‘Calm down Mr Stanford I don’t expect your government to pay anything. Majestic is footing the bill.’
‘And what about the President, what’s his opinion on the matter?’ Frederick asked.
Stacy took his time to come up with an answer. ‘The President will be informed accordingly.’
‘In other words general he doesn’t know a thing.’
‘We are not in the business of revealing everything Mr Stanford. Communism is rife throughout the United States we have to keep our cards close to our chest.’
‘Even if it means withholding information from the President.’ Frederick added.
‘Gentlemen I will not get dragged into an argument on who has rights to very sensitive information.’ Stacy said sternly.
Frederick and Stanford glanced at each other.
‘You will meet with the editor of the Examiner along with a number of other newspaper people to discuss the release of information concerning UFOs. Majestic will take care of the rest.’ Stacy got to his feet and left.
‘There could be more to this than meets the eye.’ Frederick said after Stacy had left the room.
‘How so?
‘My interview with Lord Dowding didn’t exactly go smoothly on Thursday. It seems that the flying saucer working party is up and running again.’
‘What the hell does Dowding think he’s doing?’
‘I know he’s not fond of us being in bed with the Americans regarding the flying saucer phenomenon.’
‘I’d hardly call is a phenomenon old boy, not with all you have been through.’ Stanford checked his watch. ‘Better get moving don’t want to be late for our execution.’
Chapter 93
London Evening Examiner – Fleet Street – London – 11:02am.
Frederick glared across the table at Greg Taylor the man he had met a few days earlier.
The Examiner’s editor Bill Mirren was sat next to him. The editors from The Times, the Guardian and the Daily Mirror and the News of the world as well as the Sunday Dispatch were also present.
‘Gentlemen thank you for agreeing to meet us.’ Mirren said politely.
‘I don’t see that we had much of a choice.’ Frederick said still looking at Taylor.
‘Giving me the evil eye just goes to prove your guilt Professor.’ Taylor said.
‘You set me up.’ Frederick Barked. ‘Why?’
‘We basically wanted to see if the government has an official body that investigates UFO sightings.’
‘Your encounter in Prague with our journalist several months back must have made you aware that the press have a vested interest in flying saucers.’ Alfred Powell Wadsworth editor of the Guardian said.
Frederick looked at him ‘That encounter you speak of may have cost a man his life.’
‘Enough!’ Stanford stated. ‘What exactly are we doing here?’
‘We want to know what’s going on regarding flying saucers.’ Reg Cudlipp, editor of the News of the World said. ‘There is nothing going on gentlemen.’ Stanford said.
‘We beg to differ.’ William Haley, editor of the Times newspaper said indicating to his colleagues. ‘The press have been receiving a steady amount of correspondence from the British public regarding flying saucers.’
‘Flying saucers gentlemen are a product of both science fiction and an over active imagination.’ Frederick said.
‘Yet you have been at the centre of a number of stories involving flying saucers Professor Frederick.’ Mirren pointed out. ‘You were interviewed on national television a few years ago denouncing UFOs. Yet here you are investigating such matters.’ Mirren pointed to the article on the front page of the Examiner.
Frederick looked at the photograph and then at Taylor. ‘How did you manage to fake this?’
‘You’ll be surprised what you can do these days Professor.’ Taylor replied with a smile.
‘I have to say, I am surprised that the head of British intelligence is here.’ Wadsworth said. ‘Are UFOs considered as a threat to our national security?’
‘As head of British intelligence Mr Wadsworth I have to keep an open mind.’ Stanford replied.
‘So what you’re saying is that there is substance to the flying saucer phenomenon.’ Cudlipp said.
Stanford took a deep breath. ‘Her Majesties government does receive reports from the general public regarding flying saucers.’
‘I knew it!’ Taylor said with an air of excitement.
‘W do you do with these reports?’ Mirren asked.
‘They are filed away for analysis.’
Mirren looked at Frederick. ‘I take it you analyse these UFO reports.’
‘I’m afraid gentlemen we are not at liberty to divulge information regarding this delicate matter.’ Frederick looked at Charles Eade editor of the Sunday Despatch. ‘Quite the interview you landed with Lord Dowding.’
Eade smiled back. ‘As a matter of fact Professor Frederick it was Lord Dowding who came to see us.’
‘I find it hard that former head of the Royal Air Force would just walk into a newspaper office and talk openly about UFOs.’ Stanford remarked.
‘What is that supposed to mean exactly?’ Eade replied.
‘I mean it’s a common fact that newspapers have a knack for coaxing information out of people.’
‘If you’re suggesting that we used some kind of blackmail to get him to talk about UFOs then you’re very much mistaken Mr Stanford. Lord Dowding came to us of his own free will.’
‘Is that what we’re doing here?’ Stanford interrupted. ‘You plan to blackmail us into giving you answers.’
‘Blackmail is such a harsh word.’ Haley said.
Stanford thought for a moment. ‘What about if we offered to pay you for any flying saucer stories that come across your desks.’
‘You don’t expect us to just hand over information relating to what could turn out to be one of the greatest discoveries of all time do you? The fact that we are not only alone but we are being visited by beings from another world.’ Cudlipp said.
‘What about for the sake of national security.’ Stanford replied. ‘This country spent six years fighting off an invasion and now we have the Soviets breathing down our necks.’
‘Are you saying that flying saucers are planning to invade our planet?’ Haley asked.
‘What I’m saying gentlemen that it would be beneficial to all parties concerned if we worked together on the matter of flying saucers.’
‘And what about the public, don’t they have a right to know.’ Wadsworth said.
‘Only if it’s not blown out of proportion. The public can be drip fed information, just enough to keep them happy.’
‘So you expect us to just hand over information.’ Haley said.
‘You will be paid a fee for anything we may find interesting.’ ‘And where exactly is the money coming from?’ Mirren asked.
Stanford looked at him. ‘Don’t worry about that.’
‘If you’re willing to pay the press to keep a lid on this, then there must be more to the flying saucer problem than you’re admitting.’ Taylor said.
‘At this time Mr Taylor we’re admitting nothing. All I’m doing is trying to prevent a national panic.’
A moment of silence followed before the editor of the Guardian spoke. ‘You say that the public are being drip fed information concerning flying saucers. Why don’t you let us do the same.’
‘How do you mean.’ Stanford asked.
‘At the moment any official explanation concerning flying saucers is coming from you chaps. That fact alone suggest that you take flying saucers seriously. If you want to keep flying saucers a secret then why not hand information over to us. Then we will feed it to the public, add a bit of humour to the articles so that people don’t take them too serious.’
‘You expect us to hand over sensitive information to the press.’ Stanford scoffed.
‘I’m not saying that you hand over anything too classified.’ Bill Mirren ask
ed. ‘But sightings made by military personnel.’
‘It’s a thought.’ Stanford replied. ‘But we will have to exclude the names of military personnel.’
‘Then any information you hand over would be useless.’ Eade argued. ‘You could hand us a load of codswallop for all we know.’
‘Take it or leave it.’ Stanford said defiantly.
All the editors exchanged glances. ‘We need time to agree on this matter.’
Stanford nodded eagerly. ‘I suggest we leave it for now.’ Mirren said. ‘I’m sure you’ll come up with a plan.’
‘Have you taken leave of your senses?’ Frederick protested as they stood outside the Examiner.
‘No Ralph I haven’t.’
‘Handing over UFO reports to the newspapers isn’t exactly a way to keep a lid on things.’
Stanford smiled. ‘My dear Ralph do you honestly expect me to hand over every scrap of information we have?’
‘Ok, so what are you planning to do?’
‘If the press are hungry for stories concerning flying saucers then that’s what we’ll give them.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘I’m talking about disinformation dear boy.’ Stanford said.
‘Disinformation? But you heard them they said they won’t just accept anything off us.’
Stanford nodded. ‘Those idiots back there will believe anything we tell them. If they can fake a photograph I’m sure we can find someone to fake UFO reports. They go about their usual business of sensationalism and exaggerate stories on UFOs, thus giving the illusion that the public are being informed. At the same time the genuine reports are kept from public scrutiny and the eyes of the press.’
Frederick understood, he smiled. ‘Very shrewd of you Morris.’
Chapter 94
Trinity College – Cambridge – 9:59am
Thursday 22nd September
As Frederick made his way down the corridor he couldn’t help noticing the amount of students looking at him. Some of them smirked as they passed him by.
His secretary looked up as he entered her office space. She looked towards the door of his private office. ‘Mr Hinshelwood and Professor Osborne are waiting to see you Professor.’
Frederick took a deep breath and then walked towards his office door.
‘Ah Ralph, there you are.’ Hinshelwood greeted. A copy of the Daily Mirror was on Frederick’s desk. ‘I thought we had an agreement.’
‘Agreement.’ Frederick stated.
Hinshelwood nodded. ‘You agreed to stay away from any stories about flying saucers.’
‘I didn’t realise we had an agreement on such matters.’
‘You’re the talk of Cambridge Ralph.’ Osborne said. ‘Or should I say laughing stock.’
‘You realise that stories like this run the risk of making us all look like fools.’ Hinshelwood remarked.
‘And it looks as if you’ve already been made a fool.’ Osborne indicated to the newspaper.
‘As from now Ralph, you can consider yourself under investigation.’
‘Investigation!’ Frederick stated staring at Hinshelwood. ‘For what exactly?’
‘For dragging this college into this farce.’ Hinshelwood stood. ‘I thought the Royal Society had made it clear to you regarding matters of this nature. I’d be very careful where you step from now on Ralph.’
‘How dare you threaten me!’ Frederick shouted. ‘You talk of honesty, why don’t we talk about your role in that orphanage fiasco a few months back. What happened to those children and Doctor Merkel?’
Osborne threw Hinshelwood a sharp look.
Frederick smiled. ‘I see you haven’t told everyone about your moonlighting. Let me make myself perfectly clear Mr Hinshelwood. If I get as much as a whiff that the Royal society is keeping tabs on me I will expose your connection with Merkel whether I have proof.’ Hinshelwood turned and left the office. Osborne remained rooted to the spot.
‘How long do you plan to be his minion Chester?’
‘It’s not out of choice Ralph.’
Frederick looked to see if Hinshelwood was out of earshot. ‘Congratulations by the way.’
‘For what?’
‘I hear they’ve reinstated the Flying saucer working party. I was expecting you to be back on the panel.’
‘Now I’m not.’ Osborne barked before leaving Frederick’s office.
Trafalgar Square – London
Friday 23rd September 1955
Bill Mirren sat watching the pigeons as they looked for any scraps of food that people had dropped.
The man sat down on the bench next to him. ‘Are you going to accept Stanford’s offer.’
‘Of course not, we’re not fools, we know he will just hand over a load of rubbish’ Besides the information the conglomerate had obtained over the past half century is more than enough. We receive reports every day of people claiming to have had encounters with aliens.
The man handed Mirren a file. ‘The latest UFO reports, this should keep your little group happy.’
Mirren took the file and stood.
Chapter 95
Conduit
Whitehall – London – 1:04pm
Tuesday 4th October 1955
Frederick stared at the newspaper headline before briefly making eye contact with Cones. ‘Is this a joke?’
‘We want you to go and investigate this story.’ Stacy replied.
‘This is mumbo jumbo, surely you can see that.’ He said throwing the newspaper back onto the table. ‘It’s a waste of time and resources.’
‘Majestic feels that this is something worth looking into.’
Frederick pointed at the newspaper article. ‘This is not unexplained, this is nothing but a cheap parlour trick.’
‘That’s what you claimed in regards to that young girl Jessica Price.’ Stacy pointed out.
‘Despite what we have seen over the past few years, how can you take this seriously?’
Stacy remained unfazed by Frederick’s tone. ‘Need I remind you Professor Frederick that you answer to Majestic.’
‘And what about the Angel Committee?’
‘There is no Angel Committee anymore Professor.’
‘Outrageous!’ Frederick shouted. ‘It’s because of the Angel Committee that have allowed Majestic to continue with their operations in Britain and Europe. Malcolm Chambers made a deal with you because he thought it would be beneficial.’
‘Malcolm Chambers is dead Professor.’ Stacy replied bluntly. ‘Majestic now calls the shots.’
Frederick stared hard at Stacy before getting up and heading towards the door.
MI6 Headquarters London – 3:01pm
‘Did you know about this?’ Frederick said to Morris Stanford.
Stanford eventually nodded. ‘I was told by Stacy last week.’
‘Last week!’ Frederick raised his voice. ‘And you failed to tell me.’
‘Stacy ordered me not to say anything.’
‘Since when did you start taking orders from the Americans?’
‘I know how you must be feeling Ralph but the Americans are pouring a huge amount of money into military operations in Europe. Right now the Russians are mobilising. Ever since the Warsaw Pact was signed they’ve made a huge effort turning the annexed countries into impregnable fortresses. The American are nervous that they’ve got an itchy nuclear trigger finger.’
Frederick took a deep breath. ‘Malcolm would have never let this happen, he wanted to keep the Angel Committee going.’
‘I know.’ Stanford said mournfully. ‘But we have to face facts, the Yanks are holding all cards at the moment. All we have is a handful of reports you’ve compiled over the last few years. Majestic has all the physical evidence, the Roswell wreckage, and other things. Perhaps now that Dowding has reinstated the Flying saucer working party there may be a possibility that they may find something we can bargain with.’
‘I didn’t expect you to come out in support of Dowding and the f
lying saucer working party.’ Frederick said.
Stanford looked at him. ‘Right now Dowding and his team may ben our only hope of gaining some control. He’s not the type to jest let the likes of Jacob Barnes March in and just take over.’
Frederick nodded taking a few moments to gather his thoughts. ‘I take it you know about our latest assignment.’
Stanford nodded slowly. ‘The young girl in Ireland.’
‘Who claims to be possessed.’ Frederick added.
Stanford fought the urge to smile but failed. ‘I’m sorry Ralph, I did mention to General Stacy that you would be difficult in investigating this case.’
‘The old man set up the Angel Committee primarily to investigate UFO sightings, not to traipse all over the country interviewing every charlatan wanting five minutes of fame.’
‘Unfortunately with Churchill out of office we have no one to back us. It’s the reason why the Yanks have shut down the Angel committee.’
Frederick rose. ‘Very well then, if the Americans want to waste our time then I’ll make sure I do a bloody good job.’
Chapter 96
Limerick – Republic of Ireland – 12:14pm
Friday 7th October 1955
‘Two of your finest rooms please my good man.’ Frederick said cheerfully to the Hotel receptionist.
Cones eyed him cautiously.
‘What?’ Frederick said noting his look.
Cones held his hands up. ‘I didn’t say anything.’ He said with an innocent tone.
‘May as well make the most of this jolly, since our assignments have changed to a more bizarre nature.’
‘Believe me Professor Majestic have sent me on all kinds of wild goose chases over the years.’ Cones said. ‘This is just another day at the office.’
‘Well let’s hope it’s not too long of a day.’
After they had checked in to their rooms Frederick and Cones headed out to the house where Megan Riley lived. Frederick turned to Cones. ‘Be polite and take notes, try to look as if you’re interested.’
Cones nodded.
The Angel Conspiracy (The Angel Cronicles Book 2) Page 24