After work, Andy headed for the gym to work out on the mats before going to the mess for the evening meal. After the evening meal, he and Mike Armstrong drove down to the village to visit the ‘local’. Andy also wanted to have a chat to Jamie. Not long after they arrived, the bar started to fill up with more of the new arrivals. While Mike was talking to a couple of the other unit airmen, Andy slipped over to the bar and asked for Jamie. The publican was serving. “He’s out the back,” Andy was told. “It’s supposed to be his day off but he came back early so he could take tomorrow morning off.”
“Thanks,” said Andy. “Could I go out and see him?”
Bob recognised Andy. “You’re one of Jamie’s mates, aren’t you? Okay, but make it quick. We look like being busy this evening.”
“Thanks, “replied Andy. “I won’t take long.” He headed out to the rear of the building and found Jamie. “Hi, Jamie. How did you go today?”
“Hello Andy. Had a nice time with Yvonne but she is getting serious quickly. I wouldn’t mind normally but this is different. Enderby is out of town for about three days. He left yesterday afternoon on the bus for Louth. I’ll go over tomorrow morning and see if I can check his flat out without being seen. Yvonne said that none of the boats are going out in this bad weather and that Walmar will go down to the school and volunteer to help there for the morning.”
“Do you think it would be better to leave it to Hamilton and his boys?” asked Andy.
“Maybe,” said Jamie, “but this is a good opportunity. I’ve let Lutterworth know about Enderby and what I plan to do.”
Andy looked thoughtful and nodded. “Well, if they didn’t stop you then I guess it must be okay. Just be careful and ready for the unexpected.”
“Thanks,” was the reply and Andy left with a wave of his hand. He headed back to the bar and re-joined Mike Armstrong and the others.
“Not a bad local,” said Mike. “It’s got a good atmosphere. Thanks for suggesting we come down. The local beer’s got a bit of a strange taste, though.” Andy smiled. “You’ll get used to it. Although once the trials get under way we may not have much time to enjoy it.”
“You may be right there, Andy,” replied Mike. “Let’s have one more and then head back for an early night.”
“Agreed,” said Andy.
CHAPTER 12
The next morning (Tuesday 11th) Jamie headed for Parfleet St Peter with an order for seafood from the publican. It would be a cover for his real intent. It was just after 9.00 a.m. and school would be started so Walmar should be out of the way. When he arrived and drove to the harbour, Jamie noticed that the fishing boats were riding high. It meant that the tide must be in. He went in to the fish shop and saw Yvonne and gave her the order from his boss. They exchanged pleasantries and then Jamie said he was going for a walk and would be back in a few minutes. He walked out of the shop and down past the sheds. There were men working on a couple of the boats but the Penny Jane was devoid of activity. Walmar’s shed door was closed so he walked to the end of the sheds and then around the back of them. Jamie had noted that Walmar’s shed was third from the end. He hoped to find an entrance at the rear and as he neared the shed he saw that his guess was right. The back lane led up to the back of the co-operative cold store. There were several trolleys outside its door but there was no activity. Jamie tried the door which was located to one side of Walmar’s shed. It was an old mortice lock and it was locked. Jamie looked around and saw an old crab pot near the door and wondered. He lifted it up and found a key wedged in the frame. It was normally out of sight but visible when the pot was turned up. He prised it from its position and tried it in the door. Fortunately there wasn’t a key on the inside of the lock and it opened. Jamie slipped inside and found himself inside the shed but not in the living quarters. An internal wall about twelve feet long ran to one side of the doorway and another doorway was set into the end of that wall. Jamie closed the outside door and walked to the internal door and tried the handle. It was locked. The lock appeared to be a Yale and Jamie didn’t have the means to pick it. He walked around the corner and saw a window set into the wall. It was a casement window but it was locked. It was clear that Jamie wasn’t going to get access without breaking his way in and he didn’t want to do that. Jamie had a quick look around the inside of the shed and saw nothing but tools and spare parts for the boat and the fishing gear. There were also a number of crayfish pots. Jamie made a mental picture of everything and
