EXTRACTS: The Modesty Blaise Companion Expanded Edition © 2018 The Book Palace (425 PAGES in Full edition)

T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I O N I I 230 STORY No. 24 DRAWN BY ROMERO START DATE OF STORY 10th April 1972 (Monday) END DATE OF STORY 12th August 1972 (Saturday) When Willie gets delayed in Paris he asks Modesty to keep the dinner date made with their friend Inspector Brook. She agrees, and when deciding what jewellery to wear discovers that someone has broken into her very secure safe. Nothing has been stolen but a bouquet of roses has been left with a note “With love from Rufus”. Modesty is intrigued, particularly when at dinner Brook tells her of a mysterious solo jewel thief who has committed four major robberies over the last six months. They are joined by Brook’s nephew, Rufus and when Brook is called away, he asks Rufus to escort Modesty home. They are attacked on the way but Modesty deals with it. Willie has returned from Paris and is at the penthouse. Modesty confronts Rufus and he admits to being the jewel thief and to having put the roses in the safe. He wants to emulate Modesty’s criminal career. So far he has not been unable to find a fence to dispose of his loot and has hidden it on one of the abandoned wartime forts in the Thames estuary. He leaves to go to the night club where he plays guitar and sings with his girlfriend, Josie. Modesty decides she must try to discourage him from crime and three days later calls at his flat. He has disappeared. Mister Preston, a vicious and ruthless fence has got wind of the loot and is holding Rufus on his yacht. To make him talk Preston kidnaps Josie and to save her from being hurt, Rufus reveals the hiding place. Preston and his gang take them to the fort on the yacht. Modesty discovers Preston has kidnapped them and realises where they will be taken. She and Willie get on to the fort and disarm and secure the gang, but Preston is holding a gun on Rufus and Josie. Willie kills Preston and Modesty makes Rufus help her dispose of the body. Sickened, he offers to return the loot and give up crime. He knows now that it is not a game. Two days later Inspector Brook is invited to the penthouse. Modesty and Willie tell him they have found a lot of jewellery in a litter bin in Hyde Park and believing it to be stolen, are handing it over to him. Brook is rightly sceptical but takes it anyway. Modesty is still worried about Rufus until a bouquet of roses arrives. The message is “With love from Rufus and Josie”.