In the Beginning
Chapter 6 After Norway
Garrison was sitting in his office one morning, working on the increasing amounts of paperwork he was being given by Allied Command, when Sgt. Davidson came to the door. Craig motioned him to come inside and returned the automatic salute he received. Davidson closed the door behind him and took a seat in the chair in front of the desk with Garrison's motion it was okay to sit.
"A problem, Sergeant?" asked Craig. With his group there were always problems.
"I don't know if it's a problem or not, Sir," said Davidson. "You said you wanted to be told of any odd things we come across. Well, Myers in the kitchen has one for you. It concerns Actor."
That was unusual. Granted if pushed into it, the sedate man would fight back, but for the most part, he was the least trouble here. On missions was another thing. The ladies man would see a pretty face and disappear, returning just in time for when he was needed. It was obvious, the con man was having 'international relations' with the women he found and not about to stop.
"Okay, what's Actor doing?" Craig asked with curiosity.
"He got two ten-pound flour sacks from Myers, filled them with dirt from outside, and took them to his room.
Garrison stared at the sergeant. "Any explanation why?"
"No, Sir."
"Where is he now?" asked Craig.
"Upstairs in the common room."
"With two bags of dirt?" It was more of a statement.
"Yes, Sir."
This was too interesting to pass up. He thanked the sergeant and dismissed him. Leaving his office, Craig noted the three other cons were at their usual places in the that common room. Without a word, Garrison trotted up the stairs. He motioned the guard at the door to be silent.
Stepping close, Garrison whispered. "Is he in there and what is he doing?"
"Yes, Sir." The corporal looked a bit confused. "I think he's exercising, Sir."
Exercising? The Italian did not like to break a sweat. The physical training the men were receiving was not exactly his cup of espresso either. Without a knock or word, Garrison opened the door to the common room.
Actor froze, arms outstretched with a bag dangling from each hand. He was wearing his pants and shoes, but was down to his army singlet. He shook his head and lowered the bags to the floor.
"Is there a problem, Lieutenant?" asked the confidence man irritably.
"I don't know, is there?" asked Garrison.
Actor sat on his cot. "I do not know why a man cannot work at improving his muscle tone without it becoming an . . . issue."
Garrison walked over and picked up the knotted ends of the sacks in his hands. He straightened and lifted his arms outward. Nice little pull. Returning the bags to the floor.
"No issue," he said. "Carry on." He turned and headed for the door. On his way out, he heard an irritated "thank you" behind him.
A week later, the confidence man was called into Garrison's office. After the door was closed, Craig spoke without looking up.
"Behind the file cabinet," he said. "I can only requisition one set at a time, so until I can get another set, we'll have to share them. You're welcome to use them in here with the door closed if you want. It won't bother me while I'm working."
Actor walked over to the file cabinet. On the floor behind it were two hand barbells with additional weights. Definitely better than sacks of dirt.
"Does that work all right for you?" asked Craig, still not looking up from his work.
"It works fine for me, Warden," said the con man. He leaned a shoulder against the file cabinet and studied his commanding officer. "How much can you bench press?" he asked.
Craig looked at him and thought about it. "When I was younger I could lift 300 pounds. But that was a while ago."
Actor chuckled at the 'younger' from the 29-year-old officer. Younger. "I used to be able to press that much also," he admitted.
"You probably never tossed a three-string bale of hay," said Garrison.
"I can't say that I have had that opportunity. How much does one weigh?" asked the Italian.
"Hundred pounds."
Impressed, Actor took the seat in front of the desk. "Threw them? Why?"
Craig grinned. "Loading and unloading them from the trucks and trailers. Winter cattle feed. I won't tell the others about those," he nodded toward the cabinet, "if you don't repeat this conversation."
"Of course not, Warden." Actor grinned.
GGG
The missions came with increasing frequency, limiting the men's forays to the Doves to once a week or less. And as the missions became more frequent, they became more dangerous. The injuries seemed to begin with Garrison's interrogation in Norway. Goniff was the first to be injured by flying shrapnel from a grenade exploding in close proximity to where he was hiding. It was mainly deep scratches. Chief took a graze to the arm as he was throwing his blade at a German guard who had appeared from nowhere. Casino was shot in the upper leg, retaining the bullet until they could get to a safe house. All of the injuries were treated by the confidence man. The safecracker's bullet had to be removed using Chief's switchblade and the Italian had muttered the entire time this was not how he had been taught. And it got worse.
GGGGG
Actor was driving the car with Garrison in the front seat beside him. Goniff was in the back seat with Casino and Chief. The Italian did not usually drive, but the getaway had been hurried and unplanned. They simply had not bothered to stop and change drivers.
Actor slowed as they approached a line of vehicles waiting at a road block. Garrison did not like this. The road block was probably looking for them and they were dressed in German uniforms without papers. The confidence man shot a glance at the Lieutenant. Craig shook his head, no plan upcoming.
"Keep quiet back there," Garrison hissed to the three in back.
Actor pulled the car up as the one ahead of them was allowed through the barricade. A leutnant stepped up to Actor's open driver's window and his expressions showed recognition.
"Hande hoch!"
Garrison's hand came up and he shot across the front of Actor , killing the leutnant. "Run it!" he ordered.
Actor shoved the car into gear and floored it. Everyone seemed to be shooting; German soldiers, Garrison, Casino and Chief. One soldier got a shot off before the car hit him. The bullet at close range tore through the windshield and slammed into Actor's left shoulder, exiting out the back, on an angle over the back of his seat, barely missing Goniff's head.
"Blimey!" screeched the pickpocket, ducking behind the back of the front seat.
Garrison made a grab for the steering wheel, but the con man had a tight grip with his right hand and plowed through the barricade, not slowing. Shoving his foot down on the clutch, it was Garrison's left hand on the shift stick, shoving it into a higher gear. They tore down the road with as much speed as the Italian could coax out of the engine.
Craig eyed him, noting the pallor to his face and the clenched jaw. It was the first time the big man had been injured and he seemed to be taking it as stoically as the officer himself had in Norway. Garrison pulled the map out from the inside of his uniform jacket. They could not go straight to the safe house with the Jerries chasing them. They would have to detour and back track to the farmhouse that was used by the resistance.
"Turn left at the next road," Garrison ordered.
A tight nod was the Italian's response.
"They're comin', Warden," said Casino, hanging out the side window with his gun ready.
Chief was hanging out the other window with his gun. Stuck in the middle, Goniff slid down so his head was lower than the spiderweb cracked back window.
Coming up fast on the crossroad, Actor tucked his left elbow tight to his body, slamming on the brakes as he clutched and spinning the wheel, putting the car into a skid around the sharp turn. His left hand grabbed the crossbar of the steering wheel, while his right hand shifted. The sliding of the big car put Casino at enough of an angle to shoot the radiator of the rapidly gaining staff car behind them. It took out their pursuers' engine.
Now fighting the sliding car, Actor was forced to use the injured arm to steer while he shifted to straighten them out without stalling. He swallowed hard against the pain and black spots dancing in his vision, but managed to get the vehicle going straight. Garrison took them down a second road. Actor was clamping his teeth so hard, Craig thought he would break them.
"Clear?"
"Yeah, Warden, for a minute," Casino answered.
Garrison looked at Actor. "Stop."
The con man slammed on the brakes, throwing in the clutch again, grabbing the wheel with his left hand and working the stick with his right. The car screeched to a halt, engine still running.
"Casino, get up here and drive!"
The cracksman was out of the car before it was done rocking and helped shove Actor to the middle of the seat, taking his place. He threw it in gear and sent the car leaping forward.
"Next road, turn right," said Garrison.
He reached under the dashboard and pulled the emergency kit free.
Actor was leaning back against the seat trying to control his breathing, right hand pressing hard against the rapidly increasing red stain on his left shoulder. It was the first time the Italian had been shot. Oh, he had been shot at before, but never hit. He had expected pain, but not the burning as though a hot poker had been shoved through his shoulder.
Garrison quickly unbuttoned the tunic and pulled the now bloody white blouse away from the wound as Actor removed his hand. The hole was bleeding freely, but not pulsating, so the bullet had missed an artery. He placed a wad of gauze over the entrance wound and the con man went back to applying pressure. Another wad was shoved below the man's collar in the back to cover the exit wound and Actor leaned back against the seat to put pressure on that now.
"You doing okay?" asked Garrison.
Actor turned his head to give an almost disbelieving look at the officer. "I have been better," he said tightly.
"Congratulations, Beautiful," said Casino. "Now you're even with the rest of us."
"Thank you," said Actor. "I am touched by your concern."
Casino shrugged, turning down the next road. "At least yours went through. You don't have to have somebody digging in you with a switchblade."
"Next time I will leave the bullet in you," assured the Italian.
"Turn right at the next road," instructed Garrison.
"Yeah, yeah, Warden, I know where I am," said the safecracker. "What's it like behind us?" he asked.
"Clear," said Chief. "Think we lost 'em."
To be on the safe side, they continued to zig and zag down backroads until they finally reached the abandoned farm house that was their safe house. Garrison, Goniff and Chief got out with Chief going back down the drive to watch for pursuers from the cover of the neighboring woods. Garrison and Goniff helped the injured man from the front seat. Once they had him clear and the doors closed, Casino drove the car around the back, out of sight of the drive.
Garrison motioned Goniff and Actor to wait while he went up to the front door of the house, gun ready. Pressed against the wall, he reached over and turned the knob, suddenly pushing the door open. Nothing. Taking a breath, Craig burst into the house and moved to his right. There was nobody visible. Making a quick sweep of the rooms, he went back to the front door and motioned Goniff and Actor to come in. Casino came running up and helped the confidence man into the house.
Garrison pulled a table chair out and Actor sank onto it, bloody hand pressed hard against the wound on the front of his shoulder. Casino went in search of an aide kit. Garrison eased the open neck of the no longer white blouse aside with a finger. The gauze dressing was totally saturated with blood.
"Must have clipped a good vein. It's not an artery," he said to Actor. "You holding up okay?"
Actor nodded.
Goniff was fidgeting as usual. "You want water and rags?"
"Yes," said Garrison.
Casino strode out of a back room with a kit in hand. He laid it on the table and opened it. Garrison glanced through the contents. There was sulfa, suture, and dressing material. It would have to do. He finished unbuttoning Actor's tunic and blouse. Between himself and Casino, they removed the soiled clothing. Casino wadded up the blouse and pressed it against the exit wound on the con man's posterior shoulder. Blood ran in a trail down his back.
Goniff came back with a basin of wate; towels draped over his forearm rather like a waiter. He set the basin on the table beside the open kit and dropped the towels next to it before looking around Garrison at the wound the officer was uncovering. It sunk into his mind the bullet that had gone through the Italian's shoulder had almost hit him in the head. He shuddered and moved back. And went to the window to take up the inside guard duty and not have to watch the treating of the wounds.
Actor sat still and quiet, eyes following the hands that were cleaning around and probing the wound that he could see. "Will I live?" he asked wryly.
"Looks like," replied Garrison. "I'm going to stitch up the front and part of the back. I want it to be able to drain."
Actor nodded. His hand went over the gauze pad Garrison placed covering the hole. He watched with distaste as the officer put a glass syringe together and drew up some Procaine. His face remained still, not showing the grimace he wanted to make at the burning injections around the wound. Thankfully, Garrison's touch was gentle and steady as he injected the local anesthetic and then sprinkled a goodly amount of sulfa into the wound. He stitched the wound quickly and skillfully. The bleeding slowed and stopped.
Actor leaned forward as Garrison moved to the wound on the back side of his shoulder. Casino backed up, but uncharacteristically rested a hand on the Italian's other shoulder while Garrison injected the Procaine around that wound. Craig only stitched part of the wound, leaving a small hole that oozed blood. He sprinkled sulfa over both wounds before dressing them tightly with gauze pads and wrapped the shoulder and chest with roller bandage. That done, he cleansed the blood from the man's chest and back.
Casino went out and brought in the duffle that was in the back of the car. He set it on the end of the table and pulled out a clean shirt and helped Actor get his arms into the sleeves. Garrison buttoned up the front.
"Thank you," Actor said quietly. "Both of you."
"Hey," said Casino with some discomfort, "you've taken care of us enough times. It's your turn."
Actor gave a crooked grin. "This is something I wouldn't care to do again." He glanced down at his shoulder. "This has ruined my perfection."
Casino gave a bark of laughter. "Just put some o' that stuff you put on your face and hide it. The dames won't care."
Both Garrison and Actor tilted eyes at the safecracker.
GGGGG
The next trip to the Doves had to be without the confidence man. Arm still in a sling, it would be impossible for him to manage the bars and the trellis. The con man took the opportunity to sit in his chair with a book in peace and quiet. He was beginning to wonder when two hours had passed without the men returning.
Without warning, the door opened and Garrison walked in to stand, hands on hips and glared at the con man.
"Good evening, Warden," said Actor cordially.
"How did they get out of here?" asked the officer without any preliminary.
Actor shrugged. "I have no idea. I was asleep in my chair. When I awakened I was alone. I assumed they had gone downstairs."
The man's face was guileless and Garrison didn't believe him for a minute. "They got into a fight at the Doves and are in the stockade. They didn't just walk out of here."
Actor shrugged one shoulder and watched as Garrison moved from window to window. Finally he got to the one with the loosened bars. With one finger, he pushed the bars aside.
"Imagine that," said the confidence man."
Garrison turned a glare to him. "I take it this has been going on for awhile."
Knowing the game was indeed up, Actor laid his book on his lap. "Lieutenant, we need a chance to relax, have a couple drinks and play a few games of cards or darts, away from the confines of this beautiful prison. You have seen the fights between Casino and Chief have been escalating."
"Yes, I've seen that. What I see now is they have taken their fights to the Doves and now I have to pay for the damages."
"Perhaps if we were allowed a little freedom the tension would be less and the fights fewer."
Garrison shook his head. "So, after you four breaking the rules, I am supposed to award you with more freedom? Is that it?"
Actor smiled pleasantly. "I might not hurt and might actually help."
"Right," said Garrison.
The officer turned away and walked out the door. Actor looked around the room and smiled, sure that the Warden would not bail the men out until morning. Ahhh, lovely peace, quiet and privacy. He picked up his book and went back to reading.