86. Fatherhood
Chapter 4
The Packard's wipers swished back and forth across Actor's line of vision, pushing the rain water away to run off the sides of the windshield. It was not raining hard, which was a relief. But the cyclic sound of the wipers was the only noise. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he saw Julie in the backseat, lost in her own thoughts. Teresa was in the front passenger seat beside him, also lost in her own thoughts. Obviously something was bothering the woman because her jaws moved frequently, as though something was annoying her.
Actor did not mind the peace, but on the rare occasions he was driving anywhere alone with Teresa, he enjoyed their conversations. He remembered when she had first arrived at the Mansion. She was knowledgeable on a variety of subjects but was eager to learn more. He still enjoyed teaching her new things, as she seemed to enjoy everything he imparted to her.
He glanced at the gold watch on his left wrist and predicted they would arrive at Milton Keynes in a half hour. Actor wished they had more information. There had been nothing from Major Richard's office on the investigation. Teresa had called Richards' office and received no information either. Well, they were used to 'winging it' on missions and this seemed to be turning into one.
The rain eased and turned into fog. Now Actor had to concentrate on watching the narrow country road for any obstacles in the thick white blankness. Finally, the shrouded gates appeared to the estate that now housed Milton Keynes School for Young Women. The Italian was about to lose the cold, dreary weather for what he assumed was going to be a heated interaction with the headmistress regarding his daughter.
Beside him, Teresa straightened, and picked up her purse from the floor. She held it primly on her lap, reminding Actor of a little old woman instead of the young one she was. Perhaps it was the closed, serious expression on her face.
Glancing in the rearview mirror again, he found the same expression on Julie's face. His daughter did not seem very happy to be going back. He would reinforce the child did not have to remain here if she did not wish to.
Actor parked the car beside the curving curb of the circular driveway in front of the tall building and turned the key to cut the engine off. Now all he heard was the metallic ticking of the warm motor in the chilly dampness. His eyes moved toward the Victorian Gothic two story mansion which appeared uninviting in the mist. There was nothing to be gained by sitting in the car thought Actor.
"Shall we?" he asked.
Now Teresa looked at him with as little enthusiasm on her face as he felt. "Show time."
The Italian turned in his seat and looked back at his daughter. "There are two things to remember, Julie. You do not speak unless spoken to, no matter what you hear Teresa and I say or do." When she nodded, he continued. "And remember, if you do not wish to stay, we can gather your belongings and leave. There are other schools. I want you to receive a good education, but at the same time be as happy as possible."
"Yes, Papa," said the girl quietly.
Turning back, Actor opened his door and got out. He walked around the car to open both passenger doors. Formally, his hand went out to Teresa. She placed her fingers in his palm and stood up. He noticed the arched eyebrow of the woman and almost smiled at the squeeze her fingers gave his. Together the three walked across the wet gravel drive, a crunching sound with each step. Opening the damp-darkened wooden door, Actor ushered his two females inside.
The Italian led the way down the carpeted hall, with Teresa by his side and Julie following behind. He knew where the headmistress's office was from being there four times before. The door to the anteroom was open and he motioned Teresa and his daughter in, entering behind them.
Betty Knowles, Mrs. Landers' secretary, looked up from her desk with a smile of recognition. "I see you made it safely in this nasty weather," she said.
Actor smiled back at her, "Unfortunately later than planned. Is Mrs. Landers available to speak with us?"
"Let me check," said Betty, getting up and going to the closed office door.
The secretary tapped lightly on the door and peeked inside. Actor exchanged a look with Teresa, unsurprised at her cool demeanor. His attention went back to the Knowles woman who had turned to them.
"Mrs. Landers will be happy to see you now," said Betty. "Please, go right in."
She went back to her desk. Actor held the door open a little farther for Teresa and Julie to enter. He followed and closed the door behind him. Mrs. Landers was standing behind her desk with a smile pasted on her face.
"Oh, Mr. Borghese," she gushed. "I am so glad you found Julie. Please come in and sit down."
Teresa pulled a wooden chair from a small table for Julie and placed it between and behind the two upholstered chairs facing the headmistress's desk. The con man waited for Teresa and Mrs. Landers to take their seats before sitting himself.
"Mr. Borghese, I am so happy to see Julie is back with us," said Mrs. Landers, while clutching her hands atop her desk.
Nervous, thought Actor, as she should be. "We have not yet decided if Julie will be returning to this school. There are some disquieting things which need to be cleared up before we reach a decision where Julie will be staying."
"Oh, yes." The headmistress's eyes darted from Actor to Terry and back.
The clock on the wall chimed the hour. Actor glanced slowly at it. Noon. The timing could not have been much better.
"Mrs. Landers, is there a private room where we might continue our discussion over lunch?" he asked.
"There is a conference room close to the cafeteria," offered the woman.
"That will be fine," said Actor.
The older woman rose from her seat and walked around the desk. She gestured with her hand for the three to precede her to the outer office. Actor heard her close but not lock the door. Miss Knowles looked up questioningly.
"We are going to the conference room by the cafeteria," said Mrs. Landers. "You may take your lunch break now."
"Yes, Ma'am," said the secretary.
Head high, Mrs. Landers led her three visitors into the hall and to the right. As they walked toward a gathering of people at the far end of the hall, Actor's and Teresa's eyes darted around taking in the layout of the rooms and halls they were passing. Actor spotted a sign sticking out above a door and barely nudged Teresa's arm with his. As she glanced at him he casually brought his hand up to his waist, index finger giving a quick point to his left. He noted the slight dip of the woman's head in understanding.
Just before the end of the hall, and the line to the cafeteria, Mrs. Landers escorted the three into a large room to the left. Actor seated Teresa in a chair at the large conference table. Julie sat on the other side of Actor. He gave his daughter a quick, reassuring look. The look he bestowed on the headmistress was far from reassuring. In fact he was bordering it on the SS one he was notorious for with those he worked with.
Fingers laced and palms rubbing together, Mrs. Landers gave a false smile to the three. "I will have them bring in lunch for all of us. Excuse me a moment, please," she said.
Actor waited until she left the room before turning to Teresa.
"You think the room is bugged?" asked the woman, cautiously.
Actor shook his head. "I doubt it, but even if it is, by the time she figures anything out, it will be too late."
Teresa grinned at him. "I think I will use the ladies room before the food gets here."
Actor's grin back to her was interrupted by his daughter.
"Can I go with you?" Julie asked.
"Do you need to use the bathroom?" asked Terry.
"No, I just wanted to go with you," replied the girl.
"Not this time, Sweetheart," said Teresa firmly. "And no questions. Just sit there quietly and let your father and I do our work."
Actor did not feel it necessary to follow up on Teresa's words. His daughter sat back in her seat and did not look at either of them.
When Mrs. Landers returned Teresa smiled. "If you could excuse me. I saw a ladies room down the other hall. I will be back in a couple minutes."
Before the woman could respond, Teresa rose and went out the door. Actor assumed one of his crocodile smiles.
GGG
Terry walked, in no particular hurry, back to the hall that held the rest room. She walked in and spotted the wet floor sign behind the door. One of the stalls was occupied, so she washed her hands at the sink and tucked her damp hair behind her ears, readjusting the hair pins until the lady left. Terry hurried to the door and grabbed the sign. She peeked up and down the hall before stepping out and placing the sign in front of the closed door. Turning, she went back to the main hall and continued down it to the headmistress's office. If anyone asked, the bathroom was closed for cleaning and she had gone in search of another.
Looking around again, she saw the line had disappeared around the corner to the cafeteria. Terry went inside the anteroom office and listened. No noises of another person's presence were heard, so she continued into Landers's office, closed and locked the door.
The desk was checked first, but no papers regarding Actor or Julie were on the desk or in the drawers. The file cabinet was next. Terry grinned at the locked uppermost drawer. She had it open in a few seconds. Folders with names were in alphabetical order. Borghese was close to the front. Terry pulled it out and quickly thumbed through it. Victor Borghese's name was on the front of a separate folder inside his daughter's.
The sound of men's boots, noticeable even on the carpet, had Terry pausing and watching the door. The sound moved past. Terry glanced through the pages inside the folder. Yes, she had read these pages more than once in Craig's office. She tucked the folder in a safe place, returned Julie's folder, closed and locked the file drawer.
As cautiously as she had come in, Terry left the office and casually headed back to the conference room. Opening the door, she stepped inside and stopped sharply.
GGG
A movement at the door caught Actor's eye and he glanced at Teresa entering the room. She was standing between the two Commando guards, eyes on Major Richards back and the look of incredulity on her face would have brought a smile to his if he wasn't working a con so to speak.
"But I don't have the papers," objected Mrs. Landers. "I burned them when I found out they were secret."
"Mrs. Landers . . ." began Richards with exasperation.
"She's right about one thing," said Teresa, walking up to the Major with an insincere smile. "She doesn't have the papers."
That brought a startled look from the headmistress.
"I have them," said Terry. "And Top Secret is printed in big bold letters on the top of the first sheet. I don't know how she would have missed that when she received them, from whoever gave them to her."
Major Richards looked down at her. "You have it? How?"
"Major Richards!" exclaimed the woman with a touch of the dramatic. "You shouldn't ask something like that in front of non-special forces people."
The Major kept his cool. "Where is it?"
Teresa walked over to the con man and presented her back to him. She lifted the back of her sweater enough for him to see the manila folder tucked in the waistband of her skirt. He pulled it up and out. While she readjusted her sweater, he opened the folder and looked down at the familiar report.
"I believe that belongs to you," said Teresa.
"Yes, it is mine," replied Actor.
With one cheek sucked in, he quickly thumbed through the papers, verifying they were all there.
"No, you can't have that," denied Mrs. Landers. "It was locked up." She clamped her mouth shut.
"Yes, it was," said Terry. "Top drawer of your file cabinet. However, we have it now."
Actor looked up as the major walked up to him, hand held out.
"I need that for evidence," said Richards.
So this was going farther than just removing them from the woman. Actor held the folder out to him and allowed him to take it.
"Evidence?" asked Mrs. Landers nervously. "Evidence for what?"
Major Richards looked down his nose at her in silence for a moment. "You are under arrest for possession of top secret Allied documents. As is your niece who removed them from Bletchley Park for you. During war time, that falls under treason. If we find this information has gone on to the Axis, you could be hanged or shot. At the least you will be spending the rest of the war in prison."
"No! You can't do that!" shrieked the woman in terror.
"I can and I am," said Richards, calmly, without raising his voice. He turned to his guards. "Handcuff her, please, and take her away."
The woman pulled back, screaming, but was subdued by the guards. When the door closed behind her, Actor could hear her still screaming as she was taken down the hall.
"Now what?" asked Actor. "How long must we wait to know if I am cleared?"
"Oh, you are cleared," replied Richards, now smiling. "The names of all special forces, SOE, and OSS operatives are flagged. If a name shows up being reported to the Germans or Italians, the communication is sent immediately to Allied Command. You name has not appeared. Any of them. No, I believe this was a matter of class." He gave Actor a crooked grin. "You simply were not in the right social standing for that woman."
The con man looked up at Teresa's hand which came to rest on his shoulder, with her forefinger pointed about an inch from his face.
"Kevin, Actor has more class than most anyone here."
"Hmm, yes, well, unfortunately not in Mrs. Landers's eyes." The major looked at the con man. "You are not quite done here. There is a Mr. Withers waiting to speak with the two of you, and Miss Borghese. He is the owner of the school. There are some changes he wishes to make. It might affect your future plans for your daughter."
Actor held his hand out to his left, knowing Julie was anxious, but being very good about following his order of no talking. Her smaller hand came to rest in his palm and her fingers curled around the outer edge of his hand. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Thank you for your assistance," said the Italian to the commando major. "It did come as a bit of a surprise though."
Richards smiled. "I wanted that file, and I knew if I gave you some time," he inclined his head in Teresa's direction, "this one would procure it."
Actor chuckled and looked up at the innocent expression of Teresa's face.
"Hey, Kevin," said Terry, "you got me after training in Scotland, and a few other places. And I know a darn good safecracker who likes to teach me what he does. For the war effort you know."
That brought a laugh from Actor and Richards.
The Major addressed Actor. "I will leave you to straighten anything else out." He looked around the con man at the young girl sitting beside him and his face took on a quizzical expression. He glanced at Teresa and back at the girl.
"Ke – vin," said Terry, "don't even go there. The answer is no."
Actor chuckled and grinned at Richards. The Major merely shook his head, turned and left. Terry pulled out the chair and sat down beside the Italian.
They did not have long to wait before the door opened again and the owner of the school entered the room.
Archibald Withers, graying around a bald pate, turned a chair from the table around and took a seat. He addressed Actor.
"Mr. Borghese," he said, "I have been told very little regarding the exact circumstances resulting in Mrs. Landers' arrest. I was told not to ask."
Actor said nothing and waited.
Withers continued. "I was informed by some of the staff about the difficulties your daughter was having here, and that she had run away. This is not the first time there have been issues over Mrs. Landers's favoritism shown to children of landed gentry over other children. I have overlooked it for too long. I wish you to know if she is released, she will no longer be in my employ in this school. Also the two children involved in the bullying of your daughter are being expelled. I would be delighted if your daughter would continue her education here. I will be looking for a new headmistress."
"Excuse me, Mr. Withers," said Teresa formally.
Actor knew she would speak up, but her tone was of more the landed gentry than the girl from an isolated ranch in the wilds of Montana.
"I believe you have a person in your employ who would be even more of an asset in that position than she is now. Terry smiled politely. "Miss Knowles already knows the system of this school and has a pleasant attitude and manner. From what I have seen of her, I believe she would be wonderful in the headmistress position. And unless I am wrong, it would be much easier to find a good secretary than a good headmistress."
"Thank you, Miss Garrison," said the older man with approval. "I have been approached earlier by three of the teachers who are of the same opinion as you. I will be advising Miss Knowles of her change is position after we are through here."
Actor watched the man's attention turn to Julie.
"Miss Borghese," Withers said, "I apologize for the treatment you received here. I assure you bullying is not at all acceptable to me. I hope you will continue to be a student at this school."
"Thank you, Sir," said Julie quietly. "I would like to discuss it with my Pap . . . Father first."
"Of course," smiled the man kindly. "Ce fut un plaisir de vous rencontrer, Mademoiselle."
"Ce fut un plaisir de vous rencontrer aussi, monsieur," said the girl.
Mr. Withers rose from his chair. Actor and Teresa did the same. The Italian stepped forward and shook hands with the man. Withers reached a hand out to Teresa, and she shook hands with him also.
"I hope you will consider giving us another chance," said the owner of the school.
"We will discuss it and give Miss Knowles our decision," said Actor. "It has been a pleasure to meet you, Sir."
"And a pleasure to meet you, Sir and Madame," Mr. Withers said.
Actor watched him leave and close the door before taking his seat again. Teresa gave more of a plop into her chair.
"Glad that's over," said the woman. "I wasn't quite expecting that."
"Yes," said Actor, "That explains why Major Richards did not answer your phone call." He turned to his daughter. "Julie, now that you have learned of the changes being made, do you wish to stay here or find a different school. Either choice is fine."
Julie was frowning. "Mrs. Landers is gone, and Hilary and Louise are gone?"
"Or will be quite soon," replied Actor.
"But Papa, what about the girls, the ones they told?" persisted Julie. "Won't you still be in trouble?"
"Oh, I don't think so," assured Actor. "Major Richards is very keen on details. He will be investigating here. I don't think you or I have much to worry about."
Julie looked up at him. "I would like to stay here. I have friends and I like my classes. I would have to make new friends somewhere else and the other places we looked at were farther away from you than here." She paused. "Can I stay, please?"
Actor turned his head to look for Teresa's response to that. The woman smiled at him.
"I don't think there will be any more problems you and I can't handle . . . with the help of Major Richards," said Teresa.
A light knock at the door caught their attention. The door slowly opened and a woman in white shirtwaist and apron looked in.
I have meals for all of you," said the woman. "Would you still like them?"
Actor put on his charming smile. "As you have gone to the trouble to prepare lunch for us, we will be happy to accept them."
The woman smiled brightly and placed the plates on the table before each of them, removing the cloches. "I was told to tell you to take all the time you need in here."
"Thank you," said Teresa with a smile.
The woman backed out the door with her tray.
Actor looked at the plain fare and decided it looked better than prison food. "We might as well eat and give Miss Knowles time to accept her new position and get over at least part of the shock."
A half hour later, the three went back to the headmistress's office. Miss Knowles was sitting at her desk, still obviously stunned.
"So, Betty," began Teresa, "are you going to move into the other office?"
"I couldn't very well turn it down now, could I?" the woman asked. "I was not expecting that."
Actor smiled at her. "We are delighted you accepted your promotion."
"Thank you, Mister Borghese," returned Betty. She looked between the three standing in front of her. "What have you decided about Julie?"
"She wishes to stay here, now that things are being corrected," said Actor. "I will just go out to the car and get her belongings."
Julie waited until he had gone before running into Terry's embrace. "Thank you, Terry!"
"You're very welcome," laughed the woman. "Isn't that what fairy godmothers are for?" Her face took on a narrow-eyed look. "But after this, if there is a problem, call us first before you go taking train trips all over England."
"Yes, Ma'am," grinned the girl.
When Actor returned with her small bag, he received the same treatment and gave the same admonition as Teresa. He kissed Julie's forehead and received her kiss on his cheek. Mrs. Green came to get the girl and Actor stood at the doorway, watching his daughter disappear back out of his life again. He thought it was funny in an odd way that he missed her already.
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