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Goniff slouched further down in the back seat of the car then thought better of it and straightened up again. He was dressed for it he might as well start acting the part and he didn't want to wrinkle his uniform. He remembered the haughty look Actor always got when he was playing an officer... The little man stuck his chin up and tried looking down his nose only to sway a moment later as he got dizzy when his eyes crossed… He'd have to come up with something else. Maybe the snobby way the con man held and smoked his cigarette. Yeah! That'd do it! He smiled to himself and started patting down the pockets. That guy even had a little thingy to hold the fag, he'd seen it somewhere when they'd searched through the contents of the pockets. Goniff had just gotten it all set up and taken his first drag when the brothers waved the their first car to a stop.

He'd gone over it with them in the car as they drove out to this spot. They were set up on the road that the brothers said the man would have to use, the only one into the area they'd said. Goniff hoped they were right on that. They were going to stop cars out there and the brothers were to tell 'em they were checking everyone's papers on account a the resistance impersonating Germans. If it was regular soldiers they would let 'em through, but if it was officers they was to ask their business and just point over to him in the car if they got any back talk. He'd tip 'em the nod to let the car through after he got a sign from Luca… He was to step up to the car along with Jon and just take a step back if it wasn't the fella they wanted. It was simple enough it ought a work, he figured, less they stopped a bloke that was a higher mucky than he was…. Even then, if they saw he was SS they'd get away with it. They'd managed to con that column commander that time hadn't they, and he'd been a bleedin' general!

He watched as the brothers went into their act, Jon leaning into the window and doing the talking while Luca stood looking on. He heard as the angry voices drifting out the window of the vehicle fell silent as Jon waved towards him. The big man straightened and called out, reading from the papers he held in his hand. Goniff watched as Luca stepped back to the edge of the roadway. He gave what he hoped was a regal nod of his head and tried to work up enough spit to swallow as the car pulled past him. Taking a deep breath he let it whistle out between his teeth and grinned back at the two standing in the road. One down, and they weren't dead yet.

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Goniff almost missed the signal. He'd gotten comfortable in the car and grown used to causally waving the vehicles through. Just to change things up he'd let some of them wait, fixing a steely gaze on the windscreen before finally letting them get on their way. He listened as Jon read off the papers and he had his hand up and almost gave the sign to the driver to move forward before he realized that Luca was still standing next to his brother. Knocking the ash from the end of the fag he pretended that's what he'd meant to do all along as Jon played out the next scene.

The occupants were ordered from the vehicle. Jon told them they had orders to search the car. There was no way for them to know they'd been the only ones to get that treatment this morning. Luca motioned the driver around to open the trunk while Jon waved the passenger over to him. Goniff tried not to shake as he brought the cigarette holder to his lips and took a deep drag, he let the smoke curl up out of his mouth as he stared forward. The little thief's right hand grasped the pistol that lay on the seat next to him and he watched from the corner of his eye as the officer struggled across the road towards him. The bloke was kind a twisted and walked with a cane, but as he was pretending to ignore him the cat burglar wouldn't be able to get a good look at him until everything was over… if their luck held out. There was just two of 'em, that was good, just the driver and this fella that was dragging himself closer to the car.

The sound of a struggle caused the German officer to twist back around to look towards his car. He stared down the barrel of the rifle Jon held but took instant advantage when that wavered, knocking the weapon from the big man's hands with his cane. Goniff thought he was ready when the Jerrie turned back to assault him the same way. He managed to keep the gun on him and croaked out a warning for him to stop where he was as Jon collected himself and threw an arm around the mark's throat. The sound of a muffled shot pulled the little burglar's attention from the apparition that struggled in Jon's grip in front of him. The driver hadn't followed Luca's instructions to stand still, instead making a try for the rifle. His body was being pulled off into the bushes. When he'd finished that job Luca trotted across the road to help his brother, stuffing his handkerchief in the mark's mouth and throwing the sack Goniff tossed him over the German officer's head, pinning his arms down while Jon whipped a cord around the man's neck and pulled it tight… that finally convinced him to stand still. They soon had him trussed up like a Christmas goose and bundled into the trunk of the car… Goniff hadn't gotten out to help, he didn't trust his knees to hold him up.

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It'd taken both brothers to carry their prize back up to the cave. Goniff figured even if the bloke had wanted to cooperated with them, which he definitely didn't, he wouldn't've been able to make the climb up from where they left the cars. They decided against taking the bag off his head, just seemed all of them could concentrate better that way. When they arrived at their refuge the man was dumped into the far corner of the cave, back out of the light. Goniff took a deep breath before he unwrapped him, and didn't waste much time on the job of patting him down for his orders, turning his back on him as soon as he had them, and moving back over the settle down next to the Warden.

Garrison checked the papers over, looked up and smiled at him. "Good?" the little man asked.

"Great!" The Warden had to take a minute to recover from the cough his comment caused him. That lashing and then hanging out in the cold rain left him with a raw, sore throat that closed up on him if he tried to talk much above a whisper. Goniff leaned in closer so he could hear.

"Looks like these papers give him rights to all the prisoners."

"That mean you'll be able to get in to talk to 'em"

"Better. It means I'll be able to order them all released to me."

Goniff sat back and grinned at his commander. "We're gonna need more uniforms, boots, rifles… and a truck."

"You got it!"

"I know just where to go." He got up, eager to get back to town and get what they needed so they could get in and get the rest of the fellas out of that castle.

Garrison caught his arm and pulled him back around to face him. "Goniff, don't you think an SS Colonel's going to be a little too conspicuous for the job?"

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It hadn't taken long to collect up the extra supplies they were going to need. Jon and Luca had quickly gotten comfortable playing the part of Germans and showed a natural talent for blending in with the local soldiers. It was lunchtime again and Luca had gone into the café while Goniff and Jon hit the cleaners and the cobbler for the second time. They'd come up with a plan… Goniff only lifted a few things. He found uniforms for Actor and Casino. Chief would be herded into the back of the truck with the guys from the resistance. Simple, ought a work just fine.

When they arrived back at the cave they shared around the food Luca'd bought at the café. It was a sight more filling than the stale bread they'd been living on for the last two days. Goniff and Jon had just finished the disagreeable task of stripping their guest out of his uniform tunic and shirt, Garrison had a better use for them. They'd all gathered together around the fire as they went over the plans again. Luca confirming that, according to what he could find out, Major Todeskopf had never been in the area before, and relating some of the stories that were being told about him in the town, and Estera providing details on the grounds and floor plan of the castle the Germans were using as their base of operations… she'd worked as a servant there when she was just a girl.

The Warden sent the others off to get some rest and Goniff sat watching him as he continued to turn the plan over and over in his head… The little man knew what was coming next.

"Look, Goniff, I'm not going to be much good to you for anything other than a diversion if it comes to a fight."

He laughed and looked at his commander. "Don't waste your breath, Warden. I ain't fallen for it."

Garrison caught him by the wrist. "Listen to me! If it comes down to a choice you've got to get Enric Iagar out of there. It's what we came for." He frowned and continued to stare into the second story man's face. "He's too important to the Allies. We need him out where he can organize the resistance and sabotage efforts in this area." Even at a whisper his voice held a note of command. "They've just started making an impact, delaying delivery of fuel and oil from the refineries here, blowing the wellheads in the oil fields themselves. …He's just started getting information out to us." Garrison watched as the look on Goniff's face grew serious. "It'd be worth the price, Goniff. If it comes down to it you have to get him the hell out of there. Understand?"

"Sure, Warden. I understand." And he did, and he'd do it too,,, if he had to, but he didn't know if he'd be able to explain it to the other blokes.

Garrison nodded, accepting the statement as the pick pocket's promise. He turned and studied the major as he sat in his corner.

"Don't worry Warden, with a little drop a makeup you'll be a perfect match."

Garrison laughed and choked on it. He matched up alright, except for the scars. Todeskopf walked with a cane and his shoulder was frozen, his arm almost useless. His papers said he'd been caught in a bombing raid and fire.. Garrison didn't think anyone but the base commandant would have the nerve to ask for the man's papers, but at least they would explain away his own injuries.

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Goniff smiled up at Estera as she handed him one of the mugs of sweet, hot tea, then frowned around at the Warden when she set his down in the dirt just out of his reach. "What'd you do t'her, then?"

The Warden nodded his thanks as the little man shoved the steaming cup closer where he could get to it. "She doesn't think much of me, I'm afraid."

"You didn't try and get fresh, now, did ya?" Goniff teased.

Garrison snorted into his tea and shook his head.

"What's wrong with her then?" The little man watched as the young woman settled in across the cave to talk to Luca.

"Garrison shrugged his good shoulder up. "Her husband got picked up by the Germans. He might be dead for all we know… And I'm the reason. He was coming to meet me."

"But that ain't logical!"

The reply was quiet, "Logic has nothing to do with it, Goniff."

Goniff watched as Luca slipped his arm around Estera's shoulder and pulled her against him as she cried. She was a pretty woman, he thought, she had a square face and soft brown hair, greenish brown eyes flecked with gold that reminded him of pebbles in a stream when the sunlight hit them. She was kind too. She'd been nice to him and concerned about the Warden, at least when she first got there…The pick pocket wished he had someone like that to worry over him. "You got a girl back home, Warden?"

"No."

There was something in the way that came out that wasn't exactly 'no'. Goniff turned and studied the Lieutenant a moment. "What 'appened?"

Garrison hesitated before he answered. "I didn't ask her to wait." Then he glanced over at the little cockney and shrugged. "She didn't." Before Goniff could ask his next question he cut him off. "You sure you know how to do this?"

"Warden! How 'ard could it be?" He picked up a jar. "A little dab a this stuff." and then lifted a box out of Actor's bag. "And a puff a this is all it'll take. I watched 'im a million times." Goniff nudged Garrison's arm with his elbow. "It's a piece a cake! Just lean back against your rock there and I'll 'ave you done up in a 'alf a mo."

The Lieutenant let the blanket he held around him drop and leaned back against the rock that had been heated in the fire and wrapped in wool to keep him warm while Goniff worked. He hoped he could hold still, that the cold that still seemed to seep out of his bones wouldn't start him shaking too badly. The little cockney's cheerful confidence set alarms going in his head. Seemed to him that disaster always followed close on the heels of Goniff's claims that something was going to be 'a piece a cake.'

Garrison took a deep breath and closed his eyes, they didn't have any other choice. The lid made a grating sound as it twisted free… A moment later he'd jerked himself away from the stone and was wiping frantically at the glop that had covered his face and was oozing down his neck and onto his chest.

"Blimey! Aw, Warden! I'm sorry, mate… Here, 'ere, now keep your hands down out of it. You'r gettin' it everywhere!" Goniff reached into the bag and snatched out a bottle but as he turned back to the Lieutenant it slipped from his fingers and broke on the ground between them. "Oooops!"

"Goniff! What was that?" Garrison couldn't see. He was wiping at his burning eyes but the lids seemed to be glued shut.

"S'nuffin,' the clumsy little cockney stuttered as he watched the liquid Actor used to remove his makeup soak into the dirt. "s'nuffin!'"

"Goniff?!" he growled as he reached his good hand out, groping the empty space where the little menace had been just before he'd gone blind.

They started at the sound of wood clattering to the ground and turned to see, at least Goniff turned to see, Jon staring in shock in the entrance to the cave. He was pointing and crossing himself, and looked as if he'd had his wits frightened out of him again. Goniff twisted back around and looked at the Warden, seeing him a little better in the light that streamed in behind the man that still stood frozen in the door. Bloody Hell! The overall effect was that of a bust made of wax that had spent too much time under a hot light and had started to melt, folding in on itself.

"Warden! Blimey! You'r beautiful!" But the little man couldn't really understand the garbled response he got. The Lieutenant's lips seemed to have gotten themselves glued together somehow.

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….But there was no time now.

"I wouldn't a been able to pull something like this off on me own. And help was right there t'hand, down in that little valley I come down in. You was right, mate. This place is just lousy with vampires. All I had ta do was look up in a tree and I found this one 'ere." Goniff laughed at the look on Casino's face as he motioned towards the Warden. "Here ya go. Get back in there and change inta this while I'm takin' care a your funeral rites." And before they broke eye contact, "Did ya like the bit with the blood on the cuffs?" The little cat burglar winked and shoved him into the bushes and turned back to his duty. He'd wrapped the coat Luca had used over his uniform and was playing grave digger and cemetery grounds man. Garrison and the brothers had already turned and headed back to the castle. They'd bring Chiefy out next and then they could get on with the next act of their little drama.

Casino watched as Actor finished buttoning up the front of his tunic. He shook his head as he started to strip out of his clothes. "You really gotta worry when the Limey turns into the brains a this outfit."

Actor gave a quick laugh before he stepped out of cover, "Hurry up." he called back over his shoulder. "Goniff is right. They are going to need all the help they can get with Chief." Settling the helmet firmly on his head he shouldered the rifle he'd found waiting for him in the bushes and started back across the compound.