Deadly Daylight Hauntings

By Ronald Bullock

In the lounge of the Lincolnshire Aviator pub, situated deep in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds in England, just over a mile and a half down the road from the old air base, some locals were in deep conversation about the expected arrival from London of an American couple. The couple were expected to arrive that very evening, and due to an unfortunate overheard remark by the landlord of the pub, Jack Hastings, to his wife, Jean, gossiping and speculation were now rife in the lounge and public bars about the reason for the Americans visit.
Jack had been talking casually about the reasons for the couples visit to Jean, saying the couple was more than just a little bit interested in the old air base down the road and that a relative of theirs flew from the base with The Pathfinders during the Second World War.
That chat between Jack and Jean Hastings, overheard by one of the locals, led to gossip amongst the regulars and the speculation that the Americans were CIA agents after some dark secret.
In fact, the truth was far more terrifying than the speculation in the pub. A few days later four other visitors arrived at the pub. They were the newly formed Paranormal Investigation Project, and under their investigation the horrifying truth began to emerge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504992732

Ronald Bullock

When working as heavy goods driver class 1 in 1972, Ronald Bullock began writing the first book of his series, Deadly Diversions. But having little spare time to write, it was 1999 before it was published. The publisher turned out to be a vanity publisher. The same thing happened again when the book was published in New York in 2009. He cancelled the contract in 2013. Finally, Ronald self-published with PageTurner Press and Media and has also had his second and third books in the series published in 2020. Ronald has just completed book 4 in the series Deadly Diversions. All of the books are fast moving, action thrillers.

Book preview

Deadly Diversions

Three

Ronald M Bullock

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AuthorHouse™ UK

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Bloomington, IN 47403  USA

www.authorhouse.co.uk

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© 2016 Ronald Bullock. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  02/18/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9272-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9271-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9273-2 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Ronald Bullock

Also written by

Ronald Bullock

Deadly Diversions

A thrilling drama that will have you on the edge of your seat to the end Jenny Sylvester and her eldest daughter are watching TV, her youngest Jackie is in bed but outside and all across England is the worst weather for years. Her trucker husband is a night trunk driver for English-Scottish transport and he is at that moment on his way up the M6 heading for Glasgow. Scotland and she cannot help but worry about his safety. Just after ten thirty that evening she is startled by the ringing of the doobell. Glancing fearfully at her daughter Christine she then answers the door and upon opening it she sees a work colleague of her husband Mack standing there in the pouring rain.

After asking him in, she then finds out her Mack is in trouble and the horror begins to unfold and life as she and her girls know it begins to quickly disappear. Will it ever be the same again?

Deadly Diversions Book 2

The Paranormal Detective

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Reeves is on a quest to destroy the insanely cruel lesbian who delights in torturing young, beautiful women. She had in her clutches Reeves’ daughter, Jane, a British Secret Service agent who was captured by the Russian military and handed over to Kristina Lubyanka. After being rescued from the military prison by American agents and returned to the UK. Reeves sees what Lubyanka has done to his daughter he is determined wipe her off the face of the earth, and nothing or no one will be able to stop him. But the full horror of what Lubyanka is also doing causes panic not only with Reeves squad but also with governments throughout the Western World. She has to be stopped but at what cost.

Deadly Diversions Book 3

Deadly Daylight Hauntings

Mysterious goings-on at a disused WW2 air base in Lincolnshire, England, start speculation at the local pub. An American couple are on their way to investigate the old air base, where the brother of the husband flew with the cream of the RAF Bomber Command, The Pathfinders. When they learn that four very special people from the Paranormal Investigation Project run by the government are on their way, speculation rises. Soon the mood turns to horror at what the project members discover. The Paranormal Project Members also find that to solve a horrifying problem they have only ten days to complete their quest. But other horrifying events interfere with their plans and the full horror story begins to unfold on the old airbase.

Chapter 1

In the lounge of the Lincolnshire Aviator pub situated deep in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds in England, just over a mile and a half down the road from the old air base, some of the locals were in deep conversation about the expected arrival from London of an American couple. The couple were expected to arrive that very evening. Due to an unfortunate casual remark by the landlord of the pub, Jack Hastings, gossip in the lounge bar and the public bar was now rife with rumours about the reason for the visit by the Americans.

Jack had been casually talking with his wife, Jean, saying that the couple were more than just a little bit interested in the old air base up the road, as a relative of theirs had flown from the base during the Second World War. Speculation amongst the regulars held that the couple were agents of the CIA and were after some dark secret in an operation at the old air base.

The couple arrived late that evening, and it was dark outside when the taxi arrived at the main entrance. The regulars crowded at the windows, watching Jack Hastings lift the couple’s luggage from the boot of the taxi. Then he and Jean showed the couple to their room.

Jack asked them if they had eaten. The husband, Mike Harman, told him they had had a light meal before leaving the station and it would be enough until breakfast in the morning; he introduced his wife, Avril, to Jean and Jack. Then he said that he and his wife were eager to talk with the two of them about the old air base, but they wanted to freshen up a bit before going down to the lounge bar. They were late, he said, because of a three-hour delay before leaving America on the final leg of their journey to England. The flight had been uncomfortable because of turbulence, but they would be down after they had unpacked

Later as the couple opened the door to the lounge, all conversation ceased abruptly. The regulars stared as they entered the room. Even the regulars in the snug stared at them from the serving hatch the other side of the bar. Avril sat down at a table near to the window, feeling decidedly uneasy at being stared at by so many in the room.

Jack Hastings, seeing Avril’s uneasiness, called out to everyone, Now then, everyone, it’s rude to stare, so give our visitors a chance to relax. They’ve been travelling two days or more to get here and would like a little peace and privacy now, okay everyone?

Grudgingly, the regulars stopped staring and looked away from the Harman’s. Mike Harman walked up to the bar to get their drinks. The regulars moved aside to let him to the bar.

What can I get you? asked Jack

Mike smiled and replied, A G and T for my wife, and have you got any bourbon, please?

Jack smiled and told him, One of your countrymen was here a couple of months ago. He too wanted bourbon. I kept it on tap when I got your reservation, so you’ll not go short, Mr. Harman –

Mike cut him short by saying loudly, Hey, Jack, less of the ‘mister’. It’s Mike, and my wife is Avril, okay?

Jack smiled and replied, Glad to know you, Mike. I’m just showing respect to my customers by addressing a couple as Mrs. and Mister. Right, I’ll get your drinks and bring them over to you, okay?

A couple of minutes after Mike had sat down; Jack came to him with drinks. Placing them on the table, he waved away Mike’s offer of payment and said, Be put on the bill for you if that’s okay, Mike?

Mike grinned and said, Fine by me, Jack. If ya get the chance, I really am eager to have that chat about the old air base.

Jack told him, Staff clock on at eight, and my missus will be here too. Then we can have that chat, Mike.

It was just after eight when Jean appeared behind the bar, followed by two girls in their early twenties.

Jack called over to Mike, Be with you in a minute, Mike.

Getting himself a drink, he came over to Mike and Avril and pulled up chairs for himself and Jean. The wife will be over in a minute. She’s just setting up the tills for the staff.

Waiting whilst Jack had a sip of his drink, Mike was almost bursting with eagerness. A minute or so later, Jean came over with a drink in her hand and sat down next to her husband.

Mike eagerly asked, Now then, Jack, what can ya tell me about the old base up the road during the war years and the years up to the present day?

Jack sipped his drink as Mike went on talking.

Ya see, Jack, my older brother was stationed up at the base, flying with the Pathfinders. They were the elite of Bomber Command. He was a rear gunner on the Lancaster’s, but his death over Germany – well, supposed to be over Germany – is something of a mystery …

Jack thought for a moment before answering. Then he said to Mike, The war has been over a long time now, Mike. It’s now almost into the eighties. You really have got your work cut out, you know. Have you tried contacting the Ministry of Defence in London? That is your best bet, you know. But you seem to doubt what you have been told already.

One or two of the regulars edged a bit closer to their table, trying to catch what was being said.

Jack and Mike noticing them were getting closer. Jack grinned and told Mike, The local secret police, otherwise known as our regulars, are interested in what is being said by us. By now they will be thinking you are agents looking into a spy scandal. You just will not believe what that lot come up with. Last month it was aliens up at the old base lighting up the night sky with their explosions …

Jean was not amused as the rest chuckled at what Jack had just said. She told him, You can smirk, Jack Hastings. You have never been up at the base when the happenings are going on. It scares the hell out of you, I can tell you – explosions, the roaring sound of near-crippled bombers struggling back to the base and crashing on landing. But the thing I hate most about the happenings are the blood-curdling screams from crew trapped in the blazing bombers and then cut off by explosions. Most people around here will not go near the base, let alone go on it, when it’s this time of year. We have had happenings going on ever since the base shut down from military use in ’78, but even when the RAF was here in the sixties, the happenings were regular as clockwork. On the same days of the year at the same times, not only at night, blazing bombers have been seen coming into the base first thing of a morning. They are seen to land; then they explode, and then all is quiet again …

Jack butted in, saying, We heard that the burning bombers coming in to land almost all blew up on touchdown at the beginning of the runway. One of them had the rear gun turret missing with the gunner inside. It was never found, but the rest of the bomber was identified. The remains of the real bomber were just off the beginning of the main runway in a little wooded copse. It was in pieces after exploding on the runway. A thousand-pounder was said to be hung up in the bomb bay when it touched down. It dropped onto the tarmac, and boom! Up it went. To this day it’s still a mystery as to where that rear turret with the gunner still inside disappeared to.

Jean added, To this day no one knows why all those things are happening on the base. But it scares the hell out of people, I can tell you.

Mike was about to say something when Jack pointed to a man who had just entered the room. That’s the owner of the base. Give him time to get himself a drink, and then I’ll call him over, Mike.

A couple of the regulars edged up to the man and spoke to him in almost whispers, nodding towards where they were sitting. Well, blow me down. The fellow hasn’t had time to order a drink before the local secret police are at him. They’re better than the Russians that lot are …

He emphasized the word ‘Russians’ and grinned. The two regulars moved away, pretending not to hear what he had said. He called over, Ned, over here. I want to ask you about something.

Ned, a willowy fellow, ambled over to their table, scowling. He said, Struth, that lot don’t give yer time to order a drink, let alone get one, before they’re pumping you for information about your friends here, Jack.

He held out his hand to Mike and then to Avril. After shaking hands with both of them he said, So you are the Americans who are so interested in the old air base that I own just up the road from here.

Mike replied, Yeah, Ned. Then he nodded over to the regulars still staring at him. Sorry about the reception committee waiting for ya, but I did not know the local secret police would be here.

Ned looked at him and smiled. Then he told Mike, Ever since that lot got wind of your visit it’s been the talk of the area. Is there a fortune buried here from the war? Have aliens landed at the base and you are here to investigate the landing? The rubbish this lot comes up with never fails to amaze me. You know if some of that lot could write as well as they can talk, they could write a good fiction story. I tell you, what that lot think up is unbelievable.

Avril had been listening to the conversation intensely. Now she jumped in and asked Ned in her American drawl, Ned, do ya think we could have a browse round the old base? We’d be careful not to disturb anything. We’d just like to try and get the feel of the place, know what I mean?

Ned sat there not saying anything for about a minute. Then he replied, Tomorrow morning about ten, I’ll pick you both up here and drop you at the control tower. I’ll leave you for an hour and then pick you up again, okay?

Mike and Avril nodded.

After a pause Ned said, Good, see you both then. Don’t be late. I have work to do. Then he got off his chair and made his way over to a group of regulars at the other end of the room.

Wow! said Avril. He’s a man of few words. I bet the nights are long for his wife when he’s at home. Both she and Mike chuckled

Jack cut them short, saying, His wife was attacked six years ago on the base. She was grabbed from behind, dragged into one of the old Nissan huts, stripped of all her clothes, raped, and stabbed several times. It was Ned who found her. She was alive for about ten or twelve minutes after he found her, just time enough for her to give Ned a description of her attacker, which Ned gave to the police. Not long after that, about three weeks to be precise, following an anonymous tip-off the police went to a house twelve miles away from here. There they picked up a man answering Ned’s wife’s description. After three days of questioning the man admitted the rape and murder of Ned’s wife. The man was Ned’s half-brother, Ned had not seen him for some time. When he last saw his half-brother they had a violent argument, and Ned gave him a real pasting. That’s why he raped and murdered Ned’s wife, to get even. So I say to you both now, be careful what you say around here about Ned. He can be a real mean bastard when he wants to be, but most of the time he really is a decent sort …

Avril put her hands to her face, saying, Oh my gawd, I didn’t know …

Mike put his hand on hers. Ya weren’t to know, babe. But we had better watch what the hell we say around here from now on, eh?

Jack said, I’ll get another round of drinks in. Then you can tell me about your brother, okay, Mike?

In his mind he was wondering about the couple. He had the feeling that something was going to happen with the Harman’s, but what? And he wondered if it was a good thing having the Americans here at all. After giving the girl his order he leaned against the bar watching the couple talking with Jean. He was missing something, but he didn’t know what. After a moment or two he made his mind up to telephone a pal of his who worked at the Home Office in London. Now fear and doubt were beginning to build up in his mind. He’d get him to check up on the Harman’s personal history and find out who and where they were really from. And if what they had told him was really true

Taking the drinks back to the table, he was about to sit down when Avril took hold of his wrist, saying, Jack, I am so sorry about what I said about your friend. I could cut my tongue out for making such a stupid remark. That man must go through hell every time he sees that old base. Gawd, I am thoroughly ashamed of myself. It won’t happen again, I can assure you, Jack.

Jack looked at Avril and Mike. Forget it. You were not to know about that. But please, think from now on before you say anything round here. Some of the locals can be real nasty when riled, so let’s drink up and be merry. Just remember what I have said, will you?

Feeling chastised, Mike and Avril could only repeat their apology until Jean asked Mike to tell her about his brother. Mike began his story. His brother was in University at Oxford, England when war was declared. He was just twenty at the time, but it was not until 1941 that he volunteered to join the air force. After being thoroughly vetted because he was an American, John was selected for training as an air gunner. After he completed his training, his one and only posting was to the base a couple of miles up the road from the pub.

Mike said, His letters home showed nothing about serving in a hush-hush squadron and nothing to indicate he was with the Pathfinders as a rear gunner. It was only at the end of the war that we began to find out things about John. Ya see, Jack, security was so damned tight that all letters air crew wrote home were thoroughly vetted for infringements of security. Even after his death secrecy and deceit surrounded the location of where John’s body was buried – if it was buried. If the bomber blew up on landing, then there wouldn’t be much of John’s body or the rest of the crew to find, would there, Jack?

As Mike finished speaking he noticed the look of disbelief on Jean’s face. He asked her, Okay, what’s up, Jean? I can see that ya don’t believe me.

Jean answered curtly, Mike, why do I get the feeling that there is something not quite right about what you have told us about your brother?

Mike said to her, We too find the whole gist of what the Air Ministry told us mysterious and very disturbing and confusing. We had to pester the Air Ministry in London for over two years trying to find out where my brothers body now lay, but we kept getting varied stories as to what happened at the time of his death. They told us they believed John’s aircraft came down in the channel, and they also told us they believed that John’s aircraft was blown out of the sky over Frankfurt. There were other stories too. We just do not know what to believe, but I tell ya this, Jean. Whatever it takes to find the whereabouts of my brother’s resting place, I will damned well take it and all the risks that go with it …

He drank from his glass. Then he added, My ma and pa later received a letter from the pilot of another Lancaster following John’s aircraft home. The letter came shortly before the war ended, but with everything going on in the States we just could not neither afford neither the time nor the money to come over here. That’s why we have had to wait until now to get here.

Jean asked him, What did the pilot say about John’s aircraft? Did it land at the base?

Mike replied, Well, the pilot stated that he was about a mile behind John’s aircraft and was ordered to circle while John’s aircraft got down owing to damage and injured crew. Well, he saw that John’s aircraft was given a green flare indicating his aircraft had immediate clearance to land. He also said that as he circled the base he saw John’s aircraft land on the beginning of the runway. Something fell out of the Bombay onto the tarmac. There was a huge explosion, and the aircraft disintegrated. The mysterious thing is the rear gun turret was still attached to the aircraft as it landed. When the fire crews arrived at the scene of the explosion, they found most of the aircraft in pieces and on fire. But the rear gun turret, together with part of the rear fuselage, was missing. To this day it has not been found, and even though we have pestered what is now the Ministry of Defence, we are still being given the run-around. All I want is to find my brother’s resting place so we can bury him properly. Is that too much to ask for, Jack, Jean?

Jack was in agreement with his wife. He told the Harman’s, No, Mike, but I feel the same as Jean. Something in the back of my mind is telling me to be very cautious, and as we do not know anything about you both other than what you have told us, we are edging on the side of caution here. I will tell you now, Mr. and Mrs. Harman – if that is your real name – whatever and whoever you are, the truth will come out. So if there is anything you have left out, deliberately or otherwise, it will come out into the open eventually. Also, while you are here you will be watched everywhere you go. Strangers are not usually welcome around here by the local secret police. They will follow your every move, and I tell you now they don’t like strangers poking around here, especially from afar. Well, we have a pub to run. We will see you in the lounge in a short while.

As the Hastings made their way to the bar, Avril and Mike made their way through to the lounge. As they entered, all conversation suddenly halted into silence, and they were aware of dozens of pairs of eyes watching their every move.

Mike ordered more drinks as his wife sat at a table by the window. As he carried the drinks back to where his wife was seated, Ned Harrowsmith came over to them. He placed both hands on the table and stared at them both for a few seconds before speaking. Then he said, Right, change of plan. I have to be somewhere at ten, so make it eight thirty outside here. I’ll drop you both off on the base and return to pick you up at about ten forty-five to eleven, okay? And in case the weather gets naughty, I’ll give you the keys to all of the buildings on the base. Just don’t lose them, okay you two?

Both were in agreement with Ned.

He said, Right, eight thirty it is. See you both then. He went back to the bar and his pals.

The Harman’s heard Jack Hastings calling, Time, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s have your last orders, please …

The conversation returned to normal again in the lounge, and Mike asked Avril if she wanted another drink. She said yes, and he made his way to the bar. The locals moved over to let him get his drinks, all the time staring at him and his wife. Ten minutes later the lounge cleared, leaving the Harman’s sitting by themselves, waiting for Jean and Jack to join them.

It was about twenty minutes before the Hastings joined them because they had to check the tills as the staff cleared up after the customers and wash all the glasses. Jean came into the lounge first, followed by Jack. After he had sat down, Jack he looked intensely into Mike’s face. Then he said, I want you both to be completely honest with us as to who you are and what you are doing here. If Ned finds you are up to something underhanded, I would not like to be in your shoes. He really can be nasty when he’s all fired up. So if you have anything to tell us that you have left out, now is the time to say it. Right, both of you?

Shocked Mike looked at Jack for a few seconds then he replied Jesus Jack we are who we say we are, and all we want is to find my brother’s remains and give him a proper burial. Christ sake Jack surely you can understand that can’t you?

Chapter 2

The next morning Jack called the Harman’s early so they would be ready for when Ned came to pick them up. But after the night before, the Harman’s looked a little subdued as they ate their breakfast. Both Mike and Avril had told Jack that they really were the Harman’s and they really were trying to find John’s final resting place; they said it was the Ministry of Defence’s inconsistent stories that made their story not seem quite true.

After they had finished their breakfast, the couple spent the next half hour reading the newspapers that Jack had got for them. As Mike read the local paper from the night before, a small article on page three caught his eye. It was an article about the Harman’s themselves, wondering what their visit to the old air base was for.

God damn it, Mike said out loud.

Avril looked at him over the top of her paper and asked him what the matter was. She was visibly alarmed by what he told her about the article in his paper. She put her paper down and talked with Mike in a very low voice so that she would not be heard. But what she didn’t know was that Jean was watching her and Mike to see their reaction when they read the article. Now she was sure she was right about the Harman’s not being everything they were cracked up to be. She went to the kitchen to find Jack, but he was down in the cellar cleaning the pipes and changing the barrels before the eleven o’clock opening.

Jack, seeing her come down the steps to the cellar with a concerned look on her face, asked her what was the matter. She told him about the reaction from the Harman’s when they read the article in the local paper.

That was it for Jack. He stopped what he was doing, wiped his hands, and told Jean, As soon as Ned has picked them up and they are gone to the base, I’m going to phone my old pal Dave Wheating at the Home Office in London and get him to do some investigating into the Harman’s. It looks like our lot are right after all not to trust the Harman’s any further than they could throw them.

The sound of a vehicle pulling up at the main entrance of the pub halted Jack’s conversation. Both of them hurried up the steps to see the Harman’s off. Just as they got to the main entrance, they saw the Harman’s getting into Ned Harrowsmith’s truck. Then it pulled away up the road to the old base, leaving in its wake a cloud of blue smoke.

Closing the door, Jack and Jean made their way to their living quarters. Then Jack picked up the telephone receiver and phoned the Home Office in London. In a couple of minutes he was speaking to Dave Wheating. He was surprised when Dave told him he was expecting his call.

Dave told him, Well, what took you so long, Jack? I was expecting you to phone last night about the Harman’s. A little birdie told me about them going to the base. Knowing you were my friends, I thought I should do some detective work about them before you phoned me.

Jack asked, Are the Harman’s who they say they are, Dave?

Dave answered with a chuckle in his voice, Yes, Jack, it seems that they are who they say they are. But apparently they have rubbed some of our intelligence boys the wrong way by how they are going about investigating the brother’s death during the war …

Jack butted in, asking, What have they done to upset the intelligence services, then?

Dave told him, Well, it seems that there is a mystery concerning Mike’s brother, John. But the strange thing is that when I tried to pump friends of mine for information about John Harman, I was warned to leave well alone. There is something they will not tell me connected with John Harman and with the old base. Now, as I have been warned off, it means one thing to me now …

Jack interrupted him again by asking, What does that mean, Dave? Are they in trouble?

It shocked him when Dave said, Not so much in trouble, but the intelligence services do not want them to find out what happened to John Harman or where his remains are buried. To tell you the truth, Jack, you would be better off staying out of it. Warn your guests that they will almost certainly be tailed and watched during their stay here. But whatever you do, don’t let on to them that I told you. Otherwise I could be in deep trouble, Jack. Just watch out for strangers lurking about in your neck of the woods. Well, got to go now. Regards to Jean. I will probably be down your way sometime in the future, but I don’t know when. Take care, Jack. Bye.

Jean could see by the expression on his face that something was very wrong where the Harman’s were concerned. She asked Jack, Well, love, what did Dave say? The look on your face tells me that he shocked you quite a bit, Jack. So come on out with it, what did he tell you?

Jack, looking really concerned now, told her, Well, the Harman’s are genuine enough. Dave has checked up on them. But when he tried to find out about Mike’s brother, he was warned off and told to stay out of it completely by his intelligence friends. You know, love, there is something about the base and the Harman’s that is frightening the hell out of me. The hairs on the back of my neck are twitching and standing up, telling me to be very careful of getting too involved here.

Jean put her hand on his arm. Jack, love, we were both working for MI5 until five years ago when we retired, so tell me the truth. Did Dave say who was involved here? If he was warned off, then this is serious, isn’t it?

Jack was about to answer when the ringing of the telephone startled him. He answered the call. It was Dave Wheating again.

Sorry to call you again, but I have just found out that K17 is involved. So Jack, this is really serious. You remember the rape and murder of the wife of one of your regulars, Ned Harrowsmith? It wasn’t just rape and murder. The wife must have walked into something going on on the base, because someone from MI6 just phoned. He wouldn’t identify himself, but he told me that agents of K17 and MI5 are on their way down to your area right now. Just don’t put them up at your pub if you want to avoid trouble, Jack. If I find out more I’ll let you know. Meantime, get hold of the Harman’s and warn them the intelligence services are after them. Take care, Jack. Bye …

Jack was really worried now, not only for Jean and himself but also for the Harman’s. What the hell is going on up at the base?

Jean asked him to tell her what Dave had rung back for. She really was shocked by the answer. When he told her what Dave had said, she asked him what he was going to do.

Jack said, Well, first I’ve got to finish off down here and get ready for opening time. This is really serious now. We really need to tread carefully on this one …

He thought for a moment. Then he told Jean, You know, I’ve always felt that there was something going on at the base. Anyway, I’d better get finished down here. I’ll be upstairs shortly, love. Okay?

Jean left him to it and made her way upstairs. It was about twenty minutes later when Jack came up from the cellar. Everything was now ready for opening time, as Jack entered the living quarters at the end of the corridor. Jean made a pot of tea, and Jack put the TV on and tuned into the local news program. A few minutes into the program, the newscaster started talking about people phoning the news team about strange goings-on at the old base. Jack and Jean sat bolt upright.

Jean remarked, Well, Jack, it looks like we are going to see some strangers around here from the TV companies now. I bet that’s stirred the intelligence services up a bit. Well, I’ll go and open up now. Can you look after the lounge bar for me? I’ll get the tills ready for the staff arriving. They’ll be here any minute now.

Jack made his way to the lounge bar and unlocked the outside door. As he did so, two of the barmaids walked into the lounge, ready to start work. Jack got the tills set up. Then he checked on Jean to see she was okay. Another barmaid had just turned up and was helping Jean get set up in the public bar.

As Jack and Jean served the first of the dinnertime regulars, they were worried about the Harman’s. The couple had been on the old air base for nearly three and a half hours now.

As Jack and his barmaids were serving the dinnertime rush, the regulars were in conversation about the happenings at the old base. Two of the locals asked Jack what he thought was going on at the base, but he told them he didn’t know anything. Just then, the roaring sound of a low-flying aircraft with faltering piston engines shook the building.

Jack and some of the locals rushed outside and looked up just in time to see the dark shape of a World War Two Lancaster bomber with flames leaping out of the port inner engine, leaving a dense trail of black smoke behind it. He and the regulars could see holes in the twin fins and rudders and what looked like lines of bullet holes along the fuselage. But the thing that stuck in Jack’s mind as the bomber headed for the old base were the faces of the pilot and of the rear and mid upper gunners staring down at him and the regulars.

The faces of those crew members were filled with fear as the bomber winged its way towards the old air base. Now Jack hurried inside the lounge and called to Jean in the public bar.

Jean, love, quick!

She hurried into the lounge bar, asking him what the hell was happening He told her, It’s happening again. That was a World War Two Lancaster bomber heading for the base. One of its engines was on fire, and we all could see the pilot and gunners looking down at us. There were large holes in the fins and rudders of the tail plane and bullet holes running from top to bottom of the rear fuselage …

Jean grabbed his arm tightly, saying, Jack! The Harman’s are up at the base. We must do something. They could be in grave danger. We’ve got to help them before it’s too late.

Jack spoke out loud to the regulars staring at him in the bar. Now then, lads, I need your help. The Americans are up at the base having a look around, and I believe they are in danger for their lives. I need you to come with me. About four of you will do.

No one answered; they all just stood there looking very uneasy. Jean told one of the barmaids to call the police and send them up to the base, along with Ned Harrowsmith if he came in. Then she rushed to her private quarters and back for the car keys.

Come on, love, let’s go. I just hope we are not too late.

Both hurried outside to where the car was parked at the side of the pub. Jean got into the driving seat. As soon as Jack was in and the door shut, she jammed her foot down on the accelerator pedal. With tyres screaming, the car shot onto the road.

Back inside the lounge bar, one of the barmaids was giving the regulars some stick for leaving Jack and Jean to go up to the base by themselves. If anything happens either to Jack or Jean or the Harman’s when you lot were too scared to go with them to the base, I’ll make damned sure the press and the TV know about you cowardly lot. Call yourselves men? Wimps, more like …

For the next five minutes the regulars both in the lounge bar and in the public bar argued amongst themselves. Then one of them, a farmer in his fifties, said out loud, She’s right, lads. We’re a load of cowards for standing here while our two friends are willing to risk their lives up at the old base. I’m going up there. Who’s coming with me? I’ve got the truck outside, so as many as who wants to pile on the back, quick! Come on, let’s get moving.

Meanwhile, the Harman’s, having been in the Nisson huts, the remaining hangars, and the control tower, were now walking towards the start of the main runway. As they got near the huge strip of tarmac, they stood and looked at the runway disappearing into the distance about a mile and a half away.

As they stood looking down the length of the runway, the air around them suddenly got decidedly chilly. Then they heard the sound of piston engines running very rough. Looking around, they couldn’t see an aircraft. But when they looked towards the control tower, it was now no longer a derelict tower. Now it had RAF personnel standing on its balcony, straining to look through binoculars. Next to the control tower, crash crews were clinging onto the rear of really old fire crew vehicles with bells clanging. They raced over the grass towards where the Harman’s were standing.

Crack! A green flare shot up into the blue sky from the control tower. The Harman’s stood mesmerized. Then they heard the roaring of engines spitting and banging coming from behind them. Mike turned. To his horror, a huge World War Two Lancaster bomber was only about a hundred feet off the ground and descending towards them where they stood. One engine was on fire, and a huge trail of smoke from the blazing engine trailed behind the stricken aircraft.

Avril turned and cried out in fear as she saw that huge bomber with its landing gear down to almost head height roaring towards them. Mike grabbed Avril, shouting to her, Hit the deck now, for Christ Almighty, before we get chopped up by those propeller blades. Get between the landing gear wheels and stay down …

The huge aircraft was almost on them now, its wheels just inches off the tarmac. Mike yelled at Jean to roll to the left a bit to get in the centre of the aircraft’s wheels. Just in time, they both got in line with centre of the undercarriage.

The noise was deafening as the huge aircraft touched down, the huge tyres heading towards the couple as they lay terrified on the tarmac, holding on to each other for dear life. As the bomber passed over the terrified couple, burning hot engine oil dropped onto their skin and clothes. Avril screamed out in terror.

Mike lifted his head as the huge bomber roared over them, and he saw the faces of the pilot and flight engineer staring down at him as the bomber roared past. Mike saw too, the tail wheel, now touching the tarmac, coming straight at them. He pushed Avril to one side and rolled the other way. The huge tail wheel sliced between the two of them with inches to spare.

Seeing they were safe now, they looked at the stricken bomber. Boom! A huge explosion filled the air, and the bomber blew up in a great burning ball of fire.

Flaming debris flew all around the couple as they lay hugging the tarmac for all they were worth. Then suddenly all was quiet. Slowly, Mike and Avril lifted their heads. What they saw scared the hell out of them. The huge bomber was now broken into pieces at the right of the runway, at the edge of a little wooded copse. There was no sound, just a huge pall of smoke and flames. Mike also saw that the rear of the fuselage, together with the rear gun turret and twin fins and rudders, were missing from the burning aircraft.

As they slowly got to their feet, six crew members walked out of the flames and stood staring at the couple. The faces of the crew looked as if lost for some reason. All went quiet as the pilot of the bomber lifted his left arm and pointed towards the wooded copse. The ghostly figure appeared to be speaking to the couple. He was saying, He’s in the copse … he’s in the copse. You must hurry or it will be too late …

Then slowly the figures of the crew members faded away. The base had returned to the derelict state of the present day.

As they stood there shivering in fear, Mike and Avril heard the screaming of a car engine and a horn blowing coming from the direction of a hangar. A car came roaring towards them. As it got close to them, they could see it was the Hastings from the pub. Were they glad to see them? As the car skidded to a halt, Jack and Jean got out of the car and ran to the couple.

Avril was now weeping, and Mike was holding her in his arms. Blood was running down her tights from cuts and grazes on her legs and her face, and she also had black oil running down it. Mike too had the same cuts and abrasions and oil running down his face and neck. As he held Avril he looked around. There was now no sign of the bomber or its crew.

As Jack and Jean Hastings reached the couple, Jack asked, Are you both okay apart from the fright of what we saw? You must have been terrified.

Mike replied, I never, ever want to go through that again, Jack. I really thought we had met our ends out here. We managed to roll ourselves into the centre line of the bomber’s undercarriage, and then I saw the tail wheel coming straight at us. I just managed to roll Avril to the left and me to the right as the tail wheel whizzed past between us. As I looked up I saw the faces of the crew as the bomber roared over us. I saw the rear gunner staring down at me as it sped by. I am sure that it was my brother in the rear gun turret.

Before they could say any more, the truck loaded with regulars skidded to a halt close by. As they jumped down from the truck, Jack called out to them, So you finally plucked up the courage to come here? Well, you’re a bit too late. The excitement is over. That is, at least for now …

Mike called to them to be quiet as they all started shooting questions at him and Avril. Could you help me look in that copse? One of the ghosts, the pilot of the bomber, said that he’s in there and to hurry before it’s too late. Will ya all help us look for him?

Then he looked at his wife, who by now had stopped weeping and was more composed. He asked her, You okay, babe?

Avril looked up at him, saying, Yeah, I’m okay. Now let’s go and have a look in that copse.

Just then, two police cars roared towards them with sirens wailing and headlights and blue flashing lights blazing. They skidded to a halt near to the group. Two plainclothes officers got out of the cars together with four uniformed officers.

Jack and Jean knew the officers well. They were from the local nick. One of them said to Jack, What’s going on here? We had a report of an American couple in great danger here. Do you know who they are?

Jack answered, Well, Inspector, let me introduce you to the Americans. May I introduce you to the Harman’s, Mike and Avril. After what we have just witnessed these two going through, it’s a wonder they are not quivering mental wrecks by now.

For the next few minutes he explained what he and Jean had seen. The policemen were to say the least a bit sceptical, but they agreed to help in the search of the copse, so off they all went. It was a difficult search. The vegetation and the trees were so thick and close together that even walking in the copse was difficult. They searched for about an hour, especially around a large lake in the middle of the copse, but the only thing found were pieces of the fuselage skin off the bomber that had been there since the war. After an hour and a half, they ended the search and returned to the pub. The police, still sceptical, returned to the local police station

Back at the pub everyone was talking about what had happened. The Harman’s had their cuts and grazes cleaned and plastered up by Jean. Afterwards, looking as if they had been shot, they went into the lounge bar for a quiet drink.

Jack and Jean sent the regulars away from the pub because it was dinnertime hours closing time. Then they poured drinks out and sat discussing the events that had occurred at the base. It was difficult for them to take in what had happened there; it was all so unreal.

The one thought in their minds was they needed someone who understood these things and was an expert at dealing with the paranormal. But where do you find these people without inviting amateur ghost hunters and fake clairvoyants to get in on the act?

As they were talking about that, Jack switched on the TV. Straightaway the local newscaster came on the air with the complete story of what had happened to the Harman’s.

Then came the banging on the outer lounge door. Upon opening it Jack was confronted with Ned Harrowsmith demanding to know what had gone on at the base. Jack told him to come inside and sit down while he explained what had happened.

For the next few minutes, both couples did their best to give him the complete facts of what had taken place at the base. When they had done so, Ned sat there looking at the Harman’s with total surprise on his face.

But there was one thing on the minds of Jack and Jean Hastings: should they tell Ned or not about what Jack’s pal had told him about the death of Ned’s wife? The Hastings left it until they were on their own afterwards to decide.

Chapter 3

That evening as soon as the pub was open, in came TV and radio reporters demanding to know what had happened at the base. As Jack got rid of them all, two men in rather sombre suits stood waiting to be served. Jack, having served a number of years in the intelligence services, knew instinctively that these two fellas were from K17 or MI5. So, edging on caution, he asked them what he could get them. One asked if there were rooms available.

Heeding Dave Wheatley’s advice he said, Sorry, the rooms are all pre-booked. But there is the Black Horse about a mile from here. It’s a lot bigger than our establishment, with more rooms. I’m sure you will get rooms there. Do you want me to phone them for you?

The man replied, No thank you; we’ll do that later. Just one thing, Mister Hastings. If you value your safety and that of your wife, may I suggest you leave well alone about what goes on at the old air base?

The next moment two large fists came over the counter and yanked the man off his feet by the collar of his suit jacket. Jack Hastings was livid. The man’s companion pulled out a gun and aimed it at Jack, saying, You would be wise to let go of my companion before I pull the trigger.

A voice from behind him said, I think it would be wise for you to put that gun away, sir – that is, if you don’t want to be hit by both barrels from this shotgun.

The man lowered the gun and slowly turned to face where the voice came from. He saw Jean Hastings holding a double-barrelled shotgun aimed at his chest. Then another voice from the serving hatch said, And you wouldn’t like to be hit by this one as well, would you, sir?

It was Sally, the barmaid from the public bar. She called to the regulars in the public bar to come through to the lounge and to be careful of the two strangers, as they both had guns.

As the regulars came into the lounge, two of them nipped outside to their cars and got their guns too. They cocked them and aimed them at the two strangers.

The