Part 8, Upshot
Chapter 13.
This was Actor's favourite time of day, late evening. He sat back in his favourite chair. It was a French Club chair, not particularly attractive, it needed to be reupholstered, but it was comfortable. He took a sip of his coffee then leaned his head back resting it in the corner and though back on how his life had changed. From living a life of daring and cons, excitement and thrills, exquisite cuisine, the high life, he had gone to the opposite, the low life in prison, lousy food, lousy company surrounded by uneducated uninteresting barely surviving dregs of society.
When the war broke out he was interested because it could affect his ties to the country of his birth and where he had money stashed. There was nothing he could do but listen. The guards would discuss the current affairs, the latest news and their plans or just dreams of enlisting. Old habits die hard and Actor began the con of his life.
Then the Lieutenant had shown up. He was what Actor had expected from a military man. He was tall, lean, and driven. Because he was so focused it was hard to read him. He had come across as guarded, which could be overcome with time, hard assed, which was usually either a cover for nervousness or a permanent condition and lacking a sense of humour. Well a sense of humour was not a strict necessity but made the time more enjoyable. He was not entirely eager to buy what the man was selling especially since he was eight to ten days from being accidentally released. He had weighed his option. If he stayed he would probably be free in eight to ten days, free to go where ever he wanted. If he took the Lieutenant's offer he was guaranteed a release but would be under
someone else's control, at least until he could slip away. Both would see him on the run but that was part of the thrill, the chase, pitting himself against the world, the authorities. That was a game he played very well. In the end he had taken the offer. He was back in the game, a game filled with daring and cons, excitement and thrills, only this times the stakes were higher. He loved a challenge. He wasn't sure just when he realized that he was not going to slip away. He was no patriot, fighting for his country. He was a man who was enjoying himself pitting his wits against all, against the man they had named 'the Warden', against the brass he worked for and the enemy.
Life had been good. There were times of great stress, pain, both physical and emotional, and heartache but over all he was glad he had taken the offer and stayed.
Actor looked around him at the comfortable room. At first this part of their base, a recently vacated summer home outside of London, had been off limits but residing with a pickpocket and an expert at locks had it's advantages. Garrison had surrendered to the inevitable and he relaxed the rules. A combination salon and library, two of the walls were bookshelves, filled with an excellent selection of classics and modern literature. The French doors had been closed earlier keeping out the September chill. The days were still mild but the evenings were cool and damp. The sun had set taking with it the natural light that daily flooded this south facing room . Later he would turn on the light but for now he waited, enjoying the gathering dusk. The only other light came from the fireplace where a cosy blaze radiated warmth, in light and temperature. The flames that licked the aged wood cast a warm light on the normally cold grey marble mantle while throwing the painting hung above into shadow. That was good for this time of night. This was a time of peace and tranquility, completely at odds with the drama captured in the framed oil painting. The fires glow also tinged the slate on the floor in front with a lightness that suggested living stone instead of dead. It had been a friend who had pointed out that stone was dead in the dark but came alive in sun light. Firelight did the same thing only better.
A sound from upstairs told him his solitude was about to be invaded. A light tread on the steps told Actor it was one of two men. By habit he knew it was the one who had started out as his boss, his jailer, his enemy, to be conned and outwitted but instead had turned into to his most trusted friend. It amused him how this had happened. In his business he had trusted no one. Everyone was out for their own. Every one had an ulterior motive, even he did, to protect himself. Yes, the approaching man had one too, but for the most part he was up front with it. There were no games to be played. The new arrival always laid his cards on the table and together they worked out the con. Actor had waited and watched for the double cross but it never came. Eventually he realized there was none. The man trusted him and in return earned his trust as well. The two men were comfortable working together. Now as the man moved into the darkening room Actor watched him. He had once worked with a choreographer for the
French National Ballet. If Adrien could have see this man move he would have been impressed. He was tall, slim, broad shouldered. Someone had likened him to a stallion, power, grace and very attractive to the ladies. If he didn't hold himself aloof he would have the ladies flocking to his side. Sometimes it irked him, when he saw the looks the man got when they were out. Once he turned on his own charm though, the other man did not stand a chance.
Mind you he had seen the blonde use his charm and he had been good. Fortunately he did not use it often, he preferred to be un-noticed. Lucky for him. Maybe when the war and all the aftermath was really over, with a little help from the master, then he would see the man fulfill his destiny.
Who was he kidding? The time for cons was over. The man would never be tempted to live that life. He did it for the war effort and as much as the two had enjoyed pulling a good one, they both knew that when the fighting ended so would the cons. The rooms newest addition would return to a life of legal activities. Actor sighed. Such a shame, they made a great duo.
As he watched, the new arrival moved to the sideboard, poured a cup from the pot and moved to his usual chair to the left of Actor. It had amused him when he realized he was still the bosses right hand man.
Lieutenant Craig Garrison, a.k.a. Warden, settled back in his chair and took a sip of his coffee. Paperwork was done, no mission to plan for, tonight he could just relax. After all that had gone on, and gone wrong, in the last month he needed the down time. When it came to trouble, his bunch either took delight in creating it or seemed to draw it like a magnet. The worst of it was he never knew which was the case.
Next to arrive was the least likely of the group, the antithesis of the previous entrant. Oh, he had the same grace of a dancer but his movements were quicker, his eyes never remained still, he had been dubbed the coyote, the trickster, one who could dart in and steal the food from your hand and be gone before you knew it. He was fast and light and like the coyote of legend, loved a good laugh. Actor agreed, he had been rightly named.
Actor always assessed the people he worked with and upon meeting this particular man he was listed a useful but not necessarily important. It did not take long for him to realize how wrong he was. There were times when an elaborate con got the results you wanted but having a fall back, or in some cases, best attack was the straight forward, or should he say, divert and snatch. Besides the man's inevitable good humour had saved them from the depression that came with the territory that they had been working. He was annoying at times but Actor would not want to be without the man.
Goniff, too, poured a cup of coffee and took it with him to his place on the sofa to the right, next to the fire. Actor put it down to his lean frame but the man preferred to not be hungry or cold. He smiled as he nodded to Actor. All was well in Goniff's world.
A fast heavier tread on the steps announced the next arrival. Casino strode into the room. By now the light was fading. Casino poured his coffee then strolled over to stand looking out the French doors. All eyes turned to him. They could tell by his silhouette that he was dressed for a night out. That was nothing new, he was popular with the ladies. In his own way he knew how to impress them even if it wasn't quite the same way Actor did but the ladies seemed to like it. Actor had seen him work his charms. His was a sense of strength and danger, an ability to protect whoever he was with, the ability to charm, especially when he purred in Italian, gutter talk filled with slang, but still they liked the sound. Fortunately Actor and Casino went for different types or they could have had fights over the ladies. Must be their hot blooded ancestors. Both Italians and Spaniards were renown for their prowess with the ladies. Casino, a contrast of impatience with Garrison and anyone who didn't see his way yet he could sit in front of a safe and gently tease the combination into place and have it divulge its secrets in no time. He had to have had patience to learn that skill. Other than he
was taught by the best he had never revealed more.
Casino had been dubbed the wolf. He was fast, cunning and could be aggressive when provoked but was very protective of his family or his pack. These traits had served them all well.
Casino moved over to the fire and stood propping one elbow on the mantle the other hand held his cup which he raised in salute before taking a drink. They nodded in acknowledgement and followed suit.
Minutes later a figure emerged out of the shadows and sat on the couch to the left of the fire He was the panther, silent and elusive. As usual they had not heard him on the steps. In his hand he held a cup of coffee but when he raised it to his lips his face froze for an instant before he stopped, got up and moved to the sideboard. The others heard the sound of the cupboard door being opened and bottles moved .
"Chief?" A simple word with just a hint of questioning. Garrison was not about to spoil the mood.
"No." There was no denial or anger just a statement, one they all accepted. First was the brandy snifter being filled and placed on the tray. Next there were two glasses of Scotch whiskey and one glass of Sherry. Chief picked up the tray and moved into the circle of his friends. Stopping before Actor, he handed him the Brandy. Next he moved toward the first man he had willingly followed and gave him the Whiskey before moving to his friends by the fire and handing one his Sherry then on to the safe cracker who was handed the last glass of whiskey. He returned the tray to the sideboard and moved to his seat with his coffee. No one had moved so he raised his cup in salute and waited as he others followed suit.
Epilogue
"I really blew it this time, didn't I?" Chief was sitting on the top step of the terrace. He had obviously heard Garrison coming.
"How long's it been since you had a drink?" The Lieutenant sat down beside the troubled man.
"Six days."
"Still sober, your place on the team is still yours."
Chief shook his head indicating that was not what he meant, "All I ever wanted was to be part of something, to belong, now I never will."
"You're still part of this team."
He stood and stepped down two steps before half turning, still looking out over the courtyard. "I'll never belong. I'll always be on the outside," he said then added sardonically, "always the alcoholic Redskin." He turned back to look his leader in the eye, daring him to deny it. He turned away and descended another step. His mind made up he turned to face the man who had set the rules. Standing tall he said, "I'd like to try having a drink. I want to prove to myself that I can control it, that I can have a drink and stop." It was not a plea but statement.
"Do you think that wise?"
"I've thought a lot about it. What if we're on a mission and we all have to make a toast, to Hitler, or somebody. It's gonna take some explaining if I refuse. If I try it now, here, where you can see if I'm OK, then you won't have to worry. It'll just be this one time." He paused before adding quietly, "I gotta know."
"All right, but just this once." Hazel grey eyes met and held dark brown eyes. The challenge was issued and met.
"Thanks, Lieutenant, for everything, for giving me a chance, for standin' by me. I won't let you down again." It was a solemn oath that Garrison knew the man would do his utmost to uphold.