On arrival at RAF Ouston, Andy headed for the administration building to get his papers and travel warrant. The corporal there suggested that Andy get the train from Corbridge in the morning and change at Newcastle Central for Alnwick. The MT section could run him down to Corbridge once he had finished clearance. Andy nodded agreement. Once he had finished there, Andy headed for the telephone box and telephoned his parents. Andy’s mother answered and Andy explained the change in his orders and would they mind him coming up tomorrow morning? She was pleased about it but asked about Alice. He said that he still had to talk to her and work that one out.
“Couldn’t Alice get the train up tomorrow evening?” his mother asked.
“Thanks for that suggestion, Mum. I’ll see what Alice thinks,” replied Andy.
“I could ‘phone Judith Walton, if you like, Andy,” his mother suggested.
“I’ll let you know, Mum. I guess Dad’s still at the office so you can explain.” They finished the call and Andy headed back to the barracks. It was still too early to telephone Alice as she would still be at work. He found Lance and Dan sorting out and packing up their gear. They asked him what he was going to do about Alice now he had to leave early. Andy said he’d have to talk to her first. Then Lance offered to drive him over to Corbridge if the girls were free that evening. Andy thanked him for the offer.
Over at the Byker Police Station, Hamilton and a detective were interviewing the man with the camera. His foolish action had got him into serious trouble and he would go to prison. His driver’s licence showed him to be George Pattison from Sunderland. The camera had been dusted for his fingerprints so they had the proof of his use of it. The film had been removed from the camera and was being developed. He had a charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Louden and other charges were being determined. He was refusing to say why he was taking photographs or who he was taking them for. Pattison claimed to be taking a picture of the RAF truck and that was all. It would take a little time to determine whether he had a criminal record. Hamilton had guessed correctly about Major Garasov and he wondered what the next move would be. He also wondered whether there was more to Garasov’s interest in Corporal Hill than just the current project. Had the two of them met in the past and if so, what had happened? He would instigate enquiries and hopefully get some answers that may clarify things.
Major Garasov had received information about the work going on at RAF West Sanby, indicating a move soon of the trials unit to that RAF station. He would need to put planned moves on standby. Despite the failure of the attempt to seize a klystron unit they would go ahead with other plans. Equipment being transported between factory and the RAF station was vulnerable. He wondered when he would receive the photos from George Pattison. On a lighter note, he was looking forward to time with Yvonne at the weekend.
At the same time, sitting in his office at Air Ministry, Air Vice-Marshal Denby was reviewing progress of the Red Hawk programme with Group Captain Clarkson. He noted the breaches in security at the main contractors’ factories and the way they had been highlighted by Corporal Hill and he smiled to himself. He was a useful operative and Denby was glad that he’d pulled him back from Australia to join 28 JSTU. It was unfortunate that he appeared to have become a marked man by the KGB and they would have to solve that problem. He was a promising operative and Denby didn’t want to lose his usefulness. Clarkson would be having a third meeting with Dawson, Hamilton and Griffiths on Monday and he, Denby, would catch up with Hamilton. The security reviews had taken longer than expected but they had made progress. They still needed to solve the leak here in London. He didn’t want to tread on the toes of MI5 but was tempted to bring one of his own people in. Technically, it was an internal matter for the RAF but MI5 had wide-ranging responsibilities. Clarkson called him back to the Red Hawk system. All parts of the system had been cleared by RAE as ready for the trials. They would start assembling the system at West Sanby in the days to come. Clarkson thought that initial trials could be scheduled to commence in four weeks’ time. That would give the whole unit time to settle in, shake down together and get the Red Hawk system operational. Denby thought that his might also be the time to lay a trap for the leak in London. He would need to discuss those plans with Hamilton without letting the others know. Denby thanked Clarkson for the briefing, who closed the folder and walked into the outer office and put the folder into the walk-in safe where all the files of ‘secret’ classification and above were kept. After Clarkson had gone, he picked up the ‘phone to the Lutterworth-based organisation.
At the supply section of Air Ministry, Griffiths was also reviewing the progress of the Red Hawk system. The latest report showed that the system was ready to be moved and assembled at RAF West Sanby in the coming week. He needed to follow up with the JSTU and determine what spare parts would be needed from the contractors and when, and then get them ordered in. There would also be progress payments to be made to the contractors at this stage. He buzzed for his secretary to come in. Miss Lisa St. John entered his office carrying her shorthand pad and pencils. She was in her early thirties and still single, wore her hair in
