Chapter 2 – Disguises and Plans

The afternoon sun warmed the small square situated near the German Headquarters and reflected off the glasses of beer on the table in front of two men wearing rough workmen's clothes sitting outside a small café. Garrison adjusted his cap, leaned back and scanned the area, he noted that Chief was lounging against a wall on the opposite side having completed a survey of the area. Garrison knew that, whatever happened, every escape route had been memorised down to the last detail, it was now up to him to perfect the plan's execution.

Actor took his pipe out of his mouth and knocked it nonchalantly against the side of his chair to empty out the spent tobacco. He made a show of cleaning out the bowl and started refilling it, he tamped down the fresh tobacco, struck a match and lit it. The conman took a long puff and then a swallow of beer. "There seems to be a lot of extra guard activity around the building, our friends' botched attempt to steal the codes in Montreuil has them buzzing like bees around a hive."

Garrison nodded, picked up his beer and looked at the newspaper he had resting on the table. "That could work in our favour, this is the area HQ and they'll be expecting some questioning from the SS as to how security was breached and why they didn't capture the infiltrators."

Actor nodded. "I'm sure our good friends Sturmbannführer Schäfer and Hauptsturmführer Ziegler will be only too happy to stir things up in there."

Garrison took another sip of beer, the side of his mouth curled up at the mention of his and Actor's alter-egos, they'd become like old friends and they could slip the personas on and off like a glove now. A movement across the square attracted his attention as Chief moved way from the wall and stood straight, he saw him casually nod to something happening behind and realised someone was approaching the table. The scout started walking slowly towards the café pausing occasionally to look in a shop window.

Garrison and Actor looked up as a shadow obscured the sunlight to see a German Lieutnant accompanied by two soldiers standing over them. "What are you doing here? Show me your papers!" The two men shrugged to indicate they didn't understand. The officer held out an impatient hand and clicked his fingers. "Papers, show me your papers!"

"Oh papers." Actor, smiled, nodded and nudged Garrison all the while speaking in French. "He wants to see our papers." The two men took their papers out of their coat pockets and proffered them. The Lieutnant snatched them out of their hands and gave them and the two men a thorough scrutiny before handing them back and turning away. "You're welcome," called Actor to the haughty, retreating officer.

"I think we've outstayed our welcome, let's get going," commented Garrison as he picked up his glass and finished it. The two men strolled around the nearest corner to be met by Chief, they carried on a short distance until they met up with Raoul sitting in a battered, old van and climbed in. The vehicle coughed into life and rattled down the road back to the safehouse.

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Eckhardt watched as Garrison sat at the table surrounded by his men meticulously planning their impending mission. The Lieutenant and his men had returned from visiting the town two hours previously and hadn't moved from their seats since. The Captain eased himself back against the wall and tried to ignore the sharp pain in his shoulder from the bullet wound he'd received earlier. Garrison's medic, Actor he thought he was called, had assured him it was superficial and he'd be fine in a week or two. The tall man had treated him and his men as well as any professional doctor and they were feeling the benefit of his ministrations.

A movement in the corner attracted his attention, Lucas pushed himself up against the wall and tried to make himself comfortable. He had been untied and allowed outside to relieve himself under guard, his hands were now tied at the front of him and connected to the bonds around his ankles by a short length of rope, Casino had made sure he wasn't going anywhere.

Eckhardt glanced up as a voice was raised, it was the dark-haired New Yorker, he shook his head, prodded the map and made some comments in a tone of voice that the Captain would have considered insubordinate if it had come from one of his own men. He was surprised to see Garrison calmly raise his head to listen, look back down and nod. "You're right Casino," he acknowledged in a quiet voice. "But at that time in the morning the guards will be getting tired and they won't be so alert. I don't think you and Goniff will have any trouble finding and opening the safe."

Casino, satisfied that his point had been made, leaned back in his seat and dug into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and passed them around the team. Garrison produced a book of matches, broke one off and handed it to the man Eckhardt now knew as Chief before throwing the remainder on the table. The air grew thick with smoke as the Lieutenant gradually brought the plan together to his satisfaction.

At one point the scout's head shot up, he rose and walked swiftly to take station behind the door. Eckhardt noted that as he walked his right hand flexed and the glint of metal suddenly gave away the presence of a sharp blade. Chief pressed his back against the wall, his hand raised by his head ready to strike at whoever was going to come through that door. He relaxed as Raoul bustled in carrying wood for the fire and his blade vanished as fast as it had appeared, he peered outside and then exited without a word only to walk back in a few minutes later. "All clear Warden."

Eckhardt saw that Garrison had noted Chief's actions with a swift glance and then turned back to carry on what he was doing confident in his man's deadly ability to deal with whatever was happening. The realisation that Garrison trusted his men implicitly shook the Captain, these were hardened cons - thieves and killers who could have slit his throat and left him for dead a long time ago yet he'd forged them into an effective team that got results. Moreover he treated them as comrades, friends who would watch each other's backs.

At last Garrison called an end to the session. "Get something to eat and a good rest, we set off at four in the morning and I want you all ready."

Goniff sighed. "There should be a law against havin' two four o'clocks in one day, it ain't right." He flinched as Casino threw a tin of rations at him.

The safecracker grinned. "If there was a law against it you'd break it Limey," he chortled. "You gonna keep that food down? It's been a few hours since you reached dry land you should be okay by now."

"I'm starvin'!" The blonde thief snatched up a P-38, a small opener that was issued with the canned field rations, enthusiastically opened the tin, grabbed a spoon and started to devour the cold contents. "Stew, don't know what kind but it tastes great," he declared between mouthfuls.

Actor shook his head as he took the can opener and started to open his own rations. "You're always starving Goniff, it's good to see you've got your appetite back."

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At two am Garrison went round and quietly roused his men, they opened their mission bags, took out some uniforms and started changing.

Eckhardt had been dozing fitfully, he roused himself, trying to see what was happening in the dim light, he realised not all Garrison's ream were there, he counted four men and wondered where Chief had gone. He was answered a few minutes later by the low note of a car engine as the staff car he'd hidden a couple of days ago drew up outside. His heart leapt into his mouth as a German SS Sergeant strode in through the door.

"Everything okay Chief?" asked Garrison as he pulled on his boots.

"Uh huh, I transferred the gas over from the other car 'n we got nearly half a tank." Chief walked over to the coffee pot warming by the fire and poured himself a steaming cup. "No sign of any patrols nearby, don't think we'll meet up with any trouble on our way in."

Eckhardt was surprised to see that Garrison and his men were all wearing German SS uniforms. The Lieutenant saw the bemused look on his face and the corner of his mouth turned up into his crooked smile. "I told you we were unconventional," he inclined his head towards Chief. "Meet Unterscharführer Becker." The scout gave a curt nod as he went over to the window and kept watch outside.

Garrison continued. "I'm Sturmbannführer Schäfer." He waved at Actor. "Hauptsturmführer Ziegler," the tall conman gave a small bow and then turned back to a small mirror and continued applying his moustache. "This is Leutnant Krüger."

Casino gave a curt nod as he sat down next to Actor. "Come on Beautiful, you still gotta see to me. I want the scar as well this time."

Actor searched in his box and pulled out a thin prosthetic which he started to apply to the safecracker's face. "Do you want the mole too?"

Casino nodded. "Oh yeah, can't go without that baby."

Actor produced the item with a flourish. "Where do you want it this time?"

Casino considered his reflection. "Stick it onna left cheek."

Garrison and Actor exchanged amused looks as the large, hairy mole was attached to Casino's cheek with some glue. He'd first used it in Caen when Actor assured him that anyone looking at him would focus on the ugly appendage and not his face, now he insisted on having it whenever he was in disguise. The rest of the team would have private bets as to where it would turn up next, Goniff smiled as he won the latest round.

Garrison pointed to the blonde thief. "And this is Leutnant Adler." Goniff bobbed and grinned.

Eckhardt stared at the team incredulously. "And you still think you'll march in without problem, photograph the plans and get out without the Krauts raising hell?"

Casino snorted as he prodded the mole. "Sure we will. You always get in if you're SS baby!"

Actor slapped his hand away. "Leave it to set, we won't get out if it falls off in front of the Krauts."

Garrison loaded and checked a pistol. "Everyone ready?" The team nodded and Garrison handed the pistol to Eckhardt. "Keep an eye on our friend here while we're away."