It's a Safe Bet
Chapter 2
Casino pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen and stood, watching Terry wiping down the table and the countertop. She gave him a glance never ceasing her work.
"You gonna be done soon?"
"Almost done now," was the reply. "Why? You want coffee? Get it yourself."
"No," said the cracksman with a shake of his head. "I want you, Babe."
That brought a laugh from the girl and stopped her actions. An amused look crossed her face. "No way . . . Babe. You're not my type."
Casino gave a hmmph. "Yeah, we know what your type is."
Terry smiled. "And we know I'm not his type," she said with unconcern.
"You wanna learn how to crack a safe?" said Casino, getting to the point. He really did not want a discussion about Terry and Actor's relationship even if he had kind of brought it up.
Terry was puzzled. "I thought you said you'd never teach me that?"
"Said I'd never teach yuh how to rob a bank." He shrugged. "You want to or not?"
Terry nodded, wiping her hands on a towel and stepping forward to stand in front of him. "So why now?"
Casino pulled a face of disgust. "Warden just don't have the knack for it."
"Or the patience," added the lieutenant's sister.
"It's like this. I said I was gonna teach Garrison to open safes. Lieutenant Garrison isn't going to take the time to learn the hard stuff. That means I failed. So I figure I'll teach you, Sister, and then I can say I taught 'Garrison'."
Terry laughed up at his grin. "Okay. So where are we going to do this?"
"We'll start with the Warden's wall safe."
"I know the combination," said Terry in confusion.
"Not blindfolded yuh don't," Casino grinned.
Terry tossed the towel on the table and followed the man to her brother's office. Garrison looked up in annoyance at the intrusion.
"I said not to bother me. I have to get through this paperwork by this afternoon."
Casino gave a cocky grin. "We ain't gonna disturb yuh, Warden. We'll be real quiet. Hope you can be quiet too."
Terry couldn't quite stifle a grin. Craig was watching her, not his safecracker. He could get more from her.
"He's going to broaden my education," she said cheerfully. "He's going to teach me how to open safes."
Garrison rolled his eyes. "This mean I'm going to have to try to keep five of you out of jail now?"
"Six," shot back Terry. "You can be just as bad as Actor pulling cons."
"I don't do it as a sideline," said Craig wryly.
Casino put his hands on his hips and glared at the officer. "Warden, do you mind? She ain't gonna be able to hear the tumblers with you gabbin'."
Now Craig glared at his safecracker, until he caught sight of his sister trying with much difficulty not to laugh. Shaking his head, he turned back to his paperwork.
Casino grinned and pulled the kerchief from around his neck. Terry obligingly turned her back to him so he could cover her eyes. That done, he flipped the painting of King George IV back to reveal the wall safe.
"We're American. How come we got a picture of the Limey king?"
"Because this is England, Casino," replied Garrison without looking up.
"Even Eisenhower would be better than him," grumbled the safecracker.
"Are you two going to sit and chat?" asked Terry. "Or is somebody going to teach me to break into safes?"
Casino took the opportunity to put an arm around the girl's shoulders and pull her over to the safe. He guided her head so her ear was against the cold steel of the safe door. A thought crossed his mind and he looked up.
"Hey, Warden, you ain't changed the combination since the last time I was in it, have yuh?"
Garrison did not even look up. "Why bother?"
Casino snickered. He turned his attention back to the girl he was pressed up against.
"Now listen good," the cracksman whispered into her ear.
He twirled the dial and then slowly turned it to the first number. A second later, he turned the dial the other way and went to the second number. Finally he went to the third number and pulled the handle down, opening the safe.
"You hear 'em, Babe," he whispered into Terry's ear.
"Yeah," Terry nodded.
Casino closed the door and twirled the dial again. He reached for the girl's right hand and placed it on the dial. 'Okay, now turn it slowly to the right until you hear the click. Thumb and middle finger work best."
With agonizing slowness, the girl turned the dial. It gave Casino a chance to stay close to her. She was a little bony, but she sure smelled good. He leaned a little closer. The fingers stopped and Terry turned her head, raising the kerchief from over the near eye to give him a glaring look.
"I just want you to get the feel of it,' he whispered so the Lieutenant wouldn't hear.
"I will feel the safe," whispered Terry. "You will not feel me, unless you want my heel on your instep."
Casino put a tiny bit of space between them. "I'm just tryin' to help you."
"Uh huh."
With one final glare, she tugged the cloth back over her eyes and went back to the dial. After a bit, she frowned. "I couldn't hear the last one."
Casino twirled the dial. "That's okay. Yuh can't expect to get it the first time out. Try again."
It took two more tries before the safe opened to Terry's triumphant grin. Garrison's head swiveled to stare at her.
"She's got the fingers for it," said Casino with a grin. He reached up and pulled the kerchief over her eyes. "Okay, do it again. We're gonna keep doin' it until you can open it every time. And now you know what to listen for, try to feel the tumblers with your fingers."
They kept at it for another half hour until Casino decided that was enough for the first lesson. The girl really did have the fingers for it.
Each day, Casino made Terry practice on the wall safe. Once in awhile, the lieutenant gave it a try. Their practice only lasted a few days before there was another mission.
GGGGG
Garrison laid a map on the conference table in his office. The four cons and his sister leaned forward to get a closer look. Italy. It made two at the table happy, but not necessarily the other three.
"We are going to Pesaro," said Garrison. "The report is the German's are planning a line of defense across Italy. Our job is to get pictures of these plans. They are in a safe in headquarters on the west edge of the town."
"I sincerely hope they don't expect us to jump in," remarked Actor, tamping fresh tobacco into his pipe. "That is a solid German stronghold."
"No," replied Garrison. "We will be dropped by sub north of the town."
Chief had been sitting quietly as usual. "Warden, you didn't say this was going to be a simple in and out job."
"That's because it isn't going to be." Garrison looked around the table at his men and woman. "As Actor pointed out, this is strongly held German territory. The sub can't risk coming back to the same place to pick us up. We're going to meet up with resistance and they will lead us in and then out to a landing spot north of Ancona."
"So why am I coming along?" asked the girl, hurriedly adding, "not that I mind."
"Because we don't know how we are going to access this safe," said Garrison. "I may need you and Actor to pull a con."
True to form, Casino had some words of sarcasm. "So we're goin' into the middle of a bunch of Krauts to open a safe, but we don't know how we're gettin' to the safe, and we have to rely on some resistance to get us out. Sounds like they didn't give us much of a plan."
"They didn't," admitted Garrison. "Major Schaeffer tried to get more information from London, but couldn't get any."
"So why do we have to use resistance to get out?" asked Chief. "Why can't we just get ourselves there?"
"That is the one part of this G-2 did set up," Garrison replied.
Goniff leaned back in his chair. "I don't like it, Warden."
"Neither do I," said Craig. "But we have our orders and we'll follow them." He looked around the table again. "We leave at 1100 hours from Archbury. We'll be flown to Cairo."
"Cairo?" Terry asked brightly. "Pyramids? Camels?"
That earned her a disgusted look. "You won't be there long enough to see a pyramid. We will be picked up at the airbase and taken straight to the sub."
"Figures."
"It's going to be a long trip. Get ready."
The group broke up and went to pack.
GGGGG
Terry got to see her pyramids, from a distance, as the plane came into the air base. On the way to the sub pens, they passed laden camels being led or ridden down the narrow streets. It was as close as she would come to seeing something Actor found uninteresting. He had seen it all before so, since they would not have time for him to take advantage of his little black book, he smoked a cigarette and did not even look out the window.
The sub ride was long. Luckily Goniff had not been able to eat much of anything before boarding so he was free of his usual nausea. The cons were bored. There were no set plans for what they were to do when they reached Italy, so there was nothing to go over a dozen times. Actor's deck of cards was brought out and a poker game ensued between the four cons. Terry took a nap, and Garrison disappeared to talk to the captain.
It was still dark when the two rafts left the sub. A flash of light signaled where they were to land. The group was split up with Actor, Goniff and Chief in one raft and Garrison, Casino and Terry in the other. As they neared the shore, they all watched for signs of German troops. The sub crewmembers paddled the rafts toward a spit of rocky bluff that extended to the water. To either side were long stretches of sandy beach.
Knowing how well voices carried over water, Terry leaned into her brother and whispered right into his ear. "I don't like this. Too much open space."
"I know," Garrison whispered. "At least we will be close to the cliffs."
"This ain't good, Warden," whispered Casino. "I don't like it."
"None of us do," replied Garrison as quietly as he could.
The seaman who was paddling their boat leaned forward and asked, "You want me to turn around, Lieutenant?"
"No," said Craig. "We'll see what happens."
The rafts landed side by side on the edge of the sandy beach. Garrison got out quickly, followed by Casino. The cracksman reached a hand back and helped Terry out before grabbing the one duffle bag they had. At the other raft, Actor was out and scanning the area with Chief beside him. Goniff had grabbed their duffle bag. The rafts quickly disappeared back into the darkness and headed for the sub.
"Warden," hissed Chief.
Garrison followed his stare into the dim light on the rocks. The figure of a man appeared and walked cautiously toward them. Actor stepped forward with Garrison by his side.
"Fiore rosso," Actor gave the password.
"Giardino bianco," came the reply. The man stepped up to them and addressed Actor. "Lieutenant Garrison?"
"I'm Lieutenant Garrison," said Craig. "This is Actor."
"I am Matteo," said the man. "Come with me. We must leave this place quickly. It is patrolled regularly by the Germans."
Garrison beckoned the others with his hand and they silently followed the man along the edge of the bluff. Garrison followed Matteo and behind him came Casino, Goniff, Terry and Actor. Chief followed a few yards back, watching for trouble from behind. Leaving the beachhead, they wound up a narrow rocky path to the top of the bluff. One by one, they scooted across a road and disappeared into a forest. It was difficult to see the trail, but Matteo had used it so often he knew every turn and every rock and obstacle.
When they stopped for a rest break, Garrison approached their guide. "Are we going into Pesaro?"
"No," replied the man. "Too dangerous at night. The streets are heavily patrolled. You will go in during the day with a delivery truck to a man who will direct you to a safe house. There you will be instructed on where the information is."
After a bit, they continued on. The ground rose at a low grade further into trees. The trail wound around increasing numbers of stone outcroppings and into a small valley. They crossed this and rose more steeply into rocky canyons. Finally, they came to a road. Matteo told Garrison, through Actor, the road led back down to the town. A truck was hidden from sight and this they would use in early afternoon to go to see the butcher. Passwords were given. A couple hundred yards further and higher and they reached a cave. A curly haired olive complexioned man of indeterminate age was waiting for him, rifle in hand. He was introduced as Gianni. Gianni led them into the cave while Matteo disappeared into the darkness.
The new man told Actor they could rest here. He would be guarding the entrance. Garrison watched as a short conversation took place between his second and the resistance man. With a nod from the con man, Gianni slipped back outside.
"What was that about?" asked Garrison with suspicion.
Actor shook his head. "He said he will talk to me because he trusts a fellow countryman more than these crazy Americans. I neglected to tell him I am now a crazy American."
Craig laughed at that thought. Sobering, he asked his second, "Is he leaving or standing guard?"
"He will stand guard until we leave. We know where the truck is and I can tell you where the butcher shop is and the passwords."
Garrison nodded and looked around. There were lanterns lending a flickering dim light throughout the large, dry room of the cave and a fire for warmth and cooking was burning at the far end. What little smoke rose from the flames escaped through a long crack in the ceiling. The others had chosen spots along the walls and were settling in for a nap with the exception of Chief. The Indian approached the two leaders.
"Warden, you want me to keep watch?" he asked.
"Not yet," replied Garrison. "Get a couple hours of rest and then go out."
Chief nodded and went to the wall, close to the entrance so he could see out. Not that he could see much past the rocky opening of the cave. Garrison and Actor hunkered down by the opposite wall and Actor filled the Lieutenant in on what the plan was, where the butcher shop was and what the passwords were.
Garrison looked around. Neither he, nor Actor, got much if any sleep on a mission. Goniff was sleeping with Terry tucked up to him. Casino had his own piece of wall and seemed asleep. It was hard to tell with Chief. The Indian looked like he was sleeping, but usually he could tell Garrison everything that went on wherever they were.
Just before dawn, Chief rose and relieved Gianni. Instead of going into the cave, the Italian man disappeared into the trees. The sun was lighting up the front of the cave when the resistance man came back. The high sides of the canyon kept the rest of the area in shadow. Chief let the man take over the watch and went in to see if there was anything to eat.
Chief glanced at Garrison and Actor, who were talking strategy again. Terry was back by the fire and the smell of ersatz coffee just barely teased his nostrils. He joined Casino and Goniff to accept a tin cup of the hot brew from the girl.
Terry poured three more cups and walked over to her brother and the con man. She gave them each a cup and took the other one out to Gianni. She returned to the fire and got a cup for herself, going back to sit against the wall, closer to Casino this time. Goniff had just stood and ambled over to Garrison with a question. The question never got asked.
"Warden!" Chief called loudly.
The Indian tossed his cup aside, splashing hot liquid down the wall as he leapt to his feet, blade in hand. It was the only warning they got before a band of roughly dressed men poured through the entrance of the cave. Garrison and Actor had made it to their feet as they were set upon by the strangers. The others were up and moved into the fight.
Terry stayed back out of the way as the fight escalated between her brother, his men, and the group she took to be another batch of resistance from their dress and manner of fighting. Something had gone terribly wrong. The resistance group which had brought them to the large cave had left Gianni with them, but he was probably dead now. This group was apparently a rival to the first one. Wasn't it enough to fight the Italian army and the Nazi without having to fight each other?
As it was, Garrison's group was outnumbered by more than two to one. Terry watched apprehensively. So far they were holding their own. Garrison was in close combat with a man slightly shorter but heavier than he. He was not able to keep tabs on what was happening around him. Another resistance man pulled a knife and raised it with the intent of burying it in Craig's back. Some instinct took over and Terry's arm flashed out. Her switchblade caught the man beneath his raised arm. It went in deep enough to take the man down and out of the fight. Dolce santa madre del Dio! This was the second time she had killed with the knife.
She could not dwell on it long. Casino was involved in a close quarters brawl with a man taller and heavier than himself. Terry watched as he took a blow to the stomach that sent the air from his lungs in a whoosh and had him headed for the floor. His assailant grabbed him roughly by the back of his shirt, spun him around and sent him headlong into the stone wall. Casino's right hand went out in an attempt to stop his flight, but he slammed first his right fist and then his head into the wall. He dropped to the ground in an unconscious heap. Not satisfied with incapacitating his opponent, the resistance man moved in with the intent of bashing Casino's head into the ground.
Terry did not think. She flew across the space between them and tackled the man, taking them both to the ground. Younger, fresh and more agile, Terry regained her feet first. As the hulking man started to rise, Terry twirled and caught him under his right ribs with the toe of her boot. She knew instinctively she had killed this man too.
There was no time to think about it as another man dove at her. She twirled again on the ball of her foot and just managed to evade the flying body. He rolled and regained his feet. They both crouched, eyeing each other. Mistaking the woman as being no real threat, he moved in the tackle her. Terry let fly with a roundhouse fist she had learned in the barn dance fights growing up. Clipping his jaw, she sent him to the floor, his head hitting with a resounding crack. Before he could clear his vision and evade, Terry's boot heel came down with full force into his groin. There was a short scream of pain and then he lost consciousness.
A large back collided with Terry's and she swung around, recognizing Actor just in time to keep from punching him in the kidney. He dispatched his opponent and swung around at the perceived new threat.
"Teresa!"
She stood her ground against his angry countenance. "Casino's down."
Actor's arm swept around, flinging her behind him as another man moved in for the attack. Terry backed out of the way, keeping an eye on the con man and also what was going on around her. Actor fought with a combination of fists and Savate moves that would have impressed her if she had time to dwell on it. With free space behind her, she continued to back out of the way of the fighting.
Terry surveyed the scene in front of her. Garrison had dispatched his man and was helping Goniff with two attackers. Chief was the farthest away but he was slicing and dicing his way through three of them. She doubted he needed any help. Instead, she turned and moved toward Casino, still motionless on the ground by the wall. She stopped at the body with the knife sticking out of it and retrieved her blade, wiping it on the man's clothes as she had seen Chief do before. As she straightened, movement caught her eye and her attention turned away from the safecracker.
Another assailant had popped up from somewhere and Actor was fighting two of them now. The first one had a wicked knife that sliced through the sleeve of his left arm, drawing a wash of blood. It was enough to put his left arm out of the fighting. Terry moved swiftly back in, her right leg coming up in a kidney blow to the assailant on Actor's right. He went to his knees. Actor barely acknowledged it, eyes on the man in front of him with the wicked grin and the even wickeder knife. He felt Terry press her switchblade into his hand and a mean grin came to his face.
Terry moved away again. Watching, as the suave, sedate, aristocratic man she knew went into a crouch and fought with knife and leverage learned on the streets of Paris in an earlier part of his life. Craig had been right about not backing Actor into a corner.
Free again, Terry turned and leapt over bodies to get to Casino. The man was still not moving as she knelt beside him. Carefully, she rolled him onto his back. There was a nasty bruised swelling on his left forehead. She gently tapped his cheeks with her hands.
"Casino! Come on, Baby, wake up."
Terry was worried. Though she had seen the men with worse bumps, it did not always mean there wasn't a skull fracture. His head had collided pretty hard with the rock wall. With a groan, he blinked his eyes and looked up at her, focusing blurrily.
"You with me?" asked Terry.
"Yeah, I think so," he replied.
He reached up with his right arm to grab his aching head and gave a yelp, left hand grabbing his right wrist. "Dammit!"
Terry carefully took his wrist and hand in hers and examined it. The wrist was swollen on the outer side and the knuckles were split, swollen and bleeding. She was certain the wrist was broken and possibly some knuckles. She carefully rested the hand and arm against his chest and turned her attention to his head.
"How's the vision?" she asked.
"It's clearin'," replied Casino with a grimace. "My head's killin' me."
"No doubt," said Terry with a small smile. "It hit something as hard as it is."
"Thanks," grumbled Casino. He listened to the sounds around them. "How's it goin'?"
Terry surveyed the room of the cave. Chief had come to Actor's aid and was just dispatching the only one of the resistance men left standing.
"Actor's cut," she said. "Chief looks okay. Goniff's banged up. Craig took a couple few hits."
"Oh this went well," Casino complained. "Let's go home."
"I'm all for that," replied Terry, knowing her brother would probably veto that suggestion.
Inside the now silent cave, Garrison, Actor, Chief and Goniff looked around at the carnage. That they had come out of this without losing any of the team was a miracle and good hand-to-hand combat training. But what a waste, thought Garrison. So many resistance people lay dead because of group rivalry.
A painful groan came from a young man curled in a ball on the ground close by. Garrison and Actor approached him. Pain-filled eyes looked up in anticipation.
"I ought to kill you," said Actor in Italian.
"Why don't you?" asked the man through gritted teeth.
"Idioto!" snarled the con man. "For what? You should have saved your fighting for the Nazi, not each other." Actor turned to Garrison. "What do you want to do with him?" he asked in English.
"Chief," called the lieutenant.
"Yeah, Warden?" The scout approached. "Want me to finish him?"
"No!" Garrison ran a dirty hand through his hair. "Take him out and let him go."
"But 'e'll go back an' tell the others, if there are any," objected Goniff.
"Yes, and maybe they will know not to come after us again."
"Oh," Goniff was dubious.
Chief reached a hand down and dragged the man to his feet. The man stayed hunched over in pain as the Indian dragged him toward the entrance.
"And see if you can find, Gianni," Garrison called after him.
A nod let him know Chief had heard. Craig shook his head.
"He's going to wish he hadn't tangled with Terry."
"Teresa did that?" asked Actor. "Forget I asked that. Of course it was her."
They turned toward the girl and their downed safecracker by the wall.