It's a Safe Bet
Chapter 7
It was cool in the shade of the trees that dripped water from the past night's rain. The sun was not high enough to light the entire canyon. The lower temperature did not seem to be of much help to the injured men. Casino was stumbling over rocks more than was usual for the safecracker. It was taking both Goniff and Garrison to keep him upright. Actor was moving along at the slow pace of the others, maintaining the stance of a drunken person who did not want to appear drunk. Terry was right behind him. On one occasion, she had to make a quick grab of his belt to steady him when he slipped in mud and lost his balance. It did not go over well with the con man's ego.
Ian had decided to go with them to the car. He did not know how they were going to make it over the two miles of rough trail. Maybe his presence would take some of the load off at least one of the group. He took the rear and kept an eye on things behind them. When they stopped for a rest he was surprised when Chief came up to him.
"So how many of 'em are out there?" asked the group's scout.
"Pardon?" asked Ian.
"I count two," said Chief. "They ain't Krauts. Are there any more of 'em?"
Not familiar with the keen hearing and vision of the American Indian man, Ian wondered how he knew they had company. Knowing they were there still did not allow him to see their locations.
"There are two," he replied. "Daniele is in front and Giancarlo is behind me."
Garrison had nonchalantly wandered over when he saw Chief approach the SOE man. "Guarding us, or planning on attacking us?" The army officer was not trusting of the Italians whom he had only spoken to a couple times.
"After what happened to you outside of Pesaro, Daniele did not want a replay of that here." The man went on to explain. "Admittedly there are problems between the factions over supremacy. However, most of them are aware the Allies are giving them needed help and supplies and do not wish the hand that feeds them to get bitten."
Garrison shook a cigarette out from his pack and offered it to the British man, who accepted it happily. "I haven't had any problems with the partisans in Italy up until now. I don't think Terry has either."
Chief's eyes darted toward the lieutenant. He knew Terry was into things besides the army. Actor knew it too. But the scout wasn't aware just how much Garrison knew. Silently, Chief went back to watch the trail in front of them. He did not want to get into this turn of the conversation.
It took three rest stops to make it to the road and the German staff car. The two Italian resistance men pulled the branch and bush covering off the vehicle. Chief got the big engine started and let it idle to warm up. He watched Terry motion Daniele off to the side. A serious conversation took place between the two that had the man eyeing her with curiosity and finally nodding.
Terry smiled and spoke in a normal voice. "Grazie per il vostro aiuto."
"Prego." Daniele replied.
He, Giancarlo and Ian disappeared back the way they had come after a nod to Garrison.
GGG
Though the large car had three rows of seats inside, it was still crowded. The men all wore various uniforms of the SS, but Terry remained clothed in the resistance garb she had been wearing. At checkpoints, when not easily waved through, Actor sternly informed the officers they were taking a very important female partisan to be interrogated in Bologna and did not like to be detained. The girl held her hands behind her back as though tied, and her head hung down with her hair in disarray, covering her face.
At the final checkpoint, the officer's long perusal of their papers resulted in an angry colonel with downturned mouth and piercing eyes object that they had waited long enough and he was in a hurry to get rid of his prisoner because, frankly, the woman smelled disgusting. The officer motioned for the guards to let them pass.
A ways down the road, Terry sat up and gave the Italian a mock dirty look. "Was that really necessary?"
"It appeared so," replied Actor with a half grin.
Garrison was grinning broadly. His sister's wrath turned on him. "What are you laughing at?"
"Payback."
GGGGG
The safe house in Bologna was a flat above a bookstore. The men crowded around Terry to get her inside without having her state of dress observed by unwanted eyes. The flat was fairly spacious with a couple bedrooms and a kitchen. They settled the two injured men in the bedrooms.
Terry checked Actor's wound. The arm was still reddened in a circle around the cut. The egg skin was removed and there seemed to be less drainage. Terry cleaned it again and redressed it. Actor said nothing, just watched her face. Her distress and worry were openly shown on her expression.
"You are not showing objectivity, Little One," he said.
"That's because I am not feeling objective." She finished tying the gauze wrap around his arm. "I don't like this second mission. I don't like not having the whole team functioning. And I don't like dragging you into German Headquarters. We should have cut and run from Pesaro and found a way to catch that sub."
"I am sure the Warden knows something that is in those papers he is not sharing with us. And that something is very important," said Actor calmly from experience.
"Yeah, well, I'd like to know what," grumbled the girl. She stood and looked down at the con man with a small smile. "I need to check on Casino and ask him how to open this safe I am supposed to suddenly be able to open." She bent down and kissed his heated forehead. "Rest. You're going to need it."
Actor watched her leave and quietly close the door behind her.
Casino looked up when Terry entered his room. She was worried. That much he could tell.
"How's Actor?"
Terry sat on the edge of his bed. "The wound is still red, but the drainage is a little less. He's still got a fever." She gently felt the fingers on his injured hand. "How's the wrist?"
"Still sore, but that splint is helpin'" he replied. When she tilted his head so she could get a look at his eyes, he opened them wide and stared exaggeratedly at her.
"Nut," she smiled.
"Naw, that's Goniff."
"Still dizzy?"
"Not as bad." A thought crossed his mind. "By the way, Sister, where's the money. You haven't been pregnant since we left the car the other day."
"Someplace safe," she answered vaguely. She wasn't about to tell him where it was. He might not be able to get at it, but he could have Goniff do it. "I have a bigger problem," she changed to something more urgent.
"What, Babe?"
"Craig wants me to open this safe or he's going to blow it and probably us with it." She looked questioningly at him. "It's a Fabrique."
"What!" Casino couldn't believe what he was hearing. "A Fabrique? You can't open one of those. That's a bank job."
"Yeah? Guess what? You better teach me really quick how to heist a bank then."
"Geez, Lady!" He shook his head. "Warden, ain't gonna like that."
"It's the Warden's idea," said Terry drolly. "It's okay if it's for him."
"Okay, there's two dials. First, you're gonna need the stethoscope outta our bag so you can hear the tumblers better. I don't think you can feel this one." He proceeded to instruct her on the finer points of cracking a bank grade safe.
Not feeling any better about things when she finally left the safecracker to rest, Terry sought out her brother. He was standing by the window Chief was watching out. The girl tugged at Garrison's sleeve and motioned with her head to follow her and led him into the kitchen area.
"Something wrong?"
"I want to know something," said Terry. "What's the point in getting this information out? The Jerries know we have the first set of plans. So we take the second set. What's to stop them from changing their defense line? Seems to me this is all for nothing now."
Garrison shook his head. "They can't afford to move their line. They already have too many installations built along it."
"Well then how are our forces going to get through them? Saying we ever get forces up here."
"We will know where they are and can plan accordingly. Ground forces will know what they are up against and air raids might be able to take care of some of them. It'll save a . . ."
"I know," interrupted the girl. "It'll save a bunch of lives. Nobody cares about ours."
"We are expendable, Terry. You included. And not just us. All the special forces groups are expendable."
"Expendable doesn't do any good if the information is lost."
"I agree," said Garrison. "But we have to do it." He shook his head. "And if we don't do it while we are here, they'll just send us back."
Terry looked at Goniff, standing beside Chief, looking out the window. "Sometimes, I think they were better off in prison."
"They don't," said Craig with something close to admiration. "They seem to think this is worth it. If they didn't, they would have taken off a long time ago. You know Actor has the brains and ability to get them safely to Switzerland."
"Okay."
The girl turned away and began going through cupboards looking for food. Garrison left her to it and went out to go over the blueprints and map yet another time.
Casino came to the door of his bedroom and motioned for Garrison to come over. Wondering what was going to go wrong now, the lieutenant walked over. Casino jerked his head toward the inside and shut the door behind the officer. Garrison waited for him to speak and did not have to wait long.
"This set up isn't good, Warden."
"We are going through with it. I'm not scrubbing this mission," said Craig stubbornly.
"I ain't askin' yuh to, Babe," said the safecracker. "I just want to change the odds a little bit more in our favor."
"And how is that Casino?" Garrison really was open to suggestions from his men as long as they were constructive ones.
"You're lettin' Sister in through the back door, right?"
Garrison nodded.
"Then take me in that way too," he spoke quickly before Garrison could object. "I can open that safe with my ear and two good hands, she can't. She's gonna need to use the stethoscope and two hands. She don't have three hands and I know where to put the 'scope for her to hear."
Garrison contemplated it a second. It sounded feasible. "Can you make it all right?"
Casino gave him a disgusted look. "If Actor can do it in the shape he's in, I can do it too."
"Okay."
GGGGG
The alley was pitch dark which made it safer for Chief not to be seen. He was indeed standing on the roof of the staff car. With a penlight taped down to a slit and held in his mouth, the Indian easily bypassed the alarm system above the back door to the German headquarters. Satisfied with his work, Chief slid off the roof to the ground beside Garrison and Terry.
While the alarm system was being circumvented, the girl had gone behind a bin and changed into her familiar boots, trousers and shirt. She was bound to be comfortable and it would not matter what she was wearing if they were caught. They would be treated as spies, if they weren't killed outright first.
Casino, dressed in an oversized Wehrmacht uniform, was helped out of the car and into the alcove of the steps to the back door with the girl. They watched the car ease down the alley to the road and turn toward the front of the building. Neither of them had a good feeling about any of this.
The staff car stopped in front of the steps leading into the headquarters building. The blond corporal jumped out of the front seat and opened the door for the two officers. The tall, dark-haired colonel had a look of displeasure permanently chiseled into what would have been a handsome face. His aide, a major, was blond and almost Aryan looking. Both men straightened like the officers they were and marched up the steps. The guard at the door saw tall men wearing lightning bolts on their collars and skulls heads on their caps. Not even asking for identification, he swung the door open for the officers and flung a rigid armed Heil Hitler. The colonel gave a half hearted flick of his hand in return and swept through the door, followed by the major and his corporal.
Surprisingly, the corridor was almost empty except for a desk with a disinterested corporal sitting behind it. The disinterest did not last long. The young man could only see SS striding towards him. He jumped to attention with enough force to send his chair rocking back on its rear legs before dropping back to the floor with a clatter. His right arm flashed out with the same smart Heil Hitler salute.
Actor sneered at him and demanded to see the officer in charge. The corporal hesitantly asked for their papers.
"Sofort!" shouted Actor.
The corporal grabbed the phone and hurriedly dialed. A moment later he informed a Major Gunther that SS officers were here. Actor ignored the man and turned toward the end of the hall, awaiting this major. Moments later, a short, stocky man in a Wehrmacht uniform came around the corner at the end of the hall.
Garrison stepped up to stand at Actor's left. Goniff remained the correct distance behind them. Major Gunther stopped in front of the officers and introduced himself. Actor introduced himself as Colonel Deitinger and his aide as Major Bruenner. Confused, Gunther asked why they were here. Actor said they needed to go someplace private to discuss this. Gunther asked for their papers. Actor reached inside his left jacket pocket, trying not to move the left arm. He flashed his identity card. Garrison did the same with his. The major nodded and told them to follow him to his office. He turned, but not before looking at Actor's left arm which was still hanging at his side.
Behind the major's back, Actor and Garrison exchanged looks. It was Actor's con now. They went down the back hall to an office on the left. There was only one guard in the hall. Once inside the office, with Goniff outside the door on guard, Actor wasted no time getting to the point.
"Major, tomorrow there is to be a secret meeting here between Generalfeldmarschall Kesselring and Reichsminister Goering."
Gunther blanched and then frowned. "And why was I not informed of this before now?"
Actor's voice took on the tone of one talking to an imbecile. "Because, Gunther, no one is to know any of the details until the last minute for security reasons. This area is a stronghold of partisans. I am here to inspect your conference facilities." His eyes narrowed. "I have not observed very many guards. Is this all you have? We were not informed of this."
"Oh, no, Herr Colonel," said the major. "We have many more."
"I want a guard every ten feet down all of the halls by nine o'clock tomorrow morning. The meeting will take place at ten o'clock. It will last one hour. Now show me the conference room. Kommen Sie!"
That was Goniff's cue to open the door for the officers. They stepped into the hall and went across and down one door to a large conference room with a long table lined with high-backed chairs. A floor to ceiling walk-in safe was at the far end of the room. Actor walked slowly around the room, studying everything he passed.
Major Gunther leaned closer to Garrison and whispered. "Is the Colonel injured? Does he need medical assistance."
Yes, but not from the Germans, thought Craig. Instead, he smiled and whispered back, "It is an old war wound. It has left him with some paralysis. He is very touchy about it. I would ignore it if I were you."
"Oh, yes," the major whispered back. Actor had made turn around the far end of the long table and had taken a good look at the safe. "Is everything in order, Colonel Deitinger?"
Actor looked at him with narrow eyes. "This safe, is it secure? We may wish to store some papers in it."
"Quite secure, Herr Colonel. Only two people know the combination: myself and my leutnent."
Actor nodded and continued his survey of the room. "I will have men here at eight o'clock to check the room for bugs and the room on either side for the same. If you are aware of any, I would suggest you remove them before then." The con man walked up to the German major and looked down his nose at the shorter man. "I wish to have a word in private with Major Bruenner. If you would be so kind."
"Oh, please use my office," offered the German.
"This will be fine," said Actor.
"No, I insist. My office will be more comfortable."
Garrison shook his head behind the major's back. This wasn't going to work. Garrison raised his arm with the intent of delivering a blow to the base of his neck, only Gunther chose that moment to start to turn so the blow missed its mark. Gunther opened his mouth to yell. Actor lunged forward and hooked his right arm around the man's neck tightly. Before he could react, Garrison slugged him with everything he had. Unfortunately, Actor's hold was just at the wrong angle and both men heard the bones snap in the man's neck. Gunther went dead weight on Actor and instinctively he grabbed at the body with his left hand to keep from going down with it. Garrison grasp on the front of the man's uniform and pulled him away from the con man, lowering the body to the floor. Actor stepped backward and sat on the corner of the table, hand gripping his upper arm and jaws clenched shut.
Garrison looked at his second with concern. "You okay?"
Actor nodded. Somehow, Garrison didn't believe him.
Goniff eased closer and looked down at the German officer whose neck was not at an anatomically correct angle. "Blimey, Warden," he whispered. "Yuh bleedin' killed 'im."
"Yeah," agreed Garrison with distaste. "We're going to have to take care of that guard too." He looked at Actor. "Can you . . . ?"
"Yes."
Actor stood and went to the door. Taking a deep breath against the pain in his arm, he straightened, opened the door and glared at the guard in the hall.
"Kommen Sie hier! Schnell!"
The guard hurried into the room behind the SS general. Garrison was behind the door and this time delivered a blow in the right place. The guard dropped to the floor beside the major. Goniff quickly removed the belt from the major's pants and tied the guard's wrists behind his back. The guard's belt secured his ankles. Garrison yanked one of the guard's boots off, tugged a sock off, and stuffed it in the man's mouth.
Actor was back sitting on the table. Garrison looked at him. "Stay here. We'll be back in a minute." The lieutenant turned to Goniff. "Take the schmeisser. I'll take care of the major. You get the backdoor and cover me."
Garrison grabbed an arm and heaved the body over his shoulder. Goniff checked the hall and motioned Garrison to go ahead of him. They got to the end of the hall and Goniff opened the door. Terry and Casino looked up, a gun in the girl's hand.
"Get in here," said Garrison in a low voice.
They stepped inside and skirted around Craig and the dangling body. Terry noted the rank on the dead man's shoulder as her brother pushed past.
"Where's Actor?" she asked, thinking this had to be the end of the mission.
"Waiting for us in the room. Goniff come on and help me."
Goniff followed Garrison outside, shaking his head. This was bad and he didn't think it was going to get better. Craig stopped by the garbage bin.
"Open it. We'll stash the body in here. It'll take them a little longer to find him."
Goniff lifted the lid high enough for Garrison to drop the body inside atop the trash and then he closed it. The stench of garbage and filth was overpowering. It would help hide the smell of rotting corpse if Gunther wasn't found in a timely manner. Garrison was already headed back to the door. As they joined the other two, Terry put a hand on her brother's arm.
"Dead, right?"
Garrison nodded.
"Craig, that's a major!" she hissed.
"I know. Move it."
All the three could do was follow him down the hall to the conference room. Terry pulled up short at the tied, unconscious man on the floor. With raised eyebrows, she stepped around him. Her eyes went to Actor and did not like what she saw. His color was gray and his mouth was pinched together in pain. Before she could say anything to him, Garrison told her to get to the safe.
Casino led her to the safe, shaking his head. It was a Fabrique all right. He would be able to open it in maybe 30 seconds. He doubted the girl could. Glancing at her, he saw her pull the stethoscope out of her shirt. Casino shook his head and moved up to the door. He leaned against it like a lover and gently took the top dial between the thumb and middle finger of his left hand. Taking a breath, he tried to get the same kind of grasp on the lower dial with the splinted hand.. The minute he attempted to move the dial a knife-like pain shot down his thumb and into his wrist. Casino jerked the hand back and pressed it against his chest. As soon as the pain subsided, he tried again with the same result.
"Let her try it," said Garrison impatiently.
Terry crowded the safecracker out of the way and put the stethoscope earpieces into her ears. Casino exchanged a look with her. She carefully took the two dials as he had. Casino placed the bell of the stethoscope against the metal door between the two dials. Terry sucked in her bottom lip and started to search for the first tumbler. She was being slow and careful.
Actor came up to stand beside Garrison and watch the process. Craig glanced at him and at his arm. The con man shook his head.
After the seventh tumbler, Terry tried to open the handle. It didn't give.
"Okay, clear the dials and try again," said Casino.
Terry licked her dry lips and set about to do it again. Garrison stepped to the end of the table and began taking plastic explosive, fuse and detonator from various pockets and laying them out. The second try on the safe was the same as the first.
"Move. We'll . . .," said Garrison.
"No!" shot back Terry.
She bent back to her task. Casino watched her fingers and her face. Finally, she looked at him and reached for the handle. This time it gave and she dragged the heavy door open. Casino stepped out of the way in anticipation. Garrison pushed his sister out of the way and went inside the vault.
Actor picked up the explosive materials and placed them in his pockets. He stayed to watch as Garrison came out with a stack of papers and laid them on the table. The lieutenant quickly began scanning and flipping pages.
Casino and Terry want back to where Goniff was listening for any movement in the hall.
"Yuh did good," the safecracker told the girl.
"Yeah, well I bet you don't take me on any bank jobs anytime soon," she said. Secretly she was pleased she had been able to open it, even if it had taken her several minutes. They stopped and looked down at the still unconscious man on the floor.
"Goniff, let's you and I drag him over to the corner so he's out of the way," said Terry. "One of us is going to trip over him otherwise."
The Cockney laid the schmeisser on the table. Casino took up a position behind the door while Goniff and girl dragged the man out of the way. Terry started back, but Goniff stopped to pick up the man's cap that had fallen off and toss it on top of him.
Suddenly, Casino started to call out, but the door burst open, hitting him on the arm and slamming him back against the wall with a resounding thud of his head, stunning him. Goniff's handgun came up, but Terry was in the way. The girl clawed for her gun, but was grabbed by the German officer who had pushed his way in, and flung her around with an arm across her throat and a gun barrel pointed at the side of her head.
The Leutnant glanced around, taking in the two men at the other end of the room and the open vault.
"Drop your guns," the officer said in heavily accented English.
Terry let hers slide down her leg to the floor. Actor and Garrison knew neither of them could take the shot from where they were and laid their weapons on the table. Casino was leaning against the wall, stunned from the second head injury in four days.
Goniff was facing the German and Terry, gun steady in hand and aimed forward.
"Drop it, or I will kill her."
Terry minutely shook her head at Goniff, watching his face.
In a calm voice, the Cockney said, "You shoot her and you'll be dead before she hits the floor, Mate."
Terry now had a hand on the man's arm. Her eyes remained on Goniff. Either way, she was about to die, whether from the officer's bullet, or Goniff's if he tried to take the man out. She made a brief small struggle that got the arm tighter across her throat. What only Goniff saw was the switchblade drop into her hand and open silently against her leg.
Oh bloody hell, thought Goniff. He was going to have to shoot.
"Drop the gun!" the German ordered again. He addressed the two men at the other end of the room. "Do not move. You attempt to come any closer and I will kill her. Where is Major Gunther?"
Terry carefully turned the knife over in her hand so it was facing back and resting on the outside of her leg. She gave a small smile to the Englishman and a miniscule nod of her head. God, let it be quick, she prayed. She and Goniff locked eyes. The Cockney stood a tad bit straighter and his gamin expression turned hard.