Retribution

Chapter 2 Revised

Major Kaiser was waiting for them when they arrived. The girl was deposited onto a gurney and he walked beside it, doing a visual examination, as she was wheeled to x-ray. Actor and Garrison both stayed with Terry.

"I believe she has been unconscious now for close to two hours," said Actor. "Blunt blow to the lower occipital area."

"Basal skull fracture," observed the doctor.

"Yes, I know," replied Actor.

"How bad?" asked Garrison, knowing it definitely wasn't good.

"Don't know yet. I'll have to see the xrays." They reached to door to the xray room. "You two will have to stay out here," said Kaiser firmly.

The two men watched the door with the radiology sign swing shut behind the doctor. Both stared at it, wishing they could see inside, but knowing there was nothing they could do if they could watch.

Garrison glanced at his second. "Basal skull fracture is bad," he said with a questioning tone.

Actor nodded. He turned his eyes to Garrison and they were troubled. "There can be . . . residual . . . effects."

"Permanent?" He knew the answers to his questions but hoped Actor could give him more hope.

"Sometimes," admitted the confidence man. "It depends on how severe the injury is and the exact location. Often there are some temporary problems that resolve over time." He wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure Garrison or himself. He had survived his with minimal long term residual.

Craig nodded, remembering the Italian's skull fracture. There was a long bench with arms on either end just a couple yards down the hall. It would be a long time before they got the report of the x-ray findings, even if there was a wet read. Garrison moved down to the bench and sat. Actor followed him and sat on the far end. The con man rested an elbow on the arm of the bench, lost in thought, tip of his thumb pressed against his front teeth. It didn't make Craig feel better. The con man only did that when he was very worried. From there time seemed to drag slowly by. The only consolation was the longer it took, the better the prognosis. If Doc Kaiser came right out, the damage to the skull was bad.

A little over thirty minutes later, the door opened and the Major emerged. He glanced around and walked up to the two men. Garrison and Actor were both on their feet in an instant. Kaiser frowned.

"There is a fine fracture on the occiput; the back of her skull. I'm sending her to the base hospital in London. They have specialists in the event her condition worsens."

"Is she awake?" asked Actor, hoping for some good news.

Kaiser shook his head.

"How soon is she going?" asked Garrison.

"As soon as I get the okay from London and an ambulance," said the Major. "And before you ask, one of you can ride along in the back and the other in the front.

Actor could have breathed a sigh of relief over that. He glanced at the Lieutenant.

Garrison looked at Kaiser. "What about Sgt./Major Collins?"

Kaiser motioned the two men to follow him in search of the doctor who was examining Collins. As they started down the hall, the radiology doors opened inward and the gurney with Teresa was moved into the hall, an orderly at both head and foot.

Actor held back in indecision. He should keep up with Lt. Garrison, but he felt a strong desire to remain with Teresa. The girl won out and Actor stepped aside to allow the gurney to pass before following it. The glimpse he had gotten of the girl's face in passing told him there was no change in the outwards signs of her condition.

Garrison and Doc Kaiser reached the end of the hall before Craig realized Actor was not with them. He glanced back to see his second following Terry. He knew he should say something to bring the man back with them, but decided he would deal with it later, maybe. Besides, somebody needed to keep an eye on Terry.

Actor waited out in the hall while the nurse closed the door behind the gurney. Teresa would not have been bothered by his presence while she was moved to the bed and then assessed by the nurse. He doubted even the Warden would have minded. But the staff would, so he waited impatiently in the stark hall that fairly reeked of disinfectant.

The door opened, and the orderlies pushed the gurney out. The door was shut firmly by the nurse as though he were trying to gain entry, even though he had never moved from his position leaning against the opposite wall, with crossed arms.

Fifteen minutes later, the nurse came out. She paused and gave Actor an accusatory look before going down the hall. Actor didn't try to charm her. There were some women even he had no influence on, nor the urge to try.

Entering the room, he moved to the far side of the bed. He had seen Teresa this still before and had not liked it any better then. She should be smiling, green eyes alight with some devilment she intended to annoy him with. Never would he admit to her how much her teasing meant to him. Aware he would soon be sitting for an hour and a half in the cramped back of an ambulance, the tall man remained on his feet, leaning against the wall.

Garrison followed Major Kaiser into an exam room. The thin bony figure of Collins was sitting with bowed shoulders on an exam table. The Sgt./Major looked up and started to move to a standing position at attention.

"At ease," said Garrison quickly.

He sat back, but a little straighter. His eyes would not meet Garrison's.

Another physician spoke with Kaiser. "A mild concussion, otherwise no damage. If he has someone staying with him, I can release him. He'll need to stay quiet for a couple days."

"Three of my men will be with him," said Garrison.

"Fine," acknowledged the doctor. "I'll get his discharge paperwork started."

Kaiser looked at Garrison. "I'll make that call and get the ball rolling. The sooner the better."

That did not give Garrison any consolation. He watched the two physicians leave the room before turning back to the Sgt./Major. Collins had a worried expression on his face.

"Miss Terry?" asked the non-com.

"Basal skull fracture, like Actor figured. We're taking her to London. I'll have Casino and Goniff take you back to the Mansion." Garrison saw the thin lips open to apologize. He held up a hand to forestall it. He just wasn't up for it right now. And it wasn't the Brit's fault. "It's all right, Sgt./Major. We're not blaming you." He headed for the door and paused. "I'm going to talk with the other two. I need to be ready when they are ready to send Terry."

Collins looked at the Lieutenant's back as he went out the door. Maybe Garrison didn't blame him, but he bet the men did. They were all very protective of the girl.

Garrison was thinking the same thing. He motioned Casino and Goniff to follow him outside where they could talk in private. The two cons exchanged worried looks. Garrison turned and lit a cigarette, cupping his hands around the match against the wind and taking a deep inhalation before starting.

"Terry's skull is fractured. We're taking her to London. I'll let you know when we get there. In the meantime, they're discharging the Sgt./Major. I want you two to take him back to the Mansion and let him rest. Don't start anything with him. I seriously doubt there was anything he could have done differently at the time."

"Okay," said Casino. "We dump him off and then come to London."

"No," said Craig firmly. "You don't 'dump him off.' You stay with him and watch him. You two have had concussions. You know what to look for. There's nothing either of you can do in London to help Terry."

Casino's face screwed up in frustration.

"Actor going with you?" asked Goniff.

Garrison nodded. "I want someone with medical knowledge to stay with her when I can't."

"Warden . . ." started the pickpocket.

"I know," cut in Garrison. Funny, he did know what Goniff was going to say. "I'll keep you all informed."

"I don't like it,' said Casino, "but we'll stay close to the phone. If she gets worse, I can't promise we won't come to London."

Garrison nodded. "I'd better get back inside." He dropped his cigarette and ground it out with his foot.

The two men watched him as he disappeared inside the hospital. It was one of the rare times the man's back wasn't ramrod straight. Casino turned to Goniff, feeling just like the expression on the slight man's face of worry and frustration.

"Why don't you get the car," said Casino. "I'll go round up Collins."

"Can we dump 'im off a bridge somewhere?" asked the pickpocket with disgust.

"Naw," replied Casino, sympathetic to the man's state of mind. "Warden would probably put us in the stockade and throw away the key."

Goniff made a face of capitulation. "Yer probably right, Mate." He turned and walked away.

Casino had to gird himself up before going after the non-com. Maybe Garrison was right, and it wasn't the Brit's fault, but he sure hadn't helped any. The cracksman pushed through the door and went in to search for Collins. He didn't have to search far. The Sgt./Major was walking toward him, with a slightly unsteady gait. Casino joined him.

"You need a wheelchair?" he asked.

Collins looked at him, trying to gage his mood and wasn't surprised it was sour. "No, I'll make it."

Casino led the way out and to the car that had pulled up closer to the entrance. He opened the back door and waited for the British man to get inside. Casino shut the door and climbed into the front passenger seat. He had no desire to be in the back with Collins. Goniff said nothing and pulled the car away, headed for the gate.

GGG

Craig let himself into the room he had seen Actor waiting outside of earlier. The con man was leaning with crossed arms against the wall on the far side of the bed. He turned his head to look at the Lieutenant.

"Any change?" asked Craig.

Actor shook his head. His eyes followed the young officer as he moved up along the other side of the bed and looked down at his sister.

"I felt the Sgt./Major did not need two of us and perhaps Teresa would need one of us." It was as much of an apology as the Italian was willing to make.

Garrison nodded. His eyes were on Terry, searching for any sign she was coming to. There was none.

"Any chance she is doing that thing you and Chief do; locking yourself inside your head?" asked Actor without much hope.

"Hard to say," replied Craig, ". . . but I doubt it."

Garrison studied his sister's face. The skin was a little pale, made more evident by the blackened eyes. He recalled her telling him at one time the confidence man looked a racoon when he had his last bad concussion. It was amazing they all had retained their wits after the number of head injuries they had sustained so far.

Both men looked up as the door opened to admit Major Kaiser. The shorter, gruff man motioned Actor to get out of his way and took the man's place beside the bed. He pulled the girl's eyelids open, one at a time, then felt her pulse.

"We're moving her to the Army Air Corps base in London now. The ambulance and crew are ready."

As he said the words, the crew and a stretcher arrived at the door.

It was another longer drive to London. Actor, in the back, held Terry's hand and monitored her vital signs along with the medic. There was no change. She wasn't getting better, but she wasn't getting worse with the rough ride.

A new major took over as Terry's doctor. She was placed in a room and attended to while Craig and Actor remained in the hall.

"I should let the others know we arrived," said Craig.

"Allow me to make the call," suggested the Italian. "You need to be here to speak with the doctor when he comes out."

Craig nodded. He watched the tall man walk away to find a telephone. Stifling a yawn, he wondered which of them would fall apart first. Both men had been awake the entire three days of the mission. One of them had to sleep or they would both be in beds in the hospital and that would do no good for Terry.

Actor was feeling the same way. He asked directions from a nurse, without his almost automatic flirting banter. Finding the pay phone, he placed the call to the Mansion and waited.

GGG

Arriving at the house, the three men entered to find Chief waiting by the door.

"What's happening?" asked the Indian with concern.

"They shipped her to London," said Casino abruptly.

Collins said nothing and backed slowly toward the dining room.

Goniff was the one watching him. "Why don't you go lay down," suggested the pickpocket.

"I'm all right," said Collins. "I need to start making something for you to eat."

Casino looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Go lay down. We can cook just as good as you can." Probably better, he neglected to add.

Collins just nodded, a vague look on his face. The three watched him turn and walk away toward the kitchen and his room beyond.

Goniff looked around and back at Chief. "You cleaned up the place?"

The Indian shrugged. "Had to do something to stay awake."

"So, which one of us is cookin'?" asked the safecracker.

"Not me," said Chief. They didn't like his cooking.

"Flip you," said Goniff.

Casino pulled a coin from his pocket and sent it spinning into the air. "Heads."

"Tails," said Goniff unnecessarily.

The coin landed on the floor, head up.

"Figures," said Casino. "I'll go see what's in the ice box."

The men split up, Casino going to the kitchen and the other two going upstairs to their beds. Casino began throwing something together that could go in a stew pot. He had turned the hob down to simmer and was thinking about going to his room for a nap when the phone rang. He trotted out to the phone by the stairs.

"Mansion," he said without enthusiasm.

"Casino?" It was Actor's voice.

"Yeah," replied the safecracker, more alert now. "Where are you?"

"We are at the Army Air Force base hospital outside of London, I can't see any change in Teresa, but the doctor is with her now."

"Warden, doin' okay?" asked Casino.

"Worried, but handling it well. Doesn't he always?"

"Yeah," agreed the safecracker. "Things are okay on this end. You call us if anything changes there."

"Of course. The Warden wanted you to know we arrived here. If nothing changes between now and then, one of us will call you in the morning."

"Yeah, okay."

Actor hung up as the call hit the limit of time on the money he had put in to phone. Exhausted and worried, he turned and walked back toward the room they had put Teresa in.

Casino trudged up the stairs and headed for his room.

"Was that the Warden?" called out Goniff.

"Actor."

"What'd he say?" called Chief from his room.

"They're at the Army Air Force base in London. No change."

There was no response to that, so Casino went to his room, shucked off his outer clothes and crawled into bed. He was out when his head hit the pillow.

GGG

By the time Actor got back to the Lieutenant, the doctor had left. Garrison looked drained and exhausted; much the same as the Italian felt.

"No change," said Craig. "They're going to watch her."

"So are we," said Actor. "Why don't you get some sleep. I'll take first watch."

Craig shook his head. "If you can sleep in the straight chair, you stay here. I have to go make some phone calls. I'll come back when I'm done and you can go sleep in the waiting room."

It sounded like a plan and Actor did not envy Garrison having to inform G-2 about the break-in and the injuries. And there was still a debriefing to be done about the mission. He nodded and took a seat in a chair beside the bed.

Craig went down to the waiting room and made the first call to Col. Hammond. As predicted, the man went ballistic to learn the Mansion had been breached and his people injured. Regarding the mission debrief, Hammond would come to the hospital himself and talk with Garrison.

"I will have to notify Major Richards about this too," said Hammond. "He's Terry's handler. He needs to know."

"With the Colonel's permission," said Craig, "I can call Major Richards and tell him."

"Fine, Lieutenant," agreed Hammond. "I have some other calls to make and I will see you in about a half hour."

"I'll be in the waiting room, Sir," said Garrison.

He made the next call to Major Richards' office. The British commando was even angrier than Hammond. He wanted to know what was being done about it. Craig had to tell him nothing, at the moment. That wasn't good enough. Richards was on his way to the hospital too.

With a few minutes left to wait, Garrison headed back down the hall to his sister's room to inform Actor of the results of the conversation. He found the con man in a straight chair alongside the girl's bed, chin on chest, asleep, with his big hand covering Terry's on the bed. He wasn't quite sure of the man's reasoning behind that; whether from affection or to be awakened if she happened to move. He told himself it was the latter. Wishing for sleep himself, Garrison took the other seat, without awakening the man.

The two officers arrived at the same time. Garrison rose from his chair at their arrival to the room. Actor awakened at the movement of the Lieutenant but stayed seated. The officers requisitioned a room, with coffee, and closed the door. Hammond suggested getting the debriefing out of the way, so they could concentrate on what had happened at the Mansion.

It was one of the shortest debriefings, Garrison had received in a long time. The three moved on to what was known and what wasn't known about the break-in at the Mansion. What was known wasn't much and what wasn't known was a lot. No identities, no motive. Garrison did not believe it was a simple breaking and entering to steal antiques. Neither did the two officers. Both the British and American branches of intelligence would work on trying to discover who the perpetrators were. In the meantime, Col. Hammond would try to cut Lt. Garrison and his men some free time, without a mission. It was doubtful that would last for long though.

After the two had left, Craig went back to the waiting room and sprawled in a chair to catch a couple hours of needed sleep before taking his turn sitting with his sister. He trusted, even if he was sleeping in the room, Actor would be aware of anything that might change with Terry and come get him.

GGGGG

Chief was the first one up. It was twilight when he dressed and went downstairs. The others weren't up yet. Taking a look out the window before pulling the blackout drapes, he was surprised to see guards in the car park, walking around the grassy areas and two stationed down by the road. Concerned, he went into Garrison's office and called the London base hospital, asking for Garrison. It was a couple minutes before the officer came to the phone and he didn't sound too rested either.

"Warden, how's Terry?"

"No change," said Craig. "How's Collins?"

"I don't know. Haven't checked on him yet. Just got up. I thought you should know, the Brass posted guards at the end of the drive and there are more up by the Mansion."

"I figured as much. They're more to keep us safe for now than to keep you guys in line," said Garrison.

"So how do we get out to come to London if we need to?"

"Just drive right out," suggested Craig. "If they give you any trouble, have them call me."

"Okay, but the Sgt./Major ain't going to be too happy if we take the Packard and leave him with the jeep."

"He'll just have to get over it," said Craig. Right now, his concern was not placating the Sgt./Major. "Besides, there's nothing you can do here right now anyway. Now go check on Collins. It'll be difficult to explain it if you don't and he's dead."

"Naw, he ain't dead."

"Well make sure of it, Chief," said Craig firmly.

"Yeah, Warden."

Hanging up with a shake of his head, Garrison went down to relieve Actor. He found the con man awake, but not looking any better than the Lieutenant felt. There seemed to be no change in Terry.

"Anything?" asked Craig.

Actor shook his head. "How did things go with Hammond?"

"Both he and Major Richards are going to see what they can find out." Craig stepped closer to Terry and touched her hand with no response. He noticed Actor was no longer holding the other one. "Chief called. They posted guards at the house and grounds."

"What is that American colloquialism? Rather like closing the barn door after the horse has gotten out?" said the Italian, trying to stifle a yawn.

"Probably," agreed Garrison. "That chair in the waiting room is probably just a little bit more comfortable than the one you're in. Go get some sleep. I'll sit with her."

Actor nodded and stood up stiffly, stretching to loosen kinked muscles. He motioned for Garrison to take the chair. "I will be back in a couple hours. Get me if there is any change or you need me."

Craig nodded. It was going to be a long night.

9