewhat erratic behaviour, both children have done a very good job of adapting to their new and unusual life and are keeping busy with school and training.

UPDATE ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ANNA AND EDWARD GREY

Anna and Edward Grey made contact with Kensington and Maxim in Rome, appearing briefly inside a confessional booth in St Peter’s Basilica. While it came as a shock to the children, they were both overjoyed and are still confident their parents will soon return. I plan to brief the twins more fully on their parents’ self-directed mission to recover their maternal grandparents, who, while presumed dead in a botched robbery and subsequent fire in Paris 12 years ago, have recently been revealed to be alive. Kensington and Maxim have deduced considerable insights about this themselves. Having discussed the case with Anna and Edward, we have come to the conclusion that, rather than leave the children to speculate further and inadvertently say something they shouldn’t, they must be privy to the information available. Anna and Edward have given consent to brief Cordelia as well, though the information is Status Grey, for her eyes only. The possibility of a mole within the organisation remains high, and although Kensington is convinced it is Shugs, a gardener at Alexandria, I am not of the same opinion.

OTHER INFORMATION

Kensington and Maxim will continue to live at Ponsonby Terrace with Song and myself until their parents return and a decision is made whether they will remain as agents-in-training. Given their obvious skills and knowledge of Pharos, I believe it will be near impossible to convince them to give up their new life. I cannot imagine Maxim’s knife-throwing prowess would be sought after in many vocations outside of the circus, and Kensington is proving herself to have excellent intuition, despite her impetuousness. The children have both expressed a great desire to continue with the family firm.