BIGGLES IN THE UNDERWORLD

by Captain W. E. Johns

3. ROUTINE INQUIRIES (Pages 32 – 41)

Biggles goes to see Air Commodore Raymond to tell him what happened at the Icarian Club. He concludes with “I can think of only one man with a reason to pull a razor on me”. The Air Commodore looked serious. “You think he had seen you talking to his boy-friend?” “Either that or someone must have told him who I was, and what had been going on. That we had been talking” replies Biggles, adding that it was probably Nestos, the club manager. Biggles tells Raymond he has sent Bertie to locate the farm in Hampshire and Ginger is watching Caine’s flat. Biggles got the address from the phone book; it’s a mews flat in Kensington. “There’s just a chance that the Sheikh may be hiding at the flat or the farm. If he is, and comes out, we should have him”. Biggles says he shall carry on attending the Icarian Club as if nothing has happened. If he keeps away it will be realized that he thinks somebody at the club was involved. Raymond suggests bringing Caine in for breaching Air Traffic Regulations. Biggles says he might not even have a plane. It might just be a lie. Raymond says the man they really want is the Sheikh. “He’s too dangerous a criminal to have floating about loose”. “I’m not likely to forget that, sir. After what he tried to do to me last night I want him, too, for personal reasons. He owes me for a new raincoat”. Biggles leaves and goes and make inquiries with the Air Ministry. To his surprise, he finds that Caine had been retired on medical grounds due to defective vision as he was medically unfit for flying duties. His character was ‘exemplary’ and his ability ‘above the average’. He had also done an overseas tourn with 770 Squadron in Aden. The Sheikh had once served in the same unit. Biggles wondered why Caine said he had been ‘slung out’, to use his own words. Defective vision was nothing to be ashamed of. Was this defective vision the true reason why Caine had failed to apply for registration as a ‘private owner’? “For if there is one thing a pilot must have it is perfect eyesight”. Biggles gets back late to the office, where Algy is manning the phones. Nothing has been heard from Bertie and Ginger said Caine had gone off in a red Jaguar car. When Ginger returns to the office Biggles tells both him and Algy what he had found out during the day. Biggles says that Caine’s eyesight problem must have been sudden as he would never have been selected for flying duties or got in the Service in the first place. They wait for Bertie to ring or return, but he doesn’t. Biggles wants to go to the Icarian Club again in the hope of further conversation with Caine. Ginger complains about the routine inquiries and wants to get onto something more interesting. Biggles tells him “When you’ve had someone make a pass at your face with a razor, you won’t find it so dull, I promise you”. “Mind you don’t get a repeat performance tonight,” warned Algy, seriously. Biggles nodded. “I’ll watch it doesn’t happen again”. He went out.