"That is true, but no American firm would hire you and the Army refused to allow you to enlist. Is that correct?"
"Yes, sir."
The Wing Commander cleared his throat. "Have you anything to say for yourself that would clear up this angle?"
"I was the victim of n.a.z.i agents who stole the plans. That was proved at the trial. Later, they cleverly planted rumors and suspicions about me so that no one wanted to have anything to do with me. In plain American, I was framed." Stan spoke slowly, putting all the conviction he could into his words. He didn"t expect the O.C. to believe him any more than the American firms or the army officers to whom he had applied for entry into the service.
"You have done a splendid job here, for which the British people and His Majesty"s Government thank you; but, in these times of great danger, we cannot take chances with anyone whose past record is in doubt. I am sorry, Wilson, but I have orders to release you and send you back to the United States."
Stan sat looking at the Wing Commander. Suddenly anger boiled up inside him, a savage, cold anger.
"If you can show no more appreciation than this, I do not care to stay.
My record with the Royal Air Force should be proof that the charges against me were phony."
The O.C. reddened. He looked at Garret. Scowling blackly, he said, "I took that att.i.tude, personally, but my superior officers have ordered your release."
"Before you release him I suggest that you consider another angle,"
Garret said. "I have just learned that, though he and an Irish recruit returned safely, the new plane did not return. The fighters of all groups have been questioned and they did not see the Hawk in action against the enemy at all. I think the plane was delivered to n.a.z.i agents on the coast." Garret"s voice was little better than a snarl when he finished.
Stan"s gaze locked with that of the lieutenant. "The Hendee Hawk will be delivered here at the field in a few days. Lieutenant O"Malley set her down on a carrier in the channel after she was put out of action."
Garret laughed harshly. "That is a fine story, Wilson, but one that only a fool would believe."
"It is an impossible story," the O.C. agreed.
"He should be locked up," Garret insisted.
"I hardly think that will be necessary," a voice from the doorway said.
The men turned and saw Allison standing just inside the room, supported by the strong arm of O"Malley.
"Sure, an" did I hear someone say I didn"t set that Hawk down on a carrier?" O"Malley growled. His glare traveled from Farrell to Garrett and fastened there. Garret shrank back in his chair.
The pair moved into the room. Allison"s face was white and thin but his eyes were snapping. The Wing Commander frowned.
"This is an intrusion. Remember, gentlemen, you are junior officers."
Farrell fixed O"Malley with a cold glare as the Irishman pulled forward a chair for Allison.
"We felt it of great importance, sir," Allison said as he sank into the chair. "I am sure you will agree when I explain." He took a thick envelope from his pocket and laid it on the desk before the O.C. "These papers will be of interest to you, sir, I am sure."
The Wing Commander opened the envelope and spread a sheaf of papers on his desk. He bent over them, reading deliberately.
After laying aside the last report he looked up. His eyes were on Garret.
"It seems, Lieutenant, that you have made a jacka.s.s out of yourself and out of me. These reports are from the American Federal Bureau of Investigation, and from the British Intelligence. Both departments give Lieutenant Wilson a clean slate. Both report he was, as he says, "framed."" He turned to Stan.
"With these reports you could join the United States Army Air Corps any time you wished. After the treatment you have received here I feel it my duty to offer you a release so that you may do so."
The sudden turn of affairs had Stan groggy; however, the realization that he was at last freed of the smear that had blackened his name started a surge of warmth and elation through him. He turned to Allison.
"You knew it all the time," he accused.
Allison grinned. "Yes, that report came in with your credentials. I took it out of the file to have a bit of sport with you. It was dumb of me to forget to replace it. But you were so stubborn over the whole matter I didn"t feel you needed to know."
Garret got to his feet. His face was white and his voice was not very steady. "I merely did my duty as I saw it, sir. I had no way of knowing what was in the report Allison has laid before you. I ask leave to retire."
"Stay where you are. I want to talk to you," the O.C. snapped.
Stan got to his feet. Milton was thumping him on the back and O"Malley was grinning like a wolf. Milton rumbled in his deep voice:
"I said it all smelled fishy to me." He turned to the O.C. "Wilson is the best test pilot that ever stepped into a plane."
"Allison"s comin" back in a couple days an" Red Flight goes out in Spitfires," O"Malley broke in eagerly. "Sure, an" there"s no war on over in America. "Tis right here you"ll be staying or I"ll give you a fine dusting when we get outside."
"I"m staying until the war is over. In a way I figure it"s our fight, too, sir. If you don"t mind, I"ll stay in Red Flight."
"Mind! I"ll recommend you for top honors." The O.C. was beaming.
An orderly stepped into the room and laid a report on Farrell"s desk. He glanced at it, then picked it up. A minute later he pounded the desk with his fist and began to laugh.
"This report says His Majesty"s carrier, _Staunch_, has on board a new type of dive bomber which put a pocket battleship out of action and later landed upon the deck of the carrier. The commander considers the plane so valuable he is putting in to deliver it."
"Until we can get three of those Hawks for you boys, you will fly Spitfires as Red Flight," the O.C. said. "After that you will likely win the war without any help."
"Sure, an" we"ll do just that, sor, as a special favor to you," O"Malley answered.
The O.C. looked at him and frowned. He wasn"t sure whether O"Malley was spoofing or meant it. Allison and Stan were sure O"Malley was in dead earnest.
"Thank you, sir," Stan said. "We"ll run along now."
When they were outside the office, Allison said in his slow drawl:
"That ought to be the last of Garret."
"Sure, an" he"ll be brewin" trouble if he stays around, you can bank on that," O"Malley said.
Stan had the same feeling. There was something about Garret he could not understand. He had a feeling there was more than just a grudge against him in Garret"s acts. The lieutenant had certain connections that seemed to reach very high up into official circles. Stan planned to do some quiet checking, now that he didn"t have to be so careful.
During the next three days Stan poked about asking a lot of questions.
He was very careful not to arouse suspicion. He learned very little.
Garret came in as a ferry pilot and later was given a chance in the air.
He was a Canadian who had lived most of his life in the United States.
Why he was not released from the Air Arm after Allison reported his action in deserting Red Flight was not clear. And no one seemed to know how he had managed to get himself placed in a responsible position close to the O.C.
One thing looked good to Stan. Garret had left the squadron and no one knew where he had been sent. He was out of the way, yet Stan had a feeling he had not seen the last of him.
The day Allison returned to duty an order was posted creating a night defense group of fighters. It consisted of twelve Spitfires and Red Flight was included. O"Malley was so excited over the order that he walked away from a half pie, forgetting it entirely.
"Sure, an" this is me dish," he crowed.