They shoved the papers back in the safe and Garrison headed for the window with Casino on his tail, he was straddling the sill when the door opened. The safecracker turned and fired, killing the Colonel's aide as he stood in the doorway. He whirled back to face his commander, they could hear shouts in the passage way outside the room and the sound of running feet as soldiers headed their direction.

Casino's hands shot forward, grabbing the front of the jacket Garrison wore with one hand, he reached in and snatched the camera from the inside pocket with the other, before shoving him off the sill out into the alley. The Warden was the information now, he had to get out of it. That damn bulb was still in the lamp and they had a dead man to deal with. The Krauts were gonna know their security had been breached, but if he worked it right he could make 'em believe the attempt on the safe had been a bust, and the documents secure, the roll in the camera was blank…

Garrison scrambled up off the ground and was in the window in time to see the door open again. Casino was half way back towards the wall that held the safe. He was sacrificing himself, setting himself up to get caught and giving him a chance to get away. But the man in the doorway straddling the body of the German officer had no intension of taking a prisoner as he sprayed the room with bullets. Garrison watched Casino go down as he brought his pistol up and fired.

His foot hit the edge of the carpet and slipped out from under him just as the guard pushed through the door and started blasting away. He missed gettin' a slug in him by a hair but couldn't keep his head from hitting the floor with enough force that the room went black. The next thing Casino knew the Warden was lowering him out the window into the alley. His knees buckled as the ground rocked under his feet and the ringing in his ears resolved itself into sirens.

Garrison dropped onto the ground next to his safecracker hauling him up by the arms he started manhandling him down the alley towards the street. Goniff was running back to meet them.

Shooting a worried look at his commander he slipped his friend's arm over his shoulder and took him from the Warden's grasp. "Casino!?"

"He fell and his hit head. Get him over to the car." As soon as he saw the little pick pocket could manage Garrison turned back down the alley.

"Where'r you goin!?" Goniff moved a few feet closer to the street and turned back to watch the Warden as he jogged back to the window they'd just come out of.

"I've got to blow that building. Now get the hell out of here!" He didn't have much on him, just a small charge, but there was a gas line just outside the room they'd been working in. All he had to do was blow that and the building would catch fire.

ggg

Goniff struggled along the alley, half dragging Casino. The car was just across the street, just a few doors down and across the street. All he had to do was get out where they could see him and he'd have all the help he needed to get Casino over there and stash him in the car. When he came out of the alley and looked up Chief was already climbing out of the car. Casino's feet finally started doing what he told them to and they broke into a staggering run.

Chief reached out and caught Casino as he nearly fell as he met them in the middle of the street. "What happened? Where's the Warden?"

Balancing on unsteady legs the safecracker jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Our crazy Warden's back there blowin' up the damn building." Shrugging out of his teammate's supporting grasp he started weaving towards the car. "Go on, I can make it on my own."

The ground rocked again and Chief grabbed for Casino as he started to fall. He nodded at Goniff as the little pick pocket turned to head back to the alley. Pulling the safecracker's arm over his shoulder he started for the car. "If he'd wait a minute I think those bomber's'd do the job for him."

They were half way to car before Casino realized Chief was still with him and struggled to break free of his grasp again. Actor was out of the vehicle and headed their way as he turned and pushed the younger man away from him shouting, "He's got all of it in his head, damn it! You gotta get him out a there!"

g

Garrison checked the attachment and lit the fuse waiting a second to make sure the damn thing wouldn't burn out again before he turned and headed towards the street. Goniff was only a dozen feet from him…"Goniff! What in the hell to do you think you're doing? Get out of here!" Grabbing the little burglar by the shoulder he turned him and started shoving him ahead of him along the alley.

When they reached the street Chief was running towards them. Garrison shot a look at the car, Actor was behind the wheel but there was no sign of Casino. The ground rocked under foot again and the drone of bombers overhead was growing louder. There was a roar to their left as the street erupted in flame, the car disappeared behind a wall of fire and smoke and Chief was sprawled on his face on the stones.

The explosion behind them caused Garrison to turn and stare as the building went up in a ball of fire, the next moment it blew to bits as one of the bomber's scored a bulls-eye. When he struggled to his knees Chief was still motionless in the road and Goniff was crawling across the stones trying to reach him. He pushed up onto his feet and turned to scan the street. There was a truck nearby, if they had any luck left… He ran for it, the keys were in the ignition, he pushed the button on the dash and waited as the engine coughed to life. Pulling it away from the curb in a tight turn he skidded to a halt next to his men.

ggg

Goniff was on his knees and held Chief cradled in his arms. Stumbling out of the cab Garrison reached down and grabbed the back of the uniform the young man wore in his hands, dragging him across the cobbles to the back of the truck he pulled him inside, shouting for Goniff to follow and take the wheel, but the little man just sat staring after them.

"Goniff! We have to get out of here!" but the second story man didn't move. He just sat stunned in the street with his arms wrapped across his belly and stared back at him as he rocked back and forth.

Garrison slipped his jacket off and pillowed Chief's head with it. The Indian's skin was clammy, his face ashen and blood was already starting to pool on the floor beneath him. Staggering out of the truck he made his way back to Goniff and dropped into a crouch in front of the pick pocket, taking him by the shoulders he tried to shake him out of his shock and get him moving but as soon as he touched him the little man slumped forward onto the street. The sleeves of his coat were soaked with blood and as the Warden hooked him under the arm to haul him to his feet his coat pulled open. The front of his shirt was stained crimson and torn where the shrapnel hit him. Garrison scooped him up and carried him to the truck, laying him in the back, next to the younger man.

The bombs were still raining down around them, moving east through the town, they seemed to be zeroing in on the main street as the gas main erupted in flame. He couldn't see through the inferno, he couldn't tell if the car was still there. Slamming the truck into gear Garrison screeched away, paralleling the main street, racing the bombs and the fire.

It was no good. He couldn't drive fast enough to get ahead of it. Finally doubling back he found a spot that was safe to cross. Enough debris had built up that the fire wasn't too bad. He thought he could make it through without the truck blowing up. Garrison floored it, hitting the pile of rubble with enough speed to send the truck airborne he made it across the street and headed back where the car had been waiting to pick them up. The sight that greeted him caused his heart to skip a beat. The only thing left was a smoking crater in the road.

Closing his eyes for a moment he took a deep breath before pulling the wheel hard over to the left and heading out of town.