Coming Home
Chapter 3
Malinda was listening to the transmissions, which were sporadic and far between. One caught her attention, and she began writing on her notepad. Five men and a woman? Terry and the group were gone on a mission. She wrote quickly, not allowing herself to react to the content of the message. It was from some airplane coming out of Switzerland to the Army Air Force base in London. When the transmission ended, the woman copied it more clearly. Oh God, no, she thought in horror.
Digging out her address book, Malinda called Madge upstairs and told her to get down there, before she placed a direct call to Major Richards office. The call was answered quickly by the Lieutenant, and she was told the Major was on the phone. She waited five minutes before the call was transferred to the inner office.
"Major? This is Malinda. I picked up a transmission. Is it Garrison's group and Terry?" Her eyes closed and she bit her lip at the reply.
Footsteps sounded on the wooden stairs and Madge, nightgown and robe flapping, bounded into the room. Malinda looked up at the other operator. Madge stared back apprehensively. She had never seen the woman look so devastated.
"Sir, how far out is the plane? An hour. Is that right?" She listened a moment. "Sir, what can I do?" She shoved the notepad toward Madge. "I'll get Kit in here. She will call the General and the school. She can go get Julie in the morning. Will he be alive yet? Should I have Kit go now?" She listened again. "All right, Sir. Thank you."
She hung up and took a deep breath before calling Kit's apartment. The phone was picked up on the fourth ring. Malinda heard a groggy "Yeah?"
"Kit, you need to come now. It's bad. It's Terry and the Lieutenant's group. They are flying to the base in London. All of them are hurt." She gave a brief pause. "Terry and Garrison may not make it to London."
Madge heard the scream that hurt Malinda's ear. "Kit, just get in here!"
Malinda hung up and turned to her friend and co-worker. Madge sank into the chair beside the other woman.
"Oh merciful heaven!" breathed Madge. "What are we going to do?"
Malinda shook her head. "Kit has to call General Garrison and then the school. She will have to pick up Julie and take her to London. Major Richards knows Actor is badly injured, but not if he is dying too. We don't want to take the chance he dies, and Julie doesn't get to see him."
"Poor kid," said Madge, shaking her head. "She loses her mother, finds her father, gets a godmother, and loses them too."
"Maybe the transmission was wrong?" said Malinda.
Madge just looked at her. "I'll go make coffee and tea. I don't think anybody will get sleep tonight."
Ten minutes later, the door to the alley opened with a key and footsteps pounded down the stairs. Kit burst into the radio room and stopped short. Her flame-colored hair was hanging down, uncombed, no makeup, a blue sweater on, with tan pants, and slippers on her feet.
"What happened?" she demanded.
Malinda shook her head. "Whatever they were over there doing, it went all wrong. They're all injured. Terry and the Lieutenant are unconscious, and they aren't expected to make it to London from Switzerland by plane. Actor's next, followed by Chief, Casino, and Goniff. I don't know what the injuries are. Major Richards does, but he didn't have time to tell me. You can talk to General Garrison better than we can." Malinda dipped her head toward Madge. "And you're the only one here who can go get Julie."
The impact of what this would do to the young girl hit Kit. She sank down onto a chair in stunned silence. It took her a minute to gather herself.
"Okay, let me call Will and get him on the way, then I'll talk to the school," said the red-head, for once acting like a leader.
She grabbed the other phone and called Allied Command. "Listen, this is Kit Gallagher. I need you to put me through to the War Department. I have to talk to General Will Garrison. I think you know why. You can get the call through faster than I can."
She was amazed the overseas call went through in ten minutes. Kit listened to the phone ring in General Garrison's office. It was finally answered by Will's Lieutenant. She told him she needed Gen. Garrison, now!
"I know I don't have clearance," yelled the woman. "This is Kit Gallagher. Tell the general to get his ass on this phone. It's about his kids."
"I'm sorry, the general is in a meeting and cannot be disturbed," the officer tried to put her off.
"Listen you sorry son of a bitch! You go in there and you tell him Craig and Terry are dying and if he wants to see them alive he better get to London now. You got that!"
The line was silent for a few minutes. Then a familiar gruff voice came on. "Kit? What the hell is going on?"
"Will, the mission went way bad. Every one of them was injured. Craig is dying. Terry isn't expected to live either. You need to get here now. They're on their way back by plane to the Army Air Force hospital in London." She waited for him to speak.
"Who's in charge of them now?" demanded the General.
"Major Richards," said Kit. "He's at his office."
"No!" blared Garrison in frustration. "Which one of Craig's men is in charge of the group now? Actor?"
Kit turned to the radio operator. "Malinda, is Actor or any of the other three in charge?"
Malinda shook her head. "Sounded like nobody is in charge."
"I heard that," said Will's voice in Kit's ear. "Get Actor's daughter there," he ordered.
"That's my next call."
She didn't hear the connection click but heard Garrison talking to somebody. "Get me a plane to England, now! Ike! I have to go. Fill me in later."
The phone hung up before Kit could hear anything more. An address book was pushed in front of her, opened to the address and phone number of the school. She dialed it and waited. Finally someone answered.
"My name is Kit Gallagher," said the red-head. "I need to speak with someone regarding Julie Borghese. It's an emergency."
She waited a long minute before the phone was picked up by another woman.
"This is Mrs. Green. I am the house mother for Julie Borghese."
"Mrs. Green, this is Kit Gallagher. I am third in line to come get Julie when her father and godmother can't." She took a breath. "Both Ac – Victor and Terry have been in an accident. Terry is not expected to live and we don't know anything about Victor except he is seriously injured and there is a possibility he may die too. I need to get Julie."
"How soon can you be here?" asked the older woman.
"What time is it?" asked Kit to anyone who would answer.
"0430," said Madge.
"Can you have her ready by seven?" asked Kit.
"She will be ready by seven," assured Mrs. Green. "What do you want me to tell her?"
Kit thought about it. "Don't tell her Victor has been injured. Just tell her Terry was in an accident and he wants Julie to come here."
"All right," said Mrs. Green. "I will wake her up at six and make sure she is ready. I pray neither of them die," she said.
"Thank you," said Kit.
She hung up and stared at the phone, trying to let all this sink in. She frowned and looked at Malinda.
"Has anyone notified Chris and Kelly?" Kit asked.
Malinda frowned. "I don't know, but I don't think so."
"Great," muttered Kit. This number she knew by heart and dialed the house Chris and Kelly used as a base. Dirk answered the phone, alert for that hour of the morning. "This is Kit. Are Chris and Kelly there? It's an emergency."
"Chris is upstairs," replied Dirk, "But Kelly is on a mission. What happened?"
"It's Terry and Craig. They are wounded and not expected to live."
"Oh, shit!" said Dirk. He didn't much care for Craig Garrison, but Terry was a friend. "Hold on, I'll get Chris."
Kit could hear him running up the stairs, yelling Christine's name. A minute or two later, the younger Garrison girl's voice came through the phone.
"What? What happened?" she asked fearfully.
"Whatever it was it went really bad," said Kit. "You need to get to the Army Air Force base. Major Richards will be there. He'll get you in." She took a breath. "The plane with all of them will be there in about a half hour. Terry and Craig may be dead."
"What? No! . . . Nooo!"
Dirk had taken the phone from the younger girl. "I'll get her there. Kelly is visiting Auntie for a long time. No way to get hold of him. What about Monty?"
"Maybe Chris or Richards can get him if he isn't out."
"Okay," said Dirk. "I'll get her there. Don't worry."
"I worry anyway," said Kit. "Thanks Dirk."
She hung up and gave a lost look at the two girls. "Now what do I do?"
Madge rested a hand on the red-head's shoulder. In a quiet voice, she said, "You stay here until it's time to go get Julie. You can probably do more from here than you can there. And they might not even let you in."
Kit nodded.
GGGGG
Dirk drove at high speed toward the Army Air Force base. He glanced frequently at the silent, stunned girl sitting beside him. Damn, he wished there was more he could do for her besides drive her there.
He pulled up to the guard box at the gate and stopped. The guard came over and leaned down to see in the car.
"That's Christine Garrison," he said. "I know her. You have clearance to bring her to the hospital, but you can't stay, Sir."
"I know," acknowledged Dirk.
Chris roused herself, "Has the plane landed yet?"
"No, Ma'am," the guard replied. "Nothing in the last hour."
"Thank you," she said.
The guard motioned for the barrier to be raised and Dirk drove onto the base. Working with SOE, he was aware where the hospital was located on the base. Major Richards was standing outside the door when he pulled up. Dirk squeezed Christine's arm.
"Good luck," he said. "Maybe it won't be as bad as it sounds."
Chris bobbed her head, expression clearly showing she didn't believe it. "Thanks, Dirk." She left the car and walked over to Major Richards.
Richards watched the car pull away and the youngest of the Garrison girls approach him. She was trying to school her features but did not have the expertise of the older girl.
"Thank you for getting me on base," said Chris. "How far out are they?"
"They should be here in another fifteen minutes," replied the major.
Chris looked down at her feet a second and then back up. "Did anyone tell Monty? He's based here."
Richards shook his head. "He is out. They should return in another hour. The major will notify him when they get back."
Christine did not know what to do. Having flown out of there before, she knew from which direction the plane with her siblings would be approaching from. All she could do was scan the sky in that direction.
Suddenly, there was activity around them. Medics ran to the three boxy ambulances, and they drove quickly in the direction of the runway. Major Richards stepped closer to Christine. They waited for what now seemed like an eternity as the plane landed.
The first of the ambulances arrived and backed up toward the hospital door. The doors of the ambulance opened and a man in a military scrub suit stepped out.
"All right! Get this man into a private room. Get another line in him, oxygen and warm blankets!" he ordered.
The stretcher was pulled out and put atop a gurney that had been brought outside. Chris gasped barely recognizing the man covered in blood with a bandage around his head as her brother. She took a step forward, but Richards' hand on her upper arm stopped her.
"Give them room and let them work," he instructed in a soft, for him, voice. "He doesn't know you are here."
Craig was wheeled inside, and an empty gurney took that one's place.
"Get this woman in a private room. Get her cleaned up, oxygen and watch that right arm. She will be second for surgery."
Terry was brought out and placed on the gurney. Christine's hand went to cover her mouth to keep herself from screaming. She didn't see the paleness on Major Richards' face that matched her own. Terry also had a bandage around her head. Her right arm was splinted, and she was covered in blood too.
The ambulance pulled out to allow the second ambulance to back in.
Chris frowned and looked up at Major Richards. "I didn't see a doctor go out with the ambulances."
Richards' face took on a haughty, frozen appearance. "I'm sure you just missed it. We do not send doctors on flights to pick up special forces teams."
A small grin crossed Christine's lips. "No, I'm sure you don't. Thank you for what you didn't do."
Another gurney came out to accept the next victim.
"Private room. Don't touch that left arm. Get a second line in him. Oxygen. And get him ready for surgery. He is number one."
Actor looked around groggily. He spotted the youngest Garrison girl. "Christine?"
Major Richards' let her step up to the gurney.
Actor looked searchingly at her. "Are they alive?"
"Yes," reassured Chris. "They are both alive."
"Grazie Dio."
His gurney was wheeled inside, and another took its place.
"This man goes in the ward. Get the wound cleaned up and prep him for surgery. He's number three."
Chief was placed on the gurney. His eyes shot to the young woman. "Chris. The Warden and Terry?"
"They're both alive," she said. She took in the bloody dressing on his left shoulder. A tiny smile of support was all she dared show him before he was wheeled away.
Again the ambulances swapped positions. This time Goniff and Casino were brought out, one at a time. Casino was placed on a gurney. His face was battered, and his clothing bloodied. There was a neater dressing on his right upper arm. He glanced up a Chris.
"Warden and Terry?" he asked with a mix of concern and dread.
Chris gave a reassuring smile. "Both still alive."
"Ward. Get him cleaned up. Get a line in him and more fluids."
Goniff was brought out last. He had a dressing wrapped around his chest. His eyes went to Christine's. Before he could ask, she gave a tentative smile and said, "They're both alive."
"Ward. Get him cleaned up and get a line in him too. Get some lab work too. He looks a little malnourished."
Goniff's gurney was pushed inside with the doctor following. Christine glanced up at Major Richards.
"He wouldn't say that if he knew how much Goniff eats," she said with a hint of humor. Her smile faded. "Are you staying, Major?" she asked tentatively.
Richards looked down at her. "I will stay with you as long as I can, if you like," he offered.
"I would appreciate the company," said Chris. She looked lost. "Oh my God, what are we going to do now?"
7