V for Victory - COMET

Chapter 4 - Bad News

Alex had been escorted briskly to the mess, flanked by officers from the squadron and one very grumpy flight sergeant with sick on his boots. Once inside he was sat down in a chair, given a cup of tea and some biscuits, and told to wait for what seemed like an eternity before his mother and sister arrived from Barnford, accompanied by Farrington and a man Alex didn't recognise.

His mother made a fuss of him, scolding him one minute for doing something so rash and foolhardy, then crying and hugging him and telling him he was very brave. Lucy looked on ashen faced and only smiling slightly when he looked her way. She looked like she was on the verge of crying too. Alex hoped she wouldn't. He didn't think he would be able to prevent himself from crying too if she did, and he didn't want to look weak in front of the RAF officers. Eventually the man who'd arrived with his mother and sister managed to gain everyone's attention and invited them all to sit. The man, dour and officious, sat opposite Alex, his face serious and unsmiling.

"My name is Inspector Rickards, from Scotland Yard. I hope you don't mind me asking some questions about what happened this evening." Rickards had made the question more of a statement, noted Alex. It was obvious Inspector Rickards expected full cooperation.

"Has there been any news of the plane? Have the French found my father yet?" asked Alex, hopefully.

"No." Rickards didn't seem willing to elaborate on the matter.

"But, surely you're looking? You have planes and boats out trying to find him, haven't you?" asked Lucy.

"I'm afraid not. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. What with the storm and darkness... Well, it just wouldn't be worthwhile. We are asking our French colleagues to help, of course, but really all we can do is watch and wait."

"He's right," said Farrington. "If the weather is good tomorrow, I'll send a couple of patrols out, but I wouldn't hold out much hope of finding anything. Your father's best hope is that the plane made it to France and landed safely there."

Inspector Rickards cleared his throat. "Yes, well. Perhaps you can tell me what you saw of these two 'suspicious characters' who kidnapped your father."

Alex told Rickards all he could remember about the afternoon, including what happened when he'd flown into the thunderstorm. He felt a need to share his experience with someone, to expunge his fear and explain how he knew he'd nearly died for his stupidity. His mother and sister both gasped when he told of the kidnapper shooting at him, and when he related the part where Tiger Moth had fallen out of the sky and the wave smashing off the plane's undercarriage, Farrington swore quietly and looked at Alex with renewed interest. Inspector Rickards was the only one who didn't appear affected by the story.

"Is what the boy says true?" The question was directed at Farrington, but Rickards didn't take his eyes off Alex.

"I believe so," said Farrington. "Certainly the details sound genuine, and he was seen to come out of the storm by my pilots. Why? Is there something amiss here?"

Rickards didn't respond for several moments, then finally looked away from Alex and gave Lucy and his mother an expressionless stare.

"Do any of you," he said, giving his words particular emphasis, "know of any reason why Fred Dixon should wish to disappear?"

The startled looks he got from them all told him what they thought of that, and he went on: "Has Fred said or done anything recently that suggested he was under some kind of stress, or has he been behaving in an unusual manner?"

"No!" exclaimed Alex's mother. "There's been nothing unusual like that. Obviously it's a busy time at the moment, what with all the extra work the air ministry... I mean, with a full order book. But he is perfectly happy! What are you implying?"