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 TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) STORY 83: “THE MAORI CONTRACT”: STRIP 8810 His New Zealand nephew Jason, a sculptor, has married a half Maori girl whose maiden name was Carol McAndrew and when he learns that the eccentric millionaire James McAndrew has died intestate and had a son who ran off to New Zealand and was married to a Maori girl he asks his lawyers to look into Carol’s family ba c k g r ound . The only other relative in line to possibly inherit is Martin Hayne, a gambler with a dubious reputation. He learns from Modesty that someone has tried to kidnap Carol but they were thwarted by Willie who is helping Jason carve a Maori war canoe. When Carol’s title to the her grandfather’s fortune is confirmed he and Modesty fly to New Zealand. On their way she recognises Salem, a Levantine gangster, who she thinks has been hired to kill Carol. While Modesty and Willie deal with Salem and Hayne, he looks after the canoe and meets some of the Maori warriors who will be manning it. When Hayne makes a desperate final bid to kill Carol, he calls the Maori leader on his mobile phone and the whole crew paddle to the rescue. STORY 86: “THE MURDER FRAME” TEXT ONLY STRIP 9168 Referred to as being Maude Tiller’s boss. STORY 87: “FRASER’S STORY”: STRIP 9224 When Willie spots that his daily buttonhole is being bugged he reveals to him that his assistant Jack Fraser, has gone to Panama on a strictly personal matter to kill Victor Randle, a defector who had betrayed scores of agents to the Russians. One of them was Mary Dainton, who once saved Fraser’s life. What the bug has done is to forewarn Randle of Fraser’s intent and there is now a possibility that Fraser will be captured and his secrets extracted. Modesty and Willie volunteer to help and go to Panama, sort things out and bring Fraser back. Some time after their return Fraser expresses his surprise to him at being allowed to resume his former position. He is told that Modesty advised him he would lose her friendship if Fraser was to be dismissed. TARRANT, Sir Gerald (continued) STORY 89: “THE SPECIAL ORDERS”: STRIP 9457 When he learns that Samantha Brown has apparently been drowned in Bangkok and that Modesty and Willie are going to investigate, he is able to help them by providing them with the services of Del, his man on the spot. He is happy to do so as he remembers Sam with gratitude for the part she played in the rescue of his godson’s wife, Lucy Kolin. STORY 90: “THE HANGING JUDGE” TEXT ONLY STRIP 9556 He is the source of information to Sir Robert and Lady Beaumont on Modesty and Willie and to Modesty on Sir Robert Beaumont. STORY 93: “THE LAST ARISTOCRAT”: STRIP 9860 While staying with Modesty and Willie in Krolli’s cottage on Corfu, which comes with a yacht attached, he tells them of his concerns about a deal he has got wind of in which Granny Smythe is negotiating the sale of a briefcase sized bacteriological weapon to a group of terrorists. Accepts an invitation to the wedding of Guido Biganzoli and Aniela because it is to be held at the village of Caglienda, just two miles by sea from the private island on which Smythe is based. When Guido fails to turn up at the church and Aniela remembers that he has been researching a story on Granny Smythe, he persuades his Italian counterpart, Vinezzi to take action and they land on Smythe’s island with a force of commandos to collect Modesty, Willie and the bacteriological bombs. STORY 94: “THE KILLING GAME”: STRIP 10044 Advised by Weng that he is beginning to be concerned about the continued absence of Modesty and Willie. Weng calls him again later to ask if he would please contact Larry Houston, his Australian equivalent, and ask him to clear up the mess Modesty and Willie have left behind at Sebastian Kromm’s and help sort out Keri and her baby. 167 T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I Drawn by Romero Strip 8897 20th February, 1996 Drawn by Romero Strip 9224 13th June, 1997 Drawn by Romero Strip 9457 18th May, 1998 Drawn by Romero Strip 9910 1st March, 2000 Drawn by Romero Strip 10044A Not published in the Evening Standard