Getting Back to Normal
Chapter 2
The next morning, Chief was in his usual window seat looking out. What was unusual was Goniff was standing with him, looking down at the carpark. They both watched Actor talking to his daughter beside the waiting car. Julie threw her arms around the tall man, stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. He in turn hugged her back and kissed her forehead. He motioned with his chin for her to get in the backseat of the idling Packard. The girl put on a forced smile that would have matched Actor's if his could be seen. Actor watched his daughter get in the vehicle and remained at the base of the steps, watching the car pull away.
"I al'ays said it's hard to believe ole Actor would ever act like a father," said the slight blond Cockney.
"Yeah," agreed Chief. "But he's doin' a pretty good job of it."
Garrison had remained sitting in the con man's chair, not getting up to watch the departure. "I doubt he believed he ever could."
"He don't talk much about 'is family," remarked Goniff, turning to the man in the chair. "Just that his mum and sister died, and he was on his own from the time he were sixteen. He ever tell you anymore, Warden?"
"No," said Garrison. He really did not know the entire story, but if he had, he wouldn't share it with anybody else.
Chief turned to look at the officer and rolled a matchstick between his lips before saying, "I bet Terry knows."
Garrison rose stiffly to his feet. "If she does, she isn't saying either."
Chief glanced out the window. "He's comin' up."
Craig moved closer to the door to his office, not surprised when Goniff scooted back to the game table and picked up his solitaire game where he had left off. The front door opened, and the tall man stepped inside with the usual closed look on his face.
"Actor," said the officer. "Can you handle papers with that hand?"
The Italian looked down at the casted arm and wiggled his fingers. "I believe so."
"Good," said Craig firmly. "The intel is backing up. We'll be in trouble if we don't catch up. Want to work on some for a while?"
Actor grinned. "We will not be in trouble, Warden. You will be in trouble."
Garrison grinned back. "Come on, Old Man, make yourself useful."
Actor shook his head and followed the Lieutenant into the office. "At least you did not call me a 'dirty old man' like you did when I was getting down from that hay wagon."
Garrison was a little surprised when Actor closed the office door behind him. He said nothing while putting a stack of folders on the conference table, with a pad of paper and a pencil. Going back to his desk which had an equally tall stack of folders, he noticed the con man had not taken a seat.
"Something on your mind?" Craig asked.
Actor nodded and cocked his head to one side with a questioning look on his face. "I don't understand," he said. "If Teresa was concerned about removing Julie from Casino's presence, why did she have him drive? I am sure Chief would have been agreeable to doing the driving."
"Well," said Craig, as both men now took their seats. "Knowing my sister, I would bet she was giving us a break so we wouldn't have to put up with his mouth. She can handle him in the car."
"Do you mean all of us . . . or me?" asked Actor.
"Probably both."
The Italian shifted on his chair and reached for the first folder. "I just cannot seem to get used to someone of Teresa's age trying to 'mother' me."
"You're the one who made her 'God-mama'," pointed out Craig, stifling a grin and picking up his first folder.
"She was doing it before Julie came," the con man reminded him.
"Could be worse," Garrison was unable to resist teasing the older man. "She could be picking out your wom . . . never mind, I've seen her do that too."
Actor kept his back to the officer to hide the grin on his face. "She knows my taste in women and does pick out some fitting ones."
Garrison did not mention he still found the relationship between his con man and his sister to be a little strange at times.
GGGGG
The first hour on the way to London slipped past silently. Casino had tried to engage the woman beside him in conversation, but she had only answered briefly, and her eyes remained on the passing scenery. He did not know what was so interesting. It was fall and the leaves were off of most of the trees. There did not seem to be much of interest out there.
For her part, Terry just was not in the mood to put up with the safecracker's mouth. She was probably being unfair to him, but then again, maybe not.
"Maman?"
French? Terry turned in the seat so she could see Julie in the back. "Qui?"
The girl continued in her native language. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," replied the older girl, also in French.
"Why do you want to take me back to the school?" Julie frowned. "Papa told me I needed to get back to my studies, but I had them there, and I was staying caught up. Don't you need help yet?"
Terry bluffed. "Oh, I can manage. I need to get this arm working again."
"You want I should pull over so you can get in the back?" asked the gruff voice beside Terry.
"No," she replied in English. "This is fine."
"So why are you talkin' French?" Casino persisted. "Something you don't want me to hear?"
Terry turned her attention to the safecracker. "You have sisters. When your mother needed to talk to them about teenage girl things, did she do it in front of you and your brothers?"
"No," admitted Casino grudgingly.
"Just drive the car, please," said Terry tiredly.
"Sure," came the still grudging reply.
The girl turned back to the younger one. Julie was watching her.
"You and Papa don't want me around the uncles," she guessed, still speaking French.
"Something like that," admitted Terry in the same language.
Julie's eyebrows rose. "I'm used to the uncles . . . and this one. He's nice, but when he's bored, he likes to argue and fight. It's his way. It doesn't bother me."
"It bothers your father and me," admitted Terry. She smiled. "Besides, we can't keep you out of school forever and your father is paying for it whether you are there or not."
Julie nodded. "I didn't think about that."
Terry decided she better address the issue she had led Casino to believe was what the conversation was about. "Are you having your monthlies yet?"
Julie looked puzzled by the slang and then understood what Terry was asking. "Yes," she replied. "I've been having them for the past few months now. Mrs. Green helped me get supplies and talked to me about it and . . . um . . . sex."
Thank goodness, thought Terry. That was one thing she didn't have to deal with. After all, she wasn't exactly a virgin, and the girl's father was a flat out rake. Next time she was at the school, she would have to bring something nice for Mrs. Green to show her appreciation. And speaking of appreciation . . .
"Julie, thank you for all the help you have been," said Terry, still in French.
The girl smiled. "You have all been so good to me, I am happy I could do something for all of you."
Whatever the conversation was about, Casino watched Terry turn back forward and resume looking out the window. Maybe it was the concussion makin' her so uncommunicative. Not like she hadn't had enough concussions in the past. They all had. Still, it made for a long drive.
They made it to and through London and were on the road to Milton Keynes before any word was spoken Again it was Julie.
"Terry?" the girl asked.
Terry turned around in the seat to look over the back at Actor's daughter. "What, Sweetheart?"
Julie frowned. "Is Papa's arm really going to be okay?"
"I don't see why not," replied Terry reassuringly. "Of course we'll know more for sure after the x-rays tomorrow. And hopefully he'll get the cast off."
"Are you going with him to the doctor?" continued Julie.
Terry shook her head. "No. He and Craig are going for their check-ups."
"Can Uncle Craig drive yet?"
Where were these questions coming from, wondered Casino. Hadn't she asked Actor before she left?
"He isn't cleared to drive yet," said Terry. "I would imagine his leg will be cleared for driving, but I'm not sure about his head. He had a pretty bad concussion."
"So'd you, Babe," added the safecracker.
"Which is why I'm not driving today," said the young woman.
"Who is going to drive?" persisted Julie.
"I would imagine Chief is, Honey," Terry said. "It's his turn."
Like they were taking turns doin' the driving now? Casino secretly was relieved it wouldn't be him. They all seemed to be keepin' him away from Actor. And the Warden got irritated easily yet. Naw, he'd be happy to stay at the Mansion with Goniff and a deck of cards than makin' another four hour drive back and forth to London again.
Terry turned back around in her seat to face forward. Casino glanced sideways at her. The lines were prominent in rays from the corner of the eye he could see. What was she twenty-five, twenty-six? She looked about thirty years older from this angle. Her concussion was probably only a hair better than the Warden's. He wondered if they really did lose brain cells with each concussion. Nah, Actor still seemed to have all of his.
The remainder of the drive was fairly silent. When they arrived, Casino got out and removed the two suitcases from the trunk, setting them on the ground by the rear tire. Terry picked one up and waited for Julie to get the other one. The girl looked at the volatile safecracker and walked up to stand a few inches from him.
"Thank you, Uncle Casino," she said.
"Sure, Baby," smiled Casino. He was not quite surprised to find the girl wrapping her arms around him for a hug. "Stay outta trouble." His admonishment was tempered with a smile.
"You too," she smiled up at him.
Casino put on a stern expression. "What's that your dad calls Terry? Marmocchia."
Julie laughed. She squeezed him hard and he squeezed her back. She stepped away and went to pick up the remaining suitcase.
Casino turned his attention to the girl's Godmother. "Sure you don't want me to carry those in?"
Terry shook her head. "No, we've got it. I have to have a quick word about finances with Betty. Maybe five minutes."
The two girls turned and went up the steps into the building. Casino figured five minutes would be at least fifteen, so he moved the car out of the way in the drive, and lit a cigarette. He was closer to right. Terry didn't return for twenty minutes.
She climbed in the front seat and leaned her head back against the seat. "Sorry."
"No problem," replied Casino. He started the car up and pulled out. He waited until they reached the edge of town before glancing at the silent woman beside him.
"Okay, it's just you and me," said Casino. "You think it could be Charlie and Terry?"
Terry turned her head toward him. "I don't supposed it would hurt," she replied.
"I'm not taking you to the Savoy," he changed the subject.
Terry looked out the window. "Wasn't expecting you to."
"So where do you wanna eat?" persisted Casino.
"I don't," replied Terry. "I need to get back to the Mansion." She turned her head to look at him, expecting another fight. "I wasn't there today. There are no leftovers and I need to cook, or nobody will eat tonight."
Casino shook his head. "If bein' without Julie is gonna be a problem, then why did we take her back to the school? She could have kept on doing her schoolwork with us."
"Actor and I discussed it with Craig, and she needed to be back at school," said Terry. "Besides, Actor is paying for her to be there whether she's there or not."
Casino wasn't buying it. "There's gotta be more to it than that. Actor doesn't care how much it costs him."
Terry didn't answer.
"It's me, isn't it?" continued the safecracker. "You wanted to get her away from me. Why? You know I'd never do anything to hurt her!"
Yup, there was going to be an argument anyway. "Charlie, she just turned thirteen. She's at a really impressionable age. We sent Kelly back to his base to keep him away from her. You guys fighting all the time might be telling her this is normal, when for most people it isn't."
"We're just lettin' off steam," objected Casino.
Terry shook her head. "She's better off away from us, until you guys go back on missions, and you can let off your steam at the Krauts."
"You don't think much of me, do you?"
Terry chose her wording carefully. "I don't think much of your current behavior. I've told you before, there's a nice side to you, but you just don't use it very often."
Casino's face closed up. "Okay, if I watch myself, you want to go back and get Julie?"
"No!" said Terry in exasperation. "I want to go to the Mansion. End of story."
The 'end of story' lasted until they were almost to London.
"Did you bring anything with you for the pain?" asked the safecracker.
Terry turned her head to look at the man. "No," she replied surprised, yet not, at his assessment of her current state. "I'm okay. I'm just tired and I don't know why. I should have bounced back by now."
Casino shook his head. "Babe, you got a concussion about as bad as Garrison's. You had five holes in yuh, and a busted arm. He isn't bouncin' back any faster than you are."
"I'm sorry, Charlie," apologized Terry. "I'm just as frustrated as you are."
"Yeah," he agreed, looking at the line of traffic coming up and wondering why. "You just can't haul off and belt somebody." He frowned. "What's goin' on up there?"
Terry sat up straighter and looked out the windshield. "I don't know."
"You want I should turn around and head back?" Casino took his foot off the gas pedal let the car coast to a lower speed.
Terry was frowning. "There aren't any cars coming from the other direction. Car accident? They usually get those cleared up fairly quickly."
They joined the now creeping line of cars going into London.
Casino's eyes picked up something off to the right. "Shit."
"What?" asked Terry, more alert now.
He pointed off to the side with his cigarette. Terry's gaze followed his fingers to black smoke rising in the distance.
"Raiders?" she asked in disbelief.
"Wouldn't put money against it," said the safecracker in disgust. A glance in the rearview mirror showed a line of cars practically on their bumper. Ahead of them, the line of traffic came to a stop. "Looks like we're here for a while now."
"Sorry," apologized the woman again. "I should have let you do what you wanted. You're driving."
"It woulda probably taken just as long going back and around London," Casino said. "And waste more gas."
He rolled to a stop behind a sedan in front of him and turned the engine off like the rest of the cars were doing. The two in the front seat turned their heads to look at each other.
"Dinner's going to be really late tonight."
"You think, Babe?"
8