CHIEF 1
Craig sat at his desk going through the last dregs of paperwork and reports that always built up when they were on a mission. At least when Angel was here there was less of it to catch up on, but as
she has decided to take some time away with Peter Roberts and his new family he was on his own. He couldn't really blame her , a week by the sea was very inviting, and with all that she put up with
from his men she definitely needed a break, especially now that Peter's new daughter was on the scene. He was lost in thought when Actor poked his head round the door.
`I did knock, ` he said,
`Craig smiled.
`Sorry , was miles away.
`Actor looked puzzled.
`Well actually I was in a small cottage by a lake, with a wonderful lady`, he said.
`Actor smiled now.
`The cottage is yours whenever you want to visit it again, you only have say', he said
`I know Actor and thanks, think about it a lot but never seem to get the time to actually do anything about it`, he said.
`Well maybe you should take the time, I'm sure that Angel would love to accompany you , and it does the two of you good to spend time alone together, she always seems to have one of us tagging
along behind her`, said Actor.
`I'm pretty sure that if she minded she would tell you `, Craig said laughing.
Actor joined in .
`I'm sure you are right`, he said `
`But that's not what you came in here to talk about , is it? He asked.
Actor became serious.
`No it's not.` he said. `I am not one to tell tales usually, but I think that this is serious enough to warrant your attention, especially as you have a good relationship with him`.
`I take it we're talking about Chief`, Craig said.
Actor nodded.
`I couldn't sleep last night so I came down to the library to get a brandy`. He said
`You have a stock of brandy ? Asked Craig
`I have a bottle put away from prying eyes, for medicinal purposes you understand`, said Actor, `But I digress .
`Sorry `, said Craig.
`Chief was already in there, sitting by the fire with a large glass of whiskey in his hand`, said Actor.
`Chief? But he hates the stuff`, said Craig.
`Exactly `, said Actor and I don't think that it was his first, the bottle was beside him , almost empty`.
`Did he say anything? Asked Craig.
`Just drained the glass , put in down and walked out, never opened his mouth`, said Actor.
Craig sat in silence for a moment.
`If it had been Casino or Goniff I wouldn't have told you , but with Chief , it's different, it was a cause for concern`, said Actor.
`You did the right thing, I need to know when something out of the ordinary is going on, and this is definitely that.
`I would not normally rat them out, as Casino would say`, said Actor.
Craig looked at him.
`I know, and I wouldn't expect you to, but this is different, it's serious, and we both know that. You did what was needed for the good of the team , it was the right thing to do . Have you any idea
what started this off? He asked him?
`Actor shook his head.
`He was a little quiet after the explosion, but I just put that down to Chief being Chief, but apart from that, I can't think of anything`, said Actor.
`Okay, thanks , I'll take it from here.` Craig said, `I'll try and talk to him , see if he'll tell me anything`
`Thank you Warden `, said Actor.
`Do you know where he is now? Craig
`Last time I saw him he was headed for the lake, he has a special place there I think, spends a lot of quiet time there with Angel`,
Craig filed the paperwork away and put the reports in the safe.
`If there is anything that we can do to help, please let us know, and I'm sure that I speak for all of us`, said Actor.
`Don't say anything to the others yet, let's see if we can get this sorted out between us first, alright?
`As you wish Warden , and good luck, you might just need it`, he said.
As Actor left his office Craig had the awful feeling that he was absolutely right.
…
Craig walked through the large gates and into the garden. He looked around him, this would have been a beautiful peaceful place if it hadn't been for the war, He could imagine children playing here,
families laughing together , the thought made him smile. A soldier walked passed him and saluted , bringing him back to reality and his problem of the moment. He arrived at the lake and looked
around, not really expecting to find Chief, but hoping.
`Chief`. He called.
`There was no answer.
`Chief I need to talk to you`. He said.
`What d'you want? Asked a voice from behind him.
`I would like you to come here so I can see who I'm talking too`, he said sternly.
The branches above him rustled and Chief dropped to the ground.
`Okay, I'm here , now what? He asked.
`Well for starters, why the attitude? Craig asked.
`Figured you'd come to lay into me for being drunk last night, guessed Actor would tell you.
`Well you guessed right, want to tell me why? He asked.
`Nope, don't concern you`, was the reply.
It does concern me if it affects this team`, he said.
`Ain't affected my work, still watching your back, ain't I, still keeping them out of trouble,` he nodded towards the house..
`You don't usually need a drink, just wondered what had happened to change that`, said Craig.
`Told you , nothing happened, felt like a drink so I got one, just like the rest of them do, you got a problem with that ? You gonna treat me different from them? Chief asked
`No`, replied Craig, `But it's something that they do all of the time, you're different, don't see you take more than a beer, so what's changed?
`Nothin's changed, I can still do my job, so just leave me alone, ` he said.
Craig realised that he was going to get nothing out of Chief the mood he was in.
`All right , we'll leave this for now, but ease up, okay, and remember if you need to talk, just come and find me`. He said.
`We Finished ? Chief asked.
`Yeah, we're done`, said Craig.
Chief said nothing , just turned his back on him and walked away.
Craig watched him go. Something was wrong that much was obvious, but it was just as obvious that he wasn't going to find out what it was . He turned towards the house and as he walked he
wished once more today that Angel was here. Maybe Chief would at least talk to her. He decided to give him a couple more days to see if the mood would pass , and then if all else failed , he would call
Angel and ask her to come home, and hopefully get Chief talking, before whatever this was blew up in their faces.