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Dedicated to (deceased) 0.795, Chief Superintendent J. W. 'Jack' White
Police Officer, Historian and Friend
January 1, 1931 to February 22, 2011

Jack now knows the secret answer to a tremendous Canadian mystery

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A Mystery Series

Part I

A Long Awaited Parcel Arrives

Prelude

This is a mystery...a true story about Canadian history. I will only suggest that readers prepare themselves by having a glass of cold water nearby. I would leave it to the reader to forewarn others before revealing the surprising nature of the words here below.

The origins of the Mystery go back many, many decades. And, the mystery taps all of Canada; from the far, frozen north to the sunny deep south, from Canada's beautiful east coast to its impressive west coast. Parts of the mystery had such an impact on Canada's history that it forever changed the RCMP and the course of Canadian policing.

The Magnificent, Monumental, Memorable Canadian Mystery is a story yet to be fully revealed -- I can't reveal it! Imagine! A mystery so deep and bizzare that one would not be believed if the full story should be told!

The solution to the Mystery was a tightly controlled, highly secretive operation. Only a very small, specially selected number of caring Canadians worked on the mystery. It may seem truly strange, but no one person in the small group knows the identity of anyone else in the group. I am deeply appreciative to them all. They have become my friends. Thank you. Each person's true identity will eventually be revealed.

For the present, each dedicated person in the working group will now be identified by their Code Name: first, is 'The Regent', second is 'The Administrator', thirdly 'The Don', fourth is 'The Zipper', next 'The Paper Boys', and finally 'The Carpenter'. I acted in the role of 'Magnificent, Monumental, Memorable Mystery Co-ordinator for Canada.'

The solution to the old mystery began to unravel in the very early days of 2010 but finishing touches and additional research on the mystery are ongoing.

There will come a day, perhaps very, very soon that Buffalo Joe may have to inform the Commissioner! The Mystery is one which will make Canadian detectives squirm, shake and shutter!

Upon learning of this mystery, seasoned police officers will say: 'To hell with the overtime budget. Call in all the troops. Cancel days off! We must unearth whatever remains!'

For today, the details of the mystery must be kept secret. No one can know! For if one knew, he or she would faint!

One day, long, long ago it all began this way...

Hello, hello?

Why, yes, this is the Funeral Home. But, we are deeply sad to inform you that your grandfather's remains have gone missing! Now, please, please be calm.

Yes, everything is under control. We want to assure you that everything is under control here at the Funeral Home. It's just that...er...that... er...that we can't find your grandfather's remains.

Yes, yes, I perfectly understand how you must feel. Please don't raise your voice. I hear tension in your voice. I can assure you that we just need a few more weeks. I'm quite certain that your grandfather is here somewhere?

Yes, I'll call you soon...I promise...(if only I could only find him...)

Years and years and years pass by...

Why yes, I'm still here on the phone...waiting...

The Mystery will unravel as more information comes in...

A Mystery Series

Part I

‘A Long Awaited Parcel Arrives’

Three rapid, sudden, sharp knocks made me sprint from the den to the front door. I was expecting a parcel from Air Canada. Over the years, the speed of my sprints inside our home has astonished my wife – in fact, she had been able to calculate my speed whenever lemon pie was mentioned. I have set records.

As I opened the door, I was surprised. The mail carrier was walking away in spite of my immediate response to his knocks. He had hurriedly left the porch. I caught him as he stepped on to the mail truck which was parked on the road. The parcel was very, very special to me and it had been long coming. Over the past year, I had not slept for many nights. My wife will attest. The parcel had traveled a long journey.

“I’m home, I’m home, I’m here”, I shouted. The mail carrier was about to sit at the steering wheel. But, he stopped suddenly. He paused motionlessly as if he had not expected to hear my voice. I guessed he was in a hurry.

I felt a little guilt. But, the mail carrier stepped off the truck and walked again towards our porch. He hadn’t gone far when he approached the first step and stopped. Without any warning, he tossed the parcel to me. I was surprised. Shocked. I was exhilarated and angry at the same time. On the one hand, I was overjoyed as I had been told to expect an out of the ordinary parcel. On the other hand, I was angry about the casual way that the parcel had been tossed to me. I thought that the mail carrier had acted carelessly. My wife had collected some pieces of Waterford crystal - what if the parcel had contained a delicate piece of Irish work?

On this day, I had not intended to play football with the mail carrier. It was a very special day. It was the eve of my tenth anniversary of retirement from the RCMP. I would have forever regretted if I had dropped the parcel. If the parcel was intended for my wife, she would also have been disappointed. Doesn’t everyone enjoy the sparkle of handmade Waterford?

In Ottawa, it was an overcast, dark day. It was January 25, 2011. The porch was covered in snow and I was standing in the narrow doorway in my slippers. I was taken off guard as the mail carrier approached. I was not expecting a low level mail missile to be tossed. Snow prevented me from stepping on to the porch. I would have worn winter boots and stood on the porch if I had thought the mail carrier might throw me a pass. I cautiously caught the parcel although the distance between the mail carrier at the bottom step of the porch and the doorway was about twelve feet.

My wife and I celebrate family anniversaries. In fact, she enjoys every opportunity to surprise me. She had mentioned celebrating my tenth retirement anniversary. We thought perhaps dinner at our favourite neighbourhood restaurant? In the past, my wife has also ordered gifts from the catalogue. Land’s End delivers. I thought Rolex. After all, I had a full supply of golf balls and tees.

After my successful catch, I returned to our home’s interior. I looked at our home address and the return address. I recognized the name of the sender. I said a little prayer that the parcel had arrived safely. I was lucky that I had once been an outside receiver. The parcel deserved respect and dignity. I had waited a long, long time to hold this parcel. I wanted to call my wife. I wanted to call the person who had sent the parcel to me. She too would be happy. I could not open the parcel yet. It had to be placed carefully in a safe place. I was overjoyed and filled with awe that I was finally holding the parcel.

The mail carrier did not intentionally mean to offend me. Simply put, he was in a rush. As he drove away, I thought that he would never have guessed the contents of the parcel. But my wife would. It was delicate. It was a secret of a few.

To fully appreciate the importance and the significance of the parcel and its connection to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), I must begin my story with its origins that began exactly eighty years ago.

Finally, my wife and I had sufficient cause to celebrate my anniversary.

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

THIS IS THE END OF PART I

THERE ARE SEVEN PARTS TO THIS MYSTERY SERIES

PART I : MARCH 2011 - 'A Long Awaited Parcel Arrives'

PART II : APRIL 2011 - 'Heroes in My Life'

PART III : MAY 2011 - 'Murder : No Small Matter'

PART IV : JUNE 2011 - 'A Family Matter : A Well Kept Secret'

PART V : JULY 2011 - 0.209, A.N. Eames : 'Of Life and Lore'

PART VI : AUGUST 2011 - 0.209, A.N. Eames : 'Of Loss, Loneliness and Legacy'

PART VII : SEPTEMBER 2011 - 'Preparations Underway for an
Ottawa Memorial Service'

Fort Healy, Canada. Circa 1959

'Maintain Our Memories'

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