New Year's Vengeance: Seven

"No!" The Disturber blanched, "you can't be here! Not for another twelve hours at least!"

"Because you were sighted in Trafalgar Square? Because you threatened to disrupt New Year's Eve?" The Green Man stepped further into the room, drawing his gun. "You forget, Disturber, I have many agents of vengeance." The masked man chuckled menacingly. "Soon after Ms. Madison left for Mainstone, you arrived at the house. By that time another of my agents was able to forward your picture to me."

Bristow stared, open-mouthed at the Green Man.

"And the line you threw Ms. Madison about my being Michael Rake!" the Green Man's tone was scornful. "You can see now who I am, Disturber!"

"I can," Bristow rose from the sofa, his hand going for a concealed weapon. "And now I know all I need to - men!"

The Green Man easily shot Bristow's gun from his hand.

"And don't think about the men outside." The Green Man laughed. "They will never bother anyone again."

"He's right you know." A red-headed figure familiar to Ms. Madison entered through the door, sitting down as soon as she could."

"Andrea!" Ms. Madison laughed with relief, "how are you?"

"Out of bullets," the red-head cracked.

"So, Monty Bristow," the Green Man laughed, "you thought to draw me into a trap. Instead, you are the one who is trapped. And don't try telling me that I'll never take you alive," the Green Man's voice was grim. "You belong in an asylum."

"And, because it's still the season of goodwill, and your blood would ruin the carpets" The Green Man showed in a couple of burly men in white coats, "you'll be carried out of here alive - not in a coffin." With that, he laid Monty Bristow out with a single blow. The villain was picked up, put in a strait-jacket and carried away, the Green Man watching impassively.

"Well," Lady Sylvia got up, "it's still not midnight. Won't you join us, Green Man?" She moved towards him, smiling.

"Sorry," the Green Man backed towards the door. "I have the Girl in Grey waiting outside. We have to make Peterborough in time for her to catch a train to Scotland. Farewell."

"But I," Rake stepped towards Ms. Madison, "am most definitely staying. Lynette?"

"Mike - darling..." she lifted her face.

New Year's Vengeance: Six

"Mike!" Ms. Madison crossed the room, an expresion of joy on her lovely features. "Boy, am I glad to see you!"

"And I'd glad to hear that, darling," Rake offered her an arm, "even if you are unusually demonstrative all of a sudden."

"I'll tell you why later," Ms. Madison told him, smiling sweetly. "Right now, I'm just happy you're here."

"Lady Sylvia," Rake sighed, "would you mind awfully telling me just exactly what's going on? Apart from Lynette's having a funny spell, that is."

"Oh, Michael!" Lady Sylvia giggled. "Our mystery guest, Mr. Matthew-Henry tells us you're the Green Man. Are you?"

"The Green Man?" Rake frowned. "I thought he was a myth. Lynette, what sort of joke is this?"

"Oh, it's no joke, is it, Lynette?" Bristow laughed mockingly. "Because you know the Green Man is no myth, don't you?"

"If you say so," Ms. Madison smiled innocently, recoving some of her spirits.

"And the idea of my being this sinister character," Michael Rake laughed. "Why, I'm just Lynette's beau - nothing else."

"I told you so!" Lady Sylvia exclaimed.

"But wasn't it convenient, Michael Rake just turning up when he was named as the Green Man?" the Disturber laughed mockingly. "Just in time.... How come?"

"Because it is the way of the Green Man." The French windows opened, and a familiar figure stepped into the room.

New Year's Vengeance: Five

A smile spread slowly over Ms. Madison's face, turning into a laugh which echoed through the mighty halls of Mainstone. She clapped her hands, looking at the Disturber with renewed confidence. He glared back at her.

"You expect me to believe that?" she scoffed. "Mike and the Green Man can't possibly be the same person."

"Can't they?" Bristow shook his head. "Tell me, Ms. Madison, have you ever seen them together?"

"I haven't seen Mike and the Prince of Wales together," Ms. Madison replied spiritedly, "but that doesn't mean they're one and the same person. What's your game, Disturber?"

"What is the game of the Disturber?" Bristow laughed. "I create chaos out of order. My motto is 'Out of One, Many.' But while you ponder this, while you wonder whether Mr. Rake is playing a little game with you, my blonde angel of death, I shall make hay."

"You can try," Ms. Madison shook her head, "but it won't work. I know your game, Bristow."

"All of it?" Bristow shook his head. "I sincerely doubt that. After all, you can't possibly have seen the men who surround this house. No-one will pass until my purpose is accomplished - the unmasking of the Green Man."

"You fiend!" Lady Sylvia spat, rounding on him, "and to think I welcomed you into this house!"

"Given that your beauty is matched only by your stupidity, Lady Sylvia," Bristow chuckled, "I should not worry too much."

"That's just not on!" a new voice broke in on the gathering. Looking up, Ms. Madison saw a familiar figure.

"Mike - Mr. Rake!" She shot to her feet.

"Lynette, darling," Rake drawled urbanely. "Do I intrude?"

New Year's Vengeance: Four

Ms. Madison could only look at the urbane figure of the Disturber, her mouth dry, head spinning. It seemed too incredible to believe - Monty Bristow knowing the identity of the Green Man! Why, she didn't know that!

"You..." she tried to speak, only to have the words die in her mouth.

"I do," Bistow chuckled. "Does that surprise you, Lynette Madison?"

"Yes," the blonde nodded, trembling slightly.

"Why this is thrilling!" Lady Sylvia laughed excitedly, clapping her hands. "The identity of the Green Man. And I always thought the police made him up to explain crimes they couldn't solve!"

Ms. Madison wished she could silence the bubbly brunette, as the Disturber smiled mockingly across the room.

"And don't pretend you don't know," the Disturber laughed. "Unless you're even dumber than I thought. After all, you are waiting for him, aren't you?"

"You mean to tell us that the Green Man my brother?" Lady Sylvia's eyes widened.

"No." The Disturber rose to his feet. "The Green Man is Michael Rake."

New Year's Vengeance: Three

There was silence for about a minute, as Ms. Madison and the Disturber regarded each other. Ms. Madison regarded the super-villian with suspicion, while he only smiled urbanely back.

"Why, Ms. Madison," he chuckled, "this is a surprise. Or may I call you Lynette?"

"You may not!" the blonde bristled. "What are you doing here?"

"Seeing in the New Year, like everyone else," the Disturber replied. "I assume you're doing the same thing."

"Oh! Lynette!" Lady Sylvia laughed, "so you know our mystery guest!"

"You could say that." Ms. Madison scowled, her lovely features darkening.

"Cheer up, Lynette," the Disturber's tone was mocking. "I'm sure you'll come to accept me in time. After all, we have so much in common, you and I."

"We'll see..." Ms. Madison smiled mysteriously.

"Great!" Lady Sylvia smiled hopefully. "Shall we play some getting-to-know-you games?" There was a note of cute enthusiasm in the brunette's voice, as she clapped her hands.

"Why not?" the Disturber laughed urbanely, and Ms. Madison felt sure something was wrong. She didn't have him figured for that type. But then, he was a mad supervillain.

"What we'll do," Lady Sylvia started handing out pens and bits of paper, "is write down one fascinating fact and one embarrassing moment. They'll be put in a hat and jumbled about. Then I'll pick them out one at a time. I'll read the thing out, then give three people who it might be true of. You'll vote, and the person who gets the most right wins - won't that be fun?" The young aristocrat positively bubbled with excitement.

They did as instructed, laughing happily. Ms. Madison chuckled, scribbling eagerly on her scrap of paper. She laughed as she wrote down her embarrassing moment. Soon the pieces of paper were all in the hat, and Lady Sylvia took charge, smiling as she reached into the hat.

"Who once got lost on their way home?" the brunette asked, laughing. "Despite having lived there for three years?"

"You did!" one of the young men cried.

"I have to give you a choice!" Lady Sylvia shouted, waving her arms. "I have to give you a choice!"

"Sorry, Sylv." The young man laughed heartily, "I guess I spoiled it."

"Nope," Lady Sylvia chuckled, "I'll just move on to the next one. Now, is this Lynette, Joan or me? 'I once walked down to the Savoy ballroom in my undies.'"

Lady Sylvia got the most votes, but it was Ms. Madison whose embarrassing moment it was. In fact, she'd had to pretend she was the Green Man in order to help him escape, and that had been the only way to re-appear as herself.

"Next," Lady Slvia laughed, getting into the swing of things. Is this...." Her voice trailed off. "Wow!" She gasped. "Is this Joan, Toby or Mr. Matthew-Henry: 'I know the true identity of the Green Man'!"

The look on Bristow's face said it all.

New Year's Vengeance: Two

Ms. Madison reached Mainstone Hall just after four o'clock. In the gathering dusk, she could see the great gothic bulk of the mansion. It would have been nice to reflect on the many ancestors of Lord Ambrose Vaughan who had built up the estate. However, that would have been false. Lord Ambrose was a younger son who had inherited a great deal of money from a favourite aunt. He had bought Mainstone when it was derelict and facing demolition. His aunt's old home, and Lord Ambrose's occasional seat, was located in the Home Counties, closer to the London Clubland that was Lord Ambrose's natural habitat.

Not that Ms. Madison was complaining, for Lord Ambrose was a good 'sport.' As she stepped out of the car, the gravel crunching under her shoe, she looked at the brightly lit window that indicated the entrance hall of the mansion. Approaching the door, she rang the bell.

The door was opened by a lovely, friendly looking brunette in a yellow gown and fur coat.

"Hullo," the girl smiled, "I'm so glad you could come, Lynette. Ambrose is sorry he can't be here too, but a friend of his is holding a party in London before he goes off on a round-the-world cruise. Stil," she extended a soft, perfumed hand, "it'll be wonderful having you over."

"Thanks, Lady Sylvia," the blonde took the proferred hand. "I'm just glad to be here. When do the other guests arrive?"

"Apart from your Mr. Rake," Lady Sylvia laughed, "they're all here. Come into the Drawing Room, I'll introduce you."

The drawing room was a palatial structure, rising through two floors, with galleries. Well-dressed young men and women lounged on sofas and armchairs. The air was filled with the buzz of conversation, drinks standing on the side, liveried waiters stood by with refills.

"Wonderfully decadent," Lady Sylvia laughed. "This," she addressed the assembled company, "is Lynette Madison, a very good friend of my brother and I."

"Well," one of the young ladies laughed, "any friend of yours is a friend of mine, Sylv." She spoke with a very slight Scots burr.

"That's Mary Laing," Lady Sylvia informed the blonde, "her father has a huge palace in Scotland, as well as a nice pad in London. Her brother's with Ambrose at this good-bye party."

"Hullo, Lynette," Mary, a regal-looking brunette, gave Ms. Madison a little wave.

"Hiya, Mary," Ms. Madison smiled at the pretty Scottish girl.

"And, Lynette, this most interesting gentleman is Mr. Robert Matthew-Henry." Lady Sylvia indicated a man in his late thirties, lounging in a particularly shapeless armchair.

Ms. Madison tried very hard not to start when she laid eyes on the man in the armchair. As secretary to the Green Man, she knew most of the serious villains in the world by sight. And while she did not recognise the London gangster the Green Man had referred to, she did recognise this man. Under the long, elegantly curling hair and the moustache was the face of Monty Bristow - alias The Disturber!

New Year's Vengeance: One

The dawn of a new day broke over a London which was packed, bustling with tourists and bargain hunters. But in the Savoy Hotel, all was as calm and civilised as ever. From her third-floor window, looking out over the Thames, Ms. Madison could see the city swarming around her.She smiled, glad that she was able to be in London for the New Year. Still in her night things, Ms. Madison rose from her bed and walked over to the window, opening it so that she could hear the roar of traffic. It was nice to know that she was still in London, and that London was still there. She reached for the 'phone, considering that she should perhaps call Michael Rake, her long-suffering boyfriend. The last time they'd had a date, they had parted after exchanging harsh words. She hoped he would be in.

Still, she reflected, if she did call him, it would indicate that she cared for Rake more than she cared to admit. And that would put her at a disadvantage next time they met.

She was still weighing up the options when the 'phone rang. The blonde snatched up the reciever, adopting a pose of langour.

"Hi-ya..." the blonde sighed, voice low and husky.

"Ms. Madison," the Green Man's voice was urgent. "you are going to Mainstone Hall, Suffolk. You will leave Liverpool Street Station at two."

"But I was waiting for Mike - Mr. Rake!" she protested.

"Wait no more, Ms. Madison," the Green Man went on. "Rake will arrive at Mainstone Hall tomorrow, if you so wish."

"Thank you," Ms. Madison sighed. "I guess it's another houseparty. What is it this time? I can't imagine Lord Ambrose Vaughan's a villain."

"Nor I," the Green Man nodded. "But Lord Ambrose has been called away. The matter concerns one of his guests, Mr. Robert Matthew-Henry. I have my suspicions about him. I think he once went by another name. Charles Peake."

"The London gangster who drowned two years ago?" Ms. Madison gasped. "I'll be there!"

She picked up her suitcase from left luggage at the station, her usual practice, and boarded a train to Ipswich, where she was met by a Rolls-Royce bearing Lord Ambrose's coat of arms.