Chapter 1 – London Here We Come

Actor, Casino and Goniff waved goodbye to Garrison and Chief as they got into a taxi to go pick up Madge and Ruby and then travel to the railway station to catch the London train. Goniff took one last look at the mansion and the two figures standing outside before it disappeared. Casino made himself comfortable, took out his cigarettes and passed them round. "I can't believe we gotta whole week's R 'n R, Garrison ain't so bad after all."

Goniff nodded. "I think we earned it after puttin' up with his grouchin'."

Actor was the first to see a large staff car coming down the road heading in the direction they'd just come from, he noticed the General's flag flying on the bonnet. "Looks like the Warden and Chief's ride has arrived, it looks very official."

Casino turned in his seat to watch it go by. "Rather them than me babe, don't be any part of no debrief."

They picked up the girls and headed for the station. When they arrived Actor got out of the taxi and held open the door so Casino, Madge, Goniff and Ruby could follow, the men grabbed the luggage and escorted the girls through the booking hall towards the platform.

Goniff put his arm round Ruby's waist and pulled her close as they sat down to wait for the train. "A whole week in the 'Big Smoke', can't wait," he smiled at the petite, brown-haired girl. "You lookin' forward to it?"

Ruby snuggled into the thief's side and nodded shyly. "I've never been to London before, it's a shame there's a war on, I would've liked to have seen it before."

Casino had Madge's arm linked in his as he set down their bags. "Oh yeah, are we gonna have fun Baby. We deserve it after the last couple weeks we had, shame Geronimo couldn't make it."

Actor nodded. "It does seem strange that the Warden was ordered to take him to debrief a General about our missions, that's what I thought reports were for." Something didn't sit quite right with him, Garrison had seemed a bit devious in his explanation for taking his scout but maybe that was his imagination, he didn't think the Warden could pull a con that he wouldn't recognise.

The train arrived on time, they found an empty compartment and loaded their bags up onto the overhead luggage racks. Everyone jerked as the engine pulled the carriages away from the station with a large cloud of steam and whistles. "London here we come!" exclaimed Goniff as he pulled Ruby close for another hug.

Casino watched out the window as Colchester gave way to the countryside and fields swept past in a blur, he passed out the cigarettes. "You find somewhere to stay Actor?" The tall conman nodded as he filled his pipe. "Well? Come on spill, what's her name and where's she live?"

Actor leaned back, exhaled a cloud of fragrant smoke and regarded the safe-cracker with an amused expression. "A gentleman never tells Casino, but then you wouldn't know that."

Goniff burst out laughing. "Oh, 'e got you there mate!"

Casino shrugged. "Well, if you get thrown out by your high class mystery woman we'll be staying at the Strand Palace. We can exchange food ration vouchers for meals in the restaurant there 'n they got air raid shelters for all the guests in the basement vaults." He smiled at Goniff. "Hey Limey remember that night a few months back when we went to The Windmill Theatre to see the half-naked dames 'n there was an air raid. We all had to go downstairs to the shelter 'n we spent a couple hours crammed up against some girls wearin' nothin' but a smile 'n a few sequins – that was a great night!"

There a warning cough in Casino's ear, he turned to see Madge's disapproving expression. "I was the perfect gentleman, even offered 'em my coat didn't I Goniff?"

"You did mate, one coat for a dozen girls. Didn't a couple of 'em slip their phone numbers in yer pocket?" said Goniff with a sly smile.

"Oh yeah." Casino's satisfied grin evaporated under the heat of Madge's glare. "That was before I met you babe, you've been the only girl for me since then!" He decided to change the subject. "You lookin' forward to jivin' 'n jitterbuggin' with me late into the night?"

Madge's expression changed to one of anticipation as she contemplated the pleasures to come over the next few days. "Is that all we'll be doing late into the night?"

Casino grinned and put his arm round her, his voice got low and suggestive. "I can think of some other things we can do if you don't wanna dance babe."

Actor rolled his eyes, smoked his pipe and watched the countryside rush past as the train whisked him towards civilised society.

GG-GG-GG

The five passengers stood outside Liverpool Street Station and surveyed the bustling traffic. Actor took his leave and summoned a taxi.

"See you here Sunday mornin'," shouted Goniff as the car drew away, he took a deep breath. "Ah, London, the smell of burnin' buildin's, diesel and bombed out sewers, nothin' like it!"

Casino grimaced. "Yeah, no wonder Geronimo's never too keen on comin' here, that kid can smell a fart in a hurricane, this place must be torture."

Goniff winced. "Don't say that word mate, I don't wanna be reminded of what Chief went through for me 'n the Warden."

Casino looked at his friend's face and saw the distress in his eyes, the thief was still haunted by what had happened in Caen, he decided the best thing to do would be to get Goniff drunk and talk it out. He thought about Garrison, what he'd gone through must've been worse, he and Geronimo were as close as brothers now, listening to his friend being tortured knowing that he'd taken his place to protect him would've been hell for him. As for Chief – he shuddered to think what the kid had gone through, his body had suffered enough, he didn't want to think about how it had affected his mind.

Casino's thoughts were disturbed by a taxi drawing up, he and Goniff threw the bags in the boot and helped Madge and Ruby into the back seat. "Strand Palace."