by Joy Ellis
Nikki felt a niggle of concern and decided to try to contact the man herself as soon as their trip was over.
‘Don’t be surprised if some more of the society turn up, Detective Inspector. As soon as any of the guys know we’re coming out here, they usually tag along. It’s such a fascinating place it attracts them like moths to a flame.’
Joshua’s smile and obvious fervour for his “subject,” made it difficult to be angry, and Nikki decided that perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad thing to know who else had an interest in this godforsaken junkyard. ‘So, where do we start?’
‘Right here in the watchtower. But first, hard hats and battery lanterns for everyone.’ He opened his boot and took out a large cardboard box. Then he turned to Nikki. ‘We do have a certain amount of lighting down there, in the form of big Calor lamps, but there are unlit passages and we need to keep you safe.’ He looked around at his troop, and smiled. ‘All kitted out? Then follow me!’
Prior to going inside, Nikki had no idea of what an old air base would look like. Sure, they littered the Lincolnshire countryside, but their numbers were declining fast, and they were either being demolished or just disintegrating. So she was not prepared for the size of the place or what existed beneath the ground.
‘Simply amazing, isn’t it?’ Joshua’s excited voice echoed around them. ‘The idea was that they would command the skies from below the earth.’ He waved a hand towards the massive underground room that stretched out ahead of them. ‘Walk with me and I’ll tell you about Flaxton Mere’s well-kept secret.’
He moved through the big room in the direction of a wide passageway. ‘During the war, it was believed that a German invasion was very much on the cards. RAF Flaxton Mere, because of its location and numerous other considerations, was chosen to be what we would now call a super-airfield.’ The professor cleared his throat, then continued. ‘Considerable work was started to construct four separate strike-proof bunkers, one for high-ranking personnel, one to house a state-of-the-art communication centre, one for the servicemen and women, and one massive area that would serve as a depot for vehicles, armoured cars and the like. Apart from the bunkers, there would have been storerooms, bomb stores and a multitude of other installations. Flaxton Mere was to have been the nerve centre that would control all the surrounding airfields, from Lincoln to Cambridge.’
Joseph let out long, low whistle. ‘That’s some installation! Especially considering there are very few underground facilities of any kind in this county because of the soft fenland soil.’
‘This site is very rare, a complete anomaly. The soils are complex in their structure. It seems that there was once a monastery here, built on what was then a ridge, an area of high ground some way from the marshes. The wetlands have now encroached, and the terrible storms have altered the coastline completely.’ Joshua shook his head. ‘And one day soon, I’m sure it will surrender to the flood.’ He exhaled, ‘But I digress. Back to the war! It soon became clear that the invasion would never happen, and this super-station would not be required. Work stopped. The private contractors that had been brought in from far and wide were sworn to secrecy, then disbanded. So, as the RAF had taken great pains to keep everything very much under wraps, it didn’t take too long for people to forget it ever existed. If it hadn’t been for the collective memories of the history society, we would never have uncovered all this.’
The professor explained that sadly little was left. ‘This is the only intact bunker, the one designed as a control room, although there are numerous underground stores and passages. We’ve been mapping them for years.’
‘And is it all structurally safe?’ asked Joseph.
‘The tunnels and chambers that we use are fine. You met my brother Simon, and as you know he is a fire investigation and safety officer. He has checked the underground areas personally. We have no wish to lose anyone through negligence, I assure you.’
As they continued into a wide tunnel, Nikki walked along beside Joshua, Selby and Joseph, and she began to feel the atmosphere of RAF Flaxton Mere at a time of war. She saw in her mind’s eye uniformed men and women hurrying down the long corridors, opening heavy metal-framed doors, papers tucked beneath their arms and gas masks slung over one shoulder. She saw pallets stacked high with great gleaming shell cases, being carefully moved from stores to loading bays. And she imagined the awareness that at any moment enemy bombers could make a lucky strike, and this bunker would become a sealed tomb.
Nikki was usually not fanciful, but this odd place and the sound of Joshua’s hypnotic voice explaining what had gone on so many years ago, made her feel strange, as if she had slipped out of her own time zone and fallen back into the 1940s.
As they walked through the main control room and down a long straight corridor to what was left of a massive underground storeroom, Nikki felt certain that this was not the only part left undamaged. Yes, some of it would have succumbed to the passing of time, but she was convinced that there was more than this. ‘You said that you have been mapping the area, Professor Flower. Do you have those maps with you?’
‘They are on our computer, Inspector, but I’ve asked Andrew Friar, another of our number, to print them off for you. They are by no means conclusive, but they are an indication of the original infrastructure. And we do have some old plans on record, although they bear little resemblance to what is left today.’ He looked at his watch. ‘With any luck, Andrew will be here by the time we surface.’
‘Where’s Tamsin?’ asked Nikki, looking around.
‘She’s taken a different route, with Simon and Frank Kohler.’ Joshua smiled reassuringly. ‘And she’s in safe hands. Those two know every inch of this place.’
‘To see what?’
‘Storage cellars, map rooms, all much smaller than the main bunker, but interesting nevertheless.’ He paused. ‘Oh, and there is one little surprise.’ He nodded to himself. ‘Simon is probably showing Miss Easter the “secret tunnel” he found last year.’
Before Joshua could continue, Nikki heard the sound of running footsteps. She looked around and was surprised to see a familiar figure racing up behind them. ‘Dave?’
‘Ma’am!’ Dave Harris, out of breath and wide-eyed at the strange location in which he had found himself, caught them up. ‘I need a word. It’s urgent.’
She led him away from the others, noting his worried expression.
‘I’ve been asked to get you all out of here. To evacuate these premises and get everyone to the main car park.’
Nikki stiffened. ‘What’s happened?’
‘We need to seal off the entire area, ma’am. The body of Karl Shine has just been found, and he didn’t croak through natural causes. So, considering all the other factors, like the guy down the shaft, and the drugs and so on . . .’ Dave left the sentence unfinished.
Nikki nodded. ‘Then we need to get everyone out. We could be trampling vital evidence underfoot.’ She turned back to Joshua. ‘I’m sorry, sir, but you need to get your friends out of here. There has been an incident that we believe is connected to this place. We need to clear the area to protect any evidence. Where are the others?’
The two historians looked at each other with troubled expressions, then Joshua grabbed Selby’s arm and said, ‘You take the officers to the passage where Simon will be and I’ll make sure none of the others have followed us down here.’
Selby nodded. Nikki added, ‘Dave, go with the professor and make sure no one else comes in.’
Selby beckoned to them. ‘Come with me.’ He turned, and with an unusual loping gait went back down the corridor and opened a small door.
His large battery-powered lantern showed a shadowy passage stretching off in front of them. Their footsteps sounded strangely muffled as they half ran through what seemed an endless corridor linking storage rooms and cellars. Nikki tried to remember the route, but as they circumnavigated old shelving units and benches, piles of broken furniture and in one place a stack of what looked like empty fuel d
rums, she knew that she was hopelessly lost.
‘Not much further.’ Selby sounded out of breath. ‘We’ll go through the east chamber.’ He indicated an opening that led down a long, wide passageway.
‘This place is a maze!’
‘You haven’t seen the half of it, Inspector.’ Selby’s eyes glittered in the torchlight.
‘Then why did the professor just tell us that there was little left other than the main bunker, a few stores and the corridors?’ asked Joseph edgily.
‘We don’t generally tell anyone about this place. We need to get our preservation order on it before the size and importance of Flaxton Mere is made public.’
They were entering a small empty chamber with one rotting wooden door that was wedged open. The damp smell that oozed from the tunnel made Nikki think of ancient crypts and abandoned cellars.
‘Simon! Frank! Come back! It’s urgent!’ Selby’s voice echoed down the tunnel.
‘Damn! This passage goes on for miles. They’re obviously out of earshot.’
‘Does it have another exit?’ asked Joseph, clearly anxious that two strange men had taken his daughter off into the middle of nowhere.
‘No.’ Selby shone his torch along shiny, moss-covered walls. ‘It did once. It was an escape route in case the enemy infiltrated the bunkers, or if there was a fire or an emergency. The exits were sealed up at some point, which with the marsh water rising much higher now, is a blessing.’
‘Then why the hell has Simon Flower taken my daughter down a dark, stinking tunnel that goes nowhere?’ Joseph’s anger was filled with concern.
‘Because it is a bit of an enigma, and please don’t worry. Simon and Frank know this place as well as I do. Tamsin will be quite safe with them, I assure you.’
‘Sir, we have a job to do,’ butted in Nikki. ‘Could we just locate Tamsin and the others and get everyone out of here?’
From behind them, Nikki heard more footsteps, and in the torchlight, Nikki saw Joshua Flower hurrying towards them. ‘Everyone is out and accounted for, with the exception of those three.’
‘Then let’s go,’ said Joseph impatiently, moving towards the damp passageway.
‘Let me.’ Marcus Selby spoke up. ‘It’s pointless us all trooping down there. It’s narrow, and I know it well, so I’ll be quicker.’ In seconds the beam of his flashlight could be seen disappearing into the tunnel.
‘What did Selby mean by an “enigma?”’ Joseph remained staring along the tunnel.
Joshua Flower did not answer immediately. Then he switched off his own torch to save the batteries. ‘I suppose if we are to have half the Fenland Constabulary down here poking about, you will need to know our secrets.’
‘Every last one of them, Professor,’ said Nikki coldly.
‘I was afraid that might be the case.’
‘Forgive me for asking, but why should this ghastly and probably very dangerous wreck hold secrets that you wish to guard so jealously?’ Nikki squatted down on her haunches, her back to the cold wall.
‘History. Precious history.’ He sighed. ‘This place is unique. It could have meant the difference between keeping our war planes flying or losing them to the Luftwaffe. Our group has spent years trying to uncover the true history of this amazing piece of our heritage, and suddenly it is being threatened by man and nature simultaneously.’
‘And the enigma of this particular tunnel?’
‘Ah, yes. We are unsure as to whether this route was constructed by luck or design, but it follows a much older system that was in existence long before the war. Remember I mentioned the monastery? This ground belonged to the church. Records show not only a monastery but a very ancient place of worship even prior to that.’ He drew in a deep breath. ‘And the monks, it seems, were not averse to a spot of smuggling. This tunnel led from the monastery out into the marsh, where they had constructed a series of bolt-holes, man-made caves where contraband was stored, to be either moved on for sale or brought in from boats out in the Wash, and up to the church.’
Joshua’s voice worked its magic and Nikki found she was interested, despite her concern for Tamsin.
‘At intervals along this tunnel, there are small circular chambers. Some were used as storerooms for the monks’ booty. Others were portals that led up to the caves, and one was actually a tiny chapel. We believe that for all their illegal doings, they did not want to miss their devotions, so if a couple of the brothers were working in the tunnel and the bell rang, they would still have somewhere to worship.’
‘And the chapel is still there?’ asked Joseph, not taking his eyes from the tunnel.
Flower said, ‘Yes, although it’s little more than a six-by-six hole, with a small semi-circular recess in the wall with an ancient crucifix standing in it.’
Nikki whistled softly, then dragged her mind back to the investigation. ‘Can we rely on your help to search this place properly?’
‘We have already offered, when that unfortunate boy fell down the shaft.’
‘I know, but I get the feeling we would only have been shown the parts that you wanted us to see. In fact,’ she threw the man a knowing glance, ‘I suspect your intentions were to keep us away from your precious tunnels.’
Joshua let out a small sigh. ‘I confess, Inspector. That is the truth of it.’
‘Where the hell is Selby?’ Joseph moved forward and shone his light down the passageway. ‘He’s been gone for ages.’
‘He’s coming. Listen.’
A moment later Selby emerged into the dancing light of their torch beams. ‘I don’t understand it! They’re not there. The tunnel is empty.’
* * *
Half an hour later, surrounded by police cars, vans and assorted personnel, Nikki, Joseph and Dave Harris stood with four grim-faced members of the history group.
‘Mr Brewer, you and your wife arrived just after we went down into the bunker. You spoke to Simon Flower and Frank Kohler?’
Bill Brewer was in his sixties and looked like one of the “experts” from Bargain Hunt. He wore an old, but well-cared-for three-piece suit, complete with gold watch chain, a fresh flower in his lapel and polished black boots. He nodded vigorously. ‘Yes. Simon asked if we wanted to go into the marsh tunnel.’
‘That’s right, officer,’ added Margaret Brewer, his rotund wife. ‘But we’ve been mapping one of the old stores and we wanted to get on with that.’
‘Okay, then no more messing around. It’s time to get a full search underway.’ Nikki gritted her teeth. ‘Have you guys got any idea where else they might have gone?’
The Brewers, Selby and Flower shook their heads. ‘There is nowhere else of interest that is safe, and Simon would not risk anything happening to anyone.’
Nikki had a sinking feeling in her stomach about the truth of that statement. She covered her concern with a slightly accusatory belligerence. ‘You people should never have been allowed on this site. It is a bloody death trap.’ She was going to say more when she caught a warning glance from Joseph. Better not to antagonise the one group of people who could prove useful in a proper search. ‘Right, well, I have to ask you all to stay here until I can get an officer to take your details.’
A uniformed officer and a couple of anxious-looking constables approached her.
‘Get the teams ready, Sergeant. We have a big area to cover before twilight.’
Before he could reply, Dave’s voice rang out. ‘Hey, ma’am! Look!’
From the far edge of the marsh, three figures were making their way towards them.
‘Thank God! It’s Tamsin!’ The relief in Joseph’s voice was palpable.
‘And Simon and Frank,’ added Joshua Flower. ‘But where on earth . . . ?’
‘Hi, Dad. What’s all this about?’ Tamsin looked puzzled.
Joseph was ashen. ‘It was nearly a major manhunt for the three of you.’
Nikki interrupted. ‘We were told you were in a bloody tunnel, so what the hell were you doing out there?’
&nbs
p; ‘We were in a tunnel,’ Simon said excitedly, ‘but there had been a small landslip, and it revealed another way out to the fen. We’ve been looking for it for years!’
‘Simon thinks it was used by smugglers,’ added Tamsin, clearly unfazed by her adventure. Then she looked around and took in the flashing blue lights and uniformed officers. ‘Oh shit! Dad? Please tell me all this is not because we went exploring?’
Nikki drew in a deep breath and said, ‘Relax, Tamsin. At least you’re safe. Now I can turn this over to uniform to secure the area.’ She beckoned to Joseph and lowered her voice. ‘Get Tamsin out of here. I have to go back to the station and set up a murder room, but I’ll ring you later with an update.’
Joseph nodded, then whispered, ‘I’m going to cancel my leave. You’ll need me.’
‘Wait until we know the facts about Karl Shine’s death. Don’t forget you have Tamsin to consider. You can’t leave her stuck out on Cloud Fen, it’s too bloody dangerous.’ Nikki touched his arm lightly. ‘In the meantime, work on that link between Eve, my father, and this hellhole. It’s really worrying me. Now, go. I’ll ring you later.’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
‘Oh my!’ Professor Rory Wilkinson, the home office pathologist, leant over his latest acquisition and exclaimed, ‘Whoever wanted you dead, my friend, certainly made sure of it.’ He pushed his wire frame glasses further up the bridge of his nose and looked more closely at the mortal remains of Karl Shine.
‘Looks pretty straightforward to me.’ One of the mortuary technicians was carefully removing Karl’s clothing.
‘Well now, Matthew, you say that, but there are such secrets within this treasure chest of a body. What we see on the surface makes your assumption seem correct, but beneath the skin,’ he waved a slender hand in the air, ‘who knows?’
Matt shrugged as he carefully laid out the clothes on another table. ‘Whatever you say, Prof, but I still think it’s an open and shut case.’
Rory gave his assistant a withering look. ‘Very droll. Now, if you’d be kind enough to measure and weigh this gentleman, we can get the external examination out of the way, and then the master will do what the master does best.’