When she was in the shop, Yvonne decided that she had better telephone Bob at The Hound and Pheasant and tell him what had happened to Jamie. She dialled the operator and asked to be put through to the pub in West Sanby.
“What’s all the commotion in the village, Yvonne?” the operator asked as she was connecting the call.
“Tell you later, Mrs Saxby,” replied Yvonne, “this is urgent.” She knew Mrs Saxby would most likely listen in even though she wasn’t supposed to. Bob answered the ‘phone and Yvonne told him what had happened to Jamie.
“That’s strange,” said Bob. “He’s a mountaineer. It’s not like him to fall off a jetty. I’ll check with the sick quarters later and find out what they can tell me.”
“Let me know, won’t you, Bob,” said Yvonne.
“Don’t worry, girl. I’ll call you as soon as I’ve got some information.”
“Thanks, Bob,” she said and then hung up. A minute or so later the police constable walked into the shop.
Bob thought for a minute and then went to his desk and looked for a telephone number that he had been given to use for such an eventuality as this. He dialled the number and a Squadron Leader Burns answered the call. Bob told him what had happened to Jamie Rogerson. He was thanked and told that they would take it from there. The telephone clicked dead and Bob hung up, letting out a big sigh at the same time. He went through to the kitchen and told his wife the news.
She was shocked. “He was such a nice lad, and a good worker. How could that happen?” she asked.
“That’s the big question,” Bob replied. “No doubt the police will be trying to find out. The poor lad was still unconscious when the ambulance drove off. I’d better organise some help to replace Jamie. It sounds as though he won’t be working for a while. We also need to get the van back from Parfleet St Peter.” He opened his book of contacts and started telephoning.
Within fifteen minutes, Air Vice-Marshall Denby had received the news. He ordered that RAF West Sanby sick quarters be advised that the patient was a member of the RAF and was to be kept there or transferred to a RAF hospital. A telex was to be sent giving the patient’s number, rank and name and his home unit. The home unit was to be notified by RAF West Sanby. Denby was thoughtful. Rogerson had concussion, a fractured shoulder and was unconscious. It sounded more likely that he had been attacked and that his injuries were not accidental. He decided to let Hamilton of MI5 know and also get Corporal Hill to see what he could find out. Clearly Rogerson had got too close to someone or something.
About an hour had elapsed since Berin had slipped out of the village and walked north. He was walking along the beach at a steady pace. If he saw someone coming he would pretend to be looking for flotsam to put into his bag. Berin decided to keep walking north until he came to Humberston and then he would head for Grimsby to catch a train to Lincoln and then one to Louth. That would be his cover. He wondered whether Jamie had survived and whether he had recognised who attacked him. Berin decided that when he got back to the village he had better arm himself and be prepared to leave quickly.
In the sick quarters at RAF West Sanby, the doctor was concerned that Jamie was still unconscious. They didn’t have the facilities to deal with something like this and he needed to be moved to a hospital. He ordered the patient to be prepared for a transfer. As he was ordering this, the doctor was handed a telex with instructions about the patient. The doctor raised his eyebrows but took the information in his stride. He told the orderly to get RAF Hospital Nocton Hall on the telephone.
Squadron Leader Dawson was settling into his new office when the telephone rang. The station operator said that it was a call from Air Ministry and must be put on scrambler. Surprised, Dawson put the telephone onto scrambler mode and received the call. It was Group Captain Clarkson explaining the situation. “Get Corporal Hill out there immediately to find out what has happened. The police have already questioned the locals but Hill is pretty observant. He also knows some of the locals and he may pick up details that the police didn’t. Don’t waste time as the attacker could still be in the area. I’ve let Hamilton know but it will take time for him to get men there.”
Dawson acknowledged and then hung up. He called the adjutant in and told him the situation. “Get Corporal Hill and have him go over to Parfleet St Peter and see what he can find out.” said the CO, “let him take the Landrover. He can then take the short-cut through the farms.”
“Very good, sir.” He left the CO’s office and headed for the telephone. Ten minutes later Corporal Hill was driving out of the main gate of the base, having been briefed by the Adjutant. Corporal Hill realised that it must be Corporal Jamie Rogerson, alias a barman, that had been injured. He realised that he needed to see Yvonne as soon as he got to Parfleet St Peter and then look around the harbour area. It seemed that there must have been an assailant and that it wasn’t an accident. The most likely suspects were the master and crew of the Penny Jane but Andy knew that he must not jump to conclusions. It could be a local who was keen on Yvonne and didn’t like her interest in Jamie. He needed to find out.
The police
