Part   Four   "Grounded"

 
Saturday 8th April 2017
 

Tammy had been in the air for half an hour when she declared an emergency and brought her plane back to Wick. She got down safely and taxied back to the Smart aviation hanger. Jim was waiting.

"What went wrong?"

"It didn't feel right, the engine was losing power then, ten seconds later, came back to full. After the second time this happened I called the tower and said I was coming back in, I reckon I barely made it."

"You're right to do so, let's get it inside and I'll have the fitter take a look."

Within an hour they were on the phone to the manufacturer, not receiving the answers they wanted.

"I'm sorry Miss Smart but we have no record of you nor of the engine or chassis numbers. In fact we only have a few prototype aircraft of that model at the moment."

"So what do I have?"

"It's clearly a fake, I'm sorry."

"Is there anything you can do?"

"I'm afraid it's a matter for your authorities now, but thank you for informing us."

Tammy had the call on speaker so Jim could hear both sides. "Well, Tammy, I'm sorry. We used a broker in Belgium for the transaction and all of the paperwork tallied."

"I suppose we need to inform the CAA straight away?"

"Correct. I'm truly sorry, Tammy, I should have been more thorough when buying the plane. I've let you down."

"Let's not play what-ifs. Perhaps we could hold off the calls for a few hours? I want to get some equipment from home before anyone else gets their hands on my plane."

"It won't be going anywhere, neither will I."

Tammy drove home to retrieve the bug detector from her secure box. She was on the way out of the door only a few minutes after arrival but was delayed by her father who queried what she was doing home. Thirty minutes later she pulled back into Wick Airport, parking by the hanger.

"I've done some digging, Tammy, the original engine number has been ground off and that's a new plate. Fortunately there's another number underneath that hadn't been touched. The engine goes down to a stolen plane, a very similar design to the Sonaca aircraft shown on their website."

"So a fake and stolen!"

"Yes."

"Well, let's check it anyway."

"Be quick, we need to inform the authorities."

Tammy ran her bug detector through the plane, finding a small GPS beacon under one of the floor panels.

"As it's operational, my guess is that it was fitted just before we took delivery?"

"I agree, Tammy. The plane was reported stolen in the Netherlands in January and obviously had some cosmetic work done. I guess the price was too attractive."

"Well, it looks like I need a new plane, what can we do about this one?"

"I'll inform the CAA and your insurer. Did you leave that beacon in place?"

"Yes."

"You'd best inform your friends too."

Tammy wasn't certain what he had meant by the last comment but she felt obliged to make a call. Sat in her car she docked her phone then pressed the emergency button.

"Security Unit."

"Hello, this is Tammy Smart, could you ask John Smith to call my office in an hour"

"Certainly, Miss Smart, I take it that this can't wait until Monday?"

"Given that a fan is spinning, and there's potentially cow pats in the air, no."

"Understood."

She closed the call and, as a precaution, switched off that phone. Her new secure phone was also in her bag so she switched it on and called Marcus.

"Tammy, dear, what's up?"

"I haven't said there's an issue, not yet?"

"But you never call to make small-talk and, right now, I can detect tension in your voice?"

"Indeed, looks like my plane is stolen, then refurbished and re-badged to make it look new."

"I see, are all the usual authorities being informed?"

"Yes, playing this one by the book."

"Good, who actually owns it?"

"Smart Aviation, they bought it for me and were due to transfer it to me once I had my paper licence."

"So it's not in your name yet?"

"No, the registration is still with the company and would have been transferred to me next week probably."

"Good, that takes your name out of the equation, mostly that is. Who sold it to you?"

Tammy gave him the name of the broker in Belgium.

"Leave that with me, I'll make some enquiries."

"Thanks, Marcus."

Tammy walked back into the hanger and Jim's face was rather grey.

"These power drops, Tammy, it looks like they were designed to happen."

"Oh."

"There's also a connection from the GPS beacon to the engine management unit, that needs checking."

"Okay, don't touch any more, I need to get to my office. Make sure the hanger is locked up tight and expect visitors tomorrow."

"Understood."

Tammy drove to her office and settled into the secure room with a coffee, it wasn't long before the phone rang.

"What's the emergency, Miss Smart?"

"Sorry John, it seems my aircraft is stolen and may have been modified in a way that would endanger my life." She explained what they'd discovered.

"I see, I'll speak to the Met Police and we'll get an aviation investigator up to you, where is the plane?"

"In our hanger at Wick Airport."

"Who has access?"

"Apart from myself, Jim Surtees the fleet manager, the pilots and the fitters. My father does too, as Chairman of the company."

"Do you trust them?"

"Definitely, most have been with the company for ten years, the newest fitter has been there for five years."

"Okay, leave it with me and you were right to call."

"Cheers, John."

Before she left the office, Tammy called her father and brought him up to date.

"They were out to kill you! I'm going over there!"

"No, Dad, we're handling it. Jim knows what he's doing and I have other agencies involved. Best keep a low profile for now."

"I didn't think you had anything to do with them now?"

"I still have contacts and this may relate to something I've done."

"Seriously, Tammy, what did you become involved in?"

"Look, now is not the time to go over the past few years, but you know much of it anyway. I need to get back to the airport, before anyone turns up and upsets Jim."

Tammy locked up and jumped back in her car for the run back to Wick, stopping at Tesco for some sandwiches and fresh milk.

"I guess we're not going home for lunch?"

"No Jim, let's sit and wait for everyone to get to work."

It was an hour before the first police car arrived and a young PC entered the hanger firstly ignored Tammy, then asked Jim if he was in charge?

"I suggest you ask Miss Smart who owns Smart Aviation."

"Ah, sorry, Miss. I'm not entirely certain why I was asked to guard an aircraft?"

"Where did the order come from?"

"From Ops, beyond that I don't know."

"Well, draw up a chair, I think it's time to put the kettle back on."

An hour later Jim took a call from the Civil Aviation Authority investigation unit and briefed them with what he knew.

"What did the CAA say, Jim?"

"That the RAF have been asked to assist and they won't be coming here themselves."

"Did they say any more?"

"No, most unusual."

"Indeed."

At three there was a call from the tower to say a military aircraft was inbound. Ten minutes later a Hercules touched down and taxied to the Smart Hanger.

"Miss Smart?"

"Yes."

"I'm Squadron Leader Harry Palmer, pleased to meet you."

"Right, what's your plan?"

"We are removing your aircraft to Farnborough for examination, but it's a short hop back to Lossiemouth tonight though."

"I see."

"I have a small team with me but I'd appreciate if your fitters could assist to expedite matters. We need to get it inside the C130 and I'd like to be airborne by 1700."

"Sure!"

Jim took Tammy aside. "Who ordered the military?"

"My friends, probably, my guess is that they're treating this as an attempted assassination."

"What I don't understand is why you didn't have any problems before today?"

"It was the first time I took the plane North towards Shetland, beyond that I don't know."

"Oh."

"Now, Jim, do you think you could find me a plane? I need something that will take me to London on a single tank?"

"New?"

"One or two years old with a verifiable history?"

"A two seater?"

"Yes."

"Leave it with me."

It took until nearly five for the fitter and the RAF team to take the wings off the plane then wheel it into the fuselage of the Hercules, aided by a tug.

Tammy signed over the aircraft and waited until the RAF plane had lifted into the darkening sky before making her own departure. She was almost home when her secure phone rang, Tammy pulled off the road.

"Hello?"

"It's Marcus, I have some information for you."

"Okay."

"The Belgian company had a large injection of cash in January and took on a consultant, one Penny Lane."

"Damn, Penny Lavoska!"

"The same."

"Thing is, how did she know I'd need a plane?"

"I can't answer that for you."

"But I think I have an idea. Thanks for the update Marcus, my plane's gone to RAF Farnborough."

"To be pulled apart, no doubt!"

"The wings are already off."

"Of course. Be careful Tammy, Miss Lavoska will likely have a back-up plan and has almost certainly moved on."

 
Sunday 9th April 2017
 

"What are you planning today?"

"Not much, James, and when did you get back?"

"Yesterday teatime, Tammy. Did you miss me?"

"I've been a bit busy."

"I thought you'd have been enjoying yourself?"

"I have a business to run!"

"How about lunch?"

"Sure, where?"

"Italian?"

"Okay, I'll pick you up at one."

"I can walk, I'm in my office."

"On a Sunday?"

"I didn't get much done yesterday but I'm only planning on being here until lunchtime."

"Okay, Tammy, I'll see you at one."

She put her phone down and connected it to the charger, she might need it later. James' call had been a bit of distraction as she had that day's Sunday Standard newspaper open, and Tammy didn't know what to do. A very small article queried what a Hercules had been doing at Wick Airport and was offering money for information. Although she knew she had shares in a newspaper group, this particular paper wasn't one she could put pressure on. The office secure phone broke interrupted her thoughts.

"Hello?"

"Miss Smart, it's John Smith."

"Oh, hi."

"Our press team have picked up on a story in one of the Sunday papers."

"I have a copy of it in front of me."

"Well, the paper's website has further information, someone took video of your operation yesterday and you are very recognisable."

"Bugger! There wasn't a sole near the hanger apart from my team and the RAF guys, plus the copper."

"Did you get the officer's number?"

"No, but my car was next to the hanger so my dashcam should have some images."

"Can you get those to me, as a matter of urgency?"

"I'll try, but Yasmin didn't show me how to download from the device."

"I'm sure you'll work it out, bye Tammy."

"Err, bye."

It was easier than Tammy had imagined and she returned to the office a few minutes later with the SD card. A short while later she had isolated the relevant frames and sent these to John Smith.

She had an anxious wait whilst the laptop had transferred the files, meanwhile the clock was edging past midday. She put the kettle on for a cup of tea and was about to pour the water when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"It's John, I've gone through the first few images and it looks like the officer shot the video."

"Damn, who can we trust these days?"

"I doubt he was given a suitable briefing but I've sent a message to Police Scotland as, regardless of his excuse, it looks like a case of gross misconduct."

"Can we get the story taken down?"

"That's a bit more difficult, we'll see if the local Police can handle it."

"In the meantime, I'll be named."

"Probably."

"Great. I'm told that the Sunday Standard has a reputation for dishing the dirt and sorting it out in court later."

"That's one of the risks when you have a free press."

"Thanks John, very reassuring." Tammy could hear a mobile ringing. "Sorry, got another call."

Tammy grabbed her personal mobile phone. "Yes, Dad?"

"The press have turned up here, a female reporter."

"Already?"

"You knew?"

"It looks like a copper sold some video to the Standard yesterday and my face was in it."

"Damn, where are you?"

"In the office. What have you said to the reporter?"

"I've sent her away, don't be surprised if your office is their next call."

"Okay, Dad."

She kept an eye on the door entry camera but was still caught off guard when the door buzzer sounded. A glance told her it was James, she pushed the external door release but closed the secure room door before he reached the top of the stairs.

"Have you checked Facebook?"

"Not since breakfast time."

"What's all this about your plane?"

"My plane, James?"

"Yes, Tammy, don't play games with me." He showed her a photo of herself looking on as the fuselage of her plane was being loaded.

"I had a problem with it."

"And called the RAF?"

"Actually no, but the CAA asked for their help."

"That's not the story I heard."

"Really?"

Tammy's secure mobile decided to ring. "Yes, Marcus?"

"I've dug a little deeper, It's a bit of a mess Tammy!"

"No kidding! I'm stuck for ideas, Marcus."

"We'll see what we can do from here."

"Okay, thanks."

She hit the button to end the call.

"Marcus? Who's he?"

"A friend, James, a professional friend."

The office phone rang next.

"Smart Properties."

"Is that Miss Tamara Smart?"

"Speaking."

"This is Abi from the Sunday Standard, I'd like to ask you a few questions about your plane."

"No comment!"

Tammy hung up.

"Damn, James, now they know I'm here."

"I'm sorry Tammy, but if they're on their way then I have no wish to be seen in a newspaper. Call me when, or if, you get your life back in order."

He left without giving her a kiss, her lunch date cancelled. Worst than that, she had run out of biscuits and it looked like she might be staying in the office longer than planned when the buzzer sounded.

The doorcam showed a girl in her early twenties, a large satchel was hanging from her shoulder. The buzzer sounded again, Tammy relented and answered it.

"Smart Properties, can I help you."

"Miss Smart, I'd like to ask you some questions."

"And I'm not answering anything until I'm told I can."

"Who by?"

"No, Abi, no further comment."

"We pay for stories."

"I'm afraid there isn't a story here, goodbye!"

She put the handset back in the cradle and ignored the buzzer, followed by the office phone. Her personal mobile could just be heard above the cacophony.

"Yes Jim?"

"The press turned up at the airport gate, security wouldn't let them in."

"Okay, I just had a reporter here."

"Oh? The Police turned up just after the reporter and they want to speak to everyone about yesterday afternoon."

"When?"

"As soon as possible, including you."

"Great!"

"Don't shoot the messenger, Tammy!"

"Do you know who the Police officers are?"

"The older one says he knows you, he's in uniform, and there's a young one in a suit with him."

"Damn, another kiddie who thinks he knows the ruddy law!"

"Come on Tammy, give them a chance - not that I know why they're here?"

"Have you seen today's papers?"

"Only the Sunday Mail."

"Oh well, I'll grab some lunch on the way over."

Tammy locked up and set off in her car for Wick airport. She stopped at the Tesco store for food and was checking through the sandwich fridge when there was a noise behind her. She ignored it and took her lunch to a self-service checkout.

"I told you, it's her!"

Tammy continued to ignore the commotion that was starting and just managed to pay for her food when a store security guard arrived.

"I'm sorry Miss, but you're causing a disturbance."

"I haven't said a word to anyone."

"You have to leave."

Her food was in her arms. "Have you paid for that?"

"Yes, I bloody well have."

A small crowd was now observing her and Tammy sensed this wasn't going to end well.

"Will you excuse me, I have an appointment to keep."

"I'd like to see your receipt for these items."

"It's in my purse!"

"If you would come to the manager's office?"

"I'd like to leave the store."

"If you do that, we'll have to call the police."

"For what? I haven't done anything."

"Then I'm sure someone who owns a plane should be able to afford a sandwich?"

"Get me the manager!"