Author's Note: The crossover is becoming more than 'slight', so I just wanted to point out that previous knowledge of the Paul Temple series is not needed. I explain as much as I can in the letters but if you are interested, find 'Send For Paul Temple' by Francis Durbridge in any eBook store (or indeed paperback from Amazon) and go from there. One of my favourite series.

I use a lot of artistic license. That is the good thing about fiction, you can bend things (as long as they're believable) to your will. As a fanfic writer, artistic license is used a lot more and certain things written by Enid Blyton are either changed in later books or not explained fully, so I will take them as I see them. Someone may have a different opinion, but hey, variety is the spice of life.


VALLEY


Bill came along to lunch the next day. The children rushed to meet him. Mrs. Mannering smiled at him.

- The Valley of Adventure


January 4th, 1946

[Letter from Det. Insp. Cunningham to Alison Mannering]

Dear Allie,

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a wonderful holiday together and the kids enjoyed themselves.

I want to thank you and them for the lovely document holder they bought me (I detect your hand in finding it) - sometimes a briefcase is too bulky and cumbersome and with all the paperwork that's generated from various investigations I dare say I'll be using it quite a lot. I also need to thank you for your gift. You shouldn't have, Allie, it was extremely kind of you. I do like to smoke a pipe every so often (one of my unfortunate vices) so a monogrammed tobacco pouch makes me feel rather suave, especially when it matches my document holder!

I enjoyed the day I spent with you all. It was a shame it couldn't have been longer but work called. Louise and Temple send their love; I had a very pleasant meal with them on Boxing Day. Louise is making some headway with the publisher on the adventure series - she's already started making some notes and filling in sections just to flex her writing ability but I expect when she wants to sit down and write properly she'll be calling on you and the kids.

We must meet up soon. I feel the only times we get to see each other are when the kids are involved in something and while I love them to pieces, I can't sit down and have a proper conversation with you. Perhaps you could come up to London for a day when they are back at school, or I could come down to you?

The leftovers you sent home with me were absolutely delicious and lasted me a good few days. I'm not bad at making myself meals but it's been a while since I've had proper home-cooked ones!

How did you meet Louise? She said she's known you for years but that you only really became close again recently, and you mentioned you'd both been reminiscing with Polly last year.

Speak soon,

Bill


January 7th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Dear Bill,

There is no need to thank me! It's just a small token of my appreciation for everything you've done for the children and me. And I have to thank you too! The little watercolour set is perfect for when I want to go out sketching, and I have been meaning to pick up my sketchbooks again. I really do appreciate it.

The children loved having you there, and they've asked me if it's possible for you to stay longer next Christmas. I know it's very early on! But it's something to think about, and perhaps see if you can find someone else to cover the Christmas period - you are more than welcome to stay for as long as you can and in our house it seems to be the more the merrier, especially where animals are involved! The day after you left Philip found a young owl who was injured in the woods and nursed it back to health. Kiki hated it and they had competitions to see who could hoot the loudest. It's fully healed now, but of course doesn't want to leave Philip, even though he's tried to release it back into the wild twice now. I put my foot down and told him he couldn't take it to school (they don't allow Kiki any more, and Jack has to leave her in a local village during the week), so he put it out before he left. It does keep trying to come back in the house and I've let it look around a couple of times to see that he's not here but then I have to keep chasing it back out. I have to ensure all the windows and doors are secure just in case!

Louise is one of my oldest friends - we lived on the same estate as children, and we went to the same elementary school. Gerald, her brother, was the same age as Polly (a little older than us two girls). They left for Cape Town, both of them continuing their education out there. Gerald joined the police force, Louise starting to write for one of the newspapers. We kept in very infrequent contact - a few postcards and letters - but let our friendship fall by the wayside a little. A case Gerald had been working on moved to England so they returned, and he was killed in action. That's how she met Paul, and although we hadn't really been speaking much she invited me to the wedding. Again, we sent the odd letter and card after, but I was working so hard I had no time to meet people and so I had very few friends. She wrote to me when Sir Graham mentioned you and the case on the Isle of Gloom (were your ears burning that day?) and we met up not long after. Now I have the occasional free day, I can meet her more often, and she says she's making the effort to keep me close again, as a lot of their 'friends' in London feel like they are just that because of Paul's status. They do count you as one of their good friends though!

You mentioned a little while ago that you have somewhere to go when you don't want to stay in London. Do you have somewhere you rent, or do you have another place you own? I can imagine London gets wearing after a while. It's a wonderful city and I love visiting it but I don't think I could live there for too long. It never seems to sleep. It surprised me when Louise and Paul sold their lovely country house in Evesham, but she said they rarely went down there. I would probably be spending more time there than in the city!

I'm glad you liked the food. I tried to pack some up before the boys got to it because no matter how much I do I never seem to have any left. I now tend to cook more than needed and hide it, just in case. No doubt they'll soon find that hiding place.

I would love to meet up. I'm actually hoping to come to London in a couple of months to meet with Paul's publisher about cover art, and Louise has kindly said I can stay with them for a few days if needed. If you're around, I would love to see you.

Warmest regards,

Allie


January 12th, 1946

[Letter from Det. Insp. Cunningham to Alison Mannering]

Dear Allie,

If you do start your artwork again, I would love to see (that's if you share it!). Not being artistically inclined I envy anyone with a talent like that. Jack's photography is an art in itself, and I've detected a certain way with words from Dinah in some of her more recent letters. Philip's got his magic ability with animals and Lucy-Ann is quite the sportswoman - I think you have yourself a very talented household!

How do you put up with all the animals? Kiki is one thing, but to have all sorts of completely unusual wildlife suddenly popping up and having the run of the house! I don't mind most things but when he talks about earwigs and beetles...it's not something most people would sleep easy at night about, just in case they started to wander.

I do own another house. It's a lovely place, a little further west than Polly and Jocelyn's. It belonged to my parents, and they died a while ago so I inherited it, being an only child. It was nothing terrible - they were older when they had me, so it was just old age that caught them. It's in a fairly lonely place but ideal for when I want to get away (like you said) from city life. London is is where I stay when I'm keeping busy, and my little flat is great for when I need to lay my head down but sometimes I do just want to hide away somewhere there are just birds for company! The kids would love it, perhaps it's something we could look at arranging some time? It's right up Jack's street, I'm sure there are plenty of animals for Philip to hunt out and build a menagerie, and the girls would like exploring the countryside. It's even quieter than your lovely cottage, so if you need somewhere to escape to...

I did wonder why I had red ears a little while ago, it must have been with all that talk about me in the Temples' front room! I can't imagine whatever was being said was too bad as I still have my job!

As soon as you know when you're coming up, please let me know. I'll make sure I can step back from whatever's going on, as there's this amazing shop I found in Bloomsbury. It's been going since the Victorian times and stocks all sorts of artists' materials and equipment. I think you'd love it.

I'll try and 'phone in the next week or so.

Take care of yourself,

Bill


January 29th, 1946

[Letter from Louise Temple to Alison Mannering]

Dearest Allie,

Thank you for your call the other day, it was nice to hear from you! I've had a chance to check Paul's diary and he doesn't seem to have booked anything for those dates, so I've made sure I've written you in there so he can't! You're more than welcome to stay as long as you need.

How wonderful that Bill wants to take you out! It's high time you did something completely for yourself. You will always love John but you've spent long enough on your own looking after the children. They're getting older and will be able to help you, and if you find someone who's interested in you, why shouldn't you take that opportunity? I'm sure the children would be very happy for you (especially knowing how fond they are of him).

We'll speak soon, but look after yourself and send the children my love when you next write to them.

Love Louise


January 30th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Dear Bill,

I'll be up in London staying with Louise and Paul from the 10th - 12th February. I'm driving up on Sunday evening and my meeting is with their publisher on Monday morning but I expect I will have that afternoon and the Tuesday free, before I drive back Tuesday evening. I hope you can be around either of those days - or both!

I hope wherever your current assignment is, you're keeping safe and well.

Speak soon,

Allie


February 13th, 1946

[Personal journal entry - Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Allie came up to town for a couple of days so managed to spend some time with her. She arrived Sunday evening and stayed at the Temples' - she had a meeting with their publisher on Monday morning which apparently went extremely well and looks like she's got her first client. Couldn't get away that afternoon but was invited for dinner with them all and discussed the business at length. Temple had some good ideas which I think Allie took on board. She's going to have to start looking for some more artists for her books as she wants a more diverse range of styles, so Louise and Temple said they'd spread the word amongst the London set. Said goodbye at the door, admiring the way she looked in her silk dress.

Picked her up again Tuesday morning, and took her to L. Cornelissen & Son in Bloomsbury. Her eyes lit up when we stepped in the shop, and I just followed her, watching her as she took it all in. The old boy behind the counter was rather taken with her and they spent a while chatting, and then she bought a few things for herself. Caught her eyeing up a finely bound sketchbook and high quality pencil set but finally passed over it so pulled the chap aside and asked him to reserve them for me. Going back in a couple of days when I'm next free to pick them up - that's her sorted for Christmas this year.

After a good couple of hours in there (she kept trying to apologise but I took her in there for a reason, and how often does she get to go somewhere like that?) we stopped for lunch in a little Italian restaurant I've been patronising for a while. The owner, Roberto, was delighted to see me again and was charmed by Allie as it appears she can speak a small amount of Italian. We were ushered through to one of the quieter booths in the back, and over a delicious meal we talked at length about ourselves, our childhoods and interests. Told her how I joined the Force and worked my way up, before moving to Special Branch after some particularly gruelling cases which had required me to go undercover. My skills hadn't gone unnoticed, and I'd been offered the sideways promotion. She briefly touched on her time with her husband but it wasn't the time nor the place to go into it in depth - that would be for perhaps a quiet evening together.

Had to promise to bring Allie back to the restaurant before Roberto would allow us to leave, and then we decided to visit the National Gallery. Glad we had our coats on as it started raining when we got out the taxi and we had to dash across the concourse. Allie slipped her hand into the crook of my arm and we spent the next few hours like that, walking around the gallery with her giving me an impromptu art history lesson. Think she was afraid of boring me but I could have listened to her all day, and found the subject interesting. Brought the pictures we looked at to life for me, now I know more about why and how they were created.

Stopped for a quick cup of tea before they closed, then reluctantly dropped Allie off back at the Temples' as she was driving home that evening. Hoping to get easy cases for a while; would be nice to be able to keep in regular contact with her for once.


March 2nd, 1946

[Letter from Det. Insp. Cunningham to Philip Mannering and Jack Trent]

Philip & Jack,

How are you two getting on at school? I'm hearing the occasional report of you getting punished for one thing or another in between the progress - I do hope you don't intend to make a career of misdemeanours because I have some friends in the Met who'd be very interested! Your mother is very pleased with you but do try to keep the pranks and misbehaviour to a minimum; I can imagine that there are quite a few stories that don't reach her ears.

Have you heard from the girls recently? I'm writing to them as well and it seems they're enjoying their time but looking forward to the Easter holidays. Please stay at home and out of trouble as I don't think we've got enough manpower at the moment to rescue you.

Have a new case in the wind and it looks like I'll have to find my old pilot's license and dust it off. I've been promised an aeroplane - only a small, light aircraft - so once I've logged some more hours I'll ask your mother if I can take you out for a flight.

How's Jack coping without Kiki? Is she still coming to your cricket matches and shouting 'Out!' at the umpire? And don't tell me about Philip's newest pet, I don't think I've got over the story of the housekeeper finding the large spider in the shoebox and flinging it at the maid. Enough to give anyone nightmares, so DON'T mention it to Dinah!

Write back soon, and be good!

Bill


March 4th, 1946

[Letter from Philip Mannering and Jack Trent to Alison Mannering]

Dear Mother,

How are you? We're both well. We have the cricket tournament coming up and wondered if you would be able to attend one or a few of the days? The invitations should be sent out soon to parents. We're both on the team this year, not just reserves, so we're hoping to play all the matches!

Jack still goes to visit Kiki every day and at weekends, and she caused a stir by escaping from his friend's house and flying round to their neighbour's. She's a little old lady who struggles to hear and Kiki was sat on her windowsill behind the curtains, and apparently they ended up having an entire conversation until his friend went round and asked if she'd seen a parrot. She said no, but she had someone in her kitchen called Polly who kept telling her to pay the bill but she didn't know which bill she had to pay! He explained to her what was happening and finally managed to coax Kiki back in with some raisins. She has to spend all the time she's not with Jack in a large cage which she hates but it's the only way to stop her escaping again.

Bill wrote to us and told us he's getting an aeroplane! He's said that when he's logged some more hours he'll take us out but he's going to ask you first. Please, Mother, can we go? Can he take us out at Easter if he's not on a case? I don't know if the girls would want to but it would be smashing to go up in it!

Write soon!

Philip & Jack


March 6th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Philip Mannering and Jack Trent]

Dear Philip and Jack,

I've received the invitation and will do my best to come up for the tournament. You're not too far from the girls so maybe I'll make a few days of it and visit them too.

I do hope that Kiki hasn't been causing too much trouble! Please make sure she doesn't scare all the neighbours - you don't want them all complaining and Jack not able to leave her there in the future.

Yes, Bill rang me and spoke to me about the flight. The girls are just as excited as you are, but Bill has made it clear it won't be until summer. He needs time to work on it and take it out to get used to it; besides, he does have a job to do! We'll organise it closer to the time. I might treat you all to a few days in London again over Easter, visiting Aunt Steve and Paul, so if Bill is around he can talk to you about it then.

I'll see you soon, be good,

Mother


April 26th, 1946

[Journal entry - Alison Mannering]

Spent a day earlier in the holidays visiting Polly and Jocelyn, where the children set off to explore the surrounding area and I caught up with her. Our relationship is a rather funny one - we'll be in contact quite frequently for a while and then won't hear from one another for a long time. I will always love Polly, being my older sister, but sometimes she likes to martyr herself a little, and our personalities are rather different. She's quite happy to distance herself all of a sudden, and her marriage to Jocelyn means she spends a lot of time on her own so she's used to her own company but I think every so often she needs a little social contact. She was quiet when we first arrived but by the time we left she seemed happier and promised that she would take a day or two to herself and maybe get away from the house. Jocelyn will just have to learn to look after himself, and his book is very near completion so I'm hoping once it's published he'll be out of his office more often. Only time will tell!

We went up to London for a couple of days, and stayed in the lovely guesthouse Louise found last year. Apparently Mrs. Hodges remembered us (I can't imagine why...) and was delighted to have us again. She'd prepared a mountain of food for us all, and even Kiki had her own miniature feast, much to her delight. I don't think she knew what to do with herself after that. Mrs. Hodges is still technically a stranger to Kiki so she didn't sit on her shoulder but she did perch on the table next to her and coo at her for a few minutes.

On our first full day there, Mrs. Hodges sent us off with a large picnic, and we met Louise and Paul at the entrance to St. James' Park - and Bill was with them! He and Paul had meetings at Scotland Yard but had time to have a quick lunch with us (and there was certainly enough food to feed a small army). I think that was one of my favourite moments of the holidays; walking arm in arm with Bill, talking to Louise and Paul as the children and Kiki ran ahead to find the perfect picnic spot. It was a lovely day, not a cloud in the sky, and talk turned to Bill's aeroplane and when he'd be taking the children out. We agreed it would be early on in the summer holidays if he wasn't on a case, so that stopped the nagging!

Surprisingly enough, even Paul ignored the nearby bench where we stopped, and all four children were delighted when us adults joined them on the large blanket packed by Mrs. Hodges. During our lunch a couple of squirrels scampered down a tree and joined us, especially after Philip coaxed them in with some food and his usual soothing tone. Paul and Louise watched in amazement - it's one thing to be told of his ability but another altogether to watch it happen - and we spent the rest of the time watching their antics. One even came and sat on my hand for a brief moment, appearing quite content as I gave it some nuts, until Kiki became jealous and launched herself at it, sending both of them scarpering. She sat on my shoulder for a while, alternating between rubbing her beak against my cheek and scolding the squirrels. They did come back after we told her off and she quietened down, but they stayed close to Philip.

All too soon Bill and Paul had to return to Scotland Yard so we packed up the picnic and walked them to Whitehall. Sir Graham was apparently already in a meeting so sent his regards, and Bill and Paul had to hurry so as not to miss theirs. Bill still had to 'suffer' through Lucy-Ann's bear hug and the goodbyes of the other three, and I had my customary kiss on the cheek farewell. None of the children batted an eyelid, and Louise winked at me as we left Scotland Yard. I sometimes wonder if they can see the butterflies that seem to take over my insides when I'm with Bill, or whether they see the two of us as just friends. If only they knew their mother felt like a teenager again!

Louise hailed a taxi and we piled in, much to the amusement of the driver who was a cheerful old Cockney man. He regaled us with tales of his aunt's parrot when he caught sight of Kiki, and kept us laughing until we reached Madame Tussauds. The building had been bombed in 1940 and the cinema destroyed, but they had reopened the main building again by the end of that year, so it was still a popular place to visit and Louise said they were always creating new figures and changing exhibits. Kiki was allowed in as long as she behaved - which she did, thankfully - and we whiled away the rest of the day there. The children loved it, and Louise and I found it fascinating - all the work that goes into creating the figures, and making them look exactly like the people they're supposed to be - but I did find them a little unsettling too. I certainly wouldn't like to be there after hours, when all the crowds have gone and the lights are dimmed. I did have to put my foot down when it came to the crime exhibits. They looked rather gruesome and even Louise with her crime journalism background wasn't keen on going through it. The girls certainly didn't want to, so I had to let the boys go through themselves, with a promise to meet us at the end. They were a little late and I started to worry but apparently Kiki had been startled by one of the sound effects in there and had flown off, so the boys had to find her. They tried to tell us about the figures in detail but Lucy-Ann was looking a little green so I told them to change the subject, and we went into the fresh air to find the sky starting to darken.

We were having a supper at the guesthouse and so we said goodbye to Louise. She and Paul were off to Brighton the next day as Paul was investigating a case for Sir Graham. Surprisingly enough the children were quite tired and after supper and a round of card games they went to bed without fuss.

The next day was unfortunately dismal and wet, and our original plans for walking round London had to be abandoned. The children tend to be rather attuned to the weather and if it restricts their movement their boundless energy is channelled into arguing and temper tantrums. Games and reading can only go so far, and after a couple of hours of mostly quiet with occasional flare-ups I managed to nip in the bud, Dinah and Philip started a quarrel that I could only stop by threatening to take them home immediately. Poor Mrs. Hodges thoughtfully suggested the British Museum of Natural History, which would definitely appeal to the boys and hopefully have something to amuse the girls. It took me half an hour to convince Jack that Kiki had to stay behind. While I really hate to split them up - and didn't want to subject Mrs. Hodges to her all day - I didn't want her to get lost in the vast museum with its vaulted ceilings and multitude of rooms and passageways. Thankfully Mrs. Hodges agreed to look after her, and we left Kiki's travel cage out so if she did tire of her she could try and convince her to sleep for a while.

After a quick early lunch we chose to use the London Underground and caught a train to the museum, and I don't know about the children but I certainly learnt a lot from that trip. The exhibits were fascinating and Jack and Philip spent a long time reading the information on the displays, especially when it came to the birds and animals. The girls found the taxidermy rather unsettling but they were skilfully done and Jack had the opportunity to see a Great Auk which delighted him as he's still convinced he saw one on the Isle of Gloom. Seeing some of the extinct species was fascinating, but the girls were getting a bit bored so we agreed to leave the boys to explore the dinosaur exhibits and meet back in the main hall at a set time. I knew there was a display of gemstones and the girls and I spent a while admiring the stunning natural stones and how they were cut ready to be set into jewellery. Dinah and Lucy-Ann were rather amazed by them and by the time we all met up again it was getting on. I did allow them to find something each in the gift shop but I had a lot of inspiration for presents for them at Christmas so I may come back up to London on my own later in the year on a buying spree.

I'm now sat watching the children playing card games and reading again, letting our delicious supper go down. We leave tomorrow morning and have the rest of the holidays ahead of us but I'm hoping there's little at home they can get themselves caught up in. It would have been lovely to spend more time with Bill but he's a busy man and we're hoping that when he has some leave later on in the year we can organise the flight with the children.


June 16th, 1946

[Letter from Det. Insp. Cunningham to Alison Mannering]

Dear Allie,

I hope you're well. Thank you for your call last week; it was nice to hear from you and catch up properly. You asked if I had any idea when we could organise the flight (I've received a letter from the boys so I expect they've been nagging you about it!) and I know it's a way off but I have some training sessions booked in for early August. I'll be down at the airfield for about a week and I thought it would be good to combine that with taking you up. I'll have a co-pilot but it's just a formality. I can send a car to pick you all up and drop you back if I can't make it myself.

I'm assuming you'd like to come with us - will you, or would you rather not? All I've heard from the kids is how excited they are but I can't remember you having mentioned it in regards to yourself. It would be wonderful if you could. I promise I'm a good pilot, otherwise they wouldn't have given me my licence!

Sorry it's such a short one. Hopefully speak soon, take care.

Bill


June 17th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Dear Bill,

I am well, thank you, thoroughly enjoying the sunny days and prospect of summer! That sounds perfect, as soon as you know a date let me know and I can tell the children so they have something to look forward to!

I don't think I'll come with you all this time if that's all right...I'm not a confident flyer and I suspect you'll have your hands full with Lucy-Ann. Besides, I'm not sure you'd want Kiki flapping around and she might not like the engine noise - she can stay at home with me for the day and the children can enjoy your undivided (almost!) attention. They've been talking non-stop about you in their letters, so they may not want me around anyway!

Speak soon,

Allie


June 23rd, 1946

[Telegram from Det. Insp. Cunningham to Alison Mannering]

8th August if possible. Will send car. Your turn soon!


August 9th, 1946

[Journal entry - Alison Mannering]

Yesterday was the day the children had been looking forward to for months and I know that I'm not going to hear the end of it for a good while - although thankfully I have a reprieve for a few days courtesy of Bill.

True to his word, a car arrived in the morning to collect the children, and took them away laughing and chattering. I was left alone in peace; if you can call being left with Kiki 'peace'. I spent most of the day preparing a dinner to welcome home my travellers, and Bill had said in a recent 'phone call that he would try and come over for lunch at some point so I did some baking. I've discovered the detective inspector has rather a sweet tooth; he doesn't discriminate but I've noticed in particular when I make jam tarts they tend to disappear quickly.

Kiki behaved quite well, with the occasional period of quietly talking to herself and a few attempts at her steam train impression. She did spend time on my shoulder crooning to me whilst I baked which I actually found quite cathartic. She adores Jack, naturally, and tends to stay with the children when they're home, so to have the opportunity to have a day with just her and me was a lovely change, and I felt we bonded a little more. She does come to me and can be very affectionate but it's only usually when she hasn't seen me for a while. I was grateful that she felt comfortable enough to spend that much time behaving for me, although it may be because she knows where her food comes from (and I may have treated her a couple of times with bits of fruit and jam whilst making the fillings for the cakes and tarts!).

All too soon the children came running back in, bursting with energy and full of stories of their day. Bill and his co-pilot had taken them a long distance, down to the coast, over Craggy-Tops and the Isle of Gloom, and looped back over land. Bill had done most of the flying and the other gentleman had taken control when he wanted to talk to the children and point things out, and even little Lucy-Ann had taken it well. Apparently he'd provided her with a paper bag just in case she needed it if she felt ill, and Philip told me later she'd gone quite green a couple of times, but had held herself well and hadn't needed it.

Bill had offered to take them on a night flight but wanted to check with me and so today he came over for lunch. The children still had excess energy and it's been mostly rainy and chilly for August, so they've not had much chance to get outside and work it off and when he came down the garden path they were bouncing around him and talking to him all at once, despite the fact they'd only seen him yesterday. He looked well and relaxed, and brought me a small posy of flowers. I couldn't stop smiling and I think Lucy-Ann offered to put them in a vase for me twice before I came to my senses, although he was smiling rather a lot too. His current assignment seemed to be less intense than some of his recent ones, and over lunch he explained that he had some leave due that he was intending to take. We'd spoken previously about his property near the coast and everything seemed to fall into place without much effort; the children would go over to the airfield tomorrow night, he would fly them to his place and they would spend a few days with him.

He did invite me but I do think they want some time with just him. They love their friendship with him, and sometimes I feel a little like an outsider as they've all shared adventures whilst I've been elsewhere (not that I particularly want to go through those sorts of situations!). I will try to get Bill to take some time over Christmas this year so he can stay with us instead of working.

He left not long after, and I sent him off with a small packet of tarts and slices of cake - much to his delight. He promised that he'd take me up in his 'plane sometime soon, and that he would keep the children out of trouble. He also promised that he would show me his place one day, but that appeared to be for my ears only as none of the children heard and he winked at me before walking to his car. He's given me the address so I might take a day towards the end of their time there and surprise them - work allowing.

I've packed as much as I can for them, and they'll probably spend tomorrow re-packing just to make sure they've got everything, but at least they have something to look forward to in this dismal weather.

Perhaps next time I will go...


August 11th, 1946

[Personal journal entry - Det. Insp. Cunningham]

I've lost Allie's kids. Feel sick as I write. Supposed to be off in the air with them, but in a darkened hangar there was another identical to my 'plane and the driver put their luggage with the wrong one. Customs had pulled a couple of guys that matched a description sent over by the ICPC linked to wartime looted treasures, so while I went to investigate the kids got into what they thought was my 'plane. The men that had been pulled suddenly caused a ruckus and escaped, and flew off with the very 'plane the kids had accidentally got into.

In amongst the confusion I got shot at - caught my bicep pretty badly - and I made up a quick makeshift bandage before I left. I got the guys back in the office on the line straight away and started organising the intel network but wanted to make the trip to tell Allie personally, so detoured to hers before I headed back to London.

Obviously roused her from bed - it was past midnight and she was wrapped up in a robe which revealed hints of the lace and floral print nightgown beneath. Her hair was unpinned and curled over her shoulders. She knew the instant she opened the door something was wrong, and to my surprise she let me wrap my arms around her as I stepped into the hallway quickly, not wanting to give the neighbours anything to talk about. "What is it this time?" She sounded so resigned it made me feel doubly awful I'd let this happen. Told her what I could, stood in that small hallway with her holding onto me like some sort of lifeline. Can't imagine what it's like for her each time, finding out what the kids have been up to when she's away, but to know the instant something's happened and then have to wait? I certainly couldn't do it - she's stronger than anyone would imagine.

Think she was about to ask me something when she exclaimed, "Bill - you're hurt!" Apparently my bandage hadn't done it's job and where I'd been driving it had come loose, so I was at the height of bad manners by bleeding all over Allie's pretty robe. Tried to downplay it but she made me take off my coat and saw the mess on my sleeve, then ushered me through to a little washroom in the back. Not sure if the previous occupants were half the size of an average man but it was a tight fit with Allie making me sit on the wooden lid of the toilet and her squeezing in next to the sink. There was a rather large first aid box in the cabinet and when she saw me looking at it in surprise, she gave a small smile. "With two boys around the house I've had to double up on supplies, especially when they like getting themselves into tight spots and exploring places they shouldn't."

Didn't know how to respond. She obviously knew what I was thinking as she spent a few minutes telling me it wasn't my fault, but who else can you blame? The driver? The two men? Whilst I was beating myself up about it, she went into nurse mode, and had all sorts of things out from the first aid kit. She said, "Take your shirt off," which was a fair comment as the wound was too high up to be able to roll my sleeves up, and too far down to just tuck the collar over my shoulder, but then she realised how it sounded and I swear I've never seen a woman blush so much. I undid the buttons and took my arm out the sleeve but left the other half on. Wanted to protect her sensibilities but then it's not as if she's never seen a man half-undressed before, and from the way she avoided my eyes and her gaze kept wandering I guess she liked what she saw.

She busied herself cleaning the wound up and then tying a new bandage around it. I was amazed at how efficient she was, and while she looked a little white when she was getting the blood off my arm she didn't complain and was as gentle as could be. It would last me until I got to London, no problem. How had no one snapped her up yet?

Apparently I'd said that out loud, as she looked at me for a moment like she didn't know whether to laugh or be angry. "I'm not some desirable item that sits on a shelf waiting to be claimed," she said, although there was some amusement there. It was as she was finishing up and helping me back into my ruined shirt that she continued, and had I not been paying attention I probably wouldn't have heard it all. "Perhaps I've been waiting for the right man to come along."

This woman's a keeper.

Had a long journey back to London and needed to find out from the guys if there had been any intel on flights from that airfield. I'd managed to distract her for a moment but the realisation was sinking back in and she looked tired and worried again. Stood once more in that blessed hallway with her before I left, promising to find them, to bring them back to her, and to call every day whether I had news or not. In return she promised to call Louise and Polly, see if either of them could come down and stay with her. Would prefer Louise because whilst Polly is family she's older and is more matronly - guess that Allie would spend the entire time being looked after but feeling awful. Louise would know how to distract her and make her feel like things are being done.

Reluctantly left her, got seen to by a doctor in the office as I refused to leave until the guys gave me something and the guys refused to until I'd been seen, so we compromised. Nothing yet, just hints at the moment. Knowing these kids they've stumbled across some plot or active investigation. Again.


August 14th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Polly Sullivan]

Dear Polly,

We've still had no contact from the children. Bill says it's unlikely they're still in the country and if they were in the 'plane that was piloted by the men they pulled at the aerodrome then they could be anywhere on the continent if not further. They're doing their best to find the flight path but it's extremely difficult to follow a trail that's fast going cold.

Louise has come down from London to stay with me until we hear something. She's supposed to be going to Italy with Paul for a series of meetings with a publishing house out there but she asked him to cancel her tickets so she could stay with me and no matter how much she tells me she wants to be here I feel like an awful imposition. But at the same time I'm grateful she's here - I don't know what I'd do if I were alone.

I will telegram you as soon as we have news or find the children.

Your sister,

Allie


August 17th, 1946

[Letter from Louise Temple to Paul Temple]

Darling Paul,

I do hope your meetings are going well. I know you said the 'phone lines are rather unreliable in your hotel so I thought I might update you via letter - this may reach you before you return in a week or so, but it may not!

We've still heard nothing in regards to the children. Bill Cunningham is calling every day and he's managed to spare enough time to come down and visit once but it's always the same thing - they're still looking. The department is making some progress but it seems to be baby steps and it's taking such a long time. The children could be anywhere (although the general consensus is Europe) and we have no idea what sort of environment they're in, if they have food, if any of them are hurt...

Allie's not eating much, and she's losing a lot of weight, which is worrying me. You know I'm not a wonderful cook but I can make a passable meal and I'm doing my best to provide her with something nutritious; however she's barely touching it and has lost all interest in making it. She's really focusing on her work and I go with her into the office every day - I've learnt about her processes and what she does and have helped out and have also had the opportunity to sit and write. Fran, her assistant, is there but she's busy and I think Allie appreciates my company. Surprisingly enough I don't have to tear her away from her desk every evening; I think that has more to do with the daily 'phone calls from a certain detective inspector than anything else. Even when he's not got anything to report they talk for a while about other things, and it's something to help distract her from the current situation.

I took myself out for a walk when Bill drove down, to let them have some time to themselves. I did come back in time to help Allie with lunch and she seemed a little more interested in food but that may have been to make Bill think she was eating - he did pull me to one side and ask me how she was really doing, so I'm obviously not the only one that's noticed her weight loss.

I'm not sure what else I can do other than to keep her company and perhaps convince Pryce to come down and make her some of his delicious meals. It's one thing to be involved in the active investigation like Bill; it's another entirely to be sat at home just waiting, and at least Allie has her business to run but it's not distracting her enough.

I just hope they find them safe and well and quickly. They're not even related to me and I feel desperately worried for them. I can't imagine what Allie's going through.

Fingers crossed for your meetings. I don't think I'll have the chance to fly out and meet you there, so I'll see you at home. Call me if you can - I do miss you. And don't forget to buy a couple of bottles of that wine Pryce is rather partial to!

Don't enjoy Italy too much without me, darling.

Steve


August 22nd, 1946

[Journal entry - Alison Mannering]

I honestly don't know how I managed to get through the last two weeks without Louise and Bill. From the moment Bill turned up on my doorstep the night he was supposed to be flying the children to his place on the coast, I feel like I've been living in a dream. I promised him I would call Louise or Polly and see if someone could stay with me and I did - Louise kindly came down for what I thought would be a few days but turned out to be closer to ten...and even cancelled her trip to Italy with Paul to continue staying. I threw myself into work but she was always there if I needed, and Bill rang every day whether he had news or not which became something of a lifeline for me; even if it was just to hear his reassuring voice. He even came down for a couple of hours last week and Louise went out for a walk claiming she needed some fresh air but I knew she wanted to leave us alone, for which I was grateful. I found myself crying in the middle of the kitchen and Bill just stood there holding me until I could pull myself together and make a start on lunch. I don't like to be so emotional in front of others but sometimes I just want to be comforted (instead of always being the one providing comfort) and somehow it's Bill that ends up being the one I turn to, whether I intend to or not.

The department hadn't been getting very far with finding either the men who'd taken the children or their destination, so it was a sudden surprise when Bill sent a telegram via Sam (one of his men) to say he'd been called to Scotland because a young boy had been found matching Philip's description. Scotland, of all places! They were rather out in the sticks and the 'phone lines weren't reliable so I had an extremely short conversation with Philip (mostly him talking at me, as I couldn't believe it was really him) before we were cut off. I didn't even get a chance to speak to Bill, so could only sit and wait, and sure enough Sam rang earlier to say the children had all been found safe, and that the team that had flown out with Bill were refuelling before flying back. Louise will be driving me up to London tonight because they'll be coming into one of the outlying London aerodromes and I don't think I can wait for them any longer.

I know Bill feels like it's his fault and I've done my best to disabuse him of that notion. I owe him so much.


August 23rd, 1946

[Telegram from Alison Mannering to Polly Sullivan]

Children back safe. Will call soon.


August 24th, 1946

[Personal journal entry - Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Was intending to allow myself a lie-in this morning but found myself awake early and struggled to get back to sleep. So used to running on a few hours every night the past week and a half that when I really wanted to get a good night's rest I automatically wake up. Still, I've got a week or so of leave to try and get myself back into a healthy routine, seeing as I used what should have been my time off with the kids investigating their disappearance and then finally capturing that gang ICPC has been after for a while.

After refuelling on a base not far from the valley, we flew back to an airfield just outside London. Wanted to go back to one closer to the kids' home as the gang members had been taken by the other guys to France and handed over to ICPC, but I had my orders. Turns out that Sir Forbes and other higher-ups wanted as quick a debrief as possible, meaning the kids would have been delayed in going home but thankfully everything fell into place; Louise was driving back to London and so brought Allie up to a hotel not far from Whitehall where the Met had booked a small suite for them. Was tempted to not say anything about Allie to surprise the kids but when the adrenaline and excitement wore off, Lucy-Ann in particular was looking completely worn out and emotional. Told her Allie was waiting at the hotel to reassure her and she burst into tears so Dinah comforted her.

Escorted them from the airfield to the hotel - a car had been put on and I was extremely grateful as I had not been looking forward to driving after a long flight - and were let in by the night porter as it was the early hours of the morning by the time we finally got there. He gave me a spare room key; he assumed the occupant would be asleep and was proved right when we stepped in to find Allie curled up in a large chair in the sitting area. The kids were shouting and talking at once and she came awake suddenly to find herself at the bottom of a pile of bodies. Stood back and just let them have their reunion, and there were plenty of tears from more than just Allie and Lucy-Ann (I refuse to name names). When she finally managed to stand up and was engulfed yet again by all four and Kiki crooning at her from her shoulder, she looked over at me and motioned for me to join them. Was a bit hesitant until both Dinah and Lucy-Ann pulled me into the group hug, as I thought I'd be intruding but found myself with my arms round Allie and two of the kids and to be completely honest it was a particularly enjoyable experience to be part of that crazy, joyful bunch if only for a moment.

Was getting extremely late (or very early) so we coaxed them into bed with surprisingly little resistance although I expect they were crashing again after the rush of energy seeing Allie. There were two small rooms one side, each with twin beds, and opposite there was the master bed that Allie would stay in. The boys and Kiki went easily after only a small amount of protesting, but Lucy-Ann was a little more clingy and didn't want to let Allie or me out of her sight so in the end I carried her into her and Dinah's room and then left Allie to sit with her for a bit. She'd brought a small case with clean clothes and pyjamas for them all so they were comfy and hopefully would sleep well.

The debriefing was the next day and I wanted to get a taxi back to my apartment, have a hot shower and then catch up on some sleep, so after jotting a few notes for the official logs I looked in on the girls. Both Dinah and Lucy-Ann were fast asleep and Allie was stood leaning by the door, just watching them. When I caught her eye, she blushed a little.

"I don't want to let any of them out of my sight," she said, and stepped back through into the sitting area. She left the door slightly ajar, and I noticed the door of the boys' room was ajar too. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and they'll still be missing."

"You'll wake up and they'll be right there where you left them," I replied, and I think she was trying to blink away a couple of tears. "Sir Graham and some of his staff will be round in the morning around eleven to conduct the debriefing for the kids - they know the drill by now. There'll be a clerk taking their statements. They've had enough upheaval for a while, so I think Sir Graham had a word with the higher-ups and organised for them to do it here instead of dragging them down to Scotland Yard. I'll be here too, but I'll come over earlier if you'd like."

Not sure why I offered but Allie seemed receptive to the idea and we settled on me getting there about an hour or so beforehand, so we could all have breakfast together. She looked like she wanted to say something else, and then suddenly threw her arms round me, murmuring, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." I held on tight for a while, and she pulled back a little to look up at me. "You're becoming their guardian angel," she said finally, and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"If I was their guardian angel I'd be able to stop these things happening before the kids get caught up in them," I told her, and she shook her head, smiling.

"You have this amazing ability to find them and bring them home," she started to reply, and then yawned. "Goodness, I'm sorry."

"Get some sleep," I said, giving her a little squeeze before letting her go. "You've not eaten or slept properly since they disappeared, have you?" I was concerned at just how thin she'd become in such a short space of time; Louise had mentioned it when I went down for a visit and I had seen the dark circles under Allie's eyes then, but it was more obvious after holding her. She looked sheepish and I gave in to the urge to touch her cheek. "Go and rest. I promise the kids will be there when you wake up. I'll be back tomorrow."

Kissed her cheek as I left, and could hear Kiki mumbling sleepily from the boys' room as the door shut behind me. Left the spare key with the night porter again. Went back to my apartment and had that hot shower I'd wanted and some rest, but was up again after only a short sleep, popping into the office for a couple of hours before I went over to the hotel. Even stood outside I could hear the laughter and chaos, and as soon as the door opened I was dragged into it. Breakfast was a rowdy affair, the young lad who brought the trolley full of food taken aback at the amount of noise generated by four kids and a parrot. The kids dived into the food as if they were starving (they did have plenty to eat out in the valley as they'd helped themselves to the gang's food store, something I reassured Allie about) and I had to snag some bacon and eggs for me and some toast for Allie before they polished it all off...which didn't take long. Through it all, Allie stayed pretty quiet, but she was far more relaxed and smiled and laughed at their antics. Kiki flew from person to person trying to steal bits of food but even as Jack scolded her she ended up on Allie's shoulder nibbling at the corners of the toast she slipped her.

The 'debriefing' was one of the most unusual I've had to attend, but it was technically unofficial as I had yet to attend the one at Scotland Yard with my team. When Sir Forbes and some of the Yard staff turned up, we made room in the sitting area. The kids sat on the small side chairs we'd appropriated from the bedrooms, and eventually we found a place for everyone with Allie squeezed in on a settee between me and the clerk whose notebook was balanced on his lap as he took notes in shorthand. They told the story from the beginning as best they could, and through it I saw Allie turn a little pale (as she's done before when listening to their exploits...I'm surprised she's not constantly white with those four around). Couldn't very well take her hand in reassurance as I wanted to, so pressed my leg against hers and felt her do the same in response - at least I know I provided some form of comfort.

The kids managed to keep their small audience riveted for at least three hours, so by the time Forbes and his staff left they were starving and we ordered lunch to be brought up. I managed a quick bite with them but had an afternoon full of meetings and probably more the next day so had to beg off after half an hour. They were disappointed but when I told them I'd be getting my leave tagged on to the end of this investigation they begged Allie to let me go down and stay with them and she immediately agreed, telling me I could spend as little or as much of my time there as I wanted.

Heading down there tomorrow. Think I'll only spend a couple of days with them as I know Allie has very little time left before they all go back to school and she probably wants them as close as possible but at least I'll get the opportunity to keep an eye on her and make sure she's eating right.


September 4th, 1946

[Letter from Julius Muller to Alison Mannering via Special Branch]

Dear Mrs. Mannering,

Please accept my deepest gratitude to your children for their part in restoring our national treasures to us. The council and I have already thanked the ICPC and the men from your Special Branch in capturing the gang who were intent on stealing our treasures.

The council had offered a reward for the items to be found and returned to us as the valley had been inaccessible due to bomb damage at the pass, but no one had found a way in nor had access to either transport nor a map of where the items had been hidden to protect them. We feel very strongly that the reward should be given to the children, and have arranged with the superiors of Special Branch for that to happen. Please, please accept it. Without the actions of your children we may have lost our heritage to the black market.

Please tell the children the elderly couple have been returned to their home village and have settled back nicely, and that Otto Engler is doing well and should be travelling home from the hospital soon.

I would be honoured for you to return to Austria as my guests, to see the items back in their homes once they are restored.

Once again, thank you to you all.

Yours sincerely,

Julius Muller


September 12th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Polly Sullivan]

Dearest Polly,

The cottage seems rather empty now, perhaps more so because I don't feel I had enough time with the children this summer. Their holiday of a few days with Bill turned into nearly two weeks of being the subject of a search and rescue operation, and even while the place felt fairly empty I had Louise with me for company. They came back and filled the rooms with their usual shouting and laughing (and unfortunate occasional quarrel - Dinah and Philip are getting better though!) and Bill came and stayed with us for a few days too. I think he wanted to spend the time with the children he should have had earlier but also didn't want to take them away as he appreciated the fact it had been extremely hard for me and I didn't really want to let them out of my sight. Now they're back at school and Bill is back at work with irregular letters and 'phone calls from them all I feel rather lonely.

Work is keeping me busy; Fran (bless her) has been hunting for properties in town for me as we're thinking of expanding the business and opening a gallery. There have been a few that we've been shown but they were mostly unsuitable, so we've drafted in the help of an estate agent and they're keeping an eye out for us too. The local council have been making noises about a few projects and they've sent a couple of letters to us outlining some vague ideas. I have some time to think about it but it's quite exciting that we could be working on some advertising etc for them, and hopefully it could lead onto some bigger clients.

I do have some news for you! The treasures that the children stumbled across in the valley in Austria were some of those taken by locals and hidden to prevent the Nazis looting them during the war. A local man, rather high up in what I believe to be the equivalent of the local council had given the old couple guarding the treasures instructions to stay there until they were contacted after the war, but the pass through the mountains had been bombed and blocked, so there was no way of anyone getting in or out. Now the pieces have been flown out and are being catalogued before being taken back where they belong (I think a couple of the churches were destroyed so they're looking for museums or other churches to take them) and I was contacted by Julius Muller, the local man. His council and some of the local government are so indebted to the children for helping the elderly couple protect the items from the gang that they've presented them with yet another reward. I believe Sir Graham may have spoken to him or passed our details on as he specifically told me I was not to refuse it!

It's definitely enough to help boost our healthy coffers. I swear my children are making a career of their adventures but I do wish they weren't so dangerous! Philip recently commented on how much he loves coming home to me during the holidays now I don't have to work away but when we're at home I still seem to be rather tired. That made me stop and think. I'm falling back into my habits of working hard during the term time when I have an assistant (although I will be expanding my staff if we open the gallery) but during the holidays if we stay at home I find myself trying to keep the house clean and cook for them rather than spending as much time with them as I can, and when the children were missing Bill suggested I consider hiring some help - even if I have someone come in once a week to clean. This recent reward has certainly given me pause and I think I'll advertise or contact an agency. I'll trial it for a while, perhaps see how it works out and if I need them to come in more often I can then increase their hours. Part of me wants to get a daily so I don't have to worry about cleaning and whilst I do love cooking for the children there are times when I'd quite like to be looked after myself!

I will come up and see you soon, so you can tell me how Jocelyn's book is going; I know you said it had gone off for editing and he was in talks with publishers. I do hope it encourages him to get out of his office more. Perhaps he just needs a new project that takes him out every so often?

Call me and we'll organise a visit. Take care of yourself.

Your loving sister, Allie


October 3rd, 1946

[Letter from Det. Insp. Cunningham to Alison Mannering]

Dear Allie,

Our office is a few men down at the moment so the rest of us have been having to work to cover their absence; unfortunately it means I'm unlikely to be able to call you regularly. I don't want to lose contact with you so it's back to writing letters for a while!

I hope you're well. I've been receiving letters from the kids and naturally they're full of the experiences they had in Austria - it's funny how easily they can forget the dangers in hindsight. Even Lucy-Ann is wishing for another adventure, although somehow I expect if one presents itself she'll soon change her mind! Sounds like they bounced back pretty quickly after they came home and got back into their usual routines, but I just wanted to make sure you are too. It was a terrifying experience for you, knowing they were missing from the moment it happened, and I know it was a struggle to get through that time. Louise has probably been a little more blunt about the subject but she was as concerned as I was about you.

Did you think any more on some help? You do keep a wonderful home and the kids often tell me how much they love coming back to you in the holidays but it sounds like your business is really starting to take off, and the last thing you'll want after a long day is to come home and have to cook and clean.

Forgive me for being forward but do you ever find yourself lonely when the kids go back to school? When I've had a day at the office filled with meeting people and talking to the guys I go back to my apartment and sometimes appreciate the quiet but other times find myself wanting to be back in the midst of it again. I find myself thinking of you in your cottage and wonder what it's like to be there without the noise of the kids and Kiki.

I had a letter sent to me through the department from Otto Engler; apparently he's back home and getting stronger every day. Julius Muller does stop by to see him occasionally and helped him write the letter as his English isn't too good but he wanted to update the kids and send his thanks. I guess the cataloging of the treasures is taking a while as he mentioned he hadn't heard much from the council but we'll be invited to visit once everything is complete. (Sounds like it may even be a year or so before they get everything back where it belongs - especially if some of the churches have been destroyed in the war.) I've forwarded some copies onto the kids at their schools so they know how he's doing.

I will try and ring if I get a moment later in the week but would love to hear back from you.

Take care,

Bill


October 12th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Dear Bill,

Thank you for the copy of the letter from Otto Engler you sent - it was nice to see the gratitude the man has for the actions of the children. I suppose it's one thing to hear it from them, but for someone to be so appreciative of the help they gave him and how they stood up for him makes me so proud of them. I may not like the adventures they get themselves into but I am seeing such a maturity in their actions and decisions that they would be unlikely to gain from just their schooling, and it really is doing wonders for their self-confidence, especially Lucy-Ann.

I am fine, please don't worry so. You're right, Louise was rather more pointed about my health but I always appreciate your concern. Having the time to panic about them and what they're up to, whether they're safe, if any of them are injured, instead of hearing about their adventures after the fact means I completely lost my appetite and yes, I did lose some weight. Possibly more than I should have done, but after Louise made me go to the doctor I made a concerted effort to eat well again. Even Dinah commented on it before she left for school, and I promised her I'd take care of myself. I'm surprised she didn't write to you and ask you to keep an eye on me!

I've actually got a young lady in at the moment to help me. She's working for me once a week, just to clean and tidy and cook a couple of meals for me, but the rest of the week I do it. I suppose I'm trialling it out to see how it fits in with my routine, whether I can let go of that aspect of the housekeeping and whether it's up to my standards! She seems fine but the real test will be half term when I've got the children home. If she can cope with those four and Kiki, she can definitely stay! (Although I've got two interviews lined up for that week just in case she doesn't...) When you first brought the subject up I did start thinking about it but it was when I wrote to Polly I realised you were completely right and maybe I should start taking some time to myself.

You're not being forward at all, Bill. Quite simply, yes. It's a funny thing, when the children are home (and don't get me wrong, I love having them with me) I quickly find myself wishing for peace. However, when they return to school I quickly find myself missing the stamping of feet running up and down the stairs, the quarrels and laughter, and Kiki's incessant chattering. It's worse in the evenings; like you I have something to keep me busy during the day but when I come back to an empty house I have to turn the radio on so at least I have some background noise. There are only so many hours I can spend reading or sewing, and in the winter the light gets so poor it's difficult to do that so it's more obvious that I'm alone. If only we lived closer, then we could commiserate together! You are always welcome here, even if you just want to get away from London for a short while; treat the spare room as your own. I'd love your company.

I want to go back to the gift shop in the British Museum of Natural History soon as they had some wonderful items I wanted to buy for the children as Christmas presents. I'll let you know when I'm coming to London; perhaps we can meet for lunch or dinner again?

I hope they're not working you too hard, it would be nice to hear from you again soon.

Love Allie


October 19th, 1946

[Letter from Det. Insp. Cunningham to Alison Mannering]

Dear Allie,

You are very welcome, I thought you'd appreciate his words. Your kids never cease to amaze, and you're justified in your pride in them; I'm proud of them and I'm not even related!

Don't tell Dinah I've told you, but she actually did write about you. They're all so fiercely protective of you in their own ways, Allie, and I know she just wanted to make sure that someone would look out for you when she wasn't there. In her own words; 'Mother is so busy looking after everyone else that she sometimes forgets to look after herself.' Every so often you need to stop worrying about everyone and focus on looking after you - I know that Louise, Polly and I can be there to remind you, just as I know Louise and you will remind me if you think I'm working too hard. (I know exactly what it's like to get caught up in work, and although my line is rather different to yours I still find it hard to take a step back sometimes.)

It's good that you've found someone to help around the house - I'm sure you'll let me know how it works out with the kids during half term! Like you said, if she can cope with Kiki she's worth hanging onto!

I have to admit, I do the same. I tend not to spend a lot of time at the flat so I don't really have anywhere I consider 'home' as such - my parents' place is pretty remote and the flat is really only somewhere I lay my head. I travel so much it's second nature to wake up somewhere different nearly every day, and the times I'm based in London for any length I work late for lack of anything else to do. When I am back there, like you, I have to have the radio on just to have some semblance of human contact. Your offer is kind and much appreciated, I will take you up on that soon. Your company always brightens my day.

Please do let me know when you're thinking of coming up to town. Hopefully I'll be around and can take a few hours if not the whole day to spend time with you.

Enjoy the upcoming half term - hope the kids don't get too wild and noisy!

Love Bill


November 7th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Dear Bill,

Half-term was definitely an experience! Unfortunately the lady I had coming in to help didn't quite know how to handle the children, and I do believe Philip deliberately let some of his current 'pets' (two rather large beetles with unusual markings) wander around the house. Naturally this caused all sorts of upset between him and Dinah as well as the help. She left rather promptly and I was rather glad I had some interviews early on to replace her. One, an older lady, barely got in the door before Kiki started and she immediately walked back out, and the children played up as much as they could for the second. I had to have some serious words with them and they tried to behave for the third, but she seemed like she could handle anything they would have thrown at her. She put Kiki in her place straight away, and when one of Philip's beetles made an appearance she told him in no uncertain terms to make sure they didn't come near her whilst she worked otherwise she'd brush it right out the house. She's called Hilda and is a little older than me. She said she would come in twice a week for a while, and we'd see how it went as to whether or not I felt the need to increase it to daily or otherwise. She's very efficient and a pleasant enough lady - she made me tea and some cake and we talked whilst she busied herself in the kitchen, but she also seems to know when I need to focus on something else and will just work quietly around me.

If you are taking me up on that offer, just let me know when you'd like to stay, and if you arrive when I'm at work then I'll just leave a key for you under the plant pot. I know that locked doors don't generally stop you but I suspect a key would be much less time-consuming! Your company brightens my day too, so please do consider the offer a standing one.

I did wonder if Dinah had contacted you, she seemed to hint at it in her letters. I don't mind at all, I know that she means well and was concerned, and I really do appreciate the fact she feels she can go to you about something if she can't talk to me. And I also appreciate that you would take time to act on it - you and Louise are perhaps my closest friends and I'm grateful I can turn to you when I need something.

I'll be travelling up on the 21st as I want to avoid the weekend rush. I'll just be there for the day - if we even only manage to have a cup of coffee together that would be wonderful.

Take care,

Love Allie


November 21st, 1946

[Personal journal entry - Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Saw Allie briefly today. Knew she was coming up but couldn't get the whole day away so had to settle for meeting her for an extended lunch. Stopped off at a little out-of-the-way cafe not far from the British Museum of Natural History, as she'd taken the kids there earlier in the year and saw some ideal gifts for them. Asked her why she didn't just order from their catalogue, and although she claimed not to have thought of that something her eyes told me it wasn't just the museum that brought her to town. I'm not complaining if it means I get to spend time with her.

Time was short but we still managed to have some deeper conversations than we've had before. Touched briefly on relationships (neither of us have been in one for a long time - her last one was her husband and mine was a failed engagement almost ten years ago) and talked about how important it was to have a connection with someone. She asked me again about staying over Christmas and I've been keeping an eye on the workload but there's rumblings of a big international case heading in our direction. They'll want to send some of their best men out to cooperate with the ICPC and other international agencies, and I'm not blowing my own horn but I know I'm most likely going to be one of them. I was up front about it and Allie seemed very disappointed but understood. Took the chance to reassure her by squeezing her hand across the table, then 'forgot' to remove it. Spent the rest of lunch with fingers entwined, and she had this lovely pink blush to her cheeks.

She asked me about Louise and Temple - I'd actually had lunch with him a few days ago after we bumped into one another in the Yard, and Louise has been staying with some old relatives in Cape Town for a while so hasn't been in much contact with Allie.

All too soon I had to head back to the office, and Allie was going to see if she could pop over to that art shop in Bloomsbury again before she drove home. Said goodbye to her in the little back street by the cafe, and instead of the usual kiss on the cheek she hugged me. Held on to her for a little longer than strictly necessary but then she certainly wasn't pulling away and when we finally stepped back she had a shy smile on her face. Hailed a taxi and watched her walking to the museum as we pulled away. The events of the summer have brought us a little closer and the kids have started opening up more to me in their letters. Seems like I'm becoming part of the family to them. But I'm finding it's not the kids I want to look at me as more than just a friend.


December 15th, 1946

[Card from Louise Temple to Alison Mannering]

Dearest Allie,

I hope this finds you well. I've been out in Cape Town for a while now, staying with my elderly aunt. She's not been well and there's no one else to look after her; I felt like I really ought to do what I could for her as I stayed with her for a while when Gerald and I lived here. She's looking a little better and I'm hoping to come back to England for Christmas as I'm missing Paul terribly and the 'phone lines are rather awful here so I only get to speak to him once a week or so.

I hope you're all settled again after the summer. Paul said he bumped into Bill a few weeks ago and that they'd had lunch where he mentioned you'd be going up to London and he hoped to meet you. Did you manage to spend some time with him? If only you lived closer, it would be easier for you to see each other!

I'm sorry this is rather short but there's not much to do here; we're a little way out from the main city and hence why communication is so bad. I've sent this early in the hope it will reach you before Christmas - if I'm not back I've included your present and little somethings for the children.

Can't wait to get home and catch up with you properly!

Love Louise


December 20th, 1946

[Card from Det. Insp. Cunningham to Alison Mannering]

Dear Allie & kids,

A Merry Christmas to you all! Kids, don't eat your mother out of house and home. Allie, don't overwork yourself, make them help you! And don't fall into any adventures whilst I'm not there - you've had enough for this year thank you very much!

Looking like I'm not going to be able to make it this year as we've caught a case, and I don't think I can even spare a day. Tucked somewhere in this parcel is a present for each of you, but you have to promise you won't open them until Christmas Day.

Love to you all and I will see you soon,

Bill

(Allie - will take you up on that standing offer soon. Take care of yourself.)


December 28th, 1946

[Letter from Alison Mannering to Det. Insp. Cunningham]

Dear Bill,

I'm sorry I didn't get this to you sooner but by the time we knew you weren't going to make it to ours the cut-off time for Christmas post had come and gone! Please find your presents from us in this box, we hope you like them.

Christmas Day was surprisingly calm; naturally they were excited about their presents and enjoyed the lunch I made (with help from the girls who took heed of your card!) but we played games and spent some time reading and doing our own things without very little shouting or quarrelling which made for an extremely enjoyable day. I've included their 'thank you' cards for their presents but I want to thank you myself, especially for the beautiful brooch you bought me. It's absolutely gorgeous and I've been wearing it every day - you really shouldn't have!

Philip hasn't had anything adopt him yet (I'm still waiting, you never know what and when with him) but we had a funny thing happen on Boxing Day. I popped out to the shed to fetch some coal for the fire, and as I was filling the box I heard a little noise in the corner. Tucked away behind some hessian sacks was this tiny cat, who'd obviously snuck into the shed to escape the cold as it's been snowing for the last few days. She looks like a kitten but I took her to one of the villagers yesterday who's worked as a vet in the past and he said she's probably four or five years old and gave her a clean bill of health. She's a little malnourished and although I've started making enquiries no one really knows anything about her. She's mostly white with two little black paws which look rather funny and Lucy-Ann immediately called her Socks because they do look like she's got a pair of socks on (although Dinah thought it looked like she'd been standing in the coal). We took her in and have been feeding her, although Kiki is very suspicious of her. She keeps meowing to her and then trying to scare her but Socks just meows back and then ignores her, which irritates her to no end!

She's a lovely creature, who gravitated towards Philip quite quickly, but surprisingly she prefers to stay close to me. Whether that's because I was the one to find her and feed her, I don't know, but it's nice to think that I may be attractive to animals over Philip with his almost magical ability! We've made her a little cardboard bed with a blanket in by the fire but she keeps sneaking upstairs into my room and I'll wake up to find her curled at the bottom of the bed. I'll make further enquiries in the week and hopefully we'll find her owner. There is the possibility she may be a stray and I'm not sure what to do. The children are getting rather attached to her, and on one hand I don't want them to be disappointed if we have to give her back to her owners but on the other I don't know if our household is the best to keep a cat - when the children are back at school I'm away all day. Pets can be a bit of a tie, and even Kiki proves a little difficult sometimes when I'm trying to find places to stay or visit. What do you think I should do?

I hope your Christmas hasn't been too busy on the work side and you've had time to relax. I also hope you haven't been alone too much - this is the time of year that you should be with friends if not family. If you get a chance, please do call even if it's only for a few minutes, as the children would love to hear from you. I would, too.

Happy New Year, Bill.

All our love, Allie and the children (and Kiki and Socks)