Codename Angel (The Angel Chronicles Book 1) (7 page)

Chapter 14

Debriefing

Whitehall – London –
3:20pm

Monday 19
^th
August 1952

All committee members
were called to the debriefing to look over the report that Frederick had
hastily put together. After the incident involving the UFOs he had returned to
the base with the other men, who each filled out a detailed report. All the
witnesses including Fitzpatrick were shaken by what they had seen. Frederick
took it upon himself to telephone Lord Chambers and despite the time of the
morning Chambers listened with great interest. He instructed Frederick to stay
another night. ‘Just in case our friends decide to put on another show.’
However the next evening nothing happened so Frederick returned home for a
day before heading to London.

‘Astounding!’ Dr Alan
Good commented. ‘We’re obviously dealing with something that goes way beyond
what the Russians or Americans may be capable of. It’s such a shame you
couldn’t have captured any of it on film.’

‘We would have needed
flood lights to get anything on film, it was too dark, unless you count the
area where the objects appeared.’

‘Sounds too good to
be true.’ Admiral Berkshire remarked.

Professor Richard
Wilks looked across at him. ‘You doubt Professor Frederick’s eye witness
account admiral?’

‘No, but I still refuse
to buy into the notion that these objects may be from another planet. I’m sorry
Professor but unless I see these things for myself then I’ll keep my feet
firmly on the ground.’

‘You are entitled to
your opinion Admiral.’ Frederick said, ‘But I would appreciate if you would
keep an open mind on this. I have trouble believing what I saw, but I did see
these things first hand.’ He took a deep breath recalling the scene in his
head. ‘To witness something like that challenges the laws of physics. The way
they moved, there was no displacement of air, this rewrites modern day
aeronautical science.’

‘The question is what
we do about this. These objects, whatever they may be are able to out manoeuvre
our aircraft and are superior in speed.’ Norman Canning said. ‘We need to adopt
some kind of strategy in dealing with these UFOs.’

‘I think all we can
do for now is observe.’ Dr Arthur Lloyd stated.

‘Agreed!’ Sir Harold
Bates said. ‘But next time if we get the opportunity to view these things close
up we have to have some kind of electronic recording equipment.’

‘Tizard’s Flying
Saucer Working Party has never encountered anything like this.’ Chambers said.

‘At least we have
something to go on now.’ Ian Morgan said.

‘I want all of you to
take these reports away with you and read over them, and then you must burn
them.’ Morris Stanford instructed.

‘Burn them.’ Wilks
queried. ‘Isn’t that a bit drastic.’

‘This government is
still reeling from Burgess and Maclean last year, and MI6 believe there are
still Soviet spies within the government. Until we are sure that there is no
possibility of any sensitive information leaks we must make sure that any
information is available to just members of this group. We will keep the
original report which Professor Frederick has written which the Prime Minister
will review. But under no circumstances must any copies exist. We now have
evidence that these objects are not American or Russian which makes this above
top secret. We’ll meet up again next month to discuss any new developments.’

Chapter
15

The Return of Edith
Jones

Ripley – North Yorkshire – 10:26am

Monday 1
^st
September
1952

Michael Smith slammed
on the brakes with such force he thought his foot was going to go through the
floor of his lorry. The figure in the road seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Applying the handbrake the local Farmer jumped down from his cab and briskly
walked to the front of his lorry. ‘Are you bloody stupid or what?’ He bellowed.
‘I could have killed you!’ The woman had her back to him and didn’t respond.
Smith walked around to face her. ‘Did you hear me you stupid..’ Smith stopped
dead in his tracks and stared at the young woman who was glaring down at her
stomach cradling it. Her blonde hair sprayed outwards and down over her face.
There was blood running from her nose, and her clothes hung loose around her.
Smith put his hand on her shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’ the woman slowly looked up,
Smith stepped back. ‘Bloody hell, Edith!’

Whitehall – London –
11:06am

Wednesday 3
^rd
September 1952

‘You know this is a
complete waste of time.’ Frederick protested. ‘We’ve already been to this
woman’s house. It’s clear she just buggered off and left her husband, now she
just turns up out of the blue. It’s a waste of resources, we are better off
discovering the true nature of the objects I encountered at Church Fenton a few
weeks ago, not traipsing all the way up to Ripley to sort out a domestic tiff.’

‘I know it seems like
a waste of time old boy. But humour me will you. We have to keep all lines of
investigation open.’ Chambers coughed, and rubbed his chest.

‘Are you ok?’

Chambers continued to
cough nodding. ‘Yes just a bit tired that’s all, probably all these bloody
pills I’m taking to keep the ticker going.’

‘Well try not to
overdo things.’ Frederick advised.

Chapter 16

RAF Yeadon – 6:25pm

Friday 5
^th
September 1952

The familiar smiling
face of Group Captain Fletcher was there to greet Frederick as he stepped off
the plane. Frederick had telephoned committee member Dr Arthur Lloyd and
requested that he came along to examine Mrs Jones. Dr Lloyd was a renowned
psychologist and former physician to his majesty King George VI.

‘If anyone will be
able to see that this is a waste of time Arthur it’s you.’ Frederick said.

‘I’ll try my best,
but I’m on your side Ralph, this story seems too incredible to be true.’

When they arrived at
Ripley all three men checked in to the hotel and met up in the bar an hour
later before setting out to the Jones’ house. As they approached the front door
all three men noticed a police constable standing outside.

The constable saw
them coming and approached. ‘Can I help you gentlemen?’

‘We’re here to see
Mrs Edith Jones.’ Frederick said.

‘Really and who might
you be?’ The constable was now blocking their path, standing firm with his arms
folded.

‘I’m Professor Ralph
Frederick, this is Dr Arthur Lloyd and Group Captain Walter Fletcher we were
here a few weeks ago interviewing her husband.’

‘Well Professor you
will appreciate that Mrs Jones needs her rest and won’t be seeing anyone for
the time being.’

‘That’s not what you
told me yesterday.’ Fletcher spoke up. ‘You said that we could interview her.’

‘That was yesterday wasn’t
it sir, I’m afraid things have changed since then.’

‘In what way?’ Dr
Arthur Lloyd asked.

The constable was
about to reply when the front door to the Jones’ house opened. Sir William
Ingles and two other men appeared. ‘Well well, Professor Frederick how nice to
see you again.’ Ingles greeted in a cheerful manner. ‘And I see you’ve brought
reinforcements.’ He stretched out his hand towards Dr Lloyd. ‘William Ingles at
your service sir.’

‘Pleasure Sir
William.’ He replied, before making eye contact with the man behind. ‘Peter,
what brings you up here?’

‘He is a guest of
mine.’ Ingles answered quickly before his friend had time to answer.

Peter Horsley
remained silent; the third man turned out to be the local doctor who hurried
past Frederick and the others. ‘If you don’t mind Sir William we would like to
speak to Mrs Jones.’ Frederick said politely.

‘I’m afraid that
won’t be possible Professor, Mrs Jones is resting and won’t be seeing anyone
for a while.’ Ingles explained.

‘But she has spoken
to you and Mr Horsley?’ Lloyd commented.

‘Mr Jones has
requested that they be left alone, which includes everyone.’

‘When will we be
allowed to speak with her?’ Frederick asked.

‘I’m afraid you
didn’t hear me correctly Professor, Mrs Jones isn’t speaking to anyone. Now I
suggest you head back to London, there’s a good fellow.’

‘As former royal
physician Sir William I am requesting that I be allowed to examine Mrs Jones to
assess her condition.’

Horsley and Ingles
looked at each other. ‘As you say former royal physician Doctor Lloyd, which
means you have no jurisdiction here. Besides our own doctor has examined her
thoroughly, now if you’ll excuse us gentlemen.’ Ingles and Horsley brushed
passed the three men. The police constable had resumed his position outside the
front door of the house, and glared at the group menacingly.

Chapter 17

6:56pm

‘I don’t believe the
nerve of that man?’ Lloyd protested sipping at a glass of whiskey. All three
had walked back to the hotel and sat in the bar considering their next move.
‘And Peter didn’t even acknowledge us what was all that about.’

‘Peter Horsley has
been up this way before. I suspect Ingles has direct contact with Buckingham
Palace.’ Frederick summarised. ‘For what it’s worth we need to speak with Mrs
Jones to find out what happened to her, just to end this ridiculous line of
investigation.’

A young man who was
stood at the bar staring at the group in the corner walked over to them, and
pulled up a stool. ‘Sorry to bother you blokes but are you up here about Edith
Jones.’

‘No we’re just
enjoying the scenery now bugger off.’ Fletcher snarled.

‘Suit yourself but my
brother was the one who found her wandering on the road the other day.’ The man
stood and started to walk back towards the bar.

Frederick’s interest
suddenly kicked into high gear. ‘Really and you are?’

 He turned to
face Frederick. ‘I’m Dave Smith, Mike told me everything.’

‘Ok then Mr Smith why
don’t you tell us what you know.’ Dr Lloyd asked.

‘It’ll cost you a
pint.’ He held his glass out to Fletcher, who looked across at Frederick. The
Professor nodded, and Fletcher snatched the glass off Smith and headed for the
bar.

‘So Mr Smith what was
it your brother told you?’

‘Did you know she was
pregnant before she disappeared?’

‘Yes about seven
months I believe.’ Frederick replied.

Fletcher returned
with a full pint glass and set it down in front of Smith who scooped it up and
drank half immediately before setting it back down on the table. ‘When my
brother found her she was screaming about her baby.’

‘Go on.’ Lloyd said.

‘She wasn’t pregnant
anymore. My brother said she just kept screaming her baby was gone.’ He took
another swig. ‘Rumour has it that she was sent away to a convent to have the
baby, because it wasn’t her husband’s.’

Lloyd drew a deep
disappointing breath. ‘Really Mr Smith, and who’s baby was it?’

‘Old man Ingles of
course, they reckon while her husband was managing the books at the castle, he
was sneaking out to their house and managing Mrs Jones if you know what I
mean.’ Smith smiled to reveal a toothless mouth. ‘Sir Ingles has always had a
way with the local ladies if you know what I mean.’

‘Thank you for that
important bit of information Mr Smith.’ Lloyd said with sarcasm.

Smith got up and
finished the rest of his pint. ‘No problem gents glad I could help.’

‘That was a waste of
a perfectly good pint.’ Fletcher complained, glaring at Smith as he walked
away.

Frederick thought for
a moment. ‘Well that settles it we’re off back to London tomorrow. I knew there
had to be a simple explanation.’

Fletcher glanced at
Smith who had returned to the bar. ‘It doesn’t make sense, if what that yokel
just said is true then why make up such an elaborate story about a flying
saucer kidnapping his wife. Surely it would have been better for her to have
the baby and keep quiet about who’s it was.’

Frederick glanced at
Fletcher. ‘I hope you’re not suggesting that she was actually kidnapped by a
flying saucer.’

‘After what I
witnessed at Church Fenton a few weeks back Professor, I’m willing to believe
anything at this point.

‘There’s only one way
to find out about what happened to Mrs Jones. We need to question the local
doctor who was with Peter Horsley and Ingles earlier this evening.’ Lloyd
suggested.

‘Am I the only
rational one here?’ Frederick questioned.

‘All I’m saying is
that we go and interview the doctor to settle any doubt.’

Frederick and
Fletcher glanced at each other. ‘You know that’s going to annoy Ingles.’
Frederick warned. ‘Besides there’s no guarantee the doctor will even speak to
us.’

Lloyd smiled. ‘Let me
worry about him.’ He looked at the clock. ‘I think it’s time for a late night
practice session.’