# Michael Pretherston — Kate Plus 10 character guide > Michael Pretherston in Kate Plus 10 by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Inspector Pretherston, Inspector Michael Pretherston, Mike, the soothing Michael, the new Michael, Poor Michael **First appearance:** 0000-i-eighty-three-pearls-on-a-string ## Snapshot A Scotland Yard inspector with a private income and a dangerous fondness for the criminal classes, Michael Pretherston investigates a theft that keeps circling back to a woman he once knew too well. ## Who they are Michael moves through drawing rooms and police files with equal ease, his elaborate Baker Street flat and inherited money marking him as no ordinary inspector. He first met Kate Westhanger over a vanished King's messenger's bag, and his estimate of her character has been modified but never shaken. His habit of sympathizing with the very people he hunts is the flaw that gives the investigation its strange, personal heat. ## Relationships ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/the_girl) _psychological_ Michael is obsessively fixated on The Girl, tracking and interacting with her far more than anyone else, suggesting a possessive or predatory dynamic. ### [Kate Westhanger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/kate_westhanger) _romantic_ Kate is deeply involved with Michael, likely as a lover or romantic interest, given their high interaction count and emotional intensity. ### [Lady Moya Felton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/lady_moya_felton) _romantic_ Lady Moya is romantically entangled with Michael, possibly as a rival to Kate or as a secret lover. ### [The Colonel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/the_colonel) _rivalry_ Michael and The Colonel are adversaries, clashing over The Girl's welfare and Michael's intentions. ### [Lord Flanborough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/lord_flanborough) _rivalry_ Lord Flanborough and Michael are rivals, competing for status or influence in their social circle. ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/the_girl) _psychological_ Michael is obsessively fixated on The Girl, tracking and interacting with her far more than anyone else, suggesting a possessive or predatory dynamic. ### [Kate Westhanger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/kate_westhanger) _romantic_ Kate is deeply involved with Michael, likely as a lover or romantic interest, given their high interaction count and emotional intensity. ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/the_girl) _psychological_ Michael is obsessively fixated on The Girl, tracking and interacting with her far more than anyone else, suggesting a possessive or predatory dynamic. ### [Lady Moya Felton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/lady_moya_felton) _romantic_ Lady Moya is romantically entangled with Michael, possibly as a rival to Kate or as a secret lover. ### [The Colonel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/the_colonel) _rivalry_ Michael and The Colonel are adversaries, clashing over The Girl's welfare and Michael's intentions. ### [Lord Flanborough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/lord_flanborough) _rivalry_ Lord Flanborough and Michael are rivals, competing for status or influence in their social circle. ### [The Colonel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/the_colonel) _rivalry_ Michael and The Colonel are adversaries, clashing over The Girl's welfare and Michael's intentions. ## In the story ### [I: Eighty-Three Pearls on a String](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/i-eighty-three-pearls-on-a-string) Arrives at Felton House to investigate the missing pearls; recognizes Kate Westhanger and threatens her with the Prevention of Crimes Act; reveals past engagement to Lady Moya. ### [II: Mike Said Nothing—There Was Nothing to Say](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/ii-mike-said-nothing-there-was-nothing-to-say) Interrogates Lord Flanborough about Kate, reveals her criminal background, and reflects on her moral arguments. ### [III: Other Eyes Watched Michael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/iii-other-eyes-watched-michael) Returns to Scotland Yard, receives advice from Commissioner Smith, and later conducts a solitary reconnaissance of Crime Street, unaware he is being watched. ### [IV: “The Ideal Criminal Is a Strategist”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/iv-the-ideal-criminal-is-a-strategist) Mentioned as having gone to see Millet and as the author of a Socialist article on the Right to Live. ### [V: A Chorus Girl at Sebo’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/v-a-chorus-girl-at-sebo-s) Appears at the end of the chapter to save Vera from a knife attack, recognizing her as Kate. ### [VI: Kate Came to the Flat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/vi-kate-came-to-the-flat) Files a report on the Sebo's Club incident, receives assignment from T. B. Smith, investigates Kate's motives, and proposes marriage to her. ### [VII: The Princess Bacheffski—Beautifully Dressed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/vii-the-princess-bacheffski-beautifully-dressed) Attends Lord Flanborough's dinner at Moya's insistence; exchanges sharp words with Sir Ralph Sapson; leaves early. ### [An Artist Makes an Exhibition of Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/viii-an-artist-makes-an-exhibition-of-himself) Mentioned by Sir Ralph as a policeman he wishes to avoid meeting in the park. ### [IX: The Shareholders and an Interruption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/ix-the-shareholders-and-an-interruption) Confronts Colonel Westhanger, accuses him of exploiting Kate, threatens to imprison him, then warns the gang and offers Kate a chance to leave. ### [X: Sir Ralph Lost a Princess and Found a Policeman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/x-sir-ralph-lost-a-princess-and-found-a-policeman) Receives Sir Ralph at Scotland Yard, listens to his troubles, and becomes alert when the description of the Princess matches Kate Westhanger. ### [XI: Lady Moya Was Curiously Unlike Herself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/xi-lady-moya-was-curiously-unlike-herself) Meets Kate in the park, discusses her schemes, and later investigates the explosions. ### [XII: A Motor Car Was Met by a Special Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/xii-a-motor-car-was-met-by-a-special-train) Meets the party at the station, laughs at Moya's news, and invites her and Alphonso to dinner at Sebo's. ### [XIV: The Remarkable Train That Did Strange Tricks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/xiv-the-remarkable-train-that-did-strange-tricks) Leads the investigation, deduces Kate's role, and uncovers the fake rust and scum on the branch line. ### [XV: As Sir Ralph Said, “Business Is Business”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/xv-as-sir-ralph-said-business-is-business) Mentioned as missing; T. B. Smith believes he may find the gang but possibly too late to recover the gold. ### [XVI: On the Unmorality of Professional Thieves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/xvi-on-the-unmorality-of-professional-thieves) Captured, gagged, and bound by Doctor Garon, brought before the gang at the end of the chapter. ### [XVII: The Independent Strategy of Señor Gregori](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/xvii-the-independent-strategy-of-se-or-gregori) Captured, manacled, and beaten by the gang; he refuses a bribe and warns them of their impending doom. ### [XVIII: The Colonel Was a Gentleman at the Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/xviii-the-colonel-was-a-gentleman-at-the-last) Remains defiant, refusing to join the gang despite threats and the girl's persuasion; quotes Shakespeare; faces execution. ### [XIX: Michael Developed a Fondness for the Criminal Classes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/chapters/xix-michael-developed-a-fondness-for-the-criminal-classes) Manacled and awaiting execution, he is rescued by Barr, then resigns from the police to marry Kate. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters/michael_pretherston - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kate_plus_10_se/characters