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

E X P A N D E D E D I T I O N T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I STORY No. 17 DRAWN BY JIM HOLDAWAY START DATE OF STORY 18th August 1969 (Monday) END DATE OF STORY 10th January 1970 (Saturday) At Sonoracast film studios near London, a bank robbery is being rehearsed. In the studio offices, Mafia bosses are meeting to report on their plans to take over the British underworld. Inspector Brook, very worried by the sudden efficiency of the local criminals, asks Modesty’s advice. He thinks the gangs are being organised, but Modesty is unable to help him. A week later, while driving a tow-truck for a friend, Willie drops Modesty at her bank. She is caught in the middle of a well planned robbery and one of the bank guards, who she knows, is shot and killed. Willie uses the tow-truck to foil the robbers escape and they are caught. Angered by the guard’s murder, Modesty decides to find out what is going on and who is behind it. She starts an underworld rumour that she knows whereabouts of the proceeds of a large robbery, hoping to lure the top bosses to a remote location and capture them. Suspecting a trap, the Mafia nevertheless abduct her and when she tells them that she will have to lead them to the secret location, their suspicions that it is a trap are confirmed. They out bluff her, take her to the location, and Willie, waiting for them, is also taken prisoner. They are both taken back to the film studios and locked up to await their execution. They smuggle a message out to Inspector Brook but it is delayed. The British gang leaders are assembled at the studio to witness the executions as an example of Mafia discipline. At the last moment, Modesty and Willie break free. Fusing the studio lights they use the darkness to convince the British crooks that the Mafia are bad news and once they have gained control will kill anyone who steps out of line. In the gun battle that follows, all the Mafia men are killed. Modesty orders the bodies to be dumped at sea on the basis that the total disappearance of this advance party will discourage further Mafia takeover attempts. This is done and the British crooks disperse. Brook, having at last received Modesty’s message, arrives at the studios with his men to find Modesty and Willie alone. While suspicious, he is delighted with the results. Willie points out that they might have spotted the studios earlier since the name, in big neon lights, is an anagram of Cosa Nostra 223