Chapter 1
Garrison walked down the hospital corridor and paused beside the closed door. Casino's raucous laugh filtered through, followed by a second voice, as Goniff continued with his tale. Garrison smiled to himself at the camaraderie that had developed between his men, despite each coming from completely different backgrounds. That was especially true of the two men in this room at the moment, who had formed a unique bond that had them arguing one minute but showing deep concern for each other's safety, the next. Opening the door, it was Goniff who saw him first.
''Hey Warden, the Doc says we can go home later today. Y'know, back to the Mansion,'' he called cheerfully. Goniff, wearing a hospital gown, was sitting on the side of his bed, swinging his legs, with a broad grin on his face, as he watched his commanding officer enter the room. Goniff and Actor had both been injured during their last mission in the south of France and had spent the last couple of days being treated in hospital. Garrison was well aware that both of these men were itching to leave the strict regimes of the medical institution.
''Yes, Goniff,'' Garrison replied, as he moved over to stand at the foot of the bed. ''I understand they need the beds for soldiers who are actually ill.''
''Oh Warden! Whatever do you mean?'' Goniff sighed. ''I'm a hero and I've got war wounds from that last escapade of yours, to prove it,'' he grumbled, pointing to the dressings on his shoulder. Casino, sitting in the only chair in the room, chuckled as his teammate tried to look aggrieved at Garrison's comment .
''If you'd rather stay here...'' Garrison continued, knowing his pick-pocket would he dressed and out of the door as soon as he could. None of his men enjoyed their enforced stays in hospital, which were becoming a regular hazard of their work. Very likely this was because the idea of being confined to a room had links to their recent pasts, spent in prison.
''No, no. Wouldn't want you to hold up the war effort on my account. I'm sure I can cope,'' Goniff quickly conceded, never quite sure whether the Lieutenant was joking.
''Good, because I've arranged for the Sgt Major to collect you later today, just call the Mansion when you are ready to leave. How is the shoulder by the way?'' he asked. Garrison had already spoken to the doctor in charge of his men's care and knew that Goniff was recovering well. The bullet wound was healing and he would soon regain the strength in his shoulder. Goniff, being a second-storey man, had strong arm and shoulder muscles, though to look at him it would be easy to mistake his wiry physique for that of a skinny weakling. Goniff perpetuated that by playing the fool and coming across as a man of no consequence. However he had proved his worth on numerous occasions and sustained his recent injury whilst saving a young boy from a soldier's bullet.
''It's ok, but Doc reckons I won't be able to climb for a while. I'll probably need to rest it for some time, maybe a few weeks,'' he suggested hopefully. ''Anyway, why can't we go back with you?''
''Casino and I have to go and pick up Chief,'' explained Garrison.
Casino frowned, as he slumped back in his chair. ''Wot yuh need me for? Expectin' trouble from Geronimo?''
''Thought you might like to see Gina. They've moved her to a cottage hospital where she can convalesce and have visitors,'' coaxed Garrison.
''Ah! Now that's different,'' smiled Casino, getting to his feet. ''Means she's gettin' better now, right?''
''Hey, what about the rest of us?'' Goniff wanted to know. The team hadn't seen Gina since they rescued her from France. Only her brother, Chief, had been allowed to visit her in hospital.
''You'll get to see her soon enough, I have no doubt. We need to get going, Casino,'' said Garrison, looking at his watch. ''Visiting hours start at two o'clock. Goniff, let Actor know what's happening. We'll see you both later.'' With that he ushered Casino out of the room.
GG
''So what's the big rush?'' queried Casino, as Garrison drove them away from the hospital.
''What do you mean?'' Garrison's innocent reply didn't fool Casino. He had been around the Lieutenant long enough now, to know when the man was trying to avoid telling his men something unpleasant.
''Well, you didn't even wait, to talk to Beautiful, back there. If I didn't know better, I'd think we had a mission or somethin'.'' Casino stopped in mid flow, then turned in his seat to frown at his commanding officer, who was keeping a neutral expression and avoiding any eye contact, as he concentrated on his driving. ''Ah, come on Warden, you gotta be kiddin' me. Another mission? We've only been back two days. We've just hiked over a ruddy great mountain range. We're all exhausted. And we're two men down,'' griped Casino, appalled at the thought of going over to Europe again so soon.
''It took us several days to get back from Barcelona, I think the Army considers that's down time for us,'' said Garrison. He'd already argued this point with his superior officers, back at HQ, and got nowhere.
Casino shook his head in disgust. ''Does Chief know?''
''Not yet,'' admitted Garrison. He wondered how his scout would react when he realised they would soon be on their way back to France again.
GG
The British guard, stationed at the wrought iron gates, waved the car through, having identified the American officer from his previous visit, earlier in the day. Garrison drove up the gravel drive and parked outside a large, imposing Georgian manor.
''Wow, some 'cottage' hospital! Where's the thatched roof and village pond?'' queried Casino, as they got out of the car. He gazed up at the imposing red brick building, which appeared to have more windows than walls. Steps led up to a large white portico, the canopy of which was supported by Doric pillars. Lawns swept away from either side of the drive towards a line of large shrubs, cutting off the view beyond and effectively framing the front façade of the building. Garrison led the way up the steps, passing through the portico, into the dark interior beyond.
Once their eyes had adjusted to the light, they could see a woman sitting at the reception desk, who was watching them over the rim of her glasses. ''May I help you, gentlemen?'' she asked, addressing herself deliberately to the man in uniform.
Removing his cap, Garrison strode over to the receptionist. ''We have come to see Miss Gina Monet.''
''Miss Monet is out on the lawn. She already has one visitor, Sir,'' the woman informed him.
''I know. We are here to collect him but we would like to say 'Hello' to Miss Monet, if we may,'' said Garrison, smiling charmingly.
''The rules say that only two visitors are allowed at one time, Sir,'' said the receptionist firmly, in a tone which brooked no argument. Garrison was a little taken aback by her response but, before he could argue, Casino cut in.
''Hey listen, no problem, I'll just wait by the car.. Sir!'' Casino gave a sloppy salute, before turning on his heel and walking back outside. Garrison was slightly bemused that Casino hadn't even tried to argue and was even prepared to miss seeing Gina, the main reason for him being here .
Thanking the receptionist, the Lieutenant signed in and followed her directions through the building, into the dayroom and outside onto the terrace. Here, a number of the patients were taking advantage of the early summer weather, sitting reading or dozing in chairs, many covered with blankets to ward off any chill breezes. He stood for a moment, enjoying the quiet tranquillity and admiring the view. From the terrace, steps led down onto a beautifully manicured lawn, edged by gravel paths and rose beds. Beyond, a line of hedges, cut into the most amazing shapes, bordered another gravel path, interspaced with fountains, focusing the eye down towards the deer park, which lay beyond the formal gardens. Once hunting had taken place across the vast acres of meadows and trees, interspaced with streams and ponds, some of which still contained carp and trout. The deer now wandered freely about the estate, which, in more peaceful times, would probably be used for horse riding and gymkhanas. In fact the whole scene was a world away from the war raging across the Channel and elsewhere around the globe.
There was no sign of Chief and Gina on the green swathe of grass ahead of him, so he opted to follow a path which led away to the right, through an arched gateway. The path skirted more gardens, now partially converted for use as a kitchen garden, before passing a number of large rhododendrons, just shedding the last of their blooms. When the path emerged from between these tree-like shrubs, the ground ahead sloped gently down towards a lake, where several swans created gentle ripples, sparking in the sunshine. On the far side of the lake, a folly in the form of a Greek temple, was now used as a summer house.
Hearing voices Garrison looked around to his right and there, a short distance from the path, was an ornate metal bench, beside which Gina was encased in a Casino style bear hug, Chief standing close by.
''Hey, Warden, what kept yuh?'' chuckled Casino, as he gently released Gina into the Lieutenant's arms.
''How are you?'' asked Garrison, holding Gina at arm's length, having given her a careful hug.
''Much better for seeing all of you,'' she replied, grinning around at the three men. ''I'm just waiting for the doctor to give me some idea when I can leave. My leg aches sometimes but otherwise I feel fine.''
''I'm really glad to hear that Gina. You do look so much better than when I last saw you,'' said Garrison remembering the badly wounded girl they had discovered in a basement in France. Turning to Casino, Garrison frowned at him. ''How did you get past reception?'' he asked. ''On second thoughts, don't tell me, I probably don't want to know.''
''You didn't think I was gonna let that old she-dragon stop me, did yuh?'' laughed his safe cracker. ''Besides, it was worth scrambling through the thicket. This is some place you've ended up in, babe. Why don't we get this treatment too?''
''Don't be fooled Casino, it's been taken over by the Army and runs on military rules. You'd hate it,'' said Gina.
''Sounds too much like stir,'' agreed Chief. ''Any news about Gina's future, Warden?''
''Not too long now, I hope. I've been talking to some people I know and they should be able to give me some answers when we get back...''
''Back from where, Warden?'' interrupted Chief, turning his full attention onto Garrison.
''Oh, yuh really gonna like this one,'' Casino casually chipped in. ''He's only gone and got us another mission. Just the three of us!''
''It's a short trip across to the north of France,'' Garrison quickly explained, before he got any more complaints. ''The local resistance there need help to set up some explosives, should be right up your street Casino.''
''Oh, that's alright then, after all, what could possibly go wrong on a short trip across the Channel?'' said Casino, sarcastically. ''I seem to remember the last time we were there an' blew something up, Chiefy here got himself shot in the leg an' mauled by some mad guard dog.''
Chief had been watching the Lieutenant as Casino recalled that mission and saw something akin to guilt flitter across his face. ''You did manage to destroy the machinery in that factory, didn't yuh?'' he asked.
''What you trying t' say?'' Casino snapped, always quick to react if he felt he was being criticised. ''You an explosive expert now.''
''Yes, they did,'' confirmed Gina, putting a placating hand on both Casino and Chief's arms. ''I was there, remember? The Germans rounded up all the locals, to help clear the rubble away. Marcel, the foreman who got you into the factory on that mission, told me those machines were beyond repair.'' Casino huffed but said no more.
''So why we going back, Warden?'' Chief persisted. ''That is where we are going? Ain't it?''
Garrison nodded. ''Recent activity in the area, suggests the Germans might be trying to re-equip the factory. They have already repaired the train line in the compound and extended it to an abandoned factory, two miles away. If we can help the Resistance destroy that line it might slow down, or even halt, the reconstruction work.''
''Seems a long way to go just to blow up a few railway lines,'' argued Casino, still irritated by Chief's comment and annoyed about tackling another mission so soon.
''Marcel and his men are just ordinary factory workers, they have no training in the use of explosives,'' explained Gina. ''I showed him how to use those pencil detonators you gave me and he destroyed the generator with them. To tackle something like a railway, they would need an expert to show them what to do. Like you, Casino!'' Garrison and Chief tried to hide their smiles as Casino took the bait.
''Yeah, yeah. Alright babe, I get it,'' chuckled Casino, his temper evaporating as quickly as it came. ''No need for the soft soap! I know when they can't do without me!''
GG
They had spent almost an hour with Gina, before Garrison indicated it was time to leave. Casino made his way back through the bushes to the car, whilst Garrison and Chief returned to reception and signed themselves out.
They hadn't driven far before Casino brought up something which had puzzled him, since they left the hospital. ''I don't get it!''
''What don't you get, Casino?'' queried Garrison.
''You asked the she-dragon back there, if we could see Miss Monet. Since when was Gina's last name, Monet?'' he asked.
''It isn't. But when we first got Gina back to England, you'll remember she was in no fit state to talk to anyone. Actor and I thought it best to let everyone think that she was French. Monet seemed as good a surname as any other, that we could come up with at the time!'' explained Garrison.
''Right, Actor's idea I suppose,'' decided Casino, knowing Actor's passion for expensive works of art.
''It was,'' agreed Garrison.
Nearing the turning for the Mansion, Chief and Casino , now resigned to the mission, wanted to know how soon before they would be leaving for France.
''As soon as we can. We'll pick up our kits now, then make our way to the south coast. A fishing boat should be waiting to take us as close to France as possible, then we will use a dinghy to get the rest of the way. Marcel should be waiting for us,'' Garrison told them. He also wanted to leave the Mansion before his other two men arrived back from the hospital, knowing that they would have more to add to the complaints he had already received.