Secret dossiers
Wizard Peter Blackwell worked for the Pentagram until just before Subversive begins. Here’s one of the classified documents his former employer has on him.
![Image shows a silhouette of Peter Blackwell at the top beside his stylized name, little sparkles of magic extending from his right hand. Beneath that, a piece of paper clipped to a manilla envelope has these elements: A red "classified" stamp, a coffee stain and this text with information redacted with a black pen. "Name: Peter Blackwell. Prior position: Magicist, R&D. Rating: (wizard/typic)," with wizard circled. "Current status, 8/31/20: After working on [information redacted] from [information redacted] to 2020, Blackwell resigned without warning. Two co-workers report evidence of stress. Check of banking accounts turned up no signs of unusual deposits. Gen. [information redacted] says his departure will delay [information redacted], possibly indefinitely. Action items: Monitor for contact with known subversives."](https://colleencowley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Peter-Blackwell-dossier-1.png)
The Pentagram keeps dossiers on the activists of the Women’s League for the Prohibition of Magic, too. What they thought of Beatrix Harper changed a good deal the year Subversive begins:
![Image shows a silhouette of Beatrix Harper at the top beside her stylized name, little sparkles of magic extending both directions from her partially hidden hand. Beneath that, a piece of paper clipped to a manilla envelope has these elements: A red "classified" stamp, a grease stain and this text with information redacted with a black pen. "Potential-Subversive Report. Date: 2/5/20. Name: Beatrix Harper. Alias: None. Affiliation: Women's League for the Prohibition of Magic. Summary: Sister of Lydia Harper (WLPM Maryland president, likely nat'l president candidate. Supports LH's efforts. Otherwise harmless." In handwriting below that: "Update 9/7/20: Now employed by Wizard Peter Blackwell, formerly Pentagram R&D, reportedly as assistant. Told [redacted] she did not want to work for Blackwell; unclear if true. Could be attempting to subvert him. Monitor more closely. Potentially dangerous." (Last phrase underlined.)](https://colleencowley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Beatrix-Harper-dossier.png)
And there’s quite a bit of plot in the phrases the Pentagram blacked out in the dossier on Ella Knight, Beatrix’s best friend:
![Image shows a silhouette of Ella Knight at the top beside her stylized name, sparkles of magic swirling around her. Beneath that, a piece of paper clipped to a manilla envelope has these elements: A red "classified" stamp, an ink smudge and this text with information redacted with a black pen. "Potential-Subversive Report. Date: 9/6/19. Name: Ella Knight. Alias: [redacted]. Affiliation: Women's League for the Prohibition of Magic. Summary: Low-level volunteer for WLPM chapter in Maryland. Recently moved to Ellicott Mills from Baltimore. Be aware that Knight [redacted] a [redacted] but monitor for signs of intensifying subversion. Status: Currently not a threat. Potential for that to change."](https://colleencowley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Ella-dossier.png)
(Wondering about the 21st century dates on documents that look straight out of the decades-ago past? Here’s the reason.)
