A highly confidential memorandum from Melvyn Molineux to his editor – Valentine Bergen – concerning the happenings of the afternoon and his plans for the competition. June 9th, 198-
Dear V.B.,
As I told you last night, the leader of the Last Heroes rang me to confirm that he had persuaded the other members of his gang that it would be wise to accept my challenge. So, the day after tomorrow they (not all, but a few selected senior members of the groups) will meet in our offices with Evel Winter and a few of his gang to discuss the rules. These will be, broadly as you and I discussed them the other day – subject to any minor amendment that Vinson may ask for.
I have just left Evel and I think I can say with some confidence that it is unlikely that his chapter will not win. I kept to our arrangement that we should not offer any help to them unless they were obviously losing. Evel Winter is quite happy with this arrangement as he has come to believe our publicity on his behalf and thinks that they really are the top gang in England. Perhaps they are. But having met Vinson, I am not now so confident as I once was about the outcome of this challenge.
However, if things look like going against our investment, I can arrange for a little ‘help’ for the Ghouls. Apart from anything else; I have no doubt that the last of the five clues that I have prepared is insoluble without help. I attach a list of these clues – we discussed them after our first meeting with Evel Winter, just after we arranged the contractual details of the Ghouls’ story.
If you have any recommendations to make, about these clues, I will arrange a talk with you for the 12th and we cam polish up the details. I think, V.B., that we are going to be on to one of the biggest winners in journalistic history. I have already had several inquiries from the commercial television networks for rights to the challenge. Plus a couple from the States and one from France. It has to be a big winner for the ‘Daily Leader’.
Melvyn Molineux – Senior Features Editor.
NO COPIES – FILE IMMEDIATELY
AFTER READING UNDER SECURITY LOCK
FOR V.B’s EYES ONLY
Five Suggested Clues
George Yard Buildings saw my death,
A whore was I, till my last breath.
Thirty-nine cuts bled me fast,
I was the first, but not the last.
2. Philip and Herbert shared a flat here. Though neither had any reason to expect great things, they never found themselves out of pocket
3. First the Marsh in 1882. Then Northumberland Park in 1885. Now at the corner of Park and Worcester.
4. One thousand yards between the wicked ladies and the wicked men. In that order.
5. Rossetti on one wall, Turner on another and Constable on the third.
Melvyn: I suggest making four into one as it is the easiest and we want the TY boys to have a spectacular race to start with. Then one becomes two and so on. I must make sure I don’t change any of the prints in my office before the final day. Apart from that – it’s all okay. We can appear as socially-conscious and still sell on the sensation aspect. Let’s hope that there are lots of clashes between the two mobs. Frankly, I wouldn’t be averse to a killing or two. If a few innocent people get hurt as well it’ll generate more interest and make us look even better as saviours of the public.
Once it’s over and the Last Heroes have packed up, how do you feel about us having a go at this other crowd? Maybe we can try and rig something up with the police to fix a bust on them for drugs or blackmail or something. Bear it hi mind.
Valentine Bergen.