"How's everything at this end?" asked Biggles, after greetings had been exchanged.
"Buttoned up to the last button," answered the Air Commodore with a satisfaction he made no attempt to conceal.
"You certainly threw the monkey wrench into this set of gears. What puzzles me is how you hit on the right track straight away."
Biggles shrugged. "It wasn't as difficult as it may sound. After all, aviation is still a young business and we old hands know most of the people in it. By making a list of possibles, and then striking out those that I knew from personal association must be on the level, I wasn't faced with much ground to cover."
The Air Commodore nodded. "Yes, I can see that angle. Well, you'll be glad to know that we've made a clean job. As soon as I heard Algy Lacey's story I decided to take action right away. I don't mind admitting that I was a bit worried about you charging into the lion's den with your usual disregard for danger, and my first move was to take steps to get you out of it. I asked the A.O.C. Middle East to co-operate with the local police and get cracking."
"I guessed as much," murmured Biggles lighting a cigarette. "The relief party couldn't have arrived at a better moment.
Things were getting decidedly awkkward when we heard the old familiar drone of the page 210
Bombays. By the way, Ginger has some samples of he stuff they were printing at Kudinga, hot off the press. But tell me, what's happened here?"
"I made contact with the Continental police with he result that every agency, booking office and taxiderrnist distributing centre was raided simultaneously. We found some interesting staff at this so-called pilots' club at Croydon.
We've got Black. We soon located the machines, and the company's pilots, including Ivan, were arrested as they landed. In fact, I don't see how anyone, including the small fry, can slip through the net. Once Major Grattan gave us the name of the Big Fish, Kravas, over the radio, the rest was easy. We went up to his palatial residence and had a look at hings, taking Louis, the booking clerk here, with us. He lost his nerve completely and decided to turn King's Evidence. It seems that he's a nephew of Kravas and knows all the ins and outs. He showed us his uncle's secret depository. In it we found, amongst other hings, a complete filing system of everyone employed by him, not only in the Stellar concern, but in the other nasty, if less spectacular, rackets that he runs. No wonder the man was a millionaire. But I mustn't stand talking now. I've got a lot of clearing up to do and it's going to take time."
"In that case you won't be needing us again for a bit? "
"I shall want your report as soon as you can let me have it, and later on, your evidence."
"I'll see to it," promised Biggles. "Meanwhile since we are here, and it's winter at home, we might as well make the best of the sunshine for a day or two."
"That's okay with me," consented the Air Commodore.
"Definitely okay with me, too. Time I got the old skin cleaned up a bit," declared Bectie, polishing his monocle briskly.
"Suits me," murmured Ginger.
"And me," agreed Algy.
"I'm not grousing," averred Tug.
Biggles smiled. "Okay. Let's go."
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34 Biggles Hunts Big Game Page 17