“Any number of people, I’m afraid,” the tall mechanic replied with a shrug. “The check-in officer, the Commandant, the operations officer, and—well, any of the pilots he happened to mention it to. Why? Anything special behind that question?”
“Just grabbing at straws,” Dave said with a sigh. “It’s pretty certain that somebody here, who knew his take-off time, sent word to Frisco, so that the rat, or rats, at the Frisco end could check and make sure.”
“What’s that, Dave?” Freddy Farmer spoke up with a frown. “Why did anybody in Frisco have to know, if the poor chap’s oxygen tank was fixed up?”
“To make sure the tank did knock him out and make him crash, and die,” Dawson replied grimly. “It wouldn’t gain them much to make that sneak attack on Rigby’s office if Tracey were going to make contact with Colonel Welsh, anyway.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Freddy nodded. “So some blighter here who knew his take-off time is our man, or at least one of them.”
“Sure,” Dave grunted, and made a sweep of his hand that took in the entire Base. “So take your pick. The old needle in a hay stack, Freddy. A dead end street, I’d say. Well, I guess we’d better report to Major Larkin, and find out how soon we’re leaving.”
“Yes, that would be a good idea,” the taller of the two agents replied. “But here’s a tip. If you’re staying here for the night, don’t go for any walks in the dark. I think it would be wise to stick in the officers’ mess, and relax, if you get what I mean.”
“I guess I do,” Dave grunted, and gave the tall one a searching look. “Somebody we don’t know knows that we have arrived, eh?”
“Yes, that’s the idea,” the tall mechanic said with a faint grin. “We realize now that Tracey didn’t bump his head into any door while he was having a good time with some of his pilot friends.”
“Not a chance!” the shorter mechanic said grimly. “My guess is that he got popped at. Whispering bullets in the dark. And it wouldn’t be the first time, either. The rats we’re up against always deal from the bottom of the deck. So watch your step. And of course, we’ll be watching you.”