"I say!" Freddy Farmer suddenly gasped, and then instantly subsided into silence.
Group Captain Ball swiveled around in his chair and shot the English youth a keen look.
"You say, what?" he demanded. "You've just thought of something?"
Freddy started to shake his head, and then to Dave's surprise he shot a guilty look at Squadron Leader Markham. Eighty-Four's O.C. took the look with a puzzled frown.
"What now, Farmer?" he asked. "Your face has a bit of a telltale expression, you know. Spoke out of turn, eh?"
"In a way, sir, I guess," Freddy said with an apologetic smile. "Never thought I'd mention it, but.... Well, after all that's been said, perhaps I'd better mention it."
"If it has a bearing on our present problem," Group Captain Ball said sharply, "I'm giving you an order to mention it! And jolly well right now!"
The English youth stared at him and nodded meekly.
"Of course, sir," he said. Then, "It was two nights ago ... Tuesday night ... the photo patrol took off and never returned?"
"That's correct," the Air Ministry official said with a curt nod. "Tuesday night."