Casino

Casino's plans for his forty-eight hour pass were simple. Go to London with Goniff, stay in their usual small hotel, spend a lot of time in the pub and hopefully persuade the two girls they'd both been seeing over the past year, when in the city, to take them back to their place.

Normally the little Limey was even keener than he was to get back to the smoke, but this time he'd had to almost threaten violence to get him to come too.

"Nah mate. You go on your own. You don't need me, not with Ruthie there waiting to look after your needs."

Casino had to admit that things hadn't gone too well for Goniff with Ruthie's friend Edith the last time they'd been there. Edith'd had a new friend in tow, a spiv called Freddie, and Goniff hadn't got a look in.

The safecracker had been vaguely aware that something had been going on during the night, but hadn't bothered to investigate. He'd heard the motor-cycle courier but since there hadn't been a call to arms from the Warden he'd quickly gone back to sleep.

When Casino finally awoke and checked his watch it was late and he'd be pushing it to grab breakfast and make the train. Forgoing a shower he threw on some clothes, stuffed a few civvies into his grip and shot downstairs. Goniff was sat waiting in the hallway, dressed in the tan suit he always wore for his London trips. Casino was surprised just how unhappy the pickpocket was looking, but threw the thought to one side. The man would be fine once he got away from the Mansion.

"Where's Actor? Thought he was coming too?" Casino shot into the kitchen and helped himself to a slab of bread and jam. Returning to the hallway he found the conman making his way wearily down the stairs. His normally swarthy skin still had a grey tinge and his breathing was harsh, but he was smartly dressed, as usual.

"I am not sure that I am ready for this trip," the conman commented to anyone who was listening. Goniff was listening and agreed, but he was too wary of Casino to voice his thoughts.

The Warden had given the London-bound men permission to use a jeep from the motor pool for the trip to the station and Casino had promoted himself to driver for the day. The way Actor was looking they'd probably end up in a ditch rather than at the station.

What was wrong with these guys? thought Casino as they sat silently on the train. OK, so they'd been sick, but they hadn't had to fly half way round the world, get chased by the Mafia, bounce up and down in a toy boat then fly home again. They didn't know when they had it good.

It was with relief that the safecracker jumped down from the train, dragging Goniff with him and leaving Actor to his own devices. It was par for the course - they would always part company at the station and go their separate ways for the duration of their leave.

He looked at his watch. It was too early for the pub to be open... boarding house it would have to be. He headed out on foot for the place where he and the Limey always stayed when they were paying for their own accommodation. It wasn't anything fancy but the landlady, Mrs P, was a good sort, would usually come up with something for breakfast and didn't say anything if they brought a dame back providing they didn't upset the other guests or trash the room.

In the ordinary way of things, Casino would have phoned the pub to pass on messages to Ruthie and Mrs P to let them know he was coming, but for once there hadn't been time.

As expected the Mrs P's front door was locked but a bit of hammering on it had resulted in a head emerging from an upstairs window followed a short while later by the unlocking of the front door. "Casino, Goniff, why didn't you say you were coming?" she admonished ushering the two boys inside. "Usual room? Just the one night?"

"Nah, it's two this time. Warden's got us 48-hour passes." Casino passed over the money for the room - he'd get Goniff's share back later - and received a key in return. It didn't mean much being given the key - the room didn't lock and it wouldn't open the front door, but it was symbolic.

Casino dumped his bag on the floor and crashed onto the bed, wincing slightly as the frame protested at his weight and the thin mattress failed to protect him from the springs. When they'd all been sleeping on cots in the common room this bed had felt wonderful. Now with their own rooms in the Mansion and decent mattresses he'd become spoiled. He closed his eyes and let sleep take him. It had been an early morning and he wanted to be at his most rested for whatever the afternoon had to bring...

The pub, when the two men finally entered was quieter than Casino had ever seen it. Just the barkeep polishing glasses and a couple of losers nursing half-empty glasses of beer. Leaving Goniff to reserve their normal table, the safecracker made his way to the bar. "Two of the usual," ordered Casino, throwing the coins onto the bar and receiving two full glasses filled with amber liquid in return. "Expecting Ruthie and Edith in later?"

"Nah, haven't seen Edie for weeks, think she took off with Freddie. Ruthie were in last night but didn't stay long. Said sumthin' about needin' to get back to her ma."

"Right, thanks." Casino carried the glasses back to the Limey and set them down, wondering what he should do next.

Goniff took a sip, pulled a slight face and put his glass back down. "How about sumfink to eat? I'm starvin'."

"You're always starving." But maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. "Hey Patrick, got anything to eat?"

"Meat pie and gravy, same as always," came back the reply.

The food, when it came was pretty mediocre, the meat was tough and full of gristle but the pastry and gravy were ok and it was hot. Casino downed the last of his pint. Goniff's was still half-full. "Want another?"

"Nah, not thirsty," came the reply. "Here, I'll get you one." The little thief wriggled out of his seat and returned with another full glass. "Think I might go back to Mrs P's, mate. Not feeling too special. You OK on your own?"

"Yeah, no sweat." It might be better this way, thought Casino. Without Goniff to worry about he could go see Ruthie. You never knew - she just might invite him in.

With Goniff gone, the safecracker finished his pint, visited the gents and spruced himself up as much as he could, then headed out for where Ruthie lived a few streets away.

The house had seen better times - the nets were yellow and could have done with a good wash, the paint was flaking off the door and the step hadn't been holystoned in a while. The curtains at the front upstairs window were pulled closed. That was Ruth's room, he thought. Her ma had the one at the back. Maybe she'd got sick too? Well, he was here now, might as well say hello. He rapped on the door and stood back.

Upstairs a curtain twitched, but no-one came to the door. Casino knocked again and this time was rewarded with the sounds of movement from within. Finally, the front door was opened and a woman peered out. Her dark hair was dishevelled, she had no make-up on and was wearing a candlewick dressing gown that had seen better days.

Yeah, she had to be sick, he thought. "Ruth, it's Charlie. Was just passing, thought I'd look you up babe."

Casino had only added the 'Charlie' bit as the woman was looking at him as though she barely remembered him. Well, it had been a while.

"Charlie," she repeated, "It's bin a while..." The door wasn't opening any wider, so Casino stayed where he was on the pavement.

A loud, male voice came from within the property. "Ruthie, who's that? Whoever it is, get rid of him. Come back to bed."

"Just a salesman, Jack," she called back over her shoulder. "Told 'im we don't want none of his tat. I'm on me way."

The door started to close. "Ruthie?" Casino started to take a step forward. He knew he hadn't been around much, but he hadn't expected to get rejected like that.

"Bye Charlie," she said, pushing the door closed. "Don't bother dropping round again. Not unless you want to pay..."

GG GG GG GG

It was a somewhat chastened New Yorker that walked away. He didn't walk straight back to the boarding house, he needed to think. Who was the man? Boyfriend, husband, paying customer? He didn't know and now he thought about it he wasn't sure he wanted to. Had she always been a hooker? Probably, but then she'd never asked him for money - yeah, a drink here and there or a meal. He thought she'd enjoyed his company and he was pretty sure his performance between the sheets had left her satisfied... but then with dames you could never be sure. He shrugged his coat collar tighter around his neck. The wind was getting up and he was getting cold. He hadn't planned on walking the streets and wasn't dressed warmly enough. Reluctantly he turned around and headed back to his room. It might not be warm, but it would still be better than this.

The front door was unlocked when he got back, but of Mrs P there was no sign. His room was empty too. Where'd the little Limey got to, he thought? Then spotted that it wasn't just the Cockney that was missing, his case had gone too. A scrap of paper on his bed filled in the missing clue. 'Took train home, G'.

The little good for nothing... Casino's first thought was anger that he'd been run out on, but it was quickly followed with guilt. He'd dragged the man all the way to London even though he had no reason to want to go, just to keep him company when he wasn't seeing to his own needs. It was ironic really that things hadn't panned out. The safe-cracker looked at his watch. If he hurried he might just have time to get the next train. Stuffing his clothes into his case he went looking for Mrs P to tell her something had come up and he had to get back.

"That's all right dear," she replied. "Better for me in some ways. Means I can go and visit my niece tonight and stay over. Thought I'd have to come back but I don't like being out in the dark what with the way things are. See you next time."

Casino made his way to the station and headed for the platform, expecting to see the familiar black engine puffing away gently. It wasn't there. Had he missed the train? His watch said not. Trains ran late but they never left early. After a search he ran the ticket master to ground. No more trains that night. There'd been a broken rail. Yes, it'd be fixed by morning, come back then.

Casino had nowhere to go. He hadn't thought to ask Mrs P for a refund and she'd have gone to her niece's by now. He just about had enough for a meal and that was it. Reluctantly he made his way to a run down café round the corner from the station, filled his stomach with some sort of undefined stew that was marginally better than the pie he'd had for lunch, then slunk back to the station. The gentleman's first class waiting room was empty and sporting a cheerful little coal fire. He didn't have a first class ticket, but he'd cross that bridge if it came to it. He curled up on a bench and tried to sleep.

Luckily for Casino the man responsible for the room and its little fire was a tolerant sort. It wasn't the first time he'd seen one of the Yanks caught out and miss their trains home. OK, this one wasn't in uniform but he'd been polite and was well dressed. No doubt he'd be in for it when he got back to base, late. Providing no-one caused a fuss he'd let the man stay where he was until the morning.

Casino was back on the platform in plenty of time for the morning train. He'd managed a quick shave in the toilets, but that was about all he could do. He now regretted leaving the Mansion without a shower the previous day. OK - on missions they'd go for days without clean clothes or a shower, but this wasn't a mission.

Sunk in thought, Casino didn't see the man approach him until they were almost toe to toe. Surprised, the safecracker looked up.

"Casino?"

It was Actor. What was he doing here at this time in the morning? He should have been shacked up with one of his high class ladies preparing for a breakfast of champagne and caviare or whatever he had for breakfast in the smart hotels he went to. Casino looked closer at the man towering over him. Actually, he didn't look too good. Maybe he hadn't been conning when he said he wasn't up to a trip like this. He wouldn't have risked letting down one of his dames by an inferior performance, it would have been all over the Capital in hours. Casino huffed, entertained at the thought.

He saw Actor look up and down the platform, obviously wondering where Goniff was. "Little Limey ran out on me yesterday, went back to the base," offered Casino, hoping that was an end to the matter. He wasn't in the mood for the Spanish Inquisition regarding his own early return.

Fortunately it was. The return to the Mansion took place in silence, each man absorbed in his own thoughts.