The Journal of Jonathon Lindey From the main part of the journal - Page 14
I heard nothing for the next few weeks, and life started to settle down a little. Even the feeling of being followed vanished. Clearly the perpetrators thought that their plot had succeeded - and indeed to a certain extent it had, for although I was still alive, no trace of the materials on which my missing report had been based now remained. One Tuesday morning I received a note from the detective telling me that the police had located the bomb factory and put it out of commission, and that the Fenians were definitely not involved. Investigations were continuing, the note concluded. I wondered what the 'investigations' were, but I was pretty certain that he wouldn't tell me if I asked, so I kept my own council. It was the following Friday that I received a summons to the office of the deputy director. I approached the door a little nervously, I didn't normally associate with such august personages. "Ah! Mr Lindey", he cried as I entered. "Thank you for coming over to this conference about Crystal Falls at such short notice. Please have a seat." He indicated a seat at a table around which several others sat. As I took my seat he rubbed his hands and said "I believe you know the representative of the police department." I nodded - it was Inspector Curtis, the detective who was investigating the explosion. Without pausing he continued, "The gentleman on your left is Mr Mathews, the bureau's manager for the New England region." We shook hands. "Over there is Mr Wainwright of The Treasury." We nodded to one another. "And finally, this is Mr ...ah... Brown of the government." 'Mr Brown' gave me a curt nod. I didn't need to be reader of penny dreadfuls to know that I wasn't going to get any further elucidation about his department or job. I am not at liberty to divulge in detail the discussions that took place at the meeting, but a summary would be in order. It seems that Crystal Falls had come to the notice of a number of other departments, but the town had supporters in high - very high - places. It's supporters were usually able to quash any attempt to investigate. The Treasury were concerned about the flow of a number of exotic metals - including gold and silver - into the area. The Census was, of course concerned about the anomalous figures and the speed with which anyone drawing attention to them met with accidents. The police were also concerned about the 'accidents' and the casual use of explosives. Mr Brown's department was concerned at a number of inexplicable incidents in the surrounding area. The main problem, though was summed up by Mr Mathews. "We will have to move very carefully indeed to deal with matter." he said. "If (he named a very high ranking member of the government) gets to hear of this we will all be immediately out of a job. Furthermore, I know the area. Little has changed in several hundred years. If word gets out that we are investigating 'supernatural' events then it is likely we will have another Salem on our hands. "I am sure there is a natural explanation of all of the problems.", he added, "But fundamentalist Christianity runs deep in the rural back country." The discussion went on for a long time but eventually it was agreed that I should be granted a sabbatical. I would use it to tour New England, including Crystal Falls, ostensibly as a merchant looking for somewhere to settle after being involved in an accident. My limp would be an advantage for the first time! There was a grim mood as the meeting broke up, Mr Brown having pointed out that if anything happened to me the investigation would have to be put on ice until further evidence turned up. There could be no rescue! |
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