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From [email protected]
Tue, 7 Dec 1999 20:23:36 -0800 (PST)
*Confidential Memorandum*
Subj: Preliminary interviews
Date: Tuesday, 7.12.1999, 20:23:37 GMT
From: [email protected]
Sir:
This is an informal, preliminary recitation of my first impressions of persons immediately involved in the tragedy. Therefore, please, I ask that you keep this in mind at all times. My formal statement will be contained within the final report concerning the sealing of the portal, the destruction of the San Francisco Legacy House, and the death of its precept, Dr. Derek Rayne.
Since massive amounts of forensic evidence remain to be painstakingly analysed, the closure of the case is many months away. You will, of course, receive a full, amended copy prior to its submission to the Legacy's Ruling Precept and Council and to my own Lord Abbot. I shall keep you and the rest of the Circle abreast of any significant discoveries.
Afterwards, as you will have seen by my memo of the 4th to the entire Ruling Council, I intend to resign as C.I. and step back for a while. I shall not vacate my seat at the Table, but shall seek to diminish my activities in the Legacy. A Chief Investigator needs to be detached. Unfortunately, this case has stripped me of that ability. I should resign now, but I owe it to Derek Rayne to complete the task. He finished his job - surely I can finish mine.
Re: FR. PHILIP CALLAGHAN
He was in seclusion and would not see me, but I did speak with his superior. The Monsignor says that Fr. Callaghan is in great turmoil. Dr. Rayne's death hit him very hard. He is having both a crisis of vocation and of faith. The Monsignor feels that he is being affected more than is seemly for a priest, but will permit him leeway for the moment, and is urging him to attend the service.It is my suspicion, however, that it is not Derek's death that has struck him so hard, but whatever was in Derek's final letter. If it was anything like mine, then I can understand the impact, as I am certain you can as well.
The Monsignor said that if Fr. Callaghan remains in Holy Orders, he has expressed a desire to leave parish work in favour of more active duties involving "front line" relief work. I believe he said that East Timor was mentioned as well as Uganda, Ethiopia, or Zimbabwe, areas that have been hard hit by famine or the AIDS crisis. His superiors do not support this. They are loath to lose a parish priest, when parish priests are in such short supply, and they hate to see someone so talented in modern and ancient languages become unavailable.
In my opinion, Dr. Rayne would wish the Legacy to put its full weight and influence into seeing that Philip Callaghan defeats his inner demons - and if his way lies toward E. Timor or some other outpost of hell on earth, then I believe that we should do it - at least, for a while. It will not inconvenience us. Therefore, what harm can it do to assist a former comrade-in-arms? Perhaps our Vatican associate can assist.
Re: KATHERINE CORRIGAN
I was unable to meet with the child privately, and did not wish to alert anyone, especially her mother, of our interest in Katherine. We should follow Dr. Rayne's suggestions here. Have you discovered what Derek's precautions are? Were the arrangements made through us? If not, do they apply to us as well as to the Legacy as a whole?With Katherine, I sense all the confusion and emotions of a typical pubescent girl. However, there is a part of her that is as closed as ever Derek was. There is much power lying dormant and suppressed. We must lie back and wait, but find a way to cultivate this prize rose as well. I sense that the Legacy's approach will not be unwelcome at some point in the future, but the timing must be right. She is very attached to Mr. Boyle and Miss Moreau. I suspect less so with Dr. Rayne, but I cannot be certain. While in my presence she expressed a desire to remain in their home and even said that if they went into hiding that the press, whom she seems to detest, might use it to further defame Dr. Rayne. I find this quite interesting coming from a child of her age. Both her mother and Miss Moreau had been leaning toward accepting the Legacy's offer of a safe house until that moment. She is also quite concerned about Fr. Callaghan.
To be blunt - I see in this child a future warrior - another Jane Witherspoon or, God willing, another Derek Rayne.
Re: DAVID ROYCE
Follow Derek's suggestion. He is to be cultivated. He is open and willing, but nobody's fool. His background shows a dedication to law enforcement that cost him his marriage. His files show considerable knowledge in forensics, psychology, etc. He regularly attends refresher courses and conferences hosted by the FBI and Interpol. He should be approached as soon as the dust settles. I agree with Derek - he could be an invaluable ally for Nick Boyle in his new role - very much a steadying influence.Re: RACHEL CORRIGAN
Allow her to distance herself from the Legacy if she wishes. Consultation work will keep her close enough for our purpose - which is to groom her daughter - and, if we recruit Royce, she may come as a part of the package. To tell the truth, I was never sold on her usefulness to the Legacy. Skeptics are good as long as they are not blinded by their own fears and psychological hangups. Their skepticism and "prove it to me" attitude must be unbiased to be of value.She has seen more than enough to unequivocally accept the existence of evil. Yet she waffles as the mood strikes her. Even concerning Derek's death - one moment she is confident that he was chosen to save the world and knew it. The next moment she is speaking of his almost suicidal depression.
The daughter is the rock. The mother is like the feather, blown in the wind.
Re: DR. FRANCES CARLTON
This young woman came to my attention via Mr. Boyle. She is a pathologist / forensics specialist for the SFPD. She knows her stuff. I had to see to it that she progressed no further in her analysis of the samples she took from the portal chamber on Thanksgiving Day.However, I would like to add her to a list of potential Legacy recruits. Judging from her e-mail she evidently admired Derek, even though she knew little of what was really going on. We can always use good, hardheaded expertise. Besides, she works well with Mr. Boyle. I could see recruitment of a different sort take place. That could work very well for us.
Re: ALEXANDRA MOREAU
Of everyone involved, she is the most vulnerable. Prior to Derek, she had recently lost her grandmother and her friend and former House member, Kristin Adams, to whom we also owe a debt of gratitude. I honestly doubt that she was totally recovered from the death of her best friend, Julia Walker, during the 5th Sepulchre affair - not even 4 yrs ago.I believe that she was in love with Derek. But I knew Derek well enough to know that he would never have taken advantage of the situation. My guess is that he ignored it, if he noticed at all.
I intend to recommend to the Ruling Council that they follow Derek's suggestion of the offer of a preceptorship, but only after she chooses to pursue her PhD with "our" colleague in Paris, and the offer should be contingent upon her taking a sabbatical to complete that Ph.D. Both she and we need the time for re-evaluation.
Although Derek believed her ready for the job, I have reservations. She has never made life and death decisions for someone else, nor has she seen much field duty. For some reason Derek preferred to keep her at the Legacy House. She is extremely good at what she does with research and computers, and she was the perfect aide-de-camp for him, but there must have been more to it. Perhaps he did have feelings for her, or perhaps he had reservations about her ability to kill if necessary or make the distasteful decisions that can be forced upon us in the field.
I would not wish to see her step up to a preceptorship without at least a couple of years of very active field work. Perhaps, her career path should continue with computers and research.
Re: NICHOLAS BOYLE
Though he said little when we spoke yesterday, I feel that he is on the verge of coming into his own, which is something I cannot explain. He seems more than willing to step into Derek's shoes, but he is at a crossroads - he will either crash and burn or he will rise to the task and flourish. It will be a matter of days.In considering the following factors: William Sloan spoke highly of him; the Boyle military blood runs deep; and Derek's mentoring and enormous personal influence, I believe that Mr. Boyle will come through just fine. With polish and seasoning, we could be seeing a future member of the Ruling Council, at the very least - or, perhaps, one day he could assume the Rayne seat at our Table. Derek did leave him the Sword as well as his precept's ring. I believe we should make a tentative approach as soon as he settles into his new role.
Re: SR. INGRID RAYNE AND MME. BARBARA RAYNE
I have seen neither, though I assume one of our group has offered our condolences to Mme. Rayne. I'd have given anything to have seen particular faces when they heard of her threat to call upon certain royal acquaintances re: Sunday's service. Who was the ham fisted oaf that stirred up that hornet's nest? Our none too subtle RP? I think we should find a replacement for him as soon as is feasible.When I see them at the service, I shall gently probe to see if Sr. Ingrid intends to assist Miss Corrigan with her talents. Should we approach the sister or Mme. Rayne re: temporary assumption of Derek's seat at our Table? We cannot afford to leave it vacant, nor can we rush to fill it. It has never been occupied by anyone outside that bloodline.
Re: SOMEONE I'D REALLY RATHER NOT DISCUSS
I understand from Mr. Boyle that he had a visit from our Limey friend. This sounds like Derek's reserve plan at work. I wonder if this is the reason behind his choice of climbing companions - and I'm the one who convinced him to do K2. Little did I know who it would be with. Could he be the Corrigan precautions as well? I do wish he had chosen another messenger. Mr. Boyle is enough of a mercenary himself to spot our former colleague for what he is.Re: DEREK RAYNE
The man still amazes me. He is moving his chess pieces and continuing the game from beyond the grave. God bless him. I'll miss him.Pax vobiscum,
Fr. Joseph Thomas, Ordo Crucis Rosae
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