Chapter 3 – Treachery And Retribution

The staff car pulled up outside the imposing, brick building that served as German Headquarters with a squeal of brakes. The two soldiers standing guard on either side of the entrance leapt to attention as they recognised the SS insignia on the small flag perched on the bonnet.

Chief got out of the driver's seat, reached back and opened the rear door for Garrison, Actor and Casino to alight. Goniff hopped out of the front passenger seat and bustled around to stand at the back of the group. The scout scanned up and down the street as he closed the door and made a mental note of a large vehicle standing in the off-road parking area.

The soldiers lowered their rifles and tried not to breathe as the SS Major adjusted his grey gloves and then strode quickly up the steps past them followed by the Captain, Lieutenant and the two Sergeants. They knew they should have challenged them but the look from the dark-haired Sergeant had convinced them it was more than their lives were worth. They relaxed as the door slammed shut, looked sheepishly at each other, raised their weapons back up and continued guarding the entrance.

The corporal behind the reception desk had a very rude awakening as a fist slammed down on the counter, he'd taken the opportunity to have a quiet doze and the loud bang jerked him back into a very unpleasant reality as he looked up at the grim entourage standing in front of him. Casino had a moment of quiet satisfaction as the soldier's gaze swept past him, stopped and then returned to focus on the large, hairy mole, the man's expression was one of shock, horror and disbelief. It happened every time and he loved it. The safecracker continued to regard the soldier with absolute indifference.

"Where is your Commanding Officer?" demanded Actor as he used his full height to loom menacingly over the quaking solder. Garrison had to turn away slightly to hide his smile at the man's discomfiture.

The corporal tore his gaze away from Casino's mole, gave a half-hearted salute and started stuttering in confusion and panic. "Major Dietrich? He..he's not h..here H..Herr Hauptsturmf..f..führer, he..he won't be..be here until n..nine o'clock."

"What?" The corporal flinched as Garrison's hand slammed down on the desk sending documents, pens and pencils scattering in all directions, some landed on the floor. "How dare he be away when enemy spies are operating in this area? He should have known Command would send us to investigate his incompetence!"

"Y..yes Sir, I..I can c..call his aide and g..get him here, Sir!" The corporal gingerly reached for the phone.

Actor reached out and grabbed the man's shaking hand to prevent him making the call. "Don't bother Corporal," he ordered as he treated the man to his best SS glare. "We'll surprise him when he arrives."

"This is unbelievable, the man should be shot for dereliction of duty." Garrison remarked as he removed his cap and gloves. "We will wait in his office until he arrives. Where is it?"

The corporal pointed down the corridor, his hand was shaking. "It's the s..second door on the r..right H..Herr S..Sturmbannführer."

Garrison gave a curt nod to Chief to stay were he was, the scout nodded back and took up position with his back against the wall, he rested his hand on his pistol and fixed the corporal with a no-nonsense gaze. The soldier watched the officers stride down the hallway with a shudder, he turned and tried to strike up a conversation with the sergeant but the cold feeling of disapproval and dismissal that emanated in waves from the silent, dark-haired man soon dissolved any desire to communicate, the corporal slumped miserably in his chair, tried to make himself as small and insignificant as he could and wished he could disappear completely.

The rest of the team walked into the office, Garrison checked his watch and smiled as the door closed behind them. "Looks like we got a couple hours to do what we came here for." He glanced at Casino. "Is that enough time?"

"Oh yeah," the safecracker had already located the wall safe, it was behind a large picture of Hitler. "When will they ever learn ol' Adolf ain't gonna hide nothin'." He grinned as he looked at the make and model. "This'll be like takin' candy from a baby Warden. It'll take thirty seconds tops to get inta this, get your camera ready."

Goniff looked over from his position at the door from where he could watch the reception desk. "That poor Kraut's so scared o' Chiefy he ain't moved a muscle."

Garrison's mouth curled up into a small, crooked smile as he made himself comfortable at the large desk and inspected the various documents in the trays. "Is he giving him his 'look'?"

Goniff nodded. "Oh yeah, he don't need no knife to threaten no-one. He's got as good a glare as you now Actor." The conman nodded at the compliment.

Casino put his ear to the safe, his eyes narrowed and his mouth was a rictus of concentration. "Yeah, Geronimo's the real deal alright, we know what he's capable of doing 'n he does it really well."

"I for one am glad of that," agreed Actor as he watched Casino manipulating the dial on the safe."

The safecracker was as good as his word, less than a minute later the documents contained in the safe were spread out on the large desk. Garrison held the end of the measuring cord against the wooden surface, raised the small camera until it grew taut and started snapping the documents. It only took a few minutes to finish the job, Casino collected the papers together and replaced them in the safe. "What now Warden?"

Garrison glanced around. "We can either stay and wait for the good Major to show up or we can make our excuses and leave."

Casino wiped down the safe, replaced the portrait and wiped that down too. "I vote leave."

Actor turned towards the door. "I agree, no sense in tempting fate."

Goniff opened the door and waved a hand. "Yeah, 'n we ain't had no breakfast yet 'n I'm..."

"Starvin'," smirked Casino as he ruffled the thief's blonde hair.

Goniff ran his fingers over his head and put his cap back on. "Well, I am," he muttered to himself.

The corporal shot to his feet as the SS officers reappeared. "We have important business elsewhere that takes priority over this debacle," barked Garrison. "Tell Major Dieter..."

"Dietrich," corrected the corporal and immediately regretted it as the officer's furious hazel/green eyes almost flayed the skin off him.

"We can't wait any longer, tell Major Dietrich that we will be back at noon, that should give him enough time to come up with some believable excuses, they should make for interesting listening!" Garrison put on his gloves and stormed out of the building.

The corporal held his breath until the dark-haired sergeant stepped away from the wall and followed the others out, he waited for the door to slam shut, let out a huge sigh, leaned forward and put his head in his hands. He wasn't looking forward to Major Dietrich arriving and wondered what was the best way to break the news to him.

GG-GG-GG

The staff car slowed down at an intersection and stopped next to a peasant farmer nonchalantly smoking a cigarette and sitting on an old, rusty bicycle. Garrison wound down the window and passed over the camera. "Here you go Raoul, get that on it's way as quick as you can."

The Frenchman blew out a cloud of foul smelling tobacco smoke and pushed the camera into a hole in a large loaf of bread which was in the tatty basket on the front of his bike along with some cheese and a large bottle of wine. "See you at the safe house in an hour," he muttered out the side of his mouth as he took another draw on the cigarette before throwing it on the road, he casually checked for traffic and pushed himself off to pedal away in the opposite direction the car was turning.

As the car set off Goniff leaned back in his seat and reached for his cigarettes with a satisfied grin. "That was nice 'n easy for a change."

Actor took off his grey gloves, laid them on his lap and accepted a cigarette. "The Warden's plans are well thought out and this one went like clockwork."

Casino pulled off his mole and inspected it closely. "Yeah, like I said, takin' candy from a baby, don't have many capers go as smooth as that."

Garrison had been thinking the same thing, a small doubt nagged the back of his mind. He gave himself a mental shake and dismissed the thought, some missions could go without a hitch, couldn't they? He leaned forward. "We'll hide the car first and then walk to the safe house." Chief nodded.

Goniff's voice piped up from the front passenger seat. "Oh Warden, can't Chiefy do it on his own like last time? I don't fancy a long trek before breakfast."

Actor blew out a cloud of smoke. "A brisk morning walk will do you good Goniff."

GG-GG-GG

All was quiet at the safehouse as Garrison and the team walked the two mile distance from where they'd hidden the car, the promise of breakfast, even if it was cold rations, was at the forefront of their minds. Chief was ranging ahead, suddenly he came to a halt and raised his right hand, it held his blade. "Somethin's wrong."

Garrison stepped forward and scanned the area, he knew better than to doubt Chief's senses. "What is it?"

Chief shook his head and pointed at the road. "Dunno for sure, there's two sets of tyre tracks, one goin' in 'n one comin' out. They're fresh, maybe less 'n an hour old."

Garrison felt a cold shudder run down his back. "What kind of vehicle Chief?"

The scout knelt on the ground and inspected the faint marks on the hard ground. "Big, maybe an armoured truck. The Krauts were here."

Actor looked at the ground but couldn't make anything out. "But no-one knows about this place except us and..." he looked horrified as realisation dawned.

"Raoul!" growled Garrison. "That treacherous bastard, he's working for the Germans."

"Bloody hell, that means we wasted our time takin' those photos they ain't goin' nowhere, that bloody traitor's given 'em straight back to the Jerries." Goniff dragged off his cap and threw it on the ground in frustration. "If we hadn't stopped to hide the car we would've been here 'n..." he stopped as his imagination filled in the blanks. "Good job you suggested that walk Warden."

"What about Eckhardt 'n his men?" rasped Casino. "Are they dead or alive 'n taken prisoner? We gotta find out." The safecracker was stopped from rushing forward by a hand pushed firmly against his chest.

"Stay here, Chief and I'll check it out," ordered Garrison as he drew his pistol, he looked at his scout, tilted his head towards the house and got a nod in return. The two men silently set off to find out the fate of Eckhardt and his team.

It was a grim sight that greeted Garrison as he crept in through the front door, the table and chairs had been overturned and smashed, their mission bags had been ripped open and their contents strewn across the floor. He looked up as a soft footstep reached his ears, Chief had gained access through a back window and made his way through the building, he looked at the figure slumped in a pool of blood in the corner and went over to kneel next to the body. "It's Evans, the guy who was badly wounded, he couldn't walk so they shot him." He reached out, closed Evan's lifeless eyes and hoped his spirit had found its way out through one of the broken windows.

"They must have taken the others with them." Garrison reached down, picked up a chair that wasn't too damaged, sat on it and took out his cigarettes. "Damn, this will wreck our plans to rendezvous with the MTB tonight but I can't leave things like this."

"O' course you can't Warden, we gotta get Eckhardt 'n his team back to England. You got any more cigarettes in that pack?"

Garrison blew out a cloud of smoke, turned his head towards the door and tossed the pack. "I thought I told you to wait Casino."

Casino caught the cigarettes and shrugged as he stepped inside followed by Actor and Goniff. "Figured everythin' was safe since the Krauts had gone 'n we didn't hear no gunfire," he looked at the body. "Damn."

Actor reached up and started undoing the buttons on his jacket. "We'd better get out of these, we don't want to be caught in uniform if the Germans come back to see if they missed us. We'll be shot as spies."

Goniff tugged at his clothes and removed them as fast as he could. He tried to keep his eyes off Evans' bloody body in the corner, the thought that it could have been him if Garrison hadn't insisted on them taking the time to hide the car was at the front of his mind.

GG-GG-GG

Casino wiped his hands on his rough jacket as he and Goniff walked away from the grave they'd just filled in, he looked at the miserable thief as he trudged behind him and stopped to get a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. "Come on Limey, snap out of it."

Goniff lit his cigarette, took a long drag and blew out the smoke. "Can't help thinkin' our luck's gonna run out some time soon, we've pushed it way too far too often 'n I don't wanna end up like that poor sod back there."

Casino laid a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder. "No way you're gonna Babe, you got a girl waitin' for you 'n so have I, nothin's gonna happen to us, he won't let it."

Goniff gave a small smile. "You mean 'The Big Guy'?"

The safecracker snorted. "Nah, the Warden o' course!"

The two friends walked into the safe house to find Garrison and Actor hunched over a map spread out on the table, a couple of broken chairs had been rammed under it to make a rickety surface which wouldn't take much weight; it rocked as Garrison moved a finger across the document. Cigarette and pipe smoke mingled in the air as plans were being made.

Casino looked around. "Where's Geronimo, out scoutin'?"

Garrison looked up. "In a manner of speaking, he's tracking Raoul back to his place, he said he's been coming here a lot and left a clear trail that won't be hard to follow."

Casino barked a short laugh. "For him maybe. Sure don't wanna be Raoul when Chief turns up to ask what he's been doin'. "

Actor straightened up and stretched his long frame. "Nor would I, it'll be a short conversation."

GG-GG-GG

Chief hunkered down in some thick undergrowth and watched the scene in front of him. It had been easy to track Raoul the three miles from the safe house to his ramshackle cottage just outside Boulogne, he could have followed it blindfolded just from the smell of Raoul's foul cigarettes that were littered along the trail.

A German staff car was parked outside and two soldiers were leaning against it, they were supposed to be on guard but appeared to be more interested in smoking and talking. They stopped laughing as a dark-haired sergeant walked up to them and then suddenly threw down their cigarettes and stood rigidly to attention as they noticed the SS insignia on his uniform.

Chief hadn't changed into civilian clothes he needed the shock value of the menacing uniform, it was as effective as Casino's mole. He stopped in front of the soldiers and glared at them until they remembered themselves and saluted, he returned the gesture and looked at the car. "Where is your commanding officer?" he demanded as he lowered his arm, his blade slipped into his hand and silently opened. Both men turned to point at the cottage, it was the last thing they ever did.

A short, thin lieutenant bustled out of Raoul's cottage accompanied by the Frenchman, he stopped and frowned as he looked around for his guards. "Where are my men?"

Raoul held out his hands and gave a Gallic shrug as he answered in German. "How would I know? They're your men. Maybe they are using the outhouse to relieve themselves, it's over there." He turned and walked back into his house as the officer stomped off in the direction indicated, thirty seconds later he heard a footstep behind him. "Did you find them?"

"Uh huh, he found 'em alright." Raoul froze as he realised the answer was in English, he breathed in slowly, turned around and looked at the menacing figure standing in the middle of the room, his gaze went down to a hand holding a bloody blade. Chief glanced at the table and noted a bag full of German Reichmarks lying in the middle, the coins gleamed dully in the light. "That your blood money friend?" The blade waved to indicate that Raoul should sit down, he obeyed.

Chief reached out, picked up the bag, put it in his pocket and looked at the sullen man. "How many times you done this?"

Raoul shrugged, "Who knows? I haven't counted."

Chief stepped forward and raised his knife. "You tell 'em 'bout us?"

Raoul looked at the menacing figure and realised it was no use holding out. "I told them there was a second team of saboteurs in the area, I wasn't told of your plans and didn't know you would be in German uniform until you handed over the camera. I told the Lieutenant just now but I expect he's in no position to pass that information on."

Chief gave a curt nod. "That's right. You give the Krauts the camera 'n the film?"

Raoul watched as a drop of blood fell off the razor sharp blade, the weapon held a hypnotic fascination for him as it waved slowly in front of his eyes, he shook his head and glanced down at his jacket pocket. "No, I still have it."

Chief reached in, removed the camera and regarded it. "You kept it? Why didn't you tell the Krauts you had it?"

Raoul snorted softly. "They would have taken it without paying, I knew I could sell it later for a good price."

Chief could feel his anger growing with every second spent with this odious man who had no conscience about who he dealt with or who he hurt just as long as he made a good profit. "Who you plannin' on sellin' it to, us or the Krauts?"

Once again Raoul shrugged. "What does it matter? Whoever pays the most, money's money, doesn't matter where it comes from."

Chief's grip on his blade tightened as the vision of the collaborator's treachery came back to him. "They killed Evans 'n left him to rot in that house 'cos he couldn't walk, you know that?"

"Not my problem." Raoul turned his head and spat on the floor.

Chief held the sharp blade to the traitor's throat. "You're some piece o' work, don't expect no mercy from me," he didn't hesitate, the knife did its work efficiently and without pity.

GG-GG-GG

Garrison and Actor looked up from the table at the sound of a car pulling up outside. Goniff pulled his gun, rushed to the window and looked out, he relaxed as he recognised the driver. "It's Chief 'n he's got a shiny new car for us, that should make for an interestin' story."

Casino snorted as he walked over to the door. "Yeah, we heard Geronimo's stories before remember? It'll be 'went in, killed some guys, got car, came back'" He opened the door, gave a short bow and waved an expansive hand to usher the scout in. "Welcome back, how was your day?"

Chief glanced sideways at the safecracker, he'd heard the conversation as he approached the door. "Went in, killed some guys, got car, came back. Thanks for askin' Pappy, how was yours?" He side-stepped the slap Casino aimed at him.

Garrison stood up and approached his scout. "How did it go? Did you find him Chief?"

The scout nodded. "Uh huh, Raoul won't be sellin' anyone else out to the Krauts."

"Selling?" queried Actor. Everyone watched as a bag of Reichmarks was dumped on the shaky table, it rocked as some of the coins rolled around and settled.

Garrison watched them grimly. "And the car?"

"Belonged to some Krauts who were there to pay him off, they won't be buyin' no more soldiers."

Garrison let out a sigh of relief. "Good work, anyone follow you back here?" he looked into a bemused face. "Sorry, I should have known better than to ask that."

"Damn right!" chortled Casino as he drew out his cigarettes and passed them around.

Chief took a matchstick and waited a second. "What we gonna do now Warden, we goin' back in to get Eckhardt 'n his men?"

Garrison lit his cigarette and blew out a cloud of smoke. "I want to but it'll be difficult, we can't risk using the same identities as before."

Chief nonchalantly rolled the matchstick in his fingers. "Why not?"

Garrison let out a long breath. "Because Raoul will have told them about us and given them the camera, our cover's blown they know who we are and what we look like."

"Uh uh, they only know there's a second team in the area, as far as the Krauts are concerned we're still SS, not spies." Chief's mouth curled up into a small smile as he took out the camera and tossed it to Garrison. "Raoul was holdin' out on 'em, he didn't tell 'em about this or us."

Garrison snatched the camera out of the air, looked at it in disbelief and then grinned. "This changes everything." He took a drag on his cigarette as he took a moment to think. "Tell me what happened," he listened to Chief's description of events. "We can use that, you've given us a good reason for being late going back to see Major Dietrich."

Actor reached for a mission bag and drew out a couple of black jackets. "Back into uniform Warden?"

Garrison nodded. "You got it."