Allies or Enemies

Chapter 1

"All right, you all know what you have to do. We're going to have to hurry. Get dressed. Chief?" Garrison turned to look at his wheel man.

"You want me to meet you there or come back here?"

"There's probably not enough time. Wait for us there. You know where?"

"Yeah."

"OK, go." Their car their slipped out the door and was gone.

Chief had done this many times before. The odd time he had been part of an organized heist in New York, among others, he had been the one to get the getaway car. He knew what to look for and where. This time he needed a German staff car. He had seen some by a building complex but they were guarded. Not a good idea. He began his search a little further out. Garrison had stressed that time was limited so he picked up the pace a bit. There, he had one. He couldn't help the smile. It was parked outside what looked like a whore house. Good enough. He began his approach. As he got closer he saw that there was a soldier sitting behind the wheel but he could take him out if he was careful. All he had to do was make his way up the side.

Garrison looked at his watch. They were all dressed for their parts, Chief would be in position by now so he headed for the door knowing the others would follow. It was a short walk that brought them to their destination, the Great Opera Hall. Garrison and Actor were dressed in German Uniforms, Casino and Goniff, following farther behind, were in civilian work clothes. A block before the palatial building they split up. Actor and Garrison headed towards the entrance. Since it was a beautiful evening there were many patrons mingling out front.

"Have you attended a production of Turandot before?" asked Actor in German as he repositioned the head of the cane he was using.

"No. I did see Daphne before I got my commission, though."

"Not one of my favourites but passable if well done. Did you enjoy it?"

"I enjoyed the company of the young lady I was escorting more," said the Army officer with a smile. It was echoed by the handsome gentleman on his right. Both men lapsed into silence as they considered some of the finer company they had known.

Casino and Goniff made their way up to the back stage door. It was unlocked so they casually entered. Being careful not to get in the way, they made their way to the back and tucked themselves in behind some unneeded scenery. They silently waited. Once the curtain went up they would make their move.

Chief was nearing the car when a woman stepped out from the alley and walked right up to him. Her smile told him exactly what she wanted and if they had been anywhere else he might have followed her but not right now. He shook his head but she persisted reaching up to place her hand sensuously on his chest. He tried to remove it but her other hand found its way to his belt buckle. He tried moving to the side as he fended off the probing hands but she followed him. Damn, he had to get moving. The soldier was leaving the car he wanted. Chief tried to push her away but suddenly there was a flash and he was jerked back by his neck. Pressure constricted his throat and automatically his hands flew up to claw at the rope. He was being garrotted. Not in panic but extreme urgency, he tried to clear his throat as he was pulled backward. Fight back! He leaned back to ease the pressure and was rewarded with enough that he got three fingers under the rope before it was pulled tight again. Now with his right hand trapped at his throat he tried to reach back and get a hold on his attacker but something hit the bone of his elbow shooting pain up and down his arm followed by numbness. He concentrated on trying to get air into his lungs as the pressure in his head caused his sight to fade. He was going to die.

The orchestra had been playing quietly but now they fell silent. Actor and Garrison had taken their seats. The casual comments to their fellow audience members had ceased as the lights dimmed. There was a minute of silence then the conductor raised his baton and the music began. The curtain went up and the audience sighed in approval.

Back stage the frantic rushing and repositioning had ceased. They held their breath. When the music reached its crescendo the two hidden watchers made their move. Because their timing was so tight they had not had time to get the blueprints of the building so Actor had sketched out the usual layout. Fortunately his predictions were mostly accurate so with only a few incidents of backtracking they were able to make their way through the warren of hallways, rooms and dead-ends before they found their target. Casino put his ear to the door but could not hear any sound from within. The occupant was either quiet or not there. He tried the knob then removed his spring steel. Moments later the two men slipped inside the unoccupied room. Both men knew the look of money and this room had it in spades. The dark oak panelling, the heavy drapery, the thick pile of the rugs and the solid oak desk all spoke of old money. Goniff's eye was caught by the solid gold lighter that sat on the desk's left corner. Casino went directly to the squat black safe behind the desk. The lighter vanished. The safe was teased.

"The conniving bastards."

"What ya got?" asked Goniff as he come over to check on his team mate.

"It's a dummy." He stood up and surveyed the room. Less than a minute later he found what he wanted behind a tapestry depicting a fox hunt and went to work again. Goniff returned to the door, opened it a sliver and kept watch. The silence in the room was filled by the sounds from the stage, though muted by the intervening walls and dressing rooms. Goniff shifted his head slightly to see his partner. All was well, Casino pulled the thick door open, pulled the bundle from his shirt and placed it in the safe. Goniff returned to watching the hall knowing Casino would close the door, return the dial to its original position then wipe it down. He had once asked him why he still did that seeing as the Germans would shoot him not print him. Casino had gruffly told him that it was a habit and not one he planned on giving up. Good enough. Casino appeared at his elbow and the two slipped into the hall.

Actor waited until the audience had finally begun to settle. The opera was passably well done in his opinion, but with so much disruption, hardship and death in the news lately, the audience was glad for the distraction, they had insisted on two curtain calls. The other patrons began to rise and while discussing their favourite scenes and comparisons to past, file out towards the lobby. Actor and Garrison made their way out as well, keeping an eye out for their mark. Nearing the door they spotted him and moved into position.

"Do you still think he has not lost his edge? asked Actor with an engaging smile.

Colonel Schnidt, turned and smiled. He was a big man, almost as tall as Actor but heavier and a little older. His hair, once fair was decidedly grey at the temples, his eyes, a steely blue. During the intermission Actor had sought out and befriended the German SS Officer. "No. I did not like his interpretation of the final scene. It lacked the brilliance, the flair, the emotion of last season. I was disappointed. And you?"

"I agree. Are you up to telling him yourself? We could drop in on him," he suggested with a raised eyebrow. Seeing the SS Colonel smile, he handed a card to Garrison who slipped into the crowd. As the two men discussed the dancers and orchestra, Garrison located an usher and stated his request. It took almost ten minutes before the usher returned and beckoned. The three men followed moving back into the theatre and down the isle to the wings of the stage.

Backstage was a hive of activity. Final scene sets were being moved and replaced with opening scenery. It was not the frantic pre-curtain motions of hours ago, it was a 'we did it without a hitch now do what we have to so we can go celebrate' motions. The usher led them through the maze, stopping when he reached an ornately carved door. The plaque read Metropolitan Opera Theatre Director. A soft knock and the Usher opened the door.

The Director, Kurt Kiesl, sat in all his majesty, an egotist waiting for his admiring fans. He failed to see the lack of adoration on the faces that entered the room. After seeing to the liquid refreshments of his guests the talk turned to the nights performance and Opera in general. Friendly, constructive criticism flowed, the conversation amicable. Any flaws in the performance were deflected as opening nights jitters.

It wasn't until the conversation ebbed that Actor put the second step of the plan into action. "Although we have not met before you look familiar. Have you ever been to Monaco?"

"No, though I have been to Cannes. I produced my first play there many years ago. It was a musical but got encouraging reviews." He was about to continue when Garrison interrupted.

"Le Havre. You were seen in the company of a man later executed as a spy. Three days ago I saw you in the Gare de Calais-Frethun attempting to pass a package to a man who was suspected of working for the French Resistance. He died trying to escape."

"No. You must be mistaken. I .. I was in Calais but I had no package. I was there to visit, to talk to Monsieur Gaudet, about a play.

Colonel Schmidt had enjoyed the conversation, he was passionate about opera but when the talk turned to a possible spy his interest turned to his other passion, protecting the Fatherland. He knew Herr Keisl was a spy for their side. His travels with the theatre company and other business trips were used to collect information which he passed on to the Colonel's assistant. Now there was a suspicion that he might be a double agent. He stood and turned to Garrison and asked, "Do you know what was in this package?"

"No Sir, but I saw it clearly. It was a small box wrapped in pale muslin."

"And you said the other man died? You did not get a chance to question him?"

"No Sir. At the time I did not suspect anything. It was not until later that a man was shot attempting to get past a security check point in Le Havre. When I saw his body I remembered."

"And you say Herr Keisl was trying to give this man the package?" Colonel Schmidt turned to look suspiciously at the Director.

"He must be mistaken. I don't know anything about a package," he blustered. "He must have seen someone who looks like me."

The Colonel was a suspicious man and any hint of subterfuge had to be checked. "There was no package on the body?" Still watching Herr Keisl, he waited for Garrisons negative then suggested, "Where might the package be? Maybe you still have it?"

The object of his scrutiny stood shaking his head. "Look anywhere." His gesture took in the whole room and then specifically the safe on the floor. "I have nothing to hide." Inwardly Actor and Garrison were pleased. All according to plan. That is until the safe was opened and there was nothing inside but a few scripts with hand written notes in the margins. There was no box.