Mission Gone Awry
Chapter 1
Garrison stepped out on the front portico and surveyed the car park. Rawlins was collecting the guns and ammunition boxes to put back in the ammo box, shaking his head and muttering unheard laments regarding the results of the practice. The four cons were gathered at the base of the steps, loudly and falsely congratulating each other on their prowess with a handgun. The British non-com started to walk toward the widely ventilated paper silhouettes.
"Leave them up, Sgt/Major," called Garrison. "I want to have a word with my men, in private."
All five stopped and silently eyed the lieutenant. Rawlins flashed a quick salute as the officer turned and went into the house. The cons exchanged looks.
"Wonder what's got him bothered now," said Chief quietly.
There were no answers to that. The men, frivolity gone, walked up the steps and into the mansion. The door to the office was open and Garrison was standing, starchedly military, by his desk, hands behind his back, waiting for them. They lined up in front of him; their turn to wait.
Garrison slowly studied each man down the line. Chief was watching him with stony suspicion. Casino had his characteristic insolent grin. Goniff was eyeing Garrison with a worried look and the beginning fidget. On the end was Actor, watching with his arrogant superiority. Garrison let them stand and wait.
Finally he spoke. "Gentlemen, I have just received a phone call from Col. Hammond."
"Another mission," guessed Casino with disgusted resignation.
"No mission," replied Garrison. "However it is a concern." He paused, letting them wonder. "It seems there is some question why your targets have shown a decided decrease, shall we say, in ability, by all of you. Sgt/Major Rawlins contacted his superiors with what he sees as a worry for your safety on missions when your shooting is of such poor quality."
"Oww, the cheeky blighter! Imagine 'im goin' behind our backs like that!"
Garrison ignored him. "The colonel wanted an explanation. I told him it was a game you were playing with the Sgt/Major. The game needs to stop now, Gentlemen. There has been some discussion amongst the Brass that maybe you need to be returned to prison and a new team assembled."
There was a cacophony from three of the men.
"Quiet!" The order came from Actor. At the instant silence, the confidence man gave Garrison a calculating look. "Please continue, Lieutenant. I assume there is more to be said."
Garrison walked around to his chair, but did not sit down. He looked first at Actor. The man had always been astute and now knew Garrison very well. The older confidence man was also the official and sometimes unofficial mouthpiece for the cons.
"I made a bargain with the colonel. If those targets are sent to him with tight groupings in the appropriate places, as I know you are capable of, he will drop the inquiry into your efficiency and my capability as an officer." That brought sharp looks of surprise from all the men. Craig knew they had not taken into consideration their shenanigans would backfire against him. "Now, go back down there and shoot those targets as you are supposed to." Garrison sat down in his chair and pulled a stack of papers in front of him, effectively dismissing the men and preventing any further questions or complaints.
The men filed out of the office and back outside. They stopped on the portico and looked down at the British non-con setting out the guns and ammunition again.
"Warden didn't say we couldn't shoot him," said Casino quietly.
"No," agreed Actor. "And as tempting as it is, I don't think it would help the Warden any with the Brass."
"You really think he's in trouble with them?" asked Chief.
"Most probably," replied Actor. He looked around at the other three men. "Other than that North Africa business, have you ever heard the lieutenant tell us he was in trouble?"
"You got a point there, Mate," said Goniff pessimistically.
"Well," said Chief with resignation, "if we can't shoot Rawlins then let's go pretend those targets are him."
All four men grinned wickedly. Rawlins looked up as they came down the steps and gathered around him.
"I assume he must want you to try again," said the non-com.
"That's the idea," said Chief coldly looking the man in the eyes.
The men all picked up their guns and lined up. Rawlins stepped back and away.
Actor glanced down the row of cons. "Gentlemen," he said formally, "commence firing."
Four pair of arms with identical weapons rose in unison and the men emptied their guns into the targets. Clips were ejected and new ones slammed into place. Actor led them a second time. As the echo of gunfire quickly faded away, the men looked at the Sgt/Major.
The man's jaw was slack as he stared at the line of targets. The first volley had shredded the heart of each silhouette and the second the center forehead. Slowly he turned his head to look at the glares aimed at him.
"Send that to the Brass, Limey, and tell 'em we can't shoot," said Casino derisively.
Rawlins was speechless as the men lay their weapons down and filed up the steps into the mansion. He looked back at the targets and nervously began to put the guns away.
While Chief took his seat in the window and the other two pulled out chairs at the game table, Actor stuck his head in Garrison's office.
"I don't believe there will be any further difficulty with the Brass over our shooting capabilities, Lieutenant," he said.
"Thank you," said the officer with a smile and a tilt of his head.
GGGGG
The next day, Garrison was called to Major Richard's office in London. He did not think it would be about the target practice, but one never knew with G-2 who was involved. It was almost a relief to learn it was a mission. The problem was they needed Terry to go in with them. Craig had no idea if she was around or not.
Garrison walked in the door and the cons eyed the suitcase cuffed to the officer's wrist.
"Tonight?" asked Casino in objection.
"Tomorrow night," replied Garrison. He stopped and looked at his men, finally focusing on Actor. "Anyone know where Terry is?"
There was shaking of heads.
"She don't call 'ere anymore, Warden," said Goniff.
"She does not wish to speak with Sgt/Major Rawlins," explained the confidence man.
As if conjuring up the man, Rawlins entered the common room. He approached Garrison with a smile.
"Did I hear you asking for Miss Terry, Sir?"
"Yes," answered Craig, wondering where this was going.
"She's in Brandonshire, Sir."
Garrison and the others stared at the man in surprise.
"How do you know that?" asked Garrison warily.
"Oh, I call G-2 or the Blue Fox every day to see where she is, in case you need her for a mission."
Casino gave a loud bark of laughter. The Sgt/Major looked at him, not understanding what was so humorous about that.
"Thank you, Sgt/Major," said Garrison slowly.
The perky little man turned and went back to the kitchen. As soon as they heard the swinging door, the men all laughed.
"That oughta make Sister real happy. Him hound dogging her an' all," said Casino. "She might as well have stayed here."
Garrison rolled his eyes.
Goniff cocked his head and looked at the other three cons. "When did 'e start calling her Terry?"
Chief chuckled. "When Actor told him he is the only one who calls her Teresa."
Craig turned his head and stared askance at his second. The con man raised his eyebrows and smiled smugly. Even the oldest one was impossible at times. Shaking his head again, Garrison went into his office to call his sister's flat.
GGGGG
The elegantly coiffed woman in the cream ball gown with the gauzy sleeves, eyed the buffet table from a distance.
"Nein, Liebchen," said the tall handsome man beside her. "You have had more than enough already."
"I only get any when I am with you."
"You will draw attention to us if you insist on gorging on the caviar, with or without crème fraise."
The young woman looked up at her wealthy German companion with the black tails and red cummerbund. His hazel brown eyes twinkled down at her just for an instant. She smiled and took a small sip of champagne.
Actor's eyes went back to watching the lieutenant in the uniform of an SS colonel, and scanning the room for problems. Garrison was being held in an intense conversation with three German generals and a diplomatic attaché from Berlin.
When there was a lull in people passing close by, the couple's bodyguard with the stern countenance that worked well to make passersby avoid them, leaned closer to Actor and spoke in low English.
"If he don't get away from them soon, we ain't gonna get this caper done."
"True," agreed the tall Italian, not German, man.
Goniff, in white and black uniform, approached the trio with a tray of fresh champagne. Terry kept her glass and the two men exchanged their glasses for fresh drinks.
"Goniff," whispered Actor. "Can you get the camera from the Warden without being seen?"
"Of course I can," whispered Goniff. "Course it would help if I knew where on him it is."
"Left coat pocket," said Terry.
The three watched as Goniff made his way over to Garrison and the officers. They never saw Goniff in Craig's pocket and weren't sure that Garrison even knew he was in his pocket.
"You know what we're s'posed to be taking pictures of?" Casino asked Actor.
"Vaguely," said Actor.
They continued to sip champagne and watch Goniff move around the room. He eventually made his way back to them. His hand dipped into Actor's big pocket. Terry took a fresh glass of champagne. She slipped her hand in the crook of Actor's arm and allowed him to escort her into the hall, followed by their proper bodyguard, Casino. Passing a potted plant, Terry dumped the contents of her glass into it.
Casino gave her a funny look. "You don't like champagne?" he whispered to her.
"I get loaded on champagne," hissed Terry back. "I can handle Jack but they don't seem to have that here."
Actor grinned crookedly in remembrance of how champagne did affect the woman. "Just stay sober, Darling," he said in German. "Who knows, you may have to drive."
The Italian and the girl stood together smiling and talking, blocking Casino from view as he picked the lock on the door to the general's office. Unobserved, they slipped inside. Terry stayed by the door and listened for anyone approaching. Casino went to the wall safe and began working on it. Actor changed out the light bulb in the desk lamp and prepared the camera. Casino got the safe open in under a minute and motioned Actor to get the documents with a wide grin and flourish of the hand. Actor grinned and cocked his head back at Casino.
While Actor sorted through the papers and began photographing them, Casino took Terry's place at the door. She moved idly around the room, looking at knick-knacks, books and such on the dark wood shelves. Coming to a side table, she spotted a rather strange looking lamp and stepped closer to inspect it. It took her a moment to realize the base was a pelvic bone and femur and the shade was made out of what looked like thinly scraped hide. She gave a sharp gasp and stumbled back away from it; her widened, horrified eyes glued to the grotesque thing. Actor and Casino both looked up at her. Casino went over to her and grasped her arm. His eyes followed her stare and took in the nasty object.
"Jeez," he said with a grimace of disgust. He yanked Terry over towards the door. "Get away from there."
Working in a hospital had not prepared her for something like this. Terry had her hand over her mouth. "I'm gonna be sick," she said.
"No you're not," hissed Actor at her. He looked up quickly to see what had upset the girl and swallowed hard, before turning his attention back to the papers.
Casino stood by the door, holding Terry with her face turned into his shoulder and telling her to take some deep breaths. Actor finished with the camera and put it in his pocket. He gathered the papers together to be returned to the safe.
"Suck it up, Babe," said Casino into Terry's ear. "We still gotta get outta here. You can do this."
Terry straightened and pulled herself together, keeping her back to the lamp. Casino put the papers back in the safe, while Actor changed the light bulb back. As the men approached, Terry opened the door a crack and peered into the hall. It was clear. The three made their way back to the main room. Actor kept Terry's arm tight against him, holding her hand. The girl moved and acted appropriately, but her face was a pasty shade of white. Actor knew they needed to get out of there quickly.
At the door, he motioned with his eyes for Casino to stand by Terry. The safecracker took her hand and hid it between them, squeezing it tightly. Actor approached Garrison and spoke to the man in German. He apologized to the generals and told Craig that Liesl had suddenly taken ill and they needed to return her to the hotel. Garrison glanced at Terry and was surprised to see her looking pale enough to pass out. Garrison made his apologies and turned to go with Actor.
Goniff had already slipped out the back and made his way to the car. Chief started it up and watched in concern as the other two hurried Terry down the walk to the car. Craig got in the front with Goniff and Chief. Casino got in the back first, pulled Terry in beside him and Actor climbed in last. Chief took off from the curb.
"What happened?" demanded Garrison.
Actor was holding Terry's right hand in his, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. "We were in the general's office and Teresa saw an object that was extremely upsetting to her."
Craig could not imagine an 'object' that could upset his sister that much. "What kind of object?"
Casino rolled his eyes and picked up Terry's other hand.
Actor tried to word things delicately. "It was a very unusual lamp that was probably manufactured at one of the concentration camps."
Craig got the picture. "Oh," he said with distasteful understanding. "Terrific. Did you get the pictures?"
"Yes, Warden," replied Actor.
"I've seen movies of those things in black and white at the War Department. You tend not to believe it could actually be true until you see one. What kind of filthy monsters are we fighting?" she asked.
"Exactly that," answered Actor. "Monsters."
They rode in silence for the next hour. Terry eventually regained her composure. The men on either side of her continued to hold her hands. It was almost comical. The sun had just come up when they approached a hill and the engine of the big car sputtered and died.
"We out of gas?" asked Garrison.
"Not according to the gauge," replied Chief. He tried unsuccessfully to restart the engine. "Sorry, Warden. Looks like we're gonna have to hoof it from here."
"How much farther?" asked Goniff.
Garrison consulted his map. "Looks like another five miles."
Terry looked down at herself and made a face. She was wearing the ankle length cream evening gown and spiked shoes. With a resigned sigh, she followed Actor out of the vehicle. Standing on the road, she waited while the men pushed the car off into the bushes. Chief took the point and they started in a line up the hill. Terry tried to keep up the pace, but it was difficult. They managed about three of the five miles before they heard vehicles coming.
"Goniff, get these shoes off me," said Terry.
The Englishman bent over as she held up one foot then the other so he could pull the shoes off. Terry pulled the bottom of the dress up to her knees. They plunged down the bar ditch and up into the woods. Garrison set them off on an angle to bring them out close to where the truck was hidden on a side road. Terry kept up as best she could. The long dress restricted her movement. Branches shredded the gauzy sleeves and tore at the material. Sadly, the girl realized the dress was going to be a casualty of war. She motioned them to stop.
"Chiefy, can you split this thing so I can move," she begged the Indian. It was a total loss anyway.
Chief pulled out his blade and cut the sides of the dress from mid-thigh to the bottom. Garrison moved them on impatiently. He wasn't sure how much farther they had to go when their luck ran out again. They heard soldiers coming up rapidly behind them. Garrison motioned for them to scatter. Chief, being the closest, grabbed Terry's wrist and pulled her along with him. The other men split up separately and disappeared into the trees. Chief thought they might be close to the road when bullets started whizzing past their heads. He shoved Terry out of the way and turned to begin firing his pistol at two soldiers behind them. He got one of them, but missed the second. Terry watched as Chief was hit and fell. She threw herself on top of him, grabbed the gun, rolled and fired. She got the second soldier almost point blank. Not having time to think about it, she got up and helped Chief to his feet. He couldn't bear much weight on his right leg. They didn't have time to assess the damage. With Terry half supporting and half dragging him, they made it to the road not far from the truck.