Retribution
Chapter 11
They drove around and parked on the side street, Garrison close to the corner and Chief half a block behind. With some time to spare, Garrison and Casino as carefully as possible moved the antiques and glassware to the trunk of the car. The rifle stayed on the floor of the back seat. Casino was able to sit in the back behind Garrison and Actor and still see out the front windshield. Again, they waited.
"'Ow bloody long is it going to take those blokes to show up?" complained Goniff, squirming in his seat beside Chief. "You'd think they'd want their money."
"Keep your shirt on, Goniff," the Indian said quietly. "They'll get here, when they get here."
"That's easy for you to say, Mate," whined the Englishman.
Goniff eyed the switchblade that Chief was toying with. Sometimes he stroked it down his cheek like a lover or wiped the blade on his pants leg. Occasionally, like now, it made Goniff a little nervous the way the Indian treated the blade so lovingly. The pickpocket wondered if Christine ever felt like she was second banana to the weapon. Maybe not. Maybe he treated Chris like she was his priority. 'Course Goniff had never really seen the two doing much of anything together. Hard to do with the Warden around.
It was another fifteen minutes before a beat-up four-door car of questionable color with all the rust on it, pulled up to the curb in front of the pawn shop. All five waiting men straightened up, attention on the car, waiting for the men to get out. The front doors and one passenger door finally opened and three men got out. Two were probably mid-40s and dressed like villagers. The third one was younger. He was sporting a large white bandage down one side of his face.
Casino gave a hoot of laughter. "That's them all right. Looks like Sister nailed him a good one."
"So it would appear," agreed Actor, satisfaction dripping from his voice.
Casino was hanging over the back of the front seat between the two men. He looked at Garrison. "Now what?"
Garrison was chewing thoughtfully on his lower lip. "We wait until they come out with the money, then we follow them. They'll probably go to the other pawn shop next and then to where they are staying."
"Then we get 'em where nobody sees us," said Casino. "Good plan, Warden."
Actor's attention had gone to the Lieutenant. He was at a better angle to see the look on the officer's face. "No, Casino, I believe the Warden has a better plan. Don't you?"
Craig turned his head and grinned at his second. "This is what we'll do. We follow them to where they are staying, then we call Major Richards to send the MPs."
"The MPs?" exclaimed the cracksman in disbelief. "What for?"
Actor could see the officer's line of reasoning. "If they are turned over to the local constabulary, they will be charged with assault, like last time. And like last time, they will be released."
Garrison picked up the explanation. "They entered a military base, where they assaulted two military personnel. And they stole items that technically belonged to the military. The Army won't be so lenient."
"Okay, I get it," conceded Casino. "But, Warden, we can't pay 'em back for what they did to Sister?"
"We can make our presence known," said Craig, carefully. "If they try to leave before the MPs get there, I suppose we would have to try to stop them."
"And what if they don't try to leave?" Casino was not liking this.
Actor's lips curved into a smile, rather like a crocodile. "I'm sure they will not stay to discuss it with us."
It seemed a long time before the three men emerged from the shop. They were jostling each other and appeared to be arguing.
"Betcha one of them doesn't want to divide the money equally," chuckled Casino.
As the men got into their car, Garrison started the Packard's engine. Behind him, Chief did the same with the Tickford. As the thieves' car pulled away, Craig eased the big car to the corner and turned to follow, keeping it in sight.
"Hey, don't get too close. They'll tumble you," warned Casino, their sometimes wheelman. He still hung over the back of the front seat.
Garrison did not appreciate the safecracker's caution to him. "I know what I'm doing."
Actor was looking ahead, sporting a grin and just barely managing to suppress a laugh, at the reversal of roles. Judging by the route they were keeping to, the men were not concerned about a tail. They did not take any precautionary side trips.
"What are they doin'?" whined Goniff. "Why didn't we take 'em when they came out o' the shop?"
"I don't know, Goniff," said Chief, keeping far enough behind the Packard to see it, without being seen by the ones they were tailing. "I'm back here with you and not up there with them." The Indian added. "You know the Warden's got a plan of some kind."
"I 'ope 'e don't have a side trip planned. You know, rob a bank or blow sumfing up," said the second story man worriedly. "You know he can't just do one thing."
"Kinda hard to rob a bank or blow somethin' up in England," said Chief with amusement.
The strung out train of three cars made their way to the other pop shop as Garrison had predicted. Once back in the car with their money, they drove over a bridge and headed for the East side. Here it became tricky as the traffic disappeared going into the bombed out area. As a precaution, Garrison turned off and moved one block over, keeping parallel with the rusty car. Chief kept his distance behind the Packard. The green roadster was quite obvious, so they held back to not be seen.
"It looks like they have not cleared the roads up ahead," said Actor.
"We can't take the MG into that," worried Casino.
"They're turning," noted Garrison.
He went up another block before turning in the same direction. Three blocks later, they could not see the thieves' car. Garrison slowed and eased down a side street to intersect the one the men could have been on. He stopped and Actor got out, slipping alongside the remnants of destroyed buildings to the corner.
One hand in his large pocket that held Teresa's Walther PPK, the confidence man carefully peered around the corner. The street was empty of traffic, probably because none could have gotten through for the rubble and potholes. Looking back the way the men had come, he spotted an alley. Pulling back, Actor pointed a long finger down the street. As he started back to the Parkard, Chief pulled up behind it and got out. By the time Actor had returned, the Indian was at the driver's window of the Packard. The con man got in the front seat.
"There is an alley halfway down the block," reported Actor. "I would bet they are down there."
Garrison nodded. "This is what we'll do. Chief, leave the Tickford here. You and Goniff wait at the corner. If I stop and let Actor and Casino out, you come down to the alley. It's your jobs to keep them where they are. No gun play unless absolutely necessary. Flatten their tires so they can't get away. I'm going to go find a phone box and call Major Richards. I'll lead the MPs here."
The two cons in the Packard checked their handguns and kept them readily accessible. Chief skirted behind the big car to the sidewalk and hooked an arm, beckoning Goniff to come. The slight, blond man, grateful for some activity, popped out of the Tickford and hurried up to the Indian.
"What are we doing?" asked Goniff eagerly.
"Wait," said Chief positioning himself where he could see down the cross street.
"We been doin' that!" objected the second-story man.
The Indian ignored him and watched the Packard slowly move down the street.
Garrison moved at a crawl but did not stop. The rusty vehicle was parked in front of an gapng black opening to a building without a door. There was no one in sight.
Actor chuckled. "How convenient. The other end of the alley is blocked with debris."
Casino was chuckling too. "One way in and one way out. They stupid or what?"
"Who is going to take the time to crawl up and down these streets looking for their hiding place?" asked Garrison philosophically.
"Us," shot back the safecracker with a grin.
Garrison stopped at the next intersection, so the two men could get out. "Remember what I said about no shooting," he warned.
"Of course, Warden," said the Italian somewhat insincerely. "We are just to make sure they don't leave."
"And wait for you and the cavalry to show up," added Casino.
Since when was the volatile safecracker so agreeable? Garrison pulled away after they got out on the sidewalk. They didn't see the small smile on his face. He knew his men very well. They weren't going to just sit and do nothing. It would be worth bailing them out of the stockade if it came to that.
Actor spotted Chief on the other corner and gave an exaggerated single dip of his head. The two men shot singly across the street and hugged the far wall, moving forward. The tall man looked at the cracksman.
"Why don't you check down that street and make sure they do not have another exit available?" The question was more of an order than a suggestion. Casino nodded and trotted around the corner.
Chief knew it was his job to take out the tires on the car. A bayonet would have been useful. This would dull his knife. As he eased stealthily down the alley, his eyes noticed a zagged end of rebar sticking out a pile of bricks. Keeping one eye on the opening to the building, he carefully pulled the metal rod free without making noise. Making his way to the car, Chief started on the passenger side rear tire. The jagged end of metal was placed against the sidewall of the tire which had seen better days. With a good grip, he shoved hard and held the rod still for a moment before pulling it out. There was the low woosh of air escaping, but no loud bang. Now for the even more dangerous part. Chief moved to the opposite tire, with his back to the opening of the building. He repeated his actions to deflate that tire.
When nobody came out to investigate, the Indian hurriedly made his way back to Actor and Goniff. About that time, Casino joined them.
"They ain't goin' anywhere now," said Chief with satisfaction.
"They aren't gettin' out any other way either," assured Casino. "Part'a that front wall came down and blocked the door."
The four men waited, watching for any sign of anybody leaving the building. They wondered how long they had before Garrison came back with the MPs.
"'Ey, wot about our money?" asked Goniff indignantly.
He missed the unappreciative look he received from Actor. Since when was his money partly Goniff's?
"Yeah," added Casino. "You know how cops are. Military or not. They'll take the dough for evidence or themselves."
There was that, thought the confidence man. The Lieutenant had almost suggested they could entice the thieves from their den. "Perhaps a little noise would encourage them to come out."
With a grin, Casino picked up a brick from the side of the alley and hefted it for weight. Stepping into the middle of the alley, he eyed the back of the car, drew his arm back and threw the brick. A satisfying crack and tinkle of glass sounded as the brick sailed through the back window of the rusty bucket of bolts. The cracksman stepped back beside Actor.
"Very accurate throw," said the Italian.
Casino shrugged. "I grew up playin' baseball in the street in Chicago."
The three men burst from the building to stare at their car.
"What the bloody 'ell!" exclaimed one of the men.
Actor strolled toward them, confident there were three guns watching his back. "Good afternoon, Gentlemen. I believe you have something that belongs to us." His smile did not reach his eyes.
Three with drop-jawed mouths stared at him.
"Come now, Gentlemen, did you really think we would allow you to get away with this? And we most certainly will not allow you to get away with assaulting the young lady."
The three cons moved slowly down the alley toward Actor, spread from wall to wall to prevent the thieves from escaping. Though guns were out, they were for show. Garrison had meant it when he said not to shoot them. Chief had his blades and the piece of rebar. Casino reached over and took the metal rod from him.
"We don't have any money," sneered one of the men boldly.
"Oh, but you do," said Actor. "We followed you from the pop shops."
The three decided to take their chances and made a move to shove past Actor. The big man may have looked like a toff, even when not dressed at his best, but he did not fight like one. The one who had denied they had the money tried to shove him aside. Actor hooked a foot around the man's ankle and jerked him off balance enough to be slammed into the side of the car. The one with the bandage picked up a brick with the intent of smashing it into the con man's head.
Casino got there first. With satisfaction, he hit the uninjured side of the man's face with the rebar. Blood splattered on the wall and the man screamed.
"That's for Terry," said Casino, arm raised to strike again if necessary. "Now you're even on both sides uh your face."
Chief's blade was out and held to the neck of Actor's man.
"I wouldn't give him a reason if I were you," warned the Italian.
The third man had backed away and was attempting to come around the other side of the car and run. Goniff was having none of that. He still had his gun and it was pointed at the man's forehead.
"Not so fast, Mate," said the second-story man. In a deadly voice the others had not heard before, he said, "Hands on the bonnet."
"I wouldn't give him an excuse to shoot you if I were you," said Casino.
The man he had hit with the rebar was sitting on his heels holding his face, moaning as blood ran down between his fingers to drip on his shirt and pants. Casino grabbed him under the arm, pulled him up and shoved him against the brick wall, frisking him for weapons and anything of value.
Actor was doing the same to the one who was the apparent leader. Inside a pants pocket he found a thick roll of money.
"That isn't all yours," protested the man.
He started to turn around but the tip of Chief's blade cut a thin line over his jugular, not deep enough to nick it, but enough to cause a trickle of blood to flow down the man's neck.
Actor pocketed the money. "It will go toward replacing the items you smashed."
"You won't be needin' it where you're going anyway," said Goniff cheerfully.
"Ha," barked the one the pickpocket was pushing against the car. "We'll be out again tomorrow. Just like last time."
Actor said calmly, "The local constabulary would not keep you, but the military will."
"Military?" asked the leader.
"That was a military base you broke into, and two military personnel you injured," explained the confidence man. "You might get out of prison after the war, but then again, you might not."
The one on the other side of the car decided to bolt, shoving hard against Goniff and knocking him off balance. He pushed past, but Actor was quicker. That big fist not only broke the man's nose but knocked him out.
"You can't do that!" objected the other bleeding man.
"Yeah?" sneered the safecracker. "Watch us."
Goniff had straightened and looked disgusted he had allowed his man to get past him.
"What're we gonna tie them up with?" asked Chief.
Actor appeared to think on that. "They seem to have a proclivity for hitting people on the back of the head."
Goniff grinned and picked up a broken brick.
"Hey, give me one," said Casino eagerly.
"No," said Actor. "Allow Goniff to do it. You might do it too heavily and the paperwork for killing them would take days."
With a cocky grin, Goniff walked around the car and slammed the brick onto the back of leader's head and then the one with the bleeding face. They both went down like sacks of grain. Actor checked all three to make sure they were breathing.
"I believe I will check inside and see what else is there," said the con man.
He returned a few minutes later. "There seems to be most of our missing items."
Casino looked at him in frustration. "And how are we going to get all that back to the Mansion with Sister?"
Actor smiled. "We will unload the Packard when the Warden and the MPs get here. The military can box it all up safely and deliver it."
