PARKER

Right, I gotta make this quick. If these blokes find out I ain't wot they fink I am, all is lost. Wot I meantersay is, John might be lost, never mind me.

We made it look good... me and milady...even the pug got inter the action and started makin' a racket at me...I 'ope I can get 'is trust back agen later, after all this is over and done wiv. It took me ages ter get that mutt to trust me in the first place. And like, well 'e might be only a mutt...and a titchy one at that, but 'e makes a good partner in a tight spot.

Anyhows, I met up wiv' a few blokes, and somehow this bunch from Iceland seemed more likely. Y'see, I made it clear that I was done wiv International Rescue, coz they aint paid me in seven years...actually, it's Lord Hugh Creighton-Ward wot pays me. A'tween you and me, I.R pays me in other ways. Just like this group I found.

I got 'em all talkin one night...they was arrangin' a job of some kind...they wouldn't tell me, but I played it all up about how much I was bein' taken fer a ride by 'er ladyship and IR, an' 'ow they needed to be taught a lesson. One of 'em blurted out that I wasn't the first one to say that, and that steps were already bein' taken to take I.R down a peg or two.

I was a bit taken aback, like. I arst 'em who else was fed up with I.R? They all refused to say the bloke's name, just that it was some dotty inventor who keeps getting' 'imself into trouble. They said this feller was annoyed coz I.R kept destroying his inventions.

Give you two guesses? I still can't get any proof though. These blokes are good at wot they do, and they don't keep any written records. Word of mouth only...or so they say. I fink there must be summat they do to keep tabs on people. If they...well, y'see they are into blackmail. Anyone who wants their services pays no money at all. They just 'ave to swear to owe a favour to the group, to be repaid at any time in the future. They won't say yet wot kind of fings that might be, but it makes me shiver. These blokes 'ave got John alright.

I ain't seen John yet, coz I'm still a newbie to the group. I gotta prove myself first before they will trust me proper. I don't know what they'll ask, but I warned milady right at the start that it'll likely 'appen. She will have warned the Tracys, and Colonel Casey.

I have found out one fing though. John ain't doing too well. Apparently about twelve says ago, they brought some doctor over from Scotland to see to "their guest". I know John got shot back at the 'otel so at the best 'e'll 'ave an 'ole in his shoulder. At worst it could be infected. If that 'appens, gawd 'elp im.

I 'ope I can get to 'im in time.