TTK Chapter 3
Much later that evening, Garrison, Actor and Terry sat sipping real coffee in the deserted officer's mess on the British sub. Terry sat across the table from the two men, eyes moving back and forth between them. The men were taking turns giving her a quick, intense, rundown on Berlin. Craig told her about officers, strategic buildings, and events over the past couple years. Actor told her about the elite families, famous museums, restaurants and locations.
At the mention of one museum, Terry shot back the name of a necklace, the year, and the original owner. Actor gave her a nod of approval.
"You have been studying," he said.
"I'm on Great Jewel Collections of the World, Volume 2," she smiled smugly.
Actor nodded. "I am sure that particular necklace has joined Goering's collection by now."
Terry grinned at the renowned jewel thief. "Say, can we heist his collection after the war, Caro?"
"Ter-ry . . ." warned her brother.
"Never mind. Go on, Craig."
GGGGG
A resistance contact was waiting for them when they arrived in a coastal town in France. They were given two vehicles, uniforms for Garrison and the other men, and papers for all of them. Terry had brought the evening gown with her. The men changed into their uniforms and Terry put on a skirt and blouse under a heavy fur overcoat at the safe house. It was rainy and the roads were a little icy which slowed their travel.
They reached their destination town and the next safe house just before dawn. This safe house was a second floor flat in the house of a baker, who also was a member of the resistance. Craig and Actor stayed awake for a time while the others got some sleep.
Terry woke up at noon and came out into the living room. Craig decided to take her place on the bed in one of the two bedrooms. He told his sister to wake him in a couple hours. She nodded.
Actor was sitting on the window ledge, watching the activity on the street. Terry stepped up beside him slipping her arm under his and around his back. His left hand naturally cupped her waist above her left hip. She leaned into him, gazing out the window. He turned his head to look at her. With no one awake in the room and Garrison in the other bedroom, he dropped a light kiss on her forehead. She was getting into the role again.
"Anything happening?" she asked quietly.
Actor shook his head. "No, nothing unusual."
"I can watch for awhile," Terry said. "Why don't you catch a couple hours sleep too? If anything looks strange I'll wake you up."
The corner of the con man's mouth turned up into an amused smile. She so wanted to do her part. She did not realize that by being there for them at the estate when they returned from a mission was more than enough for them all. It would not hurt to allow her to watch out the window. He and Garrison both felt they were fairly safe here. He gave her a little squeeze and slipped off the ledge.
"If I am not awake by the time you go to get the Lieutenant up, wake me also," he requested.
Terry nodded and took his place on the ledge. She watched him settle on the sofa. He was so tall his ankles rested on the far arm while his head rested on the near arm. In two seconds he was asleep. She wondered how he could do that. Craig could just turn it on and off also. She turned her attention to the cobbled road in front of the bakery. The rain had stopped and the ice had melted. An occasional German soldier passed by, but mostly it was French peasants going to and fro on their daily business.
She let the men sleep until three. Chief and Goniff, both sprawled in chairs, were still asleep. Terry silently moved over beside Actor. She took a couple seconds to study the man, wondering what his life must have been like up to now. When he was awake, he tended to look older than his 39 years. Asleep the creases in his forehead and around his eyes softened and he looked ten years younger. She reached a hand down lightly on his shoulder, ready to jump back if he swung on awakening like her brother sometimes did.
"Actor?" she whispered.
His eyelids fluttered briefly and opened to look up at her alertly. He stifled a yawn and sat up.
"I would have let you sleep, but you said to wake you," she semi-apologized.
"Thank you, Cara," he said. Looking at his watch he frowned. "You let me sleep longer than you were supposed to."
"There wasn't anything happening," she shrugged it off. "I'll go get Craig up."
Casino came out of the other bedroom when Garrison came out of his. This woke Chief and Goniff up. They went over the plans for that night for the twentieth time at least. After the bakery closed, the baker brought them two fresh loaves of bread, some cheese and sausage, along with two bottles of red wine. At seven, they started to get ready.
Terry was getting good at putting the makeup on, but she allowed Actor to fix her hair. Garrison watched the process and observed the change in his sister's expression and attitude as she became more of the sophisticated mistress. Craig watched the elegant woman resting comfortably under the con man's capable hands. Designer gown, above the elbow white gloves, jewels, and styled hair; and she fit into it all like a second skin. In the past few months, under Actor's tutelage, the tomboy girl in jeans and cowboy boots he knew was being replaced by this beautiful lady. It wasn't just the outward appearance. The dancing, the parties, the close association with the aristocratic Italian were changing her inner makeup. It made him wonder if, by the end of this war that did not have an end in sight yet, she would be able to return to her previous life of isolation on the ranch. He wasn't at all sure he would be able to either. The adrenalin rush from pulling off a difficult con, the planning and the conniving were much more satisfying than plodding along on a horse, eating dust behind a bunch of idiotic cantankerous cows. He shook off this train of thought and went back to reviewing the details of their plans.
Garrison was not comfortable when the group split up. He did not like having the mission plans dictated to them, especially by someone who had probably never been in a war zone. He and Actor almost always worked the con out together. And even if it didn't start that way, it usually ended that way. Craig had come to respect the older man's knowledge and capabilities. Terry wasn't the only one learning from him. As if sensing his turmoil, Actor looked up at Garrison over the top of Teresa's head. The set of the con man's mouth and the look in his eyes told the young officer Actor was of the same mind about this mission. There was nothing to be done about it, so one car went in one direction and the other car in another.
GGGGG
Terry stood beside her general and surveyed the gathering. There was a good mix of high ranking Nazi officers, some of the French elite who were no better than collaborators, and a scattering of women who were obviously escorts or mistresses. They had been there for an hour and there was still no sign of Krantz or his wife. Terry had a feeling something was very wrong here. Though Actor looked bored and disinterested, she could feel a bit of tension in the arm under her hand. He rested heavily on his cane and the girl was impressed that he appeared to have a real injury, especially when he walked.
The field marshal had gravitated over to the buffet table. Terry eyed the man who was probably in his early sixties, gray, but still held himself erect with that arrogance that a field marshal would have. She squeezed Actor's arm lightly to get his attention.
"Darling, you look thirsty," she said in German. "I will go get us both another glass of the fine punch."
Actor cast a glance at her. "Liebchen, that is not necessary." He tried to dissuade her from the plan he knew she had just formed. He wasn't at all sure she was ready yet to pull that kind of a con off.
"I do not want you to have to walk that far on your poor injured leg," said Terry. She smiled at him and proceeded to walk away.
There was nothing he could do to stop her. He kept a seemingly unconcerned eye on the woman. Terry approached the table a few feet down from the Field Marshal. She cast surreptitious glances at the man, showing interest in him. He took a few steps closer to her. She held her plate, perusing the offerings.
"May I suggest the liver pate?" Huber spoke in German with a wolfish smile.
"Thank you, Herr Field Marshal," she responded with an enticing smile of her own.
"May I serve you?" he asked, taking a step closer.
"That is so kind of you, sir," she replied. As he placed some of the pate and cocktail bread on her plate, she continued, "It is a lovely party is it not?"
"Very nice," the man replied. "I am afraid I have not been introduced to you."
"Marta Weber," smiled Terry. "I am with General Alta. He has just recently returned for Libya. He was injured and has come back to recuperate."
Huber glanced over at Actor and nodded. Actor smiled and returned the nod but there was an air of possessiveness in the look the man gave to the young woman.
"Tell me, Herr Field Marshal," began Terry to get his attention back to her. "Have you just arrived from Berlin?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Ah, I am from Potsdamer Platz," she said.
He smiled at her, "A lovely area. Wonderful nightlife. I am from Alexanderplatz."
"Also a lovely area with a wonderful nightlife," smiled Terry. "Tell me, Herr Field Marshal, do you perhaps know the Erlichs? Johannes and Frieda?"
Huber frowned, "I am afraid not."
"Oh they probably do not move in your circle, I am sure." Terry looked shyly at the man. "I wonder, sir, if you might help me."
"And what is it I can help you with?" The message was very subtle.
Not what you want to help me with thought Terry. "Frieda asked me to look up a friend of hers whose husband is working here now. I am afraid I do not know what she looks like. I am sure you must have met most everyone here."
"What is her name?"
Terry fluttered her fingers. "Oh, dear . . .Helga . . . I believe. Helga . . .," she pretended to be searching her mind. "Krantz. I think the last name is Krantz. I do not remember what her husband's first name is." She gave him an embarrassed look.
"Georg?" asked Huber with interest.
"That might be it," said Terry. "I have never met them. Frau Erlich said she went to school with Frau Krantz. She has not heard from her since she left Berlin."
"She is not here. And you would do well, my dear, not to show any association with the Krantz family." His tone became more formal.
Terry gave him a look of apprehension. "As I have said, I do not know these people. Are they bad people?"
"Georg Krantz has been spying for the English."
Terry gasp. "Oh! How horrible. May I tell Frieda. She will be so shocked. The Erlichs are strong supporters of our Fuehrer."
"It is of no consequence," assured Huber. "The Krantz's will be executed before you could possibly return to Berlin." He smiled at her again. "May I get you some punch?"
"That would be very nice, Sir," smiled Terry. "I came to get a glass for myself and Dieter. He still tires so easily. Would you like to meet him?"
Huber glanced in Actor's direction. "I believe we met earlier. He was injured in Tripoli?"
"I believe so," said Marta. "He could never tell me where he was until he returned. I am afraid I do not know much about Afrika."
"Well. It is not necessary that you should, My Dear." The field marshal decided he was not going to get this young woman away from the general so he began casting glances around, looking for more eligible companionship. He handed the punch glasses to 'Marta' and gave a slight formal bow. "It has been a pleasure," he said.
"It has been a pleasure to meet you also, Herr Field Marshal."
He turned away, and Terry slowly and calmly made her way back to Actor. The smile on her face did not reach her eyes. Terry waited until the space around them had cleared of people before speaking, still in German.
"Look tired, Dear. We have to get out of here. Krantz has been picked up and is to be executed."
"Wonderful," whispered Actor through a tired smile. He wondered what kind of trouble the Warden was in.
Terry fussed over her general and they left the party fifteen minutes later. Out in the car, Casino was getting worried, even more so when he saw Terry and Actor without Herr and Frau Krantz. The safecracker was out of the car and holding the door for the general and his girlfriend. Hurrying around to the driver's side, he slid behind the wheel and started the big engine.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Krantz and his family were picked up. They are probably at Gestapo Headquarters," said Actor in disgust.
"The kid too? They got the kid?" demanded Casino, allowing the natural protectiveness he had for children to show.
"It sounds like it. We won't know that until we see the Warden," said Actor. "He may have been able to get the child out."
"I knew something was gonna go wrong," complained Casino as he wound through the deserted street of the town. Satisfied he didn't have a tail, the safecracker drove back to the safehouse.