The Ipcress File Page #2

was arrested two months ago

and they're still holding.

So, we are left with Erik Ashley Grantby,

codename Bluejay, born Albania 1918.

Thank you, Chico.

The one in the hat is Bluejay,

the bald one is his chief of staff,

codenamed Housemartin.

This was taken in Stockholm

two years ago.

Here is a more recent film of Bluejay

in Vienna last October.

Since then, it would appear,

he's been lying low.

Alice has done a breakdown of all

his known haunts in and around London.

I want them all checked.

- Jock, take these.

- Sir.

- Gray.

- Sir.

- Edwards.

- Sir.

- Chico.

- Thank you, sir.

Palmer.

Lastly, if Bluejay has Radcliffe,

he'll sell to the highest bidder

and that's got to be us.

Whoever contacts him must let him

know that we're in the market.

Right, get on with it.

Courtney, I'd like a word with you.

I say, er, my name's Harry.

- I'm Jock.

- Hi.

- Is that his bird?

- No!

Oh. That parade-ground manner of his

doesn't work with women.

- He gave you the treatment, eh?

- I'll say.

He does that to everyone.

Still, he's not a bad bloke really.

Go ahead.

This'll be your desk.

- Don't smoke a pipe, do you?

- No.

Mr Taylor was scared of cancer.

Combined clearing house reports,

your equipment requisitions,

expense allowance indent,

motor pool chit - yours is a blue Zodiac.

Log book, insurance,

civilian driving licence and form I-101.

What is form I-101?

Field report. You have

to make one out after every job.

It makes Dalby happy.

I've got to ask about Grantby

in 19 different places

and then make out 19 silly answers?

That's about it, laddie.

This job's nearly all legwork.

It may be Dalby's way of doing things

but it isn't mine.

- See you, Jock.

- Aye, cheerio.

I'm always doing you favours.

- We're mates.

- How about doing me a favour for once?

Sure, Pat. I'd do anything for you.

- Afternoon, lnspector.

- Afternoon.

- What's his name again?

- Erik Ashley Grantby.

- See what we've got.

- You've got a green card on him.

Won't take a moment, sir.

- Now

- Yes?

That blonde bird

you was with the other evening.

- Rita?

- What's her phone number?

You dirty old man.

Well, you scratch my back

and I'll scratch hers.

- You ought to be locked up.

- I know.

- Here we are, sir.

- Thank you.

Ah Grantby. A right master criminal.

Well, there you are, Harry.

Scrutinise that.

Three parking tickets.

Thurlow Gardens.

The last one only two weeks ago.

Ah! Registration number.

- Can I borrow that?

- Go ahead.

Four-one-seven

F-L-U.

- Thank you, Pat.

- What about her telephone number?

Oh! Disconnected.

Get me Wilson's Metal Fatigue

And Stress Engineering.

Yes, certainly.

Mr Grantby?

Mr Grantby, we are looking for an

important piece of scientific equipment.

It was lost on a train.

We think that you might

be able to help us get it back.

Shh.

We would be willing to do a deal.

Call me, after six.

Operator, I'm getting unobtainable

on Knightsbridge 2149,

could you check it for me, please?

'That line is discontinued, caller.'

Grantby.

Right, gentlemen, sit down.

All right, let's hear what you have to say.

Carswell?

Er, no luck sir, I drew a blank.

- Chico?

- No joy at all. I'm awfully sorry, sir.

There's no use being sorry, is there?

Didn't anyone contact him?

Er, I did.

In the Science Museum library.

And?

All he gave me

was a discontinued telephone number.

- Did you follow him?

- Yes, and I lost him.

- You lost him?

- Yes.

You idiot. Let's see it.

All right, put it on your report.

I want your I-101 s as quickly as

possible, however feeble they may be.

And then you can all get out

and start looking for Grantby again.

Alice.

Don't worry, man, you were the only one

to come up with anything.

- He seemed very pleased.

- He's got a comical way of showing it.

- You know this is unauthorised?

- My mother gave it to me for Christmas.

You're supposed to be at work.

Oh, you are, of course?

Dalby likes to know about his new boys.

- Have you seen everything?

- Yes, thank you.

Then you know where the

whisky is.

- Yes.

- Fix us both one, will you?

Thank you.

Cheers.

Do you like music?

- Yes.

- Why don't you put a record on?

Mozart.

Music to cook by!

What are you gonna tell Dalby

in your I-101?

That you like girls.

You got that right.

You're not the tearaway

he thinks you are.

You also like books, music, cooking.

I like birds best.

- How did you get into this game?

- My husband was in it.

He was killed in Tokyo.

I'm sorry.

So they gave me a job.

You were bailed out

of detention barracks.

Yes, I was.

- So what bailed you in?

- Er

I was stationed in Berlin

and I was making rather a lot of money

out of the German army

and they insisted that the British army

made an example of me.

- What did you do?

- It's very complicated.

- It impressed Ross.

- It impressed me.

Boy, has he got me

by the short hairs for it.

Still, it's better than two years in the

nick. The food's terrible.

- You're very professional.

- Yeah, so are you.

Do you need all that?

It's as easy to cook for two

as it is for one.

I thought you might join me.

No, thanks. I'm not hungry.

- You got to have

- You show me.

It's easy. Cut this first thing out

for a start.

Get that, will you?

- Forget it, we'll go to lunch.

- Right, in a minute.

- Duty officer, please.

- 'Who wants him?'

- Special Branch.

- Ah! Pat, it's Harry.

Hello! I think we might have

something for you.

Shoreditch have picked up a bloke

we're holding a red card on.

- Codename Housemartin.

- We'll be right down.

- Palmer.

- Mr Palmer's just left, sir.

He said he'd be back soon.

Would you like to wait?

Everything's under control, sir.

I'm Palmer.

Get the keys.

This way, sir.

Right, on your feet.

He's dead, sir.

Looks as if Bluejay beat us to it.

I want to see his charge sheet.

That's the one, sir.

"Charged with unlawful possession

of a suitcase."

- Where's the suitcase?

- The other gentleman took it.

- Did you see what was in it?

- Electrical equipment.

"Arrested near Sandersons."

What's Sandersons?

It's a disused factory, sir.

- Is that an outside phone?

- Yes, sir.

- 225 Wellington Street.

- Calling Dalby?

Up Dalby. I need a TX-82.

You'll never get it, man.

I did learn something working for Ross.

- Keightley.

- 'Hello, Pat.

- 'It's Harry Palmer.'

- What's up?

I want your help.

Housemartin's dead and I need a TX-82.

You need a 3H security clearance.

What's your authority?

Authority? CC1.

CC1?

All right, Harry, if you say so.

Give me the time and place.

2:
30. They're late.

- Palmer?

- I'm Palmer.

All right, let's get on with it.

Come on, let's go.

- The men are in position.

- Get them away from the door.

Having fun, lnspector?

Did you call this TX-82?

- Yes, sir. I think Radcliffe's in there.

- Really? Get on with it, then.

Lose that door, will you?

All right, split up.

Get some light in here, will you?

- I wonder what sort of factory this was.

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