“What is an administrative corporal doing delivering equipment?” he asked.
Garasov replied, “That is what I would like to know. He is obviously more than that. Create a file on him. See what you can find out. If it is who I think it is then he is not just an administrative corporal.”
“Yes, sir,” replied his assistant.
Garasov continued, “If he was on that truck then the equipment could be related to Red Hawk. Who was trying to hijack it and why? If the truck was at Peterborough where had it come from if it was on its way to Lincolnshire? It could only be Davis Aviation. Our information was that the equipment was due to leave Luton on Monday. See what you can find out.”
“Yes, Major,” was the reply and his assistant left the office.
Similarly, at breakfast tables in Corbridge and Alnwick, the article and photograph were the main topic of discussion. Alice was both worried and proud. The names of the airmen were not mentioned in the article but she knew it was Andy in the photograph. “Quite an athlete and good reflexes,” said John Walton, “jumping onto the bonnet of an accelerating car to avoid being run down!” Alice remembered the park in Morpeth but said nothing.
Margaret Hill was saying to her husband, “That must be our Andy. What was he doing riding in that truck instead of getting the train?” Her voice sounded anxious.
‘Tony’ Hill said, “Now, Margaret, there’s no point in getting upset. The lad’s fine. Besides, the armed forces will often give you duties that are not strictly in your trade. Let’s just wait until he ‘phones us and we can clarify it then.” To himself he thought, “Andy, lad, you’re in a rough game when people get killed — and it’s supposed to be peace-time,” and he said a quiet prayer for his son’s safety.
In Coventry, Eddy Dennis and his wife, Nellie, were having a late breakfast. She had cooked him sausages and eggs with tomatoes and fried bread. It would be followed by toast and marmalade. Nellie was worried about her man. Since he returned home he wasn’t his usual relaxed self after a job and he seemed distant. It wasn’t like him. They had always been close. She thought that she would get him to see the doctor if he was still like it on Monday. Nellie thought that she would get him to have a good rest over the weekend. She would cook him his favourite dinner and see if he improved in his manner. Maybe she would go into the cathedral and light a candle for him.
At RAF West Sanby, Corporal Hill was unaware of the widespread interest in him as the newspapers did not arrive on the base until mid-morning. Andy was busy typing up his report on an old Imperial typewriter. The duty clerk poked his head round the door and said, “Andy, you’re wanted in Flight Lieutenant Gaskin’s office.”
Andy waved a hand in acknowledgement and finished typing the sentence before getting up from the desk. He went across to the other office and knocked on the door. “Come in,” Gaskin called out. Andy went in and saw Hamilton seated in a visitor’s chair and Gaskin behind his desk. Andy saluted and waited for Gaskin to speak. “Ah! Corporal Hill, Wing Commander Hamilton wants to go through the incidents of yesterday. I believe you both know each other already. How is your report progressing?” he said.
“It’s half-complete, sir. I’m not a fast typist,” replied Andy.
“Fine. I’ll be over at the new HQ building, when you are finished,” said Gaskin and with that he stood up and left his office.
Hamilton pointed Andy to the other visitor chair. “We have some interesting developments, don’t you think?” he said as Andy sat down.
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
“Okay, tell me your version — and don’t leave out any details,” Hamilton said. Andy went on to describe the journey and what happened at Peterborough in detail, including the exclamation in Russian that he heard as the incident started to unfold. When Andy had finished, he pulled the roll of film out of his pocket and told Hamilton about his meeting with Jamie Rogerson. “I want to go down and see him later and he can bring me up to date,” said Hamilton. “I know he is in the same outfit as you and I have to get his report urgently and make an assessment of the overall situation. Before that we’ll get this film into the photographic section and get it processed. He can then tell me the importance of it.”
Andy then said, “If the suspects saw him taking these photos then he could be in danger. They may come looking for him to get the film.”
“Good point. We’d better move quickly.” The photographic section was part of the main administration building so Andy led Hamilton down the corridor from the JSTU office to the station adjutant’s office. He knocked and with the “Come in!” entered with Hamilton. Hamilton introduced himself to the duty officer and Andy was excused to return to his work. A telephone call was made and a corporal (the duty photographer) came down to the adjutant’s office and was told by the duty officer to develop the film urgently.
In Manchester, Garasov’s assistant reported that the London cell had received information about the change of plans for the delivery of the launcher and decided to try to retrieve the situation by hijacking the RAF truck carrying it. They felt that they had to act quickly rather than follow the usual procedure. Instead of the usual two-man team driving the RAF truck there were three, and one of them had stayed in
