by Peter Corris
One of Jerry Gallagher's stories, entitled The Orphans', was published in Writing Now (1), 1987. Jamie Martin was appointed to a lectureship in social history at the University of Devonshire. They spend weekends together in Exeter and London along with a portable word processor—Jerry is writing a novel and Jamie is preparing his thesis for publication.
In May 1987, Benjamin Cromwell was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for issuing a false company prospectus, misuse of Her Majesty's mails and conspiracy to commit fraud. In the same month, Montague Cromwell was declared bankrupt in his absence, having failed to respond to legal summonses. The court was informed that he appeared to have left the country and the machinery was put in motion to dispose of his assets in the favour of his creditors.
Lou Faraday's edition of his uncle's novel was submitted to the University of South Arkansas Press in June 1987. His script The Gullivers went through five drafts under the supervision of Dahlia Raymond, who announced in August 1987 that the project was 'on hold'. Rachel Hattie Brown became Ms Raymond's personal assistant and live-in companion, with special responsibility for New York office liaison.
In December 1987 'Harwich Seascape' was stolen from a safe in the office of Dahlia Raymond, head of Albion Pictures, located in Glendale, Los Angeles, California. After an extensive investigation, the police were unable to bring any charges. In January 1988, a man who had been identified by 'a reliable source' to the London Daily Mail's correspondent in Mexico City as Montague Ireton Cromwell, gave the journalist an interview. The man, who was heavily bearded, wore dark glasses and appeared to be affluent, refused to confirm or deny that he was Montague Cromwell. On the theft of 'Harwich Seascape' he commented: "I know, from my long experience with the art world, that these things are done. Almost certainly, that beautiful painting now hangs in some Texas billionaire's mansion and he goes to look at it after swimming in his pool and drinking martinis. It's absolutely deplorable."
*"No. Stay here. Well go into the bush."
*"Now, a long time ago, when I was just a baby, I was on a ship. Now, afterwards, I left the ship in a shopping basket."