Bourget Airfield's night shift air traffic controller had been dozing before a blank radar screenwhen the captain of the Judicial Police practically broke down his door.

　　"Teabing's jet," Bezu Fache blared, marching into the small tower, "where did it go?"The controller's initial response was a babbling, lame attempt to protect the privacy of their Britishclient—one of the airfield's most respected customers. It failed miserably.

　　"Okay," Fache said, "I am placing you under arrest for permitting a private plane to take offwithout registering a flight plan." Fache motioned to another officer, who approached withhandcuffs, and the traffic controller felt a surge of terror. He thought of the newspaper articlesdebating whether the nation's police captain was a hero or a menace. That question had just beenanswered.

　　"Wait!" the controller heard himself whimper at the sight of the handcuffs. "I can tell you thismuch. Sir Leigh Teabing makes frequent trips to London for medical treatments. He has a hangarat Biggin Hill Executive Airport in Kent. On the outskirts of Lo............