Sonia spoke some more Polish before reverting to English for Frank’s benefit. “He says it’s just grazes, but a bullet went clean through his shoulder. That is not a graze!”
Jan gave his sister a feeble smile. “Look, my darling sister. It was a clean injury. They say my shoulder will recover fine. The disaster of it is I am missing out today! It could be the biggest day of the war and I’m stuck in this stupid bed.” He banged his free right hand on the bedside table and fumed for a while before shouting to the nurse to get his sister and her friend a cup of tea.
Sonia began to talk in Polish again, gripping Jan’s hand tightly. Merlin looked around. There was only one other patient in the ward, in a bed at the far end. He was groaning pitifully, his body almost completely swathed in bandages. An officer unknown to Merlin approached the bed.
“Badly burnt, I’m afraid. They are doing the best they can. I’m Kellett’s number two, Chief Inspector. Vincent is the name. Flight Lieutenant Vincent. Front desk told me you were here, so I thought I’d pop over.”
Vincent’s right arm was in a sling. He moved towards Jan’s bed. “We two crocks are missing out today, eh, Sieczko?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I collected a windowfull of glass in my arm, Chief Inspector. Thought yesterday I’d still be able to manage, but woke up with no feeling in my fingers and the medicos tell me I can’t go up.”
“What’s the situation, Flight Lieutenant?”
“Latest reports from Uxbridge are that there’s a force of over 200 bombers, with a host of escort aircrafts, over Calais and they are heading our way. Pretty much everyone is being scrambled. Here our 303 and 229 Hurricanes are now getting airborne. The Spitfire squadrons at Biggin Hill, Hornchurch and Warmwell are doing likewise, I believe. Then no doubt the Hurricane squadrons at Kenley, Debden and Hendon will be—” Vincent was interrupted by the sound of breaking glass as Jan knocked a jug of water off his bedside table, waving his arm in frustration.
“Now, now, Sieczko. Get a grip, man. Nothing we can do about missing out today. Just concentrate on getting fit as soon as possible.”
Jan sighed and Sonia put her arm around his good shoulder and gave him a hug.
Merlin thought for a moment. “As you are here, sir, do you mind if we have a word about Kilinski?”
Vincent looked a little surprised. “The Yard never sleeps, is that it, Chief Inspector? Well, I can give you a few minutes. I’ll need to get over to the ops room shortly. Come along, let’s go to the Squadron Leader’s office.”
“Back in a moment, darling.”
Sonia nodded and grasped her brother’s hand tightly.
Kellett’s office was in the main administration building. “I was just wondering, Flight Lieutenant, if I could have a look at Ziggy’s personnel file?”
“I understood that your girl took a carbon copy away with her last time.”
“I know and I saw it, but I was just hoping to see the file itself just in case…”
“That’s alright. It’s here in this filing cabinet. Just give me a moment.” Vincent opened a drawer with his good left hand. “Here it is. Do you also want another look at his belongings? I’ve got them stored in a cupboard just outside. I can get someone to bring them in here, if you like.”
“Yes, why not. I’d be grateful.”
Vincent went out to organise Kilinski’s belongings, leaving Merlin with the file. This was his first proper look at it. Robinson had told him the file wasn’t particularly helpful, so he had only given it a quick glance. She was a clever girl, but she was young and inexperienced. She could have missed something.
*