Direct Methods

At Langham Field, the arrival of the cool, impenetrable Mr. Graves cuts through the roar of military aircraft like a command in itself. He brings General O'Malley a mission of extraordinary secrecy: help capture Stanislaus Hayden, the brilliant criminal mastermind behind a nationwide mail-robbery ring, hidden with armed men in a remote West Virginia mountain stronghold. Because Hayden must be taken alive and kept unaware, Graves proposes a daring air operation that only two seasoned, discreet flyers can carry out. Broughton and Hinkley are chosen to fly a Martin bomber loaded with fuel, supplies, guns, and ammunition, then stage a crash landing near Hayden's cabin to gain access by surprise. As they prepare, a real plane goes down in flames, underscoring the danger of their world and the stakes of the mission. The bomber proves powerful and responsive, but the route into the Appalachians is harsh, turbulent, and unforgiving. With Graves calm in the observer's seat, the crew pushes toward a narrow mountain clearing and a perilous landing that could decide whether the fugitive is captured or the entire plan collapses. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.