Thank you to everybody who has left prompts and messages requesting another chapter to this story. I have no excuse for my recent tardiness in either responding to the messages or writing this chapter other than work, work and more work and real life getting in the way. Your continued support is always appreciated as is the kick up the pants. Hopefully the next chapter will be up a lot sooner than this one. Cathy
No Honour Among Thieves
Chapter 11
"It's almost eighteen hundred hours. They should have been here by now." Chief fidgeted restlessly in his bed unable to stop himself from watching the secondhand of the large wall clock positioned over the door of the room inexorably moving towards the hour.
Garrison too glared at the clock in annoyance. What was the point of it been there he wondered? It didn't tell them anything other than his team was late and getting later by the minute. "I'm sure they're fine Chief, probably stopped at a pub for a celebratory drink or two." Garrison tried unconvincingly, he thought if he really listened to his own voice, to alleviate Chief's concerns.
"No Warden, something's wrong." Chief responded emphatically, not for a minute believing Garrison's attempt at reassurance. "I knew I should have gone with them." he cursed angrily.
"Chief you know as well as I do that neither you nor I was in any shape to take part in this mission. We just have to trust that Actor, Elizabeth and Charles have matters well in hand."
"And what if they don't? What if they ran into trouble?" Chief demanded.
"Chief, you're over reacting. How much trouble can they get into going to afternoon tea in Eaton Square, London? It's not like we're over on the continent. There aren't any Germans here waiting to shoot them." The more Garrison justified his team's late arrival the easier it was for him to believe his own words. After all he was right. They weren't on the continent, they were in England and there weren't any German soldiers waiting behind every tree to capture or shoot them. And they were with a Lord and Lady even if said Lord and Lady did have a somewhat dubious background…and he wondered absently which of them held the original title.
Chief raised and eyebrow in disbelief as he stared nonplused at Garrison. "You don't really believe that do you? This is Goniff and Casino we're talking about."
Garrison shrugged, "Well it's better than the alternative."
Chief sighed deeply, grunting in discomfort when his chest reminded him of its recent abuse. "Damn."
"Chief are you alright?" Garrison asked worriedly.
"I'd be a lot better if the others would turn up." Chief replied quietly.
"They'll be here." Garrison replied confidently, "and then we'll both be wishing for a bit of peace and quiet by the time Goniff and Casino have finished filling us in on what happened."
Chief smiled despite his worry at the thought of all the bickering and rebuttals from the two cons that would accompany the retelling of the mission. Once they got started the debrief could well take longer than the mission itself.
GG
"Blimey, I thought ruddy Mills would never leave," Goniff lamented from the backseat of the car as Actor drove out the gates of the Metternich estate.
"Did he give you any trouble?" Actor asked as he steered the car through the gates of the Covington estate and around the back of the house and out of sight of prying eyes.
"Nah, but not for the lack of trying. Metternich and his wife made sure Mills didn't come anywhere near us." Casino confirmed.
Goniff climbed out of the car. "For the enemy, 'Ee's not a bad bloke you know."
"So what happens now Actor?" Casino asked. "Is the caper really over? What's the brass going to say about the lack of information?"
Actor shrugged, "What can they say Casino? If there is no information to be had, there is no information, not unless they want us to conjure it up out of thin air."
"So what made Elizabeth pull the pin anyway?" Casino asked entering the house through the kitchen door.
"She hasn't divulged her reasons. She just said they were valid and Charles agreed with her and we would find out when we visit the Warden and Chief," Actor replied as the three men walked through the house to Elizabeth's private sitting room.
"'Ow is Charles?" Goniff asked worriedly.
"A bit sore and stiff but otherwise he's fine Goniff, the bullet only grazed the top of his shoulder."
Casino opened the door to the sitting room and let the two cons enter ahead of him. Actor indicated that Goniff should sit in the chair at the table. Once the little pick pocket was seated Actor began divesting Goniff of his disguise.
"Ah, that feels better," Goniff mumbled, lifting and stretching his right arm to ease the stiffness that had set in with the afternoons inactivity, while Actor applied a lotion to his face and then began wiping away the traces of the bruises. "So when do we get to see Chief and the Warden?"
"Just as soon as you are presentable Goniff." Actor replied absently as he concentrated on cleaning away all traces of Goniff's disguise. "There, done." He nodded in satisfaction. "I'll go and see if Charles and Elizabeth are ready and meet you at the car."
"They coming too?" Goniff asked.
Actor nodded. "Yes. Major Richards wishes to hear what they have to say as well and Elizabeth only wants to tell it once."
GG
Chief pushed his dinner tray away with a disgusted grimace. "How do they expect their patients to get better when they serve up food like that? What I wouldn't give for some of Goniff's bread and cheese right now."
Garrison eyed his own half eaten plate speculatively. "It's called reverse psychology Chief. Feed us poorly in the hope we will get better quicker just to get out of here."
"Well it's working; I'm ready to get out of here right now."
"Give it another day of two Chief. You have a lot of healing to do."
"Nothing I can't do back at the mansion Warden. Can't even see the trees from here or hear the birds," Chief lamented softly.
Garrison observed Chief silently as his wheelman sank dejectedly into the pillows. He had even given up watching the clock and commenting on the lateness of the rest of the team. Perhaps he was right; maybe it was time to head back to the mansion. Actor would see to it that Chief rested and took the required medication and God knows he'd had enough of the inside of the hospital room himself to last him a life time too. "Alright Chief, I'll see what I can arrange but I'm not making any promises. The doctor will have the final say."
"Thanks Warden."
The door opening barely piqued their curiosity. The last four times had only brought disappointment in the form of a nurse, then the doctor, followed by another nurse and finally the orderly bringing what thinly passed as dinner.
"Major Richards." Garrison sat a little straighter in his bed as Chief stared at the Major, a knot of foreboding forming in his stomach.
"Garrison, Chief." Richards acknowledged, taking a seat in the chair between the two beds. "How are you both feeling?" He asked conversationally.
"Fine thank you Sir," Garrison supplied, raising an eyebrow in query. "But you didn't just come here to ask how we were did you Sir? I take it you've heard from Actor. Is everyone alright?"
Chief sat forward gripping the bedcovers tightly in his hands.
Richards sighed. "Well actually I did drop by to see how you were both doing but also to let you know that I have heard from Actor and they should be here within the hour."
Garrison's eyes narrowed. "And everything went without a hitch?"
Richards raised and eyebrow and stared silently at Garrison for a long drawn out minute before replying. "Well, now that you mentioned it, they did run into a little problem and it appears Charles was shot and slightly wounded." Richards held up a hand to forestall anymore questions. "I don't have all the details, Charles is fine, a flesh wound I believe. Another associate of Birds' by the name of Harry McCoy and his men invited themselves for afternoon tea also. It seems they were after the same things as us."
"Did they get the information?" Garrison asked worriedly, not liking the idea that the information could now be in the hands of black-marketeers.
"Apparently, according to Elizabeth and Actor there is no information, in fact there is nothing of value at all. That's all I know Craig. We'll just have to wait until they get here to find out all the details."
Chief snorted, "Just what was that you said about trouble and afternoon tea? I knew I should have been there."
"And done what exactly Chief?" Garrison growled. "Look at you, you can't breathe without hurting and don't deny it. I see the grimace each time you take a deep breath. You would have been a liability, the same as me if I'd gone. The rest of the team didn't need us to worry about as well."
"Garrison's right Chief there was nothing you could have done except perhaps get injured worse or killed in your present condition." Richards agreed.
"I could have kept lookout. Warned them of McCoy's arrival." Chief replied petulantly, not prepared to concede defeat just yet and acknowledge the truth of the two men's words.
It was the loud banging outside the door that alerted the occupants of the room to the imminent arrival of more visitors. Garrison shook his head in denial. At the rate they were going he wouldn't have to ask Peter for an early discharge because Peter will have kicked them out instead.
"Careful Casino," Goniff complained as he pushed open the door to the room.
"Me?" Casino growled, "You got in my way you dumb limey. And what's with carrying two chairs?"
"Well you don't expect Charles to carry one do you? Not with one wing out of commission." Goniff retorted.
"I thank you for your kind consideration Goniff but I can assure you I was quite capable of carrying my own chair, so please don't include me in your squabble."
"Charles please don't encourage them." Actor sighed heavily.
"If you've all finished…" Garrison let his words hang in the air. "Charles are you alright?"
"This," Charles indicated the white sling in which his arm rested, "This is nothing Craig, no more than a scratch but in order to keep the natives happy…well you know what I mean?" Charles chuckled when he heard Elizabeth cluck her tongue. "Major Richards, Chief." He acknowledged the two men. "I must say you are looking a lot better than the last time I saw you Chief."
"Feel it too. Thanks for getting me and the Warden out of there." Chief averted his eyes, uncomfortable with being the focus of attention.
Richards cleared his throat. "Alright, if everybody is settled…" he glared at Goniff who was fidgeting with his chair, causing Casino to swat the side of the pickpocket's head.
"What was that for?" Goniff asked, following Casino's gaze until he met Richards glare, "Sorry Major, what was you saying?"
Richards drew in a deep breath and shook his head…"As I was saying, if we are all settled now…lets get on with this debriefing."
"What took you so long getting here?" Chief asked suddenly. "Never heard of afternoon tea lasting till after dinner!"
"Aw mate, you don't know the 'alf of it. And what's worse is I didn't even get afternoon tea, what with been laid up in the bed and all. And then McCoy busting in like 'Ee did, not to mention ruddy Mills. Thought 'Ee'd never leave. That's why we're late. 'Ee wanted to talk to me but Metternich wouldn't let 'im. Good thing too. I don't think 'Ee would 'ave believed I was a war 'ero. 'Ad to wait until 'Ee got tired of waiting and left."
"Who's Mills?" Chief leaned forward in the bed, eager to hear the story.
"PC Mills, he's a Sergeant now, got promoted 'Ee did although I can't imagine why. 'Ee was the one what got called in to cart McCoy away. I don't think 'Ee believed that I was too sick to talk to 'im. "Ee kept pestering the Metternich's after you all left to let 'im come up to our room. Me and 'im had a couple of run ins before I left for America. Every time something got nicked 'Ee'd come calling at me mum's door. Blamed me for everything that went wrong in 'is neighbourhood."
"And of course you were completely innocent." Casino smirked.
"Course I was mate." Goniff agreed.
Richards groaned and glared at Garrison who took the hint. "Knock it off. The stories can wait until we're all back at the mansion. Just tell us what happened."
"Better yet," Richards interrupted, "just answer my questions. Lady Covington, Actor tells me you called off the mission."
"That is correct Major Richards." Elizabeth agreed without elaborating.
Richards waited and then sighed; it was obviously going to be one of those nights. "Would you mind telling us why?"
"Bird got it wrong, which really comes as no surprise. His information has always been questionable. I'm actually surprised he managed to last as long as he did. The same goes for Harry McCoy. Neither of them are the brightest minds in the game. They usually succeed because of their muscle, not their brains."
"Elizabeth dear, I don't really think the Major wishes to hear about Bird and McCoy's short comings." Charles remarked quietly.
"No, of course not, although I would love to see the look on Dicky's face when he hears that he is in jail because of an empty safe." Elizabeth replied to a chorus of snickers from the men.
"Serves 'im right after what 'Ee did to the Warden and Chiefy," Goniff stated smugly.
Major Richards decided it was time to get the discussion back on track before the cons degenerated it into a debacle. "Elizabeth would you mind telling us why you believe the Metternich's are not hiding any information?"
Elizabeth pursed her lips, allowing a small sigh to escape before she began speaking softly. "You didn't see Katharina's face, the sadness and fear in her eyes, the anguish and despair in her voice when she spoke of lost friends and how they barely escaped German hands with their lives and only wearing the clothes on their backs. Allies or not, the Germans were rounding up all the Jews in their town. I believe her when she says they brought nothing with them."
Richards sighed heavily. "Unfortunately Elizabeth, I don't believe that my superiors will be as content to accept your word that the Metternich's are not hiding anything of value, just on their say so, as I am."
"I can assure you Major," Actor interrupted indignantly, "That Elizabeth is an astute judge of character."
"I don't doubt that for one minute Actor," Richards agreed, "I am merely stating facts."
"But what about the safe?" Goniff asked. "It was empty when Casino opened it."
"Yeah that's right. That proves they were telling the truth." Casino stated.
Richards shook his head. "Sorry gentlemen but that only proves that the safe was empty. Not that they aren't hiding important information elsewhere in the house."
"'Ow do you expect us to find it then? I mean we can't just go in and ask them for it and I don't think we can pull that last con again."
Garrison had remained silent, content to lie back and listen to the discussion and ramblings of his men. It was usually the unguarded ramblings that led to some of their more outrageous and successful capers, like the idea that was slowly taking shape in his mind. "You're right Goniff, WE can't." Garrison agreed, a bright gleam coming into his blue eyes, "But…"
"'Ee's got a plan, 'aven't you Warden?" Goniff asked warily.
"Not a plan Goniff, but I do have a simple solution to the problem."
"And just what would that be Lieutenant?" Richards asked skeptically.
Garrison shrugged. "You go and ask them, Sir."
"He what?" Casino demanded. "After all the trouble we went through, you think the Major can just waltz in there and ask if they have any information to sell?"
"No Casino, I don't expect the Major to just waltz in there as you put it, but think about it. We now have the perfect excuse for Major Richards to pay a legitimate visit to the Metternichs."
"And just what excuse would that be exactly?" Richards queried.
"Yeah I'd like to know that too." Casino added.
Instead of replying Garrison looked to where Actor was sitting beside Chief's bed, a slow smile creeping across the conman's face as he caught on to the latest scam.
"It just might work," Actor agreed with a nod.
"Blimey, did I just take forty winks and miss 'alf the conversation?" Goniff asked, looking around at the bemused faces.
"Not unless the rest of us did too, babe." Casino grumbled, pleased to see that Charles and Elizabeth looked just as confused as the rest of them.
Richards sighed. "Perhaps one of you two would care to enlighten the rest of us as to what you are both talking about. It is getting rather late and I for one would like to get some sleep tonight."
Garrison shrugged. "It's really very simple, all you have to do Major is knock on the front door and tell Metternich that McCoy has told the police that he has valuable war information hidden in the house and you have orders to either confirm or dismiss the rumours and that you need to search the house."
"But what if Metternich won't let 'im in?" Goniff asked.
"He doesn't have a choice Goniff." Actor interrupted. "If he objects it could be construed as confirmation that he is hiding something. If, as Elizabeth believes and they are not hiding anything, Metternich should have no objections to a search and especially if he desires to remain a guest of this country."
"And you think it's going to be that easy. Just walk in and search."
"I hope so Casino, because I'm all out of ideas if its not." Garrison replied.