Five things about the Occult Hand | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press
The Order of the Occult Hand never meets, lacks a leader and has but one simple ritual and purpose: to sneak a certain phrase into print. That phrase is: “It was as if an occult hand had …”

Publication of the full phrase, without modification, appearing as a legitimate usage, makes the writer a member of the order.

Just a cute little plot idea. Is this a secret code? Where can you run with it?