HitH: Chapter 5 - Up in the Air (IC)

[Mort]

For a moment it looked as though the aeroplane was hanging in mid-air, but it soon became obvious that it was flying in the same direction as the car was traveling. In just a few moments, the car crested a hill, and the investigators were looking down over the "outer banks" and the famous Kitty Hawk airfield. The car had a perfect view of the sandy pastures the airfield used as its runways. The aeroplane off in the distance dove down toward the earth with startling abruptness, leveled out, and then landed with a bounce and rolled to a stop.

It didn't take the car long to catch up to the aeroplane and pass it on the road. A large wooden sign over the road read: "Welcome to Kitty Hawk: the Home of Flight."

[David68]

After Major Lofton talked about his suspicion towards Wilbur Smith, Kirk started to open up a bit more and after the others gave indications about the mystery surrounding the disappearance, he decided to let the Major in on their story: "You heard about Joyce Armstrong, a British pilot, famous for an altitude record? It seems he and his plane disappeared some years ago in England and his altimeter recently surfaced in a pawnshop here in Camden. It's the same pawnshop where Mr. Smith regularly brings objects related to airplanes. The person who bought the altimeter was last seen with Mr. Smith at the pawnshop a week ago. His family and friends have had no sign of life from him ever since."

[rdanhenry]

Major Lofton waves over the first person he recognizes and asks that the doctor be alerted that he has two patients waiting if he's not in his office (which I imagine is likely since he's not doing a regular practice here). Then he'll drive over to the medical facility to deliver the patients. If anyone wants to phone, he'll stop and let him off on the way.

[philjun]

After Smitty and Tabs have been handed over to the medical staff, Seamus will pull Kirk, Felix and the Major aside. "I have been thinking," he says in a low voice, "how could Wilbur be aware of our presence here and how did he know that we were going to the airport? I see a few possible scenarios:


One, Wilbur saw us at the pawn shop when he was dropping off the boy and got suspicious. I find this rather impropable, as some strangers browsing a pawn shop in itself wouldn't be that alarming."


"Two, Wilbur was warned by Mr. B. after Felix and Tabs first visited the pawn shop. If this is the case, why did Mr. B. give up Wilbur's adress so readily and why did Wilbur return the boy to the pawn shop if he knew we were waiting there?"


"Three, Smitty alerted Wilbur while we were having lunch. It may sound silly but I think we have to consider all options."


"Four, Mr. Wilder alerted Wilbur. If this is the case, he could have done so long ago and Wilbur could have made a hit at us at some earlier point."


Seamus sighs. "All in all, none of it really adds up. What do you think, Major? Perhaps some fresh eyes on this matter could uncover something I don't see?"

[David68]

As they approach the airfield, Kirk looks around carefully for a brown truck and for anything else worth noticing. When they arrive, he says he would like to make a few phonecalls to Mr. Wilder, Mr. Dumont and the police in Elisabeth City and Camden. He will tell Mr. Wilder and Mr. Dumont that they are now at the airport for medical check up, after having been intentionally hit by a truck driven by the person that young Dumont was last seen with a week ago and  that he will inform the police. Assuming he can find their number, he will explain the situation to the police, referring to the damaged brown truck, possible address of Wilbur Smith and his connection with the missing person.

[rdanhenry]

After Smitty and Tabs have been handed over to the medical staff, Seamus will pull Kirk, Felix and the Major aside. "I have been thinking," he says in a low voice, "how could Wilbur be aware of our presence here and how did he know that we were going to the airport? I see a few possible scenarios:


One, Wilbur saw us at the pawn shop when he was dropping off the boy and got suspicious. I find this rather impropable, as some strangers browsing a pawn shop in itself wouldn't be that alarming."


"Two, Wilbur was warned by Mr. B. after Felix and Tabs first visited the pawn shop. If this is the case, why did Mr. B. give up Wilbur's adress so readily and why did Wilbur return the boy to the pawn shop if he knew we were waiting there?"


"Three, Smitty alerted Wilbur while we were having lunch. It may sound silly but I think we have to consider all options."


"Four, Mr. Wilder alerted Wilbur. If this is the case, he could have done so long ago and Wilbur could have made a hit at us at some earlier point."


Seamus sighs. "All in all, none of it really adds up. What do you think, Major? Perhaps some fresh eyes on this matter could uncover something I don't see?"

"Why reveal Wilbur Smith at all, if Mr. B was in cahoots with him? It would be more likely that Robbie warned him, though that would mean they'd have made arrangements in advance. Wilbur might also have an associate spying on the pawn shop, especially if he knew there were new investigators following up on the Dumont disappearance. If he is a spy, he may well have been listening in on the Dumont's telephone conversations or have had an accomplice do so. Or perhaps those barbers were just as free giving out information going the other way. If he knew about you all along, Mr. Smith may simply have waited to do anything about you until you started getting close enough to seem threatening."

The Major smiles slightly, the first time he has shown any expression other than concern. "Perhaps he obtained his information through occult channels."

[Mort]

There was no sign of Wilbur, his brown truck, or anything out of place at an airfield. As soon as they were parked, the group split up: Tabs and Smitty to the doctor's office (a small building adjacent to the main airfield offices), Kirk to a telephone (in the adjacent airfield offices), and Felix and the Major filling each other in on the details of their investigation.

The doctor looked at the lump on Smitty's head, checked his pupils and reflexes, and then put ice on the wound. He rebandaged Tabs' cut after pulling it together with two small stitches. He also checked her pupils and reflexes, and then offered her ice as well. "You'll both live," the doctor said. "No signs of any permanent damage and no signs of concussion. I suggest some rest and ice every few hours."

he would like to make a few phonecalls to Mr. Wilder, Mr. Dumont and the police in Elisabeth City and Camden. He will tell Mr. Wilder and Mr. Dumont that they are now at the airport for medical check up, after having been intentionally hit by a truck driven by the person that young Dumont was last seen with a week ago and  that he will inform the police. Assuming he can find their number, he will explain the situation to the police, referring to the damaged brown truck, possible address of Wilbur Smith and his connection with the missing person.

Mr. Wilder received the news with some shock. His immediate concern was for old Smitty, but once he was assured his man was fine, he calmed down and assured Kirk that he need not worry about the car. He'd take care of everything and that he was sorry that he didn't not have another car available in which they could continue the investigation.

Mr. Dumont offered repeated apologies for getting the investigators into harms way. He was encouraged, however, that they had a lead to follow up on. "Be careful!" he repeated about dozen times. He did not want anyone hurt or missing on account of his family tragedy.

Kirk had to explain his story several times before he found the right law enforcement agency to talk to. Camden claimed they had no jurisdiction over the matter. The highway was county property and well outside of the town limits. Elizabeth City city police made a similar claim. The sheriff's department in Elizabeth City county said they'd be happy to send out a deputy to the scene of the crime later in the afternoon to take statements from the victims and file a proper report. If this looked to be anything more than a "hit and run" with no serious injuries, they would contact the newly-formed state highway patrol in Raleigh for assistance and investigate the address up near the swamp.

[Tabs]

"You'll both live," the doctor said.

   Tabs touches her forehead.
   "Thank you, doctor. Do you think my cut will scar?"

   "Smitty, I trust you're alright? I'm going to the officer's mess--or whatever its called--and order up a mug of tea, then find a large comfortable armchair, and have a rest."

[rdanhenry]

"I'm going to return this borrowed automobile and get my own back. The people's automobile, actually, as it is army property. I can drive you out to meet with the police authorities and get you home. If you are willing, I would like to work with you on this investigation. At the very least, that should prevent us tripping over each other."

As he exchanges vehicles, Major Lofton will check with some of his usual contacts around the airfield (he has a lot of technical questions and also seeks out expert opinion, both in answer to his own ideas and to answer queries from higher up the command chain) to see if anyone noticed Wilbur or Robbie earlier and if they did anything unusual.

[David68]

Kirk assures Mr Wilder and Dumont that they will ask the help of the police to deal with any serious threats.

He thanks the Elisabeth City county police, emphasizes that this might very well have a connection with the disappearance of young Dumont and fixes a time to meet with the deputy at Mr. Wilder's car.

After his phone calls, he goes to check on Tabs and Smitty and tells those from the group he meets about the appointment with the deputy.

[Mort]

Smitty was, indeed, feeling a little better. "Ya'll go rest in the clubhouse," he said. "It's a nice one from what the boss has told me. I need to lie down for a bit, I think." The doctor insisted that Smitty stay under his care for at least a few hours and pointed the way to the airfield's clubhouse for the others. They only needed to drop the Major's name to gain entrance.

The Major swapped out his car and then ask around the airfield about Robbie and Wilbur Smith. People had seen them there that morning. They stayed in the hangar most of the day, working on Smith's plane. Robbie had made some remarks about "upping the horse power" and "more RPMs is the only way to get a stable flight at above 40,000 feet." Wilbur had said nothing that anyone could remember. All of the Major's contacts had ultimately said the same thing: "If you want any dirt going on at the club, better go see old Carson Clark."

Carson Clark was an aging aeronaut who had been almost entirely grounded since losing a leg in the Great War. He was a little "off" most people thought, but he liked to hang out at the Club, and he knew everyone. The man had nothing to do but to live vicariously through other pilots, so he was constantly in everyone's business.

As the Major headed into to clubhouse to find Clark, he saw that Clark had already found his new friends. Kirk, Felix, Tabs, and Seamus had all found their way into the clubhouse, and only had a few moments of privacy before Clark had hobbled up on his old-fashioned crutches, introduced himself, sat down in one of the big overstuffed chairs in their midst and began making small talk.

[rdanhenry]

Pausing to make sure everyone has been introduced, the Major then addresses Mr. Clark. "Mr. Clark, from what I've been able to gather, it seems Wilbur Smith was preparing for a high altitude flight. This is particularly curious, as it seems he has been dealing in recovered parts from failed high altitude flights. Parts he has no business having. Have you noticed anything unusual in Smith's activities lately, or for that matter, in Robbie's. I'm afraid that lad appears to be caught up in whatever Smith is up to."

[Tabs]

   Tabitha has ditched her blood stained overcoat and is now sporting the flying jacket she bought at the pawn shop. She listens carefully as Major Lofton asks questions of Mr. Clark.

"upping the horse power" and "more RPMs is the only way to get a stable flight at above 40,000 feet."

   When there is a gap in the current conversation.
   "I'd really like to examine Wilbur's and Robbie's aircraft. Mr. Clark, you may not believe it of a young woman like me, but I'm a pilot and a mechanic too!"

[David68]

Kirk listens carefully to what the others say and regularly looks around in the clubhouse a bit nervously for anything suspicious.

When he has the chance, he will ask Mr. Clark: "A week ago Wilbur Smith was seen at a pawnshop in Camden with a young person by the name of Dumont. Since then young Dumont went missing and we think they might have gone to the airport because they were looking for airplane related objects. Have you seen or heard anything about that?"

[philjun]

Seamus will grab a couple of casual photographs of the airfield before going to the club house. He will order up a handsome glass of scotch and swallow it quietly, eagerly waiting for the old man to reply.

[Mort]

Have you noticed anything unusual in Smith's activities lately, or for that matter, in Robbie's. I'm afraid that lad appears to be caught up in whatever Smith is up to."

From a distance Clark looked like the ex-military type. He was clean shaven with close cropped hair, and he wore his clothes in very military fashion: pants properly pleated, shirt pressed and starched, shoes buffed and shined.  But up close it was clear that his clothes were old and worn, especially under the arms where his crutches rubbed against the fabric. And his clothes were a bit too tight . . . as though he had expanded with the years but his clothes had not. His shoes looked tired from too many attempts to polish and resole them.

He grinned at the question. "Everything about that Wilbur fellow is strange if you ask me. But he's a brave pilot . . . there's no denying that. I wouldn't be surprised if he breaks the 50,000 foot mark before he gives up or dies trying. He's got moxie and no denying. He's been around her for months, but I haven't noticed him up to anything unusually unusual. He does his thing: he works on the plane, flies it, and then . . . well, when he ain't at the airfield I don't rightly know what he does. As for Robbie, he comes around a few days a week.  Likes to brag about Smith's plane to the other pilots, but other than that, he pretty much keeps to the hangar. Seems like a sharp kid."

"I'd really like to examine Wilbur's and Robbie's aircraft. Mr. Clark, you may not believe it of a young woman like me, but I'm a pilot and a mechanic too!"

"You are asking the wrong man, young lady. I can't give you permission to go into another man's hangar and look at his rig.  Nor would I if I could. Mr. Smith rents that hangar from the airfield. It's his private property. You gotta respect a man's privacy."

"A week ago Wilbur Smith was seen at a pawnshop in Camden with a young person by the name of Dumont. Since then young Dumont went missing and we think they might have gone to the airport. Have you seen or heard anything about that?"

"I haven't heard anything about that," Clark said. "News of a more mundane type doesn't make its way down much to the airfield, I'm afraid. I've never seen anyone at the airfield with Smith other than Robbie that  I can remember. And I would have remembered," he added with a wink.

"It seems he has been dealing in recovered parts from failed high altitude flights. Parts he has no business having."

"They were looking for airplane related objects."

It was the mention of this that really got Clark's attention. "Parts recovered from failed flights? Well that doesn't make any sense. There haven't been any failed flights here, not really. There were a lot of flights that failed to reach their altitude . . . or had to emergency descend because of ice. Stuff like that. Are you saying Clark has been robbing the other pilots . . . stealing their parts?"

[rdanhenry]

"Robbery is too simple a term. Various parts from planes that disappeared attempting high altitudes in different countries have passed through Wilbur Smith. How he got them is unknown, but such a collection shouldn't really exist at all, unless something previously unsuspected is happening. If those flights were somehow forced down, for example, by some single agency, collection of their parts would be feasible."

The Major shrugs his shoulders. "Right now we have a lot more questions than answers. And I have a feeling that Smith will be holing up somewhere. Unless we get lucky and the police pick him up before he finds out they're looking for him, we may not see him again, at least for the near future. Oh, I think we may have neglected to mention I met all these new friends coming to their aid after Smith rammed their car with that truck of his."

[Mort]

"Robbery is too simple a term. Various parts from planes that disappeared attempting high altitudes in different countries have passed through Wilbur Smith. How he got them is unknown, but such a collection shouldn't really exist at all, unless something previously unsuspected is happening. If those flights were somehow forced down, for example, by some single agency, collection of their parts would be feasible."

The Major shrugs his shoulders. "Right now we have a lot more questions than answers. And I have a feeling that Smith will be holing up somewhere. Unless we get lucky and the police pick him up before he finds out they're looking for him, we may not see him again, at least for the near future. Oh, I think we may have neglected to mention I met all these new friends coming to their aid after Smith rammed their car with that truck of his."

"Other countries?" Clark's face lit up. "I could tell you some stories about . . ."

"Now, Carson, don't you go scaring these good folks with your voodoo stories." The man who spoke stood just now behind Clark's chair. The others had watched him approach from a nearby table where he'd been eating. He spoke in the deep lyrical cadence of south Texas and was dressed like a pilot of no small means. The Major knew him as "Big" John Greenlee, a cattle baron turned pilot in his latter years. Greenlee had graying brown hair and flecks of gray in his mustache. He was tall, muscular, and extremely handsome by any traditional standard. Greenlee had ruddy cheeks and the perpetual squint of a cowboy. "Major, you may not know better than to get old Clark on about mysteries, sightings, and other strangeness, but the rest of us have learned . . . the hard way." He patted Clark on the shoulder, a friendly and disarming gesture. Clark's face quickly went from irate to only mildly irritated at the interruption. "And who are your friends?" Greenlee asked, extending his hand first to Tabs. "I'm John Greenlee, but my friends call me 'Big John'."

[Tabs]

   Tabs stands up and presents her hand--palm down--to "Big John."
   "Tabitha Barclay: delighted to meet you, Mr. Greenlee." Tabitha introduces everyone. She asks about the thing that really interests her. "Mr. Carson told us that Wilbur Smith's aircraft is in a private hangar. I would dearly like to see it--I'm a pilot myself."

[David68]

As Clark doesn't seem to know anything about young Dumont, Kirk doesn't seem very inspired to ask more questions and just keeps listening. He greets Big John nodding his head after being introduced by Tabs.