Codename Angel (The Angel Chronicles Book 1)

by Jason Chapman

  ‘We are also monitoring information being fed to the press.’ William Hearst said. ‘Any stories that come in involving UFO encounters will be scrutinised before any article is written. Our approach to the way we publish articles involving UFOs will be in a manner that no one will take them seriously. Television news programs will also follow suit.’

  ‘That’s just the American Press.’ Frederick pointed out. ‘The Press back in Britain seem to love a good flying saucer story.’

  ‘As do the American Press Professor.’ Hearst said. ‘I have a meeting with several British Newspaper editors later this week to discuss the way information is handled regarding reports of UFOs.’

  Senator Barnes took a deep breath. ‘I think after that we should break for a spot of lunch gentlemen, after which we will go in to detail about what we’ve already discussed.’

  Chapter 105

  Crossroads

  7:46pm

  Frederick opened the door. ‘Professor Einstein!’ He said with surprise.

  The 75 year old physicist slipped in as quietly as possible. ‘I’m afraid time is of the essence Professor Frederick. We are not supposed to have any contact with each other outside the conference room and all of us are returning home first thing tomorrow.’

  ‘Of course.’ Frederick replied.

  ‘The Galileo order has concerns concerning Senator Barnes. It seems he is trying to manipulate whoever he can to keep information from UFOs escaping into the general population.’

  ‘I have to admit I had doubts about him the first time we met, and Dr Rosen warned me, as well as one of my colleagues back in England. He warned me of the dangers of getting involved with him.

  ‘The Order have many misgivings about this man, and this conference today was just to test the water with your Government.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Senator Barnes wants a gateway into Europe and he sees Great Britain as his way in. Unfortunately as with Doctor Rosen my knowledge on his plans are limited. What the order needs is someone to gain his trust.’

  Frederick nodded. ‘I take it you have me in mind.’

  ‘From what I have heard Professor senator Barnes is interested in you because of your personal encounters with the entity you call Janus.’

  ‘I’d hardly call them personal encounters; I’ve run into this Janus by accident.’

  ‘Maybe so Professor, but Barnes wants to gain your trust in order for you to gain him access to this Janus, should you encounter him again.’

  ‘I don’t see how that could be possible.’ Frederick said. ’I have noticed that Barnes has shown an interest in my work.’

  ‘Jacob Barnes interest in you goes back several years.’

  ‘Really!’ Frederick remarked.

  ‘When the Majestic group was established in 1947, one man opposed Barnes at every turn. Former Secretary of Defence James Forrestal. President Truman appointed Forrestal to pick the men who make up Majestic. In 1949 he committed suicide.’

  Frederick looked at Einstein. ‘Something tells me that this man was aided on his way.’

  Einstein nodded. ‘I was in a meeting with the Vannevar Bush and Jacob Barnes just after Forrestal died. Barnes asked us if we had ever heard of anyone called Janus or Frederick.’

  Frederick felt any icy shiver race down his back.

  ‘Barnes said nothing else, but the Order believes that Forrestal may have encountered Janus before his death. I know you have reservations Professor but we need you to gain the trust of Jacob Barnes. We need to know what he’s planning.’

  Frederick looked at Einstein, eventually nodding. ‘Ok, but it will take time, we have our differences.’

  ‘I understand Professor, Rothschild will contact you soon enough.’ Einstein shook Frederick’s hand before turning and heading back towards the door.

  Chapter 106

  Tuesday 4th May 1954 – 8:26am

  ‘Well Professor I hope you have found yesterday interesting.’ Senator Barnes enquired.

  ‘I admit your plan to educate the population is ambitious, however over time I believe people can be educated in matters of science, and of course what lies beyond.’

  Barnes smiled at Frederick.’ ‘You and I are alike Professor.’

  ‘I seriously doubt that senator.’ Frederick said.

  ‘We both like to say what’s on our minds; it’s a quality I admire in a man with your stature. I’m sure we can work together on future projects and benefit.’

  Frederick thought about what Einstein told him the previous evening. ‘Yes senator I think I am beginning to understand you now.’ Frederick offered his hand. ‘Until next time.’

  Highclare House – Surrey – 2:04pm

  Wednesday 5th May 1954

  ‘Educate the public.’ Chambers remarked.

  Frederick nodded. ‘It’s a bold plan, and will take years for people to become familiar with science.’

  ‘Do you think it will work?’

  ‘From what I have seen people get really excited when they read stories of UFO encounters in the newspapers. This is a new aspect of the press that people are getting used to. Perhaps after many years of exposure people will get to the point where they will read such stories and shrug their shoulders.’

  Chambers nodded slowly taking in a lung full of air looking at Frederick. ‘Good work Ralph.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘I want you to take time off from the committee, you’ve been active for a few months now, and I want you to take a few weeks, to catch up with Elizabeth and Susan and the child you’re both expecting.’

  ‘Ok.’ Frederick replied.

  ‘You’re very important to the Committee so it’s best If you have a break so that you can recharge your batteries. Keep hold of that report I gave you last week and keep it safe.’

  Chapter 107

  The Hunt

  RAF Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland – 8:49pm

  Monday 14th June 1954

  David Bride had been staring at the object on the radar screen for several minutes. It was moving fast, coming in off the North Sea. Bride mulled the situation over in his mind, he was dreading having to pick up the phone and call it in as a UFO. The Radar operator had attended a briefing a few weeks earlier about such occurrences. His commanding officer gave a strict talk on unidentified radar contact protocol.

  ‘If you pick up anything which you think is out of the ordinary.’ Group captain Robert Mason rumbled. ‘And you are sure it couldn’t be some sort of aircraft, natural phenomena or some other man made aerial object then, and only then, are you to call me. I will not have this base brought into disrepute, or have us labelled as a bunch of flying saucer loonies, is that clear.’

  Finally Bride reached over and picked up the telephone dialling quickly.

  ‘Mason.’

  ‘Sir we have unidentified air traffic coming in over the North Sea.’

  Mason clenched the receiver for several seconds. ‘I’ll be right there.’

  Bride continued to stare at the radar failing to notice his commanding officer enter the room until he was stood behind him.

  ‘I’m sorry to call this in as unidentified sir but I have checked and double checked there’s no way it’s one of ours.’

  Mason drew a deep breath, nodding slowly.

  ‘It’s been descending at a fast rate for a few minutes now, just passed over Inverness, shit.’ Bride seethed. ‘It’s just dropped below radar.’

  Trinity College – Cambridge – 1:24pm

  Tuesday 22nd June 1954

  Frederick looked up from the paper he was reading to see Morris Stanford and Malcolm Chambers stood in his office doorway. He smiled and stood. ‘Gentlemen what brings you to my humble place of employment?’

  Both men stepped into the office; Chambers closed the door behind him and sat down wincing.

  ‘Everything ok Malcolm?’

  Chambers nodded. ‘Yes I’m fine Ralph, just been getting a few twinges that’s all.’


  Stanford wasted no time in getting to the point. ‘Just over two weeks ago our radar net in Scotland tracked an object coming in from over the North Sea. It descended rapidly and dropped below our radar net.’

  Chambers produced a newspaper and handed it to Frederick. ‘We thought that was the end of the matter, however this newspaper article was published the day before yesterday.’

  Frederick looked at the headline on top of the article.

  ‘Mysterious lights spook local residents’

  Strange lights have been reported by people living around the Loch Ness area. Hotel owner Mrs Jean McCloud told journalists that strange lights have been seen beneath the surface of the Loch, which has also been credited as being the home to the famous Loch Ness Monster.

  Frederick looked at both men, who were already smiling back at him. ‘You can’t be serious, if you think I’m going all the way up there on some sort of wild goose chase you can forget it.’

  ‘I told you he’d say that.’ Stanford jibed, looking at Chambers.

  ‘Don’t think of it as a wild goose chase old boy.’ Chambers said. ‘Think of it as the first serious scientific investigation into the Loch Ness Monster. Besides Morris here has offered to go along for the ride.’

  ‘Yes, I thought it was about time I stretched my legs.’ Stanford added with a dry tone.

  ‘Aren’t we better off sending Agent Cones, this sounds like his sort of thing.’

  ‘Agent Cones is in America at the moment,’

  ‘You know this is going to turn out to be a load of old codswallop don’t you, not to mention the fact that the loch will be swarming with Nessie hunters.’ Frederick complained handing the paper back to Chambers.

  ‘Probably, and normally I would agree with you, but there’s still the matter of the radar contact. If something has gone down in that loch then we need to be there.’

  Frederick nodded slowly. ‘Ok, but you owe me if this turns into a farce.’

  ‘Good.’ said Chambers. ‘You’ll both fly up to RAF Buchan the day after tomorrow and interview the ground crew who reported the sighting, before heading up to Loch Ness.’ Chambers smiled at Frederick. ‘Make sure you come home in one piece Ralph, wouldn’t want old Nessie making a snack out of you.’

  Chapter 108

  Loch Ness, Scotland – 2:23pm

  Thursday 24th June 1954

  Frederick took in a lung of highland air and looked across the Loch. Surrounded by high mountain peaks. Frederick found himself wishing Liz and Susan was there. He thought it over for a few seconds before deciding that he would bring them both here for a summer break together with their new baby.

  ‘Ten shillings.’ Stanford grumbled as he returned from a boathouse. ‘It costs for the hire of a boat.’

  ‘With all the fuss these sightings are attracting the locals are bound to cash in. Did you see how many idiots were back at the hotel?’

  ‘I saw, which is why we have to maintain a low profile, remember your cover story.’ Stanford reminded. ‘You are a writer and I’m your research assistant, we’re here at the loch investigating the Loch Ness monster phenomena.’ Stanford counted the coins he had. ‘Ten bloody shillings for that boat.’ He moaned again.

  ‘You and Malcolm were the ones who wanted to check this out, so there’s no point in complaining about the cost of things. I bet that ten year old bottle of brandy I have sitting in my office back in Cambridge says this turns out to be a wild goose chase.’

  ‘You’re on.’ Stanford beamed. ‘Our vessel is called the Rival three, fortunately me being an old Navy hand I was able to convince the owner to take the boat out alone.’ He glanced at the change again in his hand. ‘Which is probably why it cost ten shillings.’

  ‘Now that we’ve secured a boat we’ll head back to the hotel and have a little chat with Mrs McCloud, the sooner we get this over with the sooner we can go home.’

  Highlander Guesthouse 3:45pm

  Mrs McCloud sat across the table from Frederick and Stanford staring at them intently over her turtle shell glasses.

  Stanford smiled at her. ‘Now Mrs McCloud why don’t you tell us the first time you saw these lights.’

  The 67 year old widow composed herself. ‘Well now let me see.’ She said with a quiet and soft Scottish accent. ‘It would have been a week and a half ago. I was out walking Bess, that’s my dog, along the Loch shore. I like to go out just as it’s getting dark. My late husband used to do it, but now that he’s not here I do it. The first time it happened Bess started to bark at the lake. I looked across and saw nothing at first, and Bess stopped barking so we carried on along the shore.’

  Frederick looked at his watch and noted the disapproving look on Stanford’s face.

  ‘A short time later.’ Mrs McCloud continued. ‘Bess started to bark again. As I looked across the loch I saw that the water was glowing.’

  ‘Glowing?’ Frederick stated.

  She nodded. ‘Yes, something just below the surface, it was hard to make out the shape. Bess continued to bark, and I felt a strange tingly sensation, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.’

  Frederick and Stanford glanced at each other.

  ‘Then all of a sudden the object just shot off.’ Mrs McCloud continued. ‘Bess stopped barking and we finished our walk.’

  ‘And did you see this object again?’ Frederick asked.

  She shook her head. ‘No, but the water horse has been seen about. I caught a glimpse of her the other night under the full moon, which is unusual because she doesn’t usually like the full moon, she likes things nice and dark. Robert McFadden saw her last night, I was talking to him this morning at the post office.’

  Frederick took a deep breath. ‘Well thank you for that account.’ He said quickly before Mrs McCloud had time to say anything else. ‘Do you know anyone else who has seen these lights?’

  She thought for a moment. ‘Well, there’s the chap I just mentioned Mr McFadden, and then there’s Willy Tennant, and Tom Clemance, you’ll probably find them all at the local inn just down the road.’

  Stanford nodded. ‘Thank you Mrs McCloud you’ve been most helpful in our research.’

  The woman nodded back. ‘Well I suppose I better start dinner for you gentlemen and the other guests.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Frederick gestured.

  Mrs McCloud got up and left the dining room. ‘Still think it’s a load of old codswallop?’ Stanford asked, his mind clearly on the whiskey Frederick had bet him.

  ‘Yes I do and I know where you’re going with this, the static discharge she describes has been a constant fact with flying saucer encounters, but she also added the bit about.’ Frederick paused. ‘The Loch Ness monster or the water horse.’ Frederick said in a mocking Scottish accent.

  ‘Well I suggest we wash up for dinner then head down to the pub for a chat with the locals about what they have seen. Then we’ll charter the boat later on for a spot of late night fishing.’

  ‘Ok but if I have to listen to any stories about Nessie all night long then the bets off.’

  Stanford frowned at the thought of not getting his hands on that brandy.

  Chapter 109

  Old Friends

  The Weighed Anchor Inn – 8:13pm

  Stanford and Frederick met outside the guesthouse and made their way down to the local pub. A mixture of locals and visitors mingled. The atmosphere was lively and laughter was the order of the night.

  Frederick and Stanford fought their way to the bar through the throng of people. ‘I didn’t expect it to be this packed.’ Stanford shouted over the din of the crowded bar.

  Frederick looked behind him shaking his head. ‘There’s no way we’ll find the three men Mrs McCloud mentioned in all this.’

  The barman placed two pints of locally brewed Highland beer on the bar in front of Frederick who handed over the money. Stanford picked up his glass and took an approving sip. ‘I suggest we go back outside, I noticed some benches overlooking the loch.’

&nbs
p; Frederick nodded, turned around and walked straight into a short man who had his back to him. The man stumbled forward a few steps spilling his drink.

  ‘I’m so sorry.’ Frederick apologized as the man turned to face him.

  ‘You!’ the man exclaimed.

  Frederick felt his heart drop into the pit of his stomach. ‘Uh.... hello there.’ Is all he could manage.

  The man frantically tapped the shoulder of the man standing next to him who turned. Fred Barnet grabbed Frederick’s hand shaking it rigorously. ‘What happened to you last year at Mildenhall?’ he asked with a young child’s enthusiasm.

  Frederick struggled to get in character. ‘I was released by the Americans, they gave me a slap on the wrist and told me not to be naughty again.’

  ‘So were we, we couldn’t believe it.’ Barnet laughed. ‘Albert was shot in the leg, but he’s fine now.’ He then looked at Stanford. ‘Are you with him?’ he said, offering his hand.

  Stanford nodded. ‘Uh yes I am.’ He replied shaking Barnet’s hand. ‘We were about to step outside, it’s a bit too crowded in here.’

  ‘Excellent idea, we’ll join you.’ Barnet announced.

  All four men seated themselves on a bench which was attached to a table overlooking the Loch. Fred Barnet stared at Frederick with a mischievous look on his face. ‘I know who you are now.’

  ‘I beg your pardon.’ Frederick said.

  ‘It’s obvious, I pegged you last year, when you sneaked in to Mildenhall with us. There’s no way you were just there for the fishing, and it’s more than a coincidence we should bump into each other again all the way up here.’