Terry sat behind the wheel and stared at the prison walls. This place gave her the creeps just as badly as Alcatraz had. "You think Chief's been all right in there?"
"This time around?" asked Casino. "Yeah. He's tougher now than when he went in as a kid."
"Besides, he knows now how to get himself put in solitary. It's safer there," added Actor. He felt a shiver go through him. He had only been in Attica four months before being transferred to San Quentin. It had been four long hard months.
Terry watched him out of the corner of her eye. There was a slight tenseness to his jaw. His hand was resting on the seat. Terry slid hers over and atop his squeezing hard. He looked over at her and turned his hand to squeeze hers back. "It will be fine, Cara," he said with triple meaning.
"Of course," she said. "I'm on a roll. Here goes number three."
Terry got out of the car, straightened her clothes, and headed for the gate. She felt the eyes of the two men on her back. She straightened her spine a bit more and pasted a smile on her face.
"How many women you know could do that?" asked Casino with admiration.
"None," replied Actor. "And the Lieutenant was the same. Just walked in calm and bold as brass, as if it didn't affect him."
"How did she handle the Rock?" asked Casino.
"She has hidden it well, but I believe it bothered her greatly," replied Actor.
"The Rock bothers most men," remarked Casino.
As twice before, Terry waited in the warden's office for the shuffling feet and the clinking of chains. This time, she watched the door for the arrival of her third member. She got the same startled look from him as she had from Casino. He stayed silent, dark eyes shuttering as had Actor's.
"I trust the paperwork is in order," Terry said to the warden with a calm detachment she did not feel.
"Yes, Miss Garrison. Are you sure you are safe escorting this man?"
"Quite safe," she assured him.
Chief was uncuffed and Terry led the way out the door. They had a guard escort in front and behind them. Chief walked alongside the girl.
"Thought you were dead," he murmured.
"So did I," she murmured back. "You just can't kill a Garrison."
Chief shot her a look. "The Lieutenant?"
"Hospital in London." She looked sideways at him. "Long story."
"I bet." He hesitated. "Chris?"
"With Craig."
They did not speak further until they were outside the prison walls. Now Terry looked sharply at the youngest member of the group. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah,' said Chief offhandedly. "They tried something once. That was all it took."
"Good Boy!" said Terry firmly.
Chief chuckled. "You been listening to yourself lately?" he drawled. "You're startin' to sound a lot like us."
"Rainey, this is the third maximum security prison I have been in over the past three days. I should start sounding like a pro pretty soon."
"Who did you get out?" asked the Indian eagerly.
"Casino and Actor. Goniff's tomorrow."
Chief climbed into the backseat of the car and there were boisterous greetings. Terry got behind the wheel, gave a last shuddering look at Attica, and drove away.
Terry pulled into the first filling station she could find and got Chief's bag out of the trunk of the car. He disappeared into the men's room to change out of the prison garb and into his normal clothes. Casino got out and walked over to stand under a tree and enjoy a cigarette. He motioned for Terry to join him. Casino didn't like the bruises on Actor or the lankiness of the big man any more than Terry did. He eyed Terry with interest.
"Hey, Babe, so you really went into the Rock to get Beautiful?"
Terry's face closed. "Yes, I did. I don't want to talk about that horrible place. Attica isn't a whole lot better."
Casino shook his head. "All I can say is you got balls, Sister."
Right now she had the beginnings of another headache.
He watched the con man, leaning on the top of the car, smoking a cigarette. "Who beat the crap outta him?"
Terry glanced at Actor, "Screws, with him shackled. Only way they'd get to him."
"He ain't himself," remarked Casino.
"No," agreed Terry. "He's getting better. You should have seen him when I first got him out. He would barely talk to me." She looked at the safecracker. "He's told me some of it, but I think there's more he's not telling me. I don't know what to do."
"There's some things he's probably not gonna tell you," said Casino. "Man's got a big ego. He's had the crap beat outta him more'n once judgin' by the bruises. He can usually talk his way out of most anything. Couldn't this time. That ain't something he's gonna be able to talk to you about. Maybe the Warden when we get back to England. I don't know. Just treat him like yuh normally do and give him time."
"Thanks," she said. "Sometime, could you answer me some more prison questions?"
Casino nodded. He watched Terry eyes. They just didn't look right. Her head was starting to pound again. She frowned.
"You okay, Babe," asked Casino gently.
"No," replied Terry. "But I'm conning it for all it's worth."
The safecracker pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. She slid her arms around his waist and leaned against him. Actor turned his head to look at them. Casino met his eyes. The con man nodded.
Chief came out of the bathroom with a small smile on his face, happy to be out of prison garb. Terry grinned and straightened. The three walked back to the car. Terry placed a hand on the back of Actor's waist and moved up beside him. She held the car keys out.
"Can you drive for a bit?" she asked quietly.
He dropped the cigarette butt and ground it out with his shoe, taking the keys from her. He cupped her chin and looked into her eyes. "Are you taking anything for the headaches?" he asked.
She shook her head. Actor opened the passenger door and closed it after she had gotten in. As he drove through the small town, he watched for a drug store. Parking at the curb, he got out without explanation. A few minutes later, he got back behind the wheel. Actor handed Terry a bottle of aspirin and an open bottle of Coke.
"Thanks," she said. Terry dumped about four aspirin into her mouth and washed them down with the soda. After a couple more swallows, she handed the bottle over the seat to the two in the back. Actor would drink it in a pinch, but not by preference. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat.
Chief watched her. "You okay?"
"Yeah, fine," said Terry casually. "I'm just a little tired."
Casino snickered.
About twenty minutes later, the headache had just about subsided. Terry opened her eyes and sat straighter. Actor glanced at her and she nodded it was better.
"Hey, where we stayin' tonight, Babe?" asked Casino.
"You and Actor okay with that place we stayed last night?"
Casino chuckled. "How many rooms?"
"Why are you planning on picking up, what's her name, Cindy, again?"
"Naw," said Casino. "I'm good for awhile."
"I'm so glad to hear that," said Terry sarcastically.
Casino was happy to be able to tease the con man and Terry. "Well, I could share a room with Junior. He ain't gonna pick up anybody. And you and Know-It-All could have the same arrangements as last night."
"Casino!" barked Actor.
"Charlie," warned Terry ,"you better put a lid on it by the time we get to England or you're gonna have my size eight boot shovin' your tonsils out your teeth."
"Did I miss somethin' somewhere?" asked Chief in confusion.
"Oh, yeah," chortled Casino.
"Casino!" warned Actor again.
"What's goin' on?" asked Chief.
"Actor and I shared a room last night and that's all," said Terry, hoping to take some of the wind out of the safecracker's sails.
"I still bet you shared more than a room," chortled Casino.
Actor was smoldering. "Teresa, I will be happy to pull over and kill him for you."
"Not if I get to him first," shot back the woman.
"So you two slept together. So what?" said Chief. "I figure you been doin' that for the past two years."
"Dios," said Actor under his breath.
"Chief, have you and Chris . . .?" asked Terry.
"No!" he answered quickly. "She wants to, but I don't want to get her into trouble."
Actor was the only one who saw the tiny smile on Terry's face. "Little Brother, you and I need to have a talk one of these days."
Terry sat in the car after Actor parked in front of the office to the motel. "Okay, tell me what I'm doing?"
Chief took the point. "I suppose I can stand one night with Casino."
"Without breaking anything or getting us thrown out for fighting?"
"Yeah," agreed Chief.
"Casino?"
"Yeah, I'll wait until we're back in England," said Casino snidely.
Chief looked at the back of the Italian's head. "Ain't none of my business, Actor," he said. "I don't know what this is bein' paid for with, but sharin' a room is cheaper. It don't bother me any. And I can put a pillow over Casino's face if he gets too rude."
"Your switchblade is in the bottom of your bag," said Terry.
"I know. Found it when I changed clothes in that filling station."
Terry turned to Actor. She switched to Italian. "It's your call. I'm okay sleeping with you, but if you would rather have a room to yourself, that's fine too."
The two eyed each other as Actor chewed on the inside of his cheeks. Knowing he should refuse to share a bed with her, he also knew they both needed the closeness. In Italian, he said, "See if you can get the same room, Mrs. Mancini. The bed was fairly comfortable."
Terry smiled and got out of the car.
After they settled into their respective rooms, the four met and went to the café for supper. Terry explained again for Chief's benefit what had happened with Craig and the court marshal of Col. Yates.
Chief smiled, "Woulda been kinda fitting if Yates got Casino's old cell."
The Indian stealthily watched his Italian counterpart. Usually quiet, the man seemed more withdrawn. Chief had noticed the faded bruise on Actor's cheekbone. There was a story here, but he didn't think he would get it from the con man.
Actor lit another cigarette and turned to Terry. "How are your finances holding up?"
"Tight," replied the girl. "I have enough to feed us for two more days. And tomorrow it will be three rooms."
"You are paying for this out of your pocket, aren't you, Cara?" asked Actor shrewdly.
Terry nodded.
"You mean the Army ain't payin' for this?" demanded Casino.
"Yes and no," said Terry. "They are providing the transportation. We are supposed to be staying on the bases. I think you can understand my not trusting the Army enough to keep you guys on a base. So I'm paying for the rooms and food."
"We get back to England, we'll give you the money back," said Casino adamantly.
"We get back to England, I will have access to all my money. I don't need yours. This is a small price to pay to get you all back. Besides, I owe you for making you stay in prison so long."
"You don't owe us anything, Terry," said Chief. "And this is costing you more'n money. I bet you left the hospital way too soon when you went after the Warden."
"So I take after my brother," Terry tried to blow it off. "If it was just the head injury, and we were home, I'd've been back at the Mansion letting our personal physician take care of me." She patted Actor's arm where it rested on the table.
"Instead," said Actor with a touch of bitterness, "you are going into places you have no business being anywhere around."
"Settle down," said Terry gently. "Let's just say it's furthering my education."
"That kind of education you don't need, Babe," said Casino.
After supper, they ambled back up to the motel. Chief eased over to Terry's side. "Wanna go for a walk?" he asked.
Terry looked at him. "Sure."
Actor suddenly found himself with Terry's purse, much to Casino's amusement. The safecracker waited until Terry was out of hearing range before he said, "that really doesn't go with your outfit, Babe."
"One more remark, Casino and you will be eating this purse," threatened Actor.
Terry and Chief strolled slowly down the sidewalk. Terry reached for his hand, slightly surprised when he laced fingers with hers.
"What's on your mind, Little Brother?" asked Terry.
Chief shrugged. "What's the matter with Actor? He ain't himself."
Terry shook her head. "Alcatraz, Attica, me, take your pick, any and all."
"He seems to get a catch in his side every once in awhile." Chief had always been observant. "He hurt worse than that bruise on his face?"
"Yeah," said Terry. "He thinks a couple ribs might be cracked."
"The Rock?"
Terry nodded.
"Who got him?"
"Screws," said Terry.
"What's his problem with you?"
Terry thought about it. "Alcatraz, pride, Casino's mouth." They walked a little farther. "I basically saw him when he was at rock bottom. Doesn't bother me the way he thinks it does. And he won't listen to me. Then there's Casino teasing him about sharing a room with me."
Chief looked at her curiously. "You two haven't . . . uh . . . aren't . . .?"
Terry smiled at his awkwardness. "No, we haven't and no we aren't. At least not yet. We've shared a room the last two nights. Last night I slept in the bed, he slept on top. The night before we had two beds."
"Don't sound like Actor. If he can sweet talk it, he'll sleep with it."
Terry grimaced. "Oh, now, he's got some criteria. As for me . . . well . . . You sleeping with my sister?"
"No!" came the adamant reply.
"Why not? She's willing." Terry was playing devil's advocate.
"Yeah, but she's the Warden's sister. It wouldn't be right."
"I'm the Warden's sister too. Get my point with Actor?" Chief nodded at that. "Besides," she continued, "he's hung up on the fifteen years between us. I don't think about his age. He's just him."
"What about me and Chris?" asked Chief. "What are we gonna do?"
Terry squeezed his hand. "Rainey, at the rate this war is going, Chris will be of age by the time it's over and you two can do whatever you want."
"What about your family?"
Terry laughed now. "Dad stays in Washington. And Ma would love you to death."
They turned around and strolled back to the motel.
Terry let herself into the room. Actor was sitting in the chair, legs crossed, smoking his pipe. He seemed to be in a worried contemplative mood. Terry wished he would get over it. She didn't know how to help him.
She smiled and walked up to him, sniffing the air. Her smile widened. He couldn't help smiling at her reaction.
"Did you get Chief straightened out?" he asked.
"I don't know," said Terry. "I hope so."
"Where are we flying into tomorrow?" asked Actor.
"Stewart Air Force base," said Terry. "We'll drive down to Sing-Sing and get Goniff. I figure on staying in Newburgh. It's close to Stewart without being on base. Then we'll head for England the next morning." She sat on the edge of the bed and kicked her shoes off. "I never figured I'd be happy to leave the States."
Actor snorted. "I don't know that England is any safer."
"Craig and I are trying to figure something out so, God forbid, this doesn't happen again." Terry looked at a spot on the floor. "If you go back to prison again, it will be over my dead body."
"Do not say that!" burst out Actor in anger. "This time it almost was. I cannot go through that again!"
Terry's eyes shot to him, startled at the admission. He looked down, studying the pipe in his hand. Terry stood up and walked behind his chair. She slipped her arms around his neck and kissed the top of his head. "I'm sorry, Caro. I didn't mean to upset you."
"No," the con man shook his head. "It was me. I overreacted. I seem to be doing that."
Terry rested her cheek alongside of his head. "We've all been through hell the past couple months. I think we're all on edge."
Actor set his pipe in the ashtray and rubbed her arms crossed in front of him. He leaned forward and stood up, pulling away from her. Terry straightened and watched him with a frown, unsure of what he was going to do. He turned to her and held a hand out. She placed hers in his and let him guide her to him. Always mindful of the bruised ribs, Terry curled her arms up so her hands rested on the back of his shoulders. She let him hold her as tightly as he wanted, her head tucked under his chin.
After a bit he spoke quietly. "What am I going to do with you?"
Terry pulled back and looked up at him. "That is entirely up to you. If you are still uncomfortable with the sleeping arrangements, I will go get another room. It isn't a problem. We can always stay on the base tomorrow night."
"It's not a problem, Cara," he assured her.
The next morning at breakfast, Actor seemed more relaxed and himself, and Terry was a lot less tense. Neither of the other two men had any comments on the subject.
