I’ll tell you exactly what’s going on Agent Cones.’ Klaus replied. ‘Myself and Doctor Brack are returning home.’
‘Home?’
‘The Fatherland.’
Frederick recalled a conversation he had with General Stacy. ‘You’re part of the Fourth Reich!’
Klaus nodded. ‘It doesn’t surprise me that you are aware of our existence.’
‘This how you repay us!’ Cones seethed. ‘By double crossing the very nation who gave you freedom.’
‘Freedom.’ Klaus mocked. ‘What freedom, you Americans assume you are lords of mankind, thinking that you can just take what you want.’
‘You piece of shit, I should have just left you to the Russians back in forty eight.’
‘But you didn’t.’ ‘Klaus replied.
‘You’ve been planning this from the beginning.’ Frederick speculated. ‘You used Operation Paperclip to gain access to America’s most classified facilities.’
‘We knew the war was lost.’ Brack explained. ‘A plan had been put in motion the moment Hitler invaded Russia. There were those amongst the Fourth Reich who knew we could not sustain a war on two fronts. At the time we lacked the means to overthrow the Fuhrer so a plan was hatched.’
‘The assassination attempt on him.’
‘Yes.’ Klaus replied. ‘Unfortunately it failed, but that didn’t deter us from our goal. We bided our time and when the Allies landed on the Normandy beaches that is when we decided to turn our attention to the Americans. We knew they would be interested in the technology we had developed. When we heard about Operation Paperclip we seized the opportunity and took advantage of American arrogance. Some of us like myself had to stay in Europe planning for the future.’
Cones looked at the man with the gun and smiled. ‘It doesn’t look like you have a future, this place is crawling with Russians.’
‘We escaped Berlin Agent Cones, we will escape Stuttgart. Now I suggest we get moving, our encounter with the Russian back at the apartment block was unforeseen.’
‘You won’t get away with this.’ Frederick stated. ‘Our people will come looking for us.’
The man laughed. ‘Your people, you mean Majestic. I’m afraid Majestic will be a little preoccupied.’
‘What is that supposed to mean.’
‘Please gentlemen let us depart.’ Klaus said.
Before they had chance to move gunshots rang out and the bookcase they were standing next to splintered. The library broke out into a state of panic as people ran screaming trying their best to find cover. Shinski fired two more rounds before sprinting towards the staircase.
Frederick dropped to the floor shielding himself from the splinters.
Cones seized the opportunity drawling his weapon.
Klaus, Brack and the other man took advantage of the ensuing chaos and took off in the opposite direction.
‘This way!’ Frederick ordered.
Both men ran along the balcony towards a door. Cones launched himself at the door crashing through it. Frederick surveyed his surroundings spotting another door.
Shinski raced up the staircase and sprinted along the balcony. He slowed as he reached the door that the two men had just escaped through. Cautiously he peered through the open doorway weapon drawn. Another door was open at the back of a small office that led to a fire escape.
Cones waited until the Russian was on the fire escape before firing a few rounds.
Bullets ricocheted off the metal railings. Shinski leaned over the railing returning fire. Frederick ran towards a narrow alleyway. For a moment he felt exposed as he sprinted across a car park at the back of the library.
A van revved its engine and screeched towards Frederick who had barely enough time to dive out of the way. Cones fired at the vehicle as it sped past. The driver was hit but managed to keep control.
Cones sprinted after it followed by Frederick. The two men emerged onto a main street. Cones automatically spotted three Russian soldiers on patrol. They had just stopped a man and were scrutinising his papers. The van sped off into the distance. One of the soldiers looked across the street and the three men who had just emerged from the alleyway. The soldier broke away and jogged across the street.
‘Shit!’ Cones cursed. ‘We don’t need this.’
‘Halt!’ The Russian soldier called out raising his gun, but Cones was quicker. He fired off a round hitting the soldier in the chest. The other two men across the street turned to see where gunfire had come from. They raised their weapons on seeing the dead soldier on the ground. One of the soldiers pointed at the two men running up the street.
Frederick glanced over his soldier spotting two soldiers in pursuit.
Cones suddenly veered into a bar. Frederick and Klaus followed close behind.
‘Typical of you Agent Cones.’
‘Don’t thank me yet Professor.’ Cones said grabbing a napkin and a bottle of whisky which was placed on the bar. He stuffed half the napkin in the bottle. Cones then snatched a cigarette lighter off a table at which sat a man and a woman. Before the owner of the lighter could complain the two soldiers entered the bar. Cones hurled the bottle at the soldiers and drew his weapon. He fired off one round and the bottle of whisky exploded like a petrol bomb. The two soldiers recoiled as the flaming liquid hit them. Cones squeezed off two more rounds hitting one of the soldiers in the leg. The other soldier dropped to his knees screaming as the hot liquid burned into his face. Cones then ran towards the soldiers and picked up one of the rifles.
Frederick and Cones emerged back onto the street. In the distance sirens could be heard approaching. A group of people had gathered around the soldier who Cones had shot moment earlier.
‘Agent Cones!’ A voice called out.
Cones was caught off guard and stared at Nikita Shinski who stood yards away pointing his gun at him. ‘Say hello to Jack Baker.’
A police car screeched to a halt and two men jumped out of the car with their weapons drawn. ‘Drop your weapon!’ One of them shouted at the Russian.
Shinski stood firm pointing his gun at Cones.’
‘Drop your weapon now!’ The police officer ordered.
Cones seized his chance. ‘This way.’ He pointed towards a taxi on the other side of the street.
Shinski could only look on as the two men climbed into the back of the taxi and sped away.
Chapter 89
British Embassy – Stuttgart – 1:17pm
Saturday 3rd September 1955
‘It’s fortunate you managed to escape with your lives.’ Morris Stanford said.
‘Barely.’ Cones replied.
‘What went wrong?’ Frederick asked.
‘The Fourth Reich, that’s what went wrong.’ Stacy announced.
‘I recognised the man who ambushed us at the library. Me and Jack encountered him when we pulled Klaus out of Germany.’
Stacy nodded. ‘We had no idea he was part of the Fourth Reich. Yesterday that was a major incident at our facility in Groom Lake Nevada. Thirteen former scientists managed a mass break out taking with them technology from the Roswell crash amongst other things.’
‘Klaus revealed they had been planning this since the closing stages of the war.’ Frederick said.
Stacy nodded. ‘We’ve been short sighted regarding former Nazis. Barnes and McCarthy have been obsessed with hunting communists on US soil. Two busy to no tice other saboteurs within the ranks.’
‘And now Klaus and Brack have escaped.’ Cones added.
‘What about the speech Klaus gave us a few days ago regarding this red matter?’ Asked Frederick.
‘We have made a few enquiries but we’ve yet to find anything.’ Stanford replied.
‘Majestic is nursing a bloody nose from all this. It will take time to discover if any of what Klaus claimed is real or a pile of horseshit.’
‘You are both being shipped back to England. For the moment that where you will stay until we can sort this mess out.’ Stanford revealed.
<
br /> Chapter 90
Entrapment
Whitehall – London – 11:23am
Thursday 15th September 1955
Morris Stanford smiled as Frederick entered his office. ‘Ralph glad to see you’ve sorted things out with Elizabeth.’
‘It’s slow going at the moment, we’re working hard to put the Paris incident behind us.’ Frederick felt guilty that he had just lied to Stanford. Since the incident at Lake Windermere Elizabeth had talked about nothing else. She had even brought a book on the subject of flying saucers.
‘Your message sounded urgent.’
Stanford handed Frederick a copy of the Daily Mirror. ‘The Press have been going nuts regarding a rather spectacular flying saucer sighting off the coast of Great Yarmouth. We’re a bit slow off the mark with this story, it’s been running for a week now. The Sunday Dispatch ran a lengthy article regarding this particular sighting. Hugh Dowding gave a lengthy interview regarding what flying saucers could be.’
Frederick looked at the picture on the front of the newspaper of a large saucer shaped object hovering just above the ocean surface.
The BBC has been covering this story along with the new television channel ITV. Journalists have flocked to Great Yarmouth hoping the object returns.’
‘It’s unusual for the newspapers to make such a fuss; I thought their interest in flying saucers had died down.’
‘I think Ralph we can agree that they’re just waiting for the next opportunity to jump on the flying saucer band wagon.’
Frederick nodded.
‘General Stacy has asked that you go to Great Yarmouth and interview the man who took this photograph.’
‘Sounds like a straightforward assignment, I take it Agent Cones will be going along for the ride.’
Stanford shook his head. ‘You’ll be going alone on this one, it’s just routine, interview this man and then return straight away.’
Frederick stood. ‘Right then I’ll get started.’
‘I have scheduled an interview with Lord Dowding.’ Stanford checked his watch, you meet with him in an hour.’
‘What are you hoping to gain from interviewing Dowding?’
‘I just want to see what he knows.’
Frederick nodded.
‘Well I won’t keep you old boy. Say hello to Elizabeth and the children for me.’
‘Will do.’ Frederick turned and walked out of the office.
Chapter 91
The Dorchester Hotel – Park Lane – London – 12:32pm
‘Professor Frederick.’ Dowding greeted.
‘Thank you for agreeing to meet with me Lord Dowding.’
Dowding smiled. ‘I couldn’t resist, your reputation precedes you.’
‘My reputation?’
Dowding continued to smile. ‘Come now Professor you are well known in certain circles. The Government’s top man for investigating UFO sightings, encountering strange beings. You really think you can hide something like that.’
Frederick ignored Dowding’s comment. ‘I read your article in the Sunday Despatch. You gave quite an extensive interview regarding the matter of flying saucers.’ Frederick pulled a piece of paper out of his inside pocket and unfolded it. ‘You were quoted saying in the Sunday dispatch, of course UFOs are real and interplanetary.’
‘It’s something I have an interest in. Don’t tell me I’ve ruffled a few feathers at the top.’
‘Not exactly but there are those who would like to know why you gave an extensive interview.’
‘Because of what our boys witnessed during the war.’
‘Foo fighters?’ Frederick questioned
‘Amongst other things yes.’
‘Other things?’
‘I know of one pilot who claims his plane was snatched out of the air.’
‘Who?’
‘Wouldn’t that be telling.’ Dowding grinned. ‘I’ll be blunt with you Professor, this is a short meeting. The only reason I granted you and audience today was to send a message back to your superiors.’
‘Go on.’
‘Lord Mountbatten told me about your meeting some time back.’
‘I see.’
Tell the Americans this, they are welcome to use our air bases if it aids in the protection of Great Britain. As for matters regarding flying saucers that should not be down to a few individuals who think that they can do as they bloody well please. The Flying saucer working party is to be reinstated.’
‘You know the Americans won’t like that.’
‘Most notably Jacob Barnes.’ Dowding added. ‘We are not your enemies Professor, but the people deserve and explanation. One day they will know the truth about flying saucers.’
‘With all due respect Lord Dowding, if you have seen the things I have seen then you’d think twice about wanting to tell the people.’
Then please enlighten me Professor, is the truth about UFOs that terrible it can never be revealed?’
Frederick didn’t have an answer.
‘I thought so.’ Dowding said getting to his feet.’
Emneth – Cambridgeshire – 7:34pm
Elizabeth looked at the newspaper her husband had just given her. ‘Are you sure this is real
Ralph?’
‘There’s only one way to find out, I leave for Yarmouth in the morning.’
Elizabeth nodded. ‘What do your colleagues at Cambridge think of this?’
Frederick took a deep breath. ‘Actually I prefer not to tell them. They can be a bit stuffy over this kind of thing. I have already had Norman Hinshelwood and Chester Osborne breathing down my neck.’
Elizabeth broke out into a smile as she read the article. ‘I still think it’s unbelievable what you are doing. I think about what we saw all the time.’
‘Which is why we need to keep this to ourselves.’
She looked at her husband. ‘The world deserves to know about this Ralph.’
Frederick nodded. ‘I feel exactly the same way.’ He took a deep breath. ‘But given what we witnessed, what I have witnessed over the past few years I don’t think people are ready to accept the truth.’
Elizabeth nodded. ‘When I was at the church yesterday I found it hard to take in what the Reverend Awdry was talking about.’
‘I remember my first encounter at Church Fenton a few years ago, it left me spellbound. And the realisation that we are not alone in this universe. It has challenged every scientific principle I know.’
Elizabeth stepped up to her husband and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Be careful tomorrow Ralph.’
Frederick looked at her. ‘There’s no need to be worried darling it’s just a routine interview. I’ll be home in time for dinner tomorrow evening.’
Chapter 92
Great Yarmouth – Norfolk – 1:49pm
Friday 16th September 1955
Frederick stared at the photograph that Gregory Taylor had given him.
‘It was just hovering just beyond the pier, bold as brass.’ Taylor explained.
‘How long was it stationary for?’ Frederick asked.
‘A good five minutes.’ Taylor answered before handing Frederick four more photographs.
I only had a few shots left on my camera and I didn’t have any spare film.’
Frederick looked at each photograph individually impressed by the clarity of the pictures.
‘You’re a remarkable photographer Mr Taylor.’
‘Thank you, I served in the photographic core during the war. We were the first to enter some of the camps the German’s ran.’
Frederick looked up at him. ‘It must have been awful.’
Taylor nodded. ‘A lot of the photos I took were used at Nuremberg. Bastards every last one of them what they did to those people. They should have all been hanged, but some of them got off.’
Frederick nodded.
Taylor looked at him. ‘Which newspaper did you say you were from?’
Frederick was caught off guard by the question. ‘I’m from the Cambrid
geshire Gazette.’
‘Hmm, never heard of that one.’ Taylor replied.
‘It’s a new publication.’ Frederick responded quickly. Checking his watch and then nodded. ‘If there’s nothing else Mr Taylor then I need to get back to the office. Lots of deadlines to meet and all that.
Taylor nodded.
Whitehall – London – 10:00am Monday 19th September
General Stacy tossed the newspaper across the table. It came to a halt just in front of Frederick who glared at the newspaper headline on the front page of the London evening Examiner.
Government scientist investigates hoax UFO sighting
Frederick took a deep breath.
‘Looks like you were set up Professor.’ Stacy commented.
‘Bloody press!’ Stanford seethed looking at the paper. ‘You’d think they have better things to do.’
‘This isn’t going to look good in the eyes of the dean at Cambridge.’ Frederick said. ‘Norman Hinshelwood will also be baying for blood. He’s already warned me about getting involved with UFOs.’
‘I have scheduled an interview with the Editor of the London Evening Examiner. You and Mr Stanford will meet with him at eleven o’clock this morning.’ Stacy revealed.
Frederick gave him a sharp look. ‘That will only serve to enflame the situation.’
Stacy shook his head. ‘This will be strictly off the record.’
‘I’m not sure this is a good idea.’ Stanford remarked. ‘The press obviously want to catch us out, sending both myself and the Professor is very risky.’
‘Majestic are eager to do a deal with the press regarding UFO sightings. They have been working on a deal with several papers in the United States. Jacob Barnes believes that reports from the public about flying saucers is a good way of spotting a hoax story.’
‘A deal?’ Frederick said.
Stacy nodded. ‘Payment for any UFO story that comes across the press’ desk.’
‘Are you mad!?’ Stanford protested. ‘You can’t possibly expect her Majesties Government to pay the newspapers to keep quiet about UFOs.’
The Angel Conspiracy (The Angel Cronicles Book 2) Page 23