Vendetta di Sangue
Chapter 8
Actor answered the telephone in Garrison's office the next morning. Maj. Schaeffer's crisp and disdainful voice reached him and informed him the rest of the team would be arriving at the mansion in a couple hours. Relief flowed through the con man. He thanked the major and sat back in Garrison's chair. Maybe now they could get back to normal. Actor would be glad to turn the reins of this group back over to the capable hands of the Warden. At the same time, anger surged through him at Teresa for putting herself, her brother, and Casino in danger so she could kill the man responsible for all this. Willing himself to lose the anger, he called Maj. Richards office to inform him and then went upstairs and told Garrison the three were on their way back.
Casino, Kelly and Terry entered the manor. Garrison, still looking the worse for wear, was sitting in the big chair closest to the window. He watched them with question.
"It's done," said Terry simply.
Garrison nodded in relief. Casino took off his jacket and hung it on the coat tree. Terry and Kelly were shrugging out of theirs.
"Are you happy, Teresa?" asked Actor disgustedly, ignoring the fact the lieutenant was sitting there.
Terry nodded, handing her jacket to her kid brother. "Very. We got it done and nobody was hurt or killed on either side." She thought it prudent to omit the German who had attacked her. Craig didn't need that right now.
"Really Teresa?" scoffed the con man in disbelief.
Terry turned to glare at him. "Really Actor." She walked upstairs, leaving the other two down there.
"What happened?" asked Garrison, stifling a hot retort at his second.
"We set smoke bombs in the building. Gave the people time to get out before the explosives took the place down," said Kelly. "And Alex is in the hands of G-2."
Casino shook his head. "I'd'ave just offed the weasel, but Sister wanted him alive." He turned to Kelly. "I did like that bit about the calf fries. That girl has a wicked sense of humor."
"I think she was tempted," laughed Kelly. He looked long and hard at the confidence man and then turned to his brother. "These two," he gestured toward Actor and upstairs, "always like this?"
"Seems to be getting that way," admitted Garrison, none too pleased himself.
Casino could not resist slinging one at the haughty Italian. "Hey, Warden, maybe we should trade him out to Lt. Johnson, and get Carter back. Things were a lot quieter then."
"Too quiet," said Terry, bounding down the stairs, still in army fatigues. "I'll keep him, even if he is a snot sometimes. And where are my clothes? Half of them are gone." She ignored Actor's look of outrage, that had the others grinning.
"Your sister is washing everybody's clothes," said Craig. "I think she's nesting."
Terry shot him a look of astonishment. "She's knocked up?" she asked in disbelief.
Chief stared too, knowing they hadn't done anything to get her in that condition.
"Says not," said Craig. "Guess she's just bored." He looked at the middle girl innocently. "Are you? You're prickly enough for it."
Now Actor stared at Teresa, face still and masked, knowing he had used precautions the entire night they had spent together.
Terry gave Garrison a smart grin that ended in a curled lip. "No. Not planning on it either."
Kelly laughed and said to his brother. "Can you see those two knocked up at the same time? I'll go stay on the Continent. It's safer."
"I can send you there now," offered Terry. "Christine Josette Garrison!"
Garrison settled back in his comfortable chair, sure he had upset two of the men with his remarks. Granted he did not know if either party was engaging in the kind of activities with his sisters that could have that result. Probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to put a little fear and uncertainty into the oldest and the youngest of his men. It was a start at regaining control of himself and the others again. And it kept his mind off other, more painful, things, if only for a moment.
Fatigue settled over him like a heavy damp cloud rolling over the rugged peaks into their valley at home. Craig levered himself out of the chair, waving away the offers of help from his men, and dragged himself upstairs to his bed. Alone, the memories flooded into his mind. Jenny, laughing and smiling seductively from their bed in the tiny apartment in Oslo. Jenny laughing during their brief, infrequent times together in Chelsea. Jenny, tied to a chair being beaten, screaming as her fingernails were pulled out with pliers, one at a time. Jenny, turning her battered face up and spitting in the leering face of the Gestapo major, earning her a blackened eye. Jenny, refusing to tell them anything and getting a bullet between her eyes for her insolence. Jenny, being dragged by her ankles from the room, leaving a trail of blood, hair and gray matter on the floor; dragged from his life forever. At that moment, he had lost even the will to live. He continued to not answer his captors, uncaring instead of defiant. But that was against his grain and slowly his head had come up and the familiar glare he was capable of pinned his interrogators.
A light knock on his door brought him back to the present. Christine entered with a napkin covered tray of food. Craig forced a smile that did not fool the young woman for an instant. When he sat up in the bed, she placed the tray on his lap and took a seat in the chair beside him. Craig took the cover from the food and made himself pick up a half of the sandwich to make her happy. He took a bite and found it tasteless, though his sister had slathered it with mustard and homemade mayonnaise to hide the flavor of the spam.
"As long as you have the memories of her, she will never leave you," said Crystal softly. "It will be hard, but don't let the last images you have of her be the only things you remember. Remember the good times. I know there had to have been good times or you wouldn't have married her. Don't let death be the only thing you have left of her."
Garrison stared at her. How did one so young have that kind of insight?
Chris patted his leg. "You'll get through this," she said with quiet certainty, "but remember, you have family here to help you if you need it and those four men you lead are here to help too. Let them. They may need it too." She smiled. "Terry's back now. I'm going back to Brandonshire this afternoon. I need to get back to work."
"The Fox or your 'other' work?" asked her brother.
She gave a small shrug. "Both."
"Chris . . ."
"Uhn uh. You can't talk me or Kell out of it. It's too late for that." She rubbed his leg. "And we worry about you too. We'll be careful, if you will."
Garrison nodded.
Chris left him and gathered her things from the spare room. She walked down the stairs and set her bags by the front door. Chief said nothing, but eyed her and the bags. She gave him a quick tiny smile.
"Kell?" she said.
Her brother got up from the game table and walked over to her with crossed arms. She put a hand on his forearm and leaned closer.
"Can you stay a few days?"
"I guess so," he said. "Craig?"
"He's trying to hide it, but he's having a hard time," said the girl. "You can have the spare bedroom," she put in the bribe.
He gave a snort. "Yeah, I'm good. I need a rest for a couple days anyway before I go back in."
"Where?" she asked with a bit of concern.
Another shrug and he answered, "Wherever they send me. Same as you."
Chris hugged the uninjured brother; something she had been afraid to do to Craig. She looked at the men and smiled. "Bye, Guys."
"Thank you, Christine," said Actor graciously. "Your presence has been greatly appreciated."
Terry came around the corner from the kitchen. "Sure, leave me with all the ironing." She grinned. "Take care, Sister." She hugged the younger girl.
"Can I take the MG?" Chris asked with a gleam in her eye.
"Ask him," Terry inclined her head toward the Italian.
Actor eyed Crystal, but tempered it with a nod. "We will come and retrieve it though."
"Thanks, Actor."
With a smile and grab of the keys from the phone table, she picked up her bags and bounced out the door; an odd combination of youth and age.
GGG
Maybe it was the aftermath of the mission, he didn't know. Casino woke up with a yell, in a cold sweat. He looked at the clock. It was two in the morning. He heard the doors open up and down the hall. Terrific, he had woke up the whole house. Couldn't hide this one. He swung his legs out of the bed and walked to the door. They were all in the hall, except Garrison. Terry was putting a robe on over her nightgown.
Actor looked at the sheen of perspiration on the safecracker's face and recognized the cause. He turned his head as Teresa approached.
"Teresa, go back to bed," said Actor. He saw her sharp look of hurt and confusion. It was something he would have to deal with later. "Go. Please . . ."
Without a word, the young woman turned and went back to her room, closing the door firmly behind her. Actor closed his eyes for a moment and then turned his attention back to the safecracker.
"Casino, let us go visit the Warden. I am sure he is awake. I believe there might be something in his room that would be of help," said Actor.
Knowing he wasn't going back to sleep for awhile, afraid to go back to sleep, Casino nodded and followed the con man. Goniff and Chief went back to their rooms.
The lamp on Garrison's night table cast a low yellowish light across the bed and almost to the door. He looked at his two men with concern.
"Sorry, Warden," apologized Casino. "I didn't mean to wake you up."
"You didn't," said Garrison. "I have a hard time sleeping right now."
Casino took the desk chair. Actor sent a questioning look at the lieutenant and received a nod in return.
"I think there are three glasses," said Garrison.
Casino looked between the two men and waited while Actor opened the armoire and retrieved the rapidly dwindling bottle of bourbon, and three glasses. The con man used the desk as a table to pour the spirits in equal strong amounts into each glass. One was handed to Casino and one was placed on the table beside the lieutenant. With a grimace of pain, the officer pushed himself up to lean against the headboard. Actor took a seat on the foot of the bed, facing the other two. Glasses were raised and the first sip taken.
"This the first time with the dream?" asked Garrison.
Casino shook his head. "Naw. But this was the longest. Like I couldn't wake up from it." He looked at the lieutenant. "You gettin' 'em already?"
"Every time I close my eyes," said the battered man.
Casino glanced at Actor to see his response and was surprised to see the man withdrawn into himself, a frown on his face. He never thought the con man capable of feeling distress. 'Course he never thought about Garrison bein' that way either.
"The pain started out like a surprise," Casino said. "But it just kept buildin' and buildin', 'til all there was was the pain. Then after awhile, it just leveled out. It was like my mind stepped away. I was aware, but it was like my body was a piece of meat, not me."
Actor watched him, listening, understanding in his own way.
Garrison nodded and gave a snort. "I wished the pain would have taken over, but it didn't. Oh it was there and it was almost overpowering, but what was worse was seeing what they did to her, watching them kill her, watching them drag her away by the ankles like a piece of garbage. That was the worst.
"Jeez, Warden," said Casino, wide-eyed. "I didn't know you saw it. I thought she was . . . dead . . . before they started on you."
Garrison shook his head. He shot a quick glance at the tall man sitting silently at his feet, but addressed Casino. "You know, there was one thing in our favor."
"What?" asked the safecracker dubiously.
"We knew someone would come for us." Garrison looked at Casino now leaving it up to Actor if he wanted to join this conversation. "Even though I wasn't with you guys, I knew you would come looking for me. The army knew where I was. They knew to send you."
Casino nodded. Then it struck him. Nobody had known where Actor was. And he had to have known that. While he and the Warden knew someone would come for them, Actor knew nobody would be comin' for him. He fixed his eyes on the con man. For the first time, Actor avoided his gaze.
"Never thought about that either," said Casino. He addressed the man he liked to annoy. "Thought you were always in control. Sure, we can make you mad. But, it wasn't like you're the same as the rest of us. Only yuh are." Actor glanced at him under eyebrows. "Okay maybe not much like the rest of us, but yuh know what I mean."
"Yes," said Actor quietly, "I know what you mean."
"We're all human," said Garrison. "We all feel joy. We all feel sadness. We all feel pain on different levels."
"And we all feel fear."
Casino looked sharply at the Italian. He never expected something like that outta the man. "Didn't think you were ever afraid."
"I am very good at hiding it," said Actor. "Does not mean I do not feel it." He looked up at Casino. "You've been in stir more than once. You know you can't show it. You can't let them know you are afraid. If you do, they have you. The screws . . . the inmates . . . the Germans."
There was nothing to be said after that truth. The men sat in silence, drinking their bourbon, and mulling their own personnel hells.
GGG
The days passed. Kelly spent afternoons with his older brother. They talked about the state of the war, what Kelly and his sister and friends were doing and anything else . . . except Jenny. Craig tried to get the boy to go home, but to no avail. After awhile Garrison realized he wasn't talking to a boy anymore, but a man and seasoned resistance fighter. He wondered if any of them would be the same after the war and doubted it.
Terry avoided Actor as though he had bubonic plague. She answered if spoken to, but the camaraderie and open affection was gone. Casino watched. It would be in his favor if the girl dumped the con man, but he still had no proof there really was any romance between the two. That got the safecracker watching Actor.
Casino couldn't help but notice that Actor was avoiding him too or more specifically avoiding him more than usual. Then, suddenly, it hit him. The con man had opened up a part of himself he had always kept hidden. They had talked about fear. Maybe Actor was worried about what he would do with what he had heard. And maybe there had been a time Casino would have held it over the man. Not now. Not after that conversation that had brought the three men together. Only maybe Actor didn't know that.
He waited until they were alone in the common room and walked past the con man. "What we talked about with the Warden, that stays with just the three of us. Yuh know?"
Actor finally looked him in the eyes. Slowly he nodded.
"'Course yuh already know it ain't gonna stop me from givin' you a hard time," Casino added.
It brought a grin to the older man's face. "I still expect no less of you, Casino," said Actor, with a smile.
So the con man continued to be called 'Beautiful' and told to 'butt out," with regularity. Still, there was something withdrawn about the man. Garrison noticed it. He knew there was bad feelings between his second and his sister and refused to get involved with their personal problems. Craig issued a 72 hour pass to London to all the men, in the hopes it would improve the Italian's state of mind. It didn't.
It was Kelly who became the catalyst. When he wasn't talking with Craig, he began having conversations with the older man. Actor did not talk down to him. The man was a wealth of information and a good teacher. Kelly started picking up more of the con from the master. Finally he broached the subject.
"What's with you and Terry?"
"Nothing," said Actor, shuttering down.
"I don't buy it," said Kelly. "The way she is with you since we got back ain't my sister."
"I do not wish to discuss your sister," said Actor firmly. He reached for the newspaper that was lying on the table they were at in the library.
Kelly shrugged. The man still scared him a little, but it did not stop him. "Okay, so don't discuss it with me, but you might want to get it straightened out with her. Especially if the two of you are going back to working the way you were before this happened to Craig. You're going back in again at some point. I figure it would be better for everyone if you two could at least tolerate each other."
Actor opened the paper and ignored the boy. Kelly got up and left the room. Actor's eyes followed his back. He was finding the Garrisons were all too astute.
Not much changed. Garrison was able to come downstairs and do paperwork at his desk. It was a matter of his face healing more before the missions would resume. His ribs were improving and if need be he was sure he could handle parachuting again.
The phone rang one afternoon to be answered by Garrison. He called out to his brother. Kelly picked up the one by the stairs. With a shake of his head, he asked when he would be picked up. Christine now had a beat up but serviceable car and she would get him in an hour.
"Guess the vacation's over," Kelly said to his brother.
"Looks that way," said Craig, coming to lean on the door frame, arms crossed over his chest.
Terry came downstairs with an empty laundry basket. Before she could ask what the phone was about her younger brother gave her a wide smile.
"Hey, think you could make us some sandwiches for the road?"
Terry let the basket dangle from one hand in resignation. "Chris going?"
Kelly nodded.
"The boys going too?" Terry asked.
"The four of us," said Kelly.
"Okay," she smiled. "I think I got enough to feed all four of you."
She disappeared into the kitchen while the boy went upstairs to get a bag packed. A half hour later, Kelly's bag and a sack full of sandwiches was waiting by the door. Chief was watching out the window and saw the car turn into the drive from the road.
"She's here," said the Indian.
Casino stood and walked past Kelly, motioning for him to come along. Curious, Kelly followed him into the kitchen. Casino turned to look at him with a crooked smile.
"Listen, Kid," he said. "You be careful out there okay?"
Kelly nodded. "Hey, you take care of yourself. And take care of Terry. She can get a little crazy sometimes."
"Junior, that's your whole family," chuckled Casino. Kelly nodded in appreciation of that truism. Casino sobered, "I'll do my damnedest to keep her safe."
Kelly smiled, "Yeah, I know." He cocked his head and looked curiously at the man. "Casino, do you have a name?"
That surprised Casino a little. "Charlie, Charlie Coletti."
"Well, Charlie, it was a pleasure working with you," said Kelly.
"Good working with you too, Kelly."
Kelly held his hand out. Casino took it and shook it. He gave a short laugh and tugged on the boy's hand. Kelly moved in for a hug and a slap on the back which he returned. They separated and walked back into the main room.
Craig hooked an arm around the boy's neck and pulled him into a hug. Kelly moved over to Terry and gave her a hug too.
"Try to stay out of cathouses," she whispered.
"Only for recreation, Sis," he whispered back mischievously.
"Kelly Garrison!"
"Just kidding!"
Kelly shook hands with the other men and headed for the door. He paused in the open doorway and looked back at Casino. With a cocky grin he said, "See you later, Ferretface."
Terry rolled her eyes.
"Get outta here, Junior," said Casino in mock annoyance.
With a grin, the boy picked up his bag and the sack and went out the door to the sound of the car horn.
GGG
Keeping a watch on Garrison's recovery, Actor knew it would not be long before the expected phone call. Kelly's words had stayed with him and though he would never admit that to anyone, the boy was right about the teamwork with Teresa.
Actor walked out the back door into the garden. Teresa was on her knees pulling weeds from her vegetable bed and thinning carrots with gloves on and her hair tied back. She gave a half glance at his high topped laced boots when he stopped between the rows beside her.
"Come to the gazebo, please," Actor said. "There are some things we need to clear up."
Terry shook her head. "I don't think there's anything we need to talk about."
"Which is precisely why we need to talk."
Terry sat back on her heels, tilted her head back, and looked at him with wary distrust. He held his hand down to her. For a second she debated, but took her gloves off, reached up for his hand and rose to her feet. He led her to the gazebo and escorted her inside. She sat down on the bench seat and looked at her hands in her lap, very aware of him sitting beside her.
"What?" she asked. She just wanted to get this over with.
"I think you do not understand what has happened between us," said Actor.
"Oh, I think I understand," said the girl bitterly. "It's been wrong with us every since London. Then you disappeared for three months. When you came back I hit you. I was wrong, but that just seemed to end it. You've been angry with me ever since. Not that I blame you. But no matter what I do, you get mad. Okay, you regret that night at your house. I don't expect you to want a repeat. I'm sorry I listened to you and stayed there after that. I'll get your key back to you. As for Norway, that was something I had to do. It had nothing to do with you. And now you tell me to go back to bed instead of seeing to Casino. You're right. Some things I don't understand."
Actor took a deep breath. "Let's start with Casino. Teresa, there are some things a man cannot discuss with a woman. This was one of those things. And it is between me, the Warden, and Casino and no one else. It has nothing to do with you personally. Do I regret that night in London? No. Not now or ever. Norway? I am feeling things for you I swore I would never allow myself to feel again. And you were so determined to get yourself killed along with that young woman. A blood vendetta. You think I don't understand that? Oh, but I do. I was afraid it was going to be your blood as it was one time mine."
Terry stared at him is shock. This was not what she had thought he was going to tell her. "Careful," she warned. "You are getting close to deep water."
"I think it is a bit late for that, cara. I think we are already there." He was uncharacteristically without words. He knew what he needed to say, but not how to say it and frankly he was uncomfortable saying it. He tried anyway. "Teresa, you are so different from the women I am accustomed to. I find that . . . intriguing and desirable. But, I have been the way I am for more than half my life. I don't know how to change. . ."
"Stop!" said Terry. "Just stop, Actor." She used that name on purpose.
He looked at her with a frown.
"Caro, I know what you are. I know how you are. I don't expect you to use that word, you know, that four-letter word that would get you in trouble. I am not asking you to change." Now she struggled to say what she needed to say. "We both know that when the war ends, we end. You obviously know now that I am not some feather-headed society girl prude." She glanced up sharply at him. "That doesn't mean I sleep around. If I have a relationship with a man, that man has to be special to me. I've told you before, you're special to me. I think of you as a friend, and if you are still willing, a lover." Her face took on a severe look she had learned from him. "I do expect that you take care I don't catch anything."
"I am very conscientious about that," he objected indignantly.
She smiled. "I know."
Actor watched her stand and straddle his knees. Teresa reached her hands out to cup his face. She bent down and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Backing up, she studied his face to see his reaction. Placing hands on her hips, he firmly pushed her back two steps so he could stand. Dio, he needed this. He needed more than this, but that wasn't possible here. Now he pulled her to him and claimed her lips with his. Any qualms he might have entertained were quickly removed by the tiny sound she made and her arms going around his waist. He kissed her and the kiss was returned and intensified.
The sound of the back door tore them apart. They could see Garrison slowly making his way down the steps.
"My turn," whispered Teresa.
She stomped down the steps of the gazebo, pausing at the bottom to turn back.
"You are not my father, so don't tell me what I can and can't do!" she flung at him.
Actor's voice held an edge of anger. "I am merely concerned about your safety and well-being, as you seem not to be!"
"Oh, cut the crap, Actor. You're just mad because I wouldn't do what you told me to do. I do know what I'm doing. Nobody got hurt and we didn't blow ourselves up. Just stick that in your pipe and smoke it."
Terry stomped off. As she passed her brother, she said in disgust. "Arrogant, Italian man! Maybe we should have kept Carter."
Garrison watched her storm into the house. With a shake of his head, he turned back to the gazebo. Actor was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, clearly in a foul mood. Yes, it was going to be a long war. He watched his second in command walk down the steps and approach him. The two men exchanged looks, Garrison trying to contain his humor and Actor his frustration that was not for the reason the lieutenant thought.
"Warden, do not ever put me in a position to go on any more missions with your siblings. I don't believe I could stand a repeat of this."
Craig could not contain his grin now. "Well, you're going to have to work with that one," he said nodding toward the kitchen. "We have a mission."