94. Getting Back to Normal
Chapter 1
The tall, blond-haired young man sat on the edge of the big flat rock by the pond. He was leaning on his forearms atop his knees and seemed to be contemplating the ground. A yellow leaf floated down to land between the toes of his boots. He turned his head to look at the same yellow leaves bobbing slightly, like a flotilla of flat boats, on the rippling surface of the water. It was quiet and peaceful, if a tad bit chilly. His ears automatically were attuned to listening for footsteps or the noise of anyone approaching over the sounds of bird calls. After a moment, he turned his head in the opposite direction to look at the woolen skirt-covered knees of the person sitting beside him. Straightening, he looked into the hazel eyes watching him.
"I have to leave now," he said quietly.
"I know," she replied.
"I want to keep in touch with you," he ventured.
"I was hoping you would," she said with a soft smile. "I want to keep in touch with you too."
She dug in her far pocket and pulled out a scrap of paper, reaching over to hand it to the young man.
He looked at it. Julie Borghese, Milton Keynes School for Young Women, was followed by an address. Nodding, he folded it up, took a similar scrap of paper from his pants pocket, and put her address in its place. He held his out to her.
Julie took it and read Kelly Garrison, followed by a street address outside of London. She carefully tucked the paper into her pocket.
"I'm going to miss you, Kelly," said the girl with a French accent.
"I'm going to miss you too," he replied. "You know I can't tell you what I have been doing or where I will be or am going."
"I understand," nodded the auburn-haired girl. "It's too dangerous. Just like I don't know where Papa is sent to with the other men."
Kelly studied her face. "I'm not going to kiss you. You're too young."
"I don't feel too young," ventured Julie.
"No, probably not," he said. "If you're like me, you feel a lifetime older than when we both came here."
The girl glanced down at the strong male hand now resting on the rock between them. She casually lowered her hand beside it, and hooked her little finger around his. "I want to hug you," she said sadly. "I haven't heard anyone, but that doesn't mean we aren't being watched. I know we can't take that chance."
Kelly gave a crooked smile. "Maybe the next time we see each other, we can."
"I hope so."
GGG
Christine Garrison rose from Actor's chair, where she had been waiting, when the front door opened. Kelly came in first, glancing at his sister. Julie stepped around him and stopped, watching the older girl approach.
"Ready to go now," Chris asked, stopping beside the two kit bags with their clothing.
Kelly nodded.
Chris looked between the two younger people. "Do I have to worry?" she asked quietly.
"No," Kelly shook his head. "We just talked."
Chris believed him. She bent down and picked up the first bag. Kelly took it from her and picked up the other one too.
"You want me to drive?" he asked.
"No," said Chris. "I'll drive this time." She held an arm out to Julie and gave her the hug that Kelly could not.
"You know how to get hold of me if you need me," she told Actor's daughter.
Julie nodded and stepped out of the way. The siblings walked out the door and the girl followed to stand on the landing, watching them go down the stone steps and get into the beat-up little car. She stood where she was, watching the car pull out and go down the driveway until it was out of sight. With a sigh, she turned and went back inside.
GGG
Chief lifted his head and listened. "Car's leavin'," he said.
Actor, sitting in his corner chair behind the one Chief was seated in, listened, but heard nothing.
"Great," scowled the safecracker. "Whadda we do now?"
"Same thing we always do, Mate," said the blond man, moving a black seven onto a red eight. "Punt."
"Yeah," groused Casino. "All we got now is Julie. We're gonna run her ragged."
"No, we will not," said the girl's father forbiddingly.
Terry, sitting at the table reading a book looked up. "I have one good arm. Actor and Chief have a good arm each . . ." She looked at Casino. "You have one good arm. Goniff has two. Craig needs a little more time . . ."
Casino snorted, "Oh, yeah, this is gonna be great."
Terry placed her bookmark between the pages and slapped the book shut. "I'm going and help Julie make dinner." She rose and pushed the chair back.
Actor struggled to get out of his chair. "I believe I will check on the Warden."
The girl and the con man met outside the door to the common room and exchanged disgusted looks before walking away from each other. Terry walked downstairs and Actor knocked on the Lieutenant's bedroom door.
"Come in," called Garrison.
Actor opened the door and stepped inside. "Am I bothering you?" he asked.
"Not at all, Actor," said Garrison.
The officer was reclined back on the pillow tucked up against the headboard. His eyes had been closed against the against the harsh headache he had in response to the concussion. He had opened first one eye and then the other at the con man's entrance.
"Casino getting on your nerves?" Garrison asked.
Actor pulled out the desk chair and sat straddling it, trying to get the casted arm into a remotely comfortable position. It would be a long week before the annoying weight would be removed.
"I know he is not complaining about Julie" said the girl's father. "However, I don't appreciate him using her as an excuse for his . . ."
"Bellyaching," filled in Craig with a grin.
"That's a good word," acknowledged the con man. His expression became serious. "As much as I enjoy having her around, I believe it is in Julie's best interest to return to her studies, away from the bickering."
Garrison frowned. "And how do you plan on getting her back to the school?"
Now Actor frowned. "I don't know. I know I can't drive for four or more hours like this. And I doubt Teresa can either yet."
Garrison carefully felt out his second in command. "Kit went and got her. Maybe you could persuade her to drive her back."
Actor couched his words carefully, "I don't wish to bother Kit any more than has already been done."
"Meaning you don't want her around Julie," said Craig with a knowing smile.
The Italian made a gesture of agreement with his right hand.
Craig did not have an answer to the transportation problem either. "Have you discussed this with Terry?"
Shaking his head, Actor replied, "No. She went downstairs to help Julie prepare dinner."
"Do you feel up to going downstairs to get her and see if she has any ideas?" asked Garrison.
Actor nodded and got back on his feet. He went out into the hall, fully aware of the officer watching him. Downstairs, he found Terry sitting at the kitchen table, watching his daughter in the process of putting together a stew.
"Teresa?" he ventured. "The Warden and I would like you to come upstairs. We want to have a conference."
Terry looked questioningly at the girl. She smiled back, continuing to cut up vegetables.
"I'm fine," said Julie. As Teresa was getting up, she looked at her father. "Can I get you anything, Papa?"
"No," said Actor, mind on the upcoming conversation. He did not however miss the brief flash of disappointment that crossed his daughter's face. "I wouldn't mind a hug, if you're not too busy."
The child's face broke into a wide smile. She wiped her hands on her apron and stepped up to the tall man. Wrapping her arms around his chest, mindful of the casted arm, she hugged him and received one back.
Terry moved past Actor toward the door and started to reach her hand back to tap him on the backside, but remembered she was on his injured side and just kept going. She waited for him at the foot of the stairs.
Actor approached her wondering at her perusal of his face. "What?"
"Can I get a hug?" she asked softly.
They both glanced up the steps before he held his good arm out and allowed her to move into his embrace. They squeezed each other briefly, not used to doing this with everyone in the house.
"Did I hurt you?" asked Actor with concern.
It took Terry a second to figure that question out. "No, caro. The holes were healed weeks ago."
"Good."
Actor and Terry went upstairs into Garrison's bedroom and closed the door. Garrison gave his sister a contemplative look. Terry looked between the two men and sat down on the foot of the bed, leaving the chair for the Italian.
"I have a concern," began Actor. "Well, more than one. Julie has been away from her classes for too long. I would like to get her back to Milton Keynes. My other concern is the three out there," he nodded his head back toward the common room.
"They are bored, and they are getting irritable," said Craig. His gaze went to his sister. "I've broken up one fight between Casino and Chief and you've broken up one. This is not good for the girl."
"I agree," said Terry.
Both men were relieved she wasn't objecting in any way.
Actor looked directly at her. "Are you able to take care of us and do the household chores?"
Terry raised her right arm and turned it around, flexing her hand and fingers. "It's going to take a while to strengthen again, but yes. I can cook and wash dishes."
"They can wash dishes," said her brother sternly.
"They will also have to take care of stripping the sheets off the beds and remaking them." She smiled at the two men. "I think we can manage." Her attention went to Actor. "How soon do you want her to go back?"
"The sooner the better," said Actor, as the loudness of a new argument reached them.
"My turn," said Terry. "Excuse me, gentlemen."
Actor closed his eyes and shook his head.
Terry went into the common room, leaving the bedroom door open. She walked up beside the safecracker, removed the switchblade from her boot and flicked open the blade. She slammed it into the tabletop next to Casino's arm. There was dead silence.
Terry's voice was just as deadly. "You seem to forget we have a child here of impressionable age. It isn't good for her to have to witness and listen to you guys fighting and acting like two juvenile delinquents in a school yard."
"Oh, knock it off, Sister," argued Casino. "We're just letting off steam."
"You seem to need something to occupy your time," Terry said casually. "You want something to do? Can you shift and drive the Packard?"
"Yeah, why," asked Casino, not quite so belligerently.
"Good," smiled Terry, not overly friendly. "You can drive tomorrow."
"Drive where?" the cracksman asked warily.
"We're taking Julie back to Milton Keynes tomorrow, to get her back in school and away from you three." Terry's smile widened. "You drive."
"Uh, okay," was the response. Casino could never leave anything alone. "How come you aren't bothering Geronimo?"
"Because Geronimo doesn't start the fights, you do." Terry used both hands to close the blade and then she stuck it back in its boot sheath, noticing Geronimo was keeping his mouth shut. "By the way, Casino, do you still have Actor's weights in your room?"
"Why? He can't do anything with them yet." Casino looked over his shoulder at her.
"Give me the two lightest hand weights," said the woman. "Please."
"Yeah, sure."
"Thank you," said Terry.
She turned and went back into the bedroom and shut the door. Terry turned to take in the amused grin on the men's faces.
Craig had to laugh. "Can you stand probably a five hour drive with Casino?"
Terry gave her brother a wicked smile. "Of course I can. There are plenty of woods between here and Milton Keynes. I know how to hide a body."
That brought loud guffaws of laughter from the two men.
"That all right with you, caro?" asked Terry. "I promise to not borrow the woods until after we've dropped Julie off at the school."
Actor grinned broadly. "It is fine with me." His smile turned to contemplation. "Would you like to inform Julie of our plans?"
Terry's eye brow shot up. "Oh, no," she objected. "That's a Papa thing, not a Godmother thing. You tell her."
"She is not going to be pleased," Actor warned her.
Terry smiled. "No, she isn't. You're just going to have to act like a father."
Garrison looked between his sister and his second. "Do we want to watch this?" he asked.
"Of course," said Terry. "It'll be entertaining."
"Teresa . . ."
7