Let's Be Honest

Chapter 2

"You seem to get along well with your men. You've established quite a rapport. That's good." Major Eugene Brent and Lt. Michael Craig Garrison were sitting in the Rec Tent having coffee or at least what passed as coffee. The Gorillas had been there for two days waiting for word from the operative they were to meet. Garrison had been delighted when he had found his long time friend there recovering in the field hospital from a minor wound. They had spent quite a bit of time together, when he was not supervising the cons.

"There's just one thing I noticed." Seeing he had his friend's attention the Major continued. "The quiet one, you don't like him do you?"

"Sure I do," countered Garrison, a little too quickly. He refused to meet Brent's eyes.

"When the tall one, what's his name?"

"Actor."

When Actor came and sat beside you, you acknowledged him with a smile and a nod. The blond one, what's his name?"

"Goniff."

"Yeah, Goniff had you in stitches when he was telling that story. The one on the right…"

"Casino."

"He had your complete attention when he was talking. Then when they got up leaving you with the quiet one, …. you got up and left." Brent didn't miss the fact that Garrison had not interjected the man's name.

"Yeah, well he's hard to get to know." Both men heard the slight defensive tone.

It was at this point that the two men's attentions were drawn to the area set aside for the dart board. Casino, seeing he was going to loose, had grabbed a soldier's cap and placed it on Chief's head in a position that it covered his eyes as he was about to throw. Laughing out loud, Chief threw the dart.

"Damn you. How the hell do you do that. Should never of taught you to play." Casino dug in his pocket and pulled out the required payoff.

Goniff, who had been standing to one side, stepped over to the pair. "Nice throw, Chiefie."

The trio walked back to their table after returning the borrowed hat.

Brent looked to his friend, eyebrow cocked and waited. Garrison refused to rise to the bait.

"They don't seem to have any trouble getting to know him."

Silence.

"Let me guess. He screwed up on the last mission. It had to be the last because I've read your previous reports and you don't mention anything he could have done to tick you off." He watched Garrison's jaw muscles tighten. Now he knew for sure there was something there.

"Well?"

Garrison looked down at the table. "I don't know I just can't seem to … get to know him."

"Well, physically I can't see anything you could object to. Both he and Casino have dark hair, and Actor too so it can't be that. He's quiet. But then so was Benny. Remember Benny back at the Point? I remember you went out of your way to befriend him, so that's not it." Eugene had kept his tone light hoping to relax his friend and take some of the pressure off. "Maybe it's because he's an Indian. Never thought you to be prejudiced.

He paused. There was no response so he tried another tact.

"As your friend, I want to see you succeed, I want to see you happy. What I see here, is there's a problem. You know about team work, and how everyone on a team must feel they belong. There can't be any hard feeling. Now there is something going on between you and Chief. Just between you and me, and this goes no farther, tell me what it is. Maybe I can help."

There was a long pause. Garrison sat staring at his cup as he turned it round and round. If Eugene had been an impatient man he would have grabbed it from his hand. Instead he waited.

Garrison thought back to when he had first met Chief. By this time he had selected his con man, safe cracker, second story man, and car thief. All he needed now was a killer. When he had been given the list of skills he was to look for he saw the reasoning for all but the last one.

"Why do I need a killer, especially one who had killed silently? I'm trained to kill. I can teach them to do that."

"There will be many times when you will have to divide up into three units. The con man in one and the safecracker in the other and the driver outside. Both inside teams will require protection and you can't be in two places at once." Yes, that made sense except why couldn't the second story man watch out for the safe cracker? Seems there was a dearth of second story men who killed, hence the requirement for a fifth man.

Like the others, you don't have to like them, just select ones you can work with."

Well that had been the problem. On paper they all looked the same. In person there always seemed to be a problem. He finally found one that seemed to fit only to have him killed while he was interviewing another. The next possible man he made the offer but as soon as he did the prisoner began to leer and chuckle maniacally. It made the hairs on the back of Garrison's neck stand up. He explained he had one more man to interview before it was final. He told the guards to take him away.

Garrison rubbed his eyes. This was ridiculous. Maybe he could just go back and tell command he couldn't find anyone. No, there were two more files to go.

A short trip brought him to the prison where both men were being detained. The Prison Warden had been briefed by the Army but was not pleased.

"Have a seat." He waited until his visitor was comfortable. "I received the notice from the Army about the two prisoners you wished to interview and regret to inform you that Prisoner Remendez died two days ago. There was a disturbance in the yard and he ended up stabbed to death. We're still trying to figure out who actually did it. As you can guess, nobody is talking so we are under a general lock down."

"I still need to interview the other prisoner."

"Yes, of course. Normally the answer would be no but for the Government and, " his voice took on a tone of deep respect, "the United States Army the answer is yes." Then his face turned serious. "You must understand that when the guards tried to break up the disturbance, the prisoner attacked the guards. He has been segregated and has not yet received medical attention. It will take a few minutes to have him cleaned up. "

The Warden stood and moved around his desk towards the door. Garrison rose as well.

"Come this way. We have a room set up where you can do what you need to do. Sergeant Billings, here, will direct you." He gestured to the same guard who had led him to the Wardens office. "Just one question, if I might, I was not given any details but why were the two men selected both Indians and rather violent ones at that? Or was that just coincidence?" he added with a shy smile.

Garrison, keeping his face neutral, looked his host in the eye, nodded then answered, "Thank you." As he turned to follow the Sargent he heard the Warden issue the orders to fetch the prisoner. Ever on the alert he was further warned when the Warden cautioned the guard to take two others with him and to watch themselves.

Billings stopped and indicated a doorway. Garrison entered and looked around while he waited for his interviewee. It was a small room, included a table and two chairs and though the barred window was open the air was as hot and dry as the desert outside. Oppressive. He waited.

Finally the door opened and a man entered with a guard close on his heels. Unlike the others he had seen, this man was shackled hand and foot. He was also bare foot and shirtless. From the swollen left eye, split lip and blood by his nose it was obvious he had been in a fight very recently. There were also welts and abrasions on his arms and chest. He was breathing through his mouth so it was possibly the nose was broken. As for cleaned up, it looked as if a pail of water had been thrown at him. His face and hair were wet as was the front of his pants where the water had run down his chest.

"Sit down," growled the guard.

The man remained standing. Garrison saw the guard begin to raise his truncheon.

"That will be all." Seeing the guard hesitate he added, "I will speak to him alone."

"I can't leave you alone with him."

"What I have to discuss is a matter of Army business."

The guard opened his mouth to argue but seeing the look on the Lt. face he closed it again. "I'll be right outside." Then he leaned toward his prisoner and added with a snarl, "waiting for you." The prisoner ignored him. The guards left, obviously unhappy at being dismissed.

Garrison didn't like the guard's attitude but then the prisoner was a convicted killer. He looked at the man standing before him. There was no cockiness, just a cold hard look; the look of a man used to being beaten but undefeated. There was a sense of danger but not a direct threat to him. It was more the look of a caged tiger. Leave me alone and I'll do the same.

The caged tiger watched the uniformed man before him. All men were a potential threat but he knew from experience that a uniform only intensified that level. A uniform seemed to bring out the evil in men.

This one was about his height, slim, broad shouldered but with the look of one who knew his strengths and weaknesses. He was not a direct threat but not one to be threatened either. He continued his careful watch. He rarely made the first move and this was definitely a time for watching and waiting.

Garrison sat down and opening his brief case he took out a file. It was thick with charges but little personal information.

"There's a couple of different names listed here, alias's I assume. What do you prefer to be called?"

He preferred not to be called at all so he waited. The blond looked up at him from the file, the hazel grey eyes bored into his.

Anyone else he would have refused to answer but something was going on here. It didn't pay to be curious but being ignorant could be fatal. He sat down.

"Chief." There as no pride in the name, just a statement of fact.

"All right, Chief. The Warden says you attacked one of the guards. Is that true?"

"They can say whatever they want. Don't make it true." A simple statement.

"So what did happen?" With effort Garrison kept his tone neutral.

"You a lawyer?" Chief asked warily.

Well, thought Garrison, he doesn't deny something happened. With that guard's attitude he would be tempted to hit him too. He had been prepared to write the man off because of the assault but seeing as he was here he might as well continue the interview.

"You've been convicted of manslaughter, attempted manslaughter, escaping custody among a number of other charges."

There was no reaction. Well he had to admit that was good. A couple of the other inmates he had interviewed had looked pleased with themselves when he read their record. He didn't want a killer on the team and especially one who liked to kill or was proud of his record. This one at least didn't gloat. Still he didn't deny it either.

"Do you speak any other language other than English?" Every man on his previous team had been fluent in French with some German. This time he was told to avoid that ability because then they would be dependant on him.

A narrowing of the eyes and a slight shake of his head was all he got.

"Have you ever worked on a team before?"

The reaction to that was unexpected. A puzzled look; bewilderment, then it was gone.

"Been on a chain gang lots." Chief couldn't keep the confusion out of his voice. Surely the man knew about chain gangs. He couldn't be that stupid. What else could he be referring to? He himself must be missing something and the best way to learn was to listen. The less you talk the more you hear. He waited.

"Do you think you could work together with a number of other men?" Garrison had seen the reaction. There was more than a cold blooded killer under that hard exterior.

"Do'n what?"

"I'm putting together a few men to work with the Army. You interested?" He was not sure why he was asking. Maybe to just get this over with, fill the final position and get on with the mission. This man was the least objectionable, a necessary evil. He would put up with him as long as he had to. One mistake and he would ship him back. As long as that mistake didn't cost him his life.

"Do'n what?"

"After a couple of weeks training we would be going behind enemy lines."

"Do'n what?"

"I can't tell you that."

He paused before asking, "I agree and I get out'a here?" Was that hope in his voice?

"Well, you will continue to be under guard but yes."

"OK."

"I have a few more interviews before I make my final decision but if you are chosen then I'll be back tomorrow."

He had decided and returned. Again the man was brought in shackled but at least he had a shirt on this time.

Garrison took the contract out of his case and together with the pen pushed it across the table. He expected to wait but Chief sat looking at him. At the sound of rattling chains Garrison realized that with the manacles on he couldn't reach the paper. He moved it closer. Chief stood and scribbled something on the line. He then put down the pen and stood looking at Garrison expectantly.

"I will arrange for transport tomorrow. You will be escorted by MP's and any attempt to escape will result in you being shot. Do you understand?" He watched the prisoner's face. There was no reaction. The thief had looked disappointed and the safecracker had laughed when they had been told that. This one was probably better at hiding his feelings. Well he would be watched just as closely if not closer.

He closed his case and moved to the door before calling for the guard. He wanted to see the interplay. Would the prisoner gloat because he was leaving soon? Would he try to get back at the guard? He watched as the door opened and the man walked out. There was no reaction though the guard sneered and gave the man a shove as he walked out.

Well, that was that. Now to see the Warden and get the hell out of this place. It was oppressive, the stone walls, the smell of stale sweat and desperation. He couldn't get out fast enough. He didn't stop to think about those who could not leave. It was obviously their own fault.

Finally the answer, so quiet to be almost a whisper. "He's a killer."

"Well, there is a war on and sometimes you have to kill."

"I mean before the war."

"Yes. You were instructed to select at least one who had killed quietly."

Then it dawned on the Major.

"Do you mean to tell me you have worked with the man for over a month. He's done everything you asked of him. He's saved your life and you his, and you still can't get past the fact that he killed a man during peace time."

"He also killed one of the team."

"Your report on that first mission said the man left his post and was killed in a fight. Was that not true?"

"He could have found a way to avoid killing if he wanted to." He looked Eugene in the eye but a defensive tone had crept in.

"Have you talked to him about it? Just the two of you? If you have any doubts you need to talk them over with him. You can't have any doubts about a member of your team."

"Yeah, I know. It's just he's not easy to talk to. It's like talking to a wall."

"Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No." The word was negative but the tone was not entirely positive.

"Has he threatened you or any of the others?"

"No." This was a definite no.

"Have you even asked him what happened, why he killed in the first place?"

Garrison just shook his head sadly.

"Well maybe it's time you did."

"He probably won't answer."

"So negative," said Eugene sadly. "And you haven't even asked him yet. Want me to ask?"

Garrison could not help smiling at his friend's eagerness. "No. I'll talk to him."

"Soon?"

`"Yeah. As soon as we get back to our base."

Eugene smiled an evil smile. "Be sure you do cause if you don't I will and I'll tell him a few things about you that I'll bet you wouldn't tell."

Garrison's eyes widened then narrowed. "You wouldn't …" then a quick "never mind. I'll talk to him. You just stay out of it." He was smiling.

`The two men each took a drink and smiled. Each had hope that this discussion would relieve some of the tension that Garrison knew was obvious to all including Chief. Maybe some of his reaction to Garrison was because of his reaction to him.