Codename Angel (The Angel Chronicles Book 1)

by Jason Chapman

  ‘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.’

  Chapter 18

  The doctor’s Assassin

  8:26pm

  After the hotel Landlord had drawn Frederick's group a crude map, the three men found themselves outside the surgery of one Dr Charles Williams, which was attached to his house.

  Dr Williams yanked open the door. ‘Who is it?’ He barked blinking into the fading autumn light.

  Lloyd stepped forward and took off his hat. ‘Doctor Williams, my name is Doctor Arthur Lloyd, my colleagues and I wish to speak to you about Mrs Edith Jones.’

  ‘I’m afraid I cannot comment on Mrs Jones to anyone but her and her husband. You as a doctor are aware of patient confidentiality.’

  ‘Yes Doctor I am aware of the regulations, however I could call the Home Office and send an order for you to hand over medical records and have you struck off.’

  Frederick and Fletcher glanced at each other impressed by Lloyd’s guile.

  Dr Williams rubbed his forehead and nodded, before beckoning the three men to come in.

  Across the street a car with two figures waited. ‘Those are the two guys we bumped into a few weeks back.’ One of the men said with an American accent.

  ‘It has to be this Professor Frederick Jacob Barnes briefed us about.’

  ‘We need to be on our toes, I’ll break into the surgery and steal the information.’

  ‘Be careful, the doctor could be one of them.’

  When the front door to the house slammed shut one of the men got out and sprinted across the road.

  Doctor Williams brought a tea tray in and set it down on a large coffee table that occupied the centre of the living room.

  ‘I appreciate you talking to us Dr Williams.’ Frederick said picking up his cup.

  Williams looked across at Lloyd. ‘I don’t see that I have much of a choice in the matter.’ He sat down in a large leather armchair. ‘This whole thing with Edith Jones is getting way out of hand if you ask me.’

  ‘We understand Mrs Jones was seven months pregnant when she disappeared. But when she was found the other day she was no longer pregnant.’ Lloyd explained.

  Williams nodded. ‘That’s correct.’

  ‘Is there any explanation as to what could have happened to the child?’

  Williams shook his head. ‘No, I examined Mrs Jones, and could find no evidence that she had even been pregnant, and this is despite the fact that I examined her two days before she vanished. She was due to give birth three weeks ago.’

  ‘Did you examine her thoroughly?’ Lloyd asked.

  ‘I did yes, she was in perfect health despite the fact that she had lost the child. I found no marks to indicate she might have given birth prematurely. It’s a dammed mystery as to what happened to her and her child. Her husband said that she suffers from constant nose bleeds and is sick on occasion.’

  ‘There are rumours circulating amongst the locals that the baby could have belonged to Sir William, is there any possibility this could be true?’

  Williams shook his head rigorously. ‘Preposterous, whatever they have been telling you at the local pub, I would take it with a pinch of salt.’

  ‘I take it you have a record of Mrs Jones’ pregnancy?’ Lloyd enquired.

  Dr Williams nodded before getting up and leaving the room for a few minutes to look for the records.

  ‘What do you think?’ Frederick asked Lloyd.

  ‘I don’t doubt his story, but until I look at her records for myself I cannot...’ Lloyd stopped in mid sentence.

  Doctor Williams could clearly be heard shouting at someone in the surgery. Fletcher jumped to his feet and removed his side arm from its holster. All three men heard the Doctor’s scream for help, then another muffled cry followed by a loud crash as if someone had fallen.

  The group captain moved stealthily down a narrow hallway towards the sound. The door to the main surgery was open. Dr Williams’ body lay sprawled on the floor face down. As he stood in the doorway Fletcher caught sight of a figure. The air force officer instinctively jumped out of the way as a chair hurtled passed his head into the hallway. He waited a few seconds before launching himself through the doorway. The intruder glared at the group captain, who blindly fired two rounds. The bullets drove into the wall behind. The doctor’s assailant drew a pistol from his inside holster and pointed it at Fletcher.

  Frederick cautiously stepped through the doorway to see a startled Fletcher locked in a Mexican standoff with the other man.

  ‘Gentlemen.’ The man said with a bold tone, and a broad American accent. He backed towards the door and then vanished into the fading light.

&
nbsp; Fletcher wasn’t finished yet he sprinted out into the street and emptied his weapon in the direction of the car as it sped down the street. However within seconds the car had vanished from sight.

  Lloyd entered the surgery spotting Dr Williams. He knelt and checked for a pulse. ‘He’s dead.’

  Frederick pointed to a mark on the back of the doctor’s neck. ‘What do you make of that?’

  Lloyd pulled down the doctor’s collar reveal what looked like an incision approximately half an inch, running vertical down the back of Williams’ neck. ‘I’m not sure, looks like a surgical procedure of some kind, very clean cut I must say.’

  Fletcher entered the surgery out of breath. ‘Bastards scampered off.’

  ‘Why did I recognise that man with the gun?’ Frederick asked.

  ‘He was one of the blokes in the pub several weeks back, the ones at Church Fenton.’

  ‘The fake RAF pilots.’

  Fletcher nodded and then looked at the corpse of the doctor.

  Lloyd stood. ‘Better call this in.’

  Chapter 19

  Fallout

  Whitehall – London – 1:34pm

  Tuesday 9th September 1952

  After a lengthy questioning session by Harrogate police, and a shouting match with Sir Ingles who practically accused them of the murder of Dr Williams, Frederick and Lloyd headed back to London, while Fletcher headed back to RAF Yeadon.

  Lord Chambers and Air Marshall Morgan listened as the two men gave their account of the last few days.

  ‘Dr Williams must have disturbed the intruder as he entered his surgery.’

  ‘And the medical records of Edith Jones had vanished, everything including the report on her condition after she returned.’ Chambers enquired.

  ‘Yes.’ Frederick answered. ‘We did request an interview with her, but Sir Ingles wouldn’t let us near her, in fact he has moved Mr and Mrs Jones into his castle for safety.’

  ‘I tried to talk to Peter Horsley This Morning.’ Morgan revealed. ‘But he just stonewalled me, Buckingham Palace will want to keep this quiet. They won’t want a member of the royal household at the centre of a murder enquiry. There’s definitely more to this woman’s experience than meets the eye.’

  ‘But now we can’t get anyone near her, with Ingles protecting her.’ Frederick said.

  ‘And you’re positive the man from the doctor’s surgery was American?’ Chambers asked.

  Frederick nodded. ‘Both myself and Fletcher recognised him from the incident at Church Fenton. My guess is that the other one must have been driving the getaway car.’

  ‘Why would Americans be poking around Ripley.’ Chambers mused.

  ‘More importantly what was worth killing that doctor for?’ Morgan queried.

  ‘There must have been something in that report.’ Frederick suggested. ‘But until we are able to talk to Mrs Jones we won’t know.’

  Chambers looked at Frederick. ‘Do you still have doubts about this woman’s story?’

  Frederick shrugged staring out of the window. ‘I was convinced that this story was just a hoax. I’m still not willing to accept she was kidnapped by a flying saucer. My experience at Church Fenton a few weeks ago has swayed my opinion on UFOs, but we need physical evidence, as it stands we have none.’

  The door to Chambers’ office opened and Morris Stanford walked in. ‘I’ve just received a phone call from RAF Yeadon. Apparently the body of the doctor that was murdered has vanished.’

  ‘Vanished?’ Frederick said.

  Stanford nodded. ‘Your friend Mr Fletcher said that a local police constable had telephoned him last night. According to the report the body was reported missing on Sunday night.’

  ‘What the hell is going on here?’ Chambers questioned. ‘First the missing wife and now a murdered doctor, who happens to disappear himself.’

  ‘When we examined the body of the doctor we discovered a small incision on the back of his neck, but there were no other visible evidence that he had met a violent death.’

  ‘We’ve hit a dead end.’ Chambers remarked. ‘We’ll have to bide out time. Ingles will eventually let them return to their home and then we’ll look into it further.’

  Chapter 20

  A Walk in the Park

  St James’ Park – London – 11:42am

  Friday 12th September 1952

  Frederick checked his pocket watch for the fifth time swearing under his breath. He had been waiting in the same spot for about forty minutes. He cast his mind back to the day before when he had received a rather cryptic note from Dr Vincent Rothschild whom he had encountered a few weeks earlier at Downham Market train station. The Note was handwritten and had been delivered by courier.

  St James’ Park, main entrance 11:00am

  Come alone if you want answers about Edith Jones

  V Rothschild.

  Frederick’s first reaction was to pick up a phone and call Morris Stanford to brief him about what was going on. However he did have questions for this man, and MI6 watching him might jeopardise any information Rothschild might be willing to give.

  After checking his watch again Frederick decided that he had been stood up and started to walk towards Buckingham Palace. He then caught sight of Rothschild who was walking towards him.

  ‘Professor Frederick, thank you for agreeing to meet with me, I was expecting you to stand me up.’

  ‘And I thought you were about to.’ Frederick snapped. ‘I’m not in the habit of just loitering around parks. I have more important matters to tend to.’

  ‘You must forgive me Professor, but I am just as distrustful, I wasn’t sure you would bring company.’

  ‘Should I have?’

  ‘I am no threat to you Professor I merely wish to discuss matters of a scientific nature and come to a mutual understanding. And hopefully make you an offer which you might find interesting.’ Rothschild sat down on a nearby bench and invited Frederick to sit next to him.

  ‘And what matters would they be?’ Frederick asked.

  Rothschild smiled. ‘Still trying to hide the truth Professor.’

  ‘I thought I had explained to you and your colleague that I have no interest in flying saucers.’

  ‘But you still chose to meet me and your experience at Church Fenton a few weeks back must have changed your mind.’

  Frederick said nothing.

  ‘First let me assure you Professor that although I am on the east side of the border in Germany I have no allegiance to Stalin or his regime. Although I do have to work under their watchful eyes.’

  ‘Why not just come over to us?’

  ‘Because to do that would tip the scales too much in your favour, I believe that great minds should be equal on both sides.’

  ‘So what is it you want from me?’

  ‘What I just said, mutual understanding.’

  ‘Ok, how is it you know about Church Fenton?’

  ‘Nothing is as classified as you would like to believe Professor. Certain secrets have always been shared. Not freely of course, there’s always a price to pay. But I would like to know if you still think that flying saucers are nonsense.’

  Frederick looked at the ground going over the Church Fenton Incident, he shook his head. ‘To tell you the truth I don’t know what to think, I saw what I saw but can’t explain it.’

  Rothschild nodded. ‘I remember my first experience.’

  Frederick looked at him. ‘You’ve seen these things?’

  ‘On many occasions.’ Rothschild rubbed his hands together. ‘Each experience left me spellbound.’

  ‘Are these objects some sort of Russian military experiment?’

  Rothschild shook his head. ‘No Professor, neither are they American, no power on this planet can construct what you and I have witnessed.’

  ‘So where are they from?’

  ‘As the Americans like to say Professor, that is the sixty four thousand dollar question. I can tell you that both the Soviet government and the America
ns are locked in a race.’

  ‘What kind of race?’

  ‘A race to develop technology captured or found over the years. Technology that is far beyond human capability.’

  ‘Captured, are you saying the Americans and Soviets actually have flying saucers in their possession?’

  Rothschild nodded. ‘Which is why I have come to you Professor. Your group needs to be aware that you are lagging behind in this race. The Americans have many secrets they are not willing to share. The Soviet Union is just as secretive. There are also other countries with secrets as well as religious sects who have kept certain truths hidden from mankind for centuries.’

  ‘Hidden truths?’

  ‘The world is not as black and white as you might think Professor.’

  Frederick thought for a moment unwilling to get sucked in by Rothschild’s words. ‘So what’s your role in this Doctor?’

  ‘For now I am an observer, part of a group the Soviet government have set up, but I have no allegiance to them.’

  ‘So you don’t have access to information that might be useful to the British Government. And I’m certainly not going to give you any information that might give you the upper hand.’ Frederick stood. ‘You’ve come all this way for nothing I’m afraid.’ He started to walk away.

  ‘Is that what you think, that all I want is to try and coax secrets out of you.’ Rothschild shook his head. ‘You disappoint me Professor.’

  ‘Then tell me what you want!’ Frederick demanded turning to face Rothschild.

  ‘To make you an offer.’

  ‘Offer?’ Frederick shrugged.

  ‘To become part of an elite scientific body that operates outside of any government jurisdiction.’

  ‘What kind of scientific body?’

  ‘A group that has existed for centuries yet remains a great secret.’

  Frederick shoved his hands into his pockets smiling at Rothschild. ‘So you just decided to reveal it to me, just like that. Sorry Doctor but so far you haven’t been very forthcoming with any kind of information, and this cloak and dagger act you like to put on is fast becoming tedious.’ Frederick started to walk off towards the Palace.