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No Honour Among Thieves
Chapter 2
"How much longer do we have to sit in this damn van?" Tiny Samson moaned as he attempted unsuccessfully to stretch cramped muscles.
"Until we get what we came for." Jimmy snapped irritably. Two hours in the van with the two heavies was more than he could stand. They had their uses; however cognitive thought wasn't one of them.
"So what do we need this Army Lieutenant for anyway?" Charlie Grogin asked. "I mean he's not likely to want to help us rob a bank, now is he?"
Jimmy sighed. "What the boss wants him for is none of your concern Charlie. All we have to do is deliver him, unhurt to the boss."
"That ain't no fun. If we can't hurt him what did you need us for?" Tiny complained, loudly cracking the fingers of his right hand.
A flash of movement a mile down the road caught Jimmy's attention and he lifted the binoculars to his eyes. It was too far away to discern facial features of the driver but he could tell that it was an army jeep coming towards them. "Get ready, this could be our quarry." Jimmy felt the van shake as the engine roared to life. "Well, well, well. What have we here?" Jimmy smiled as he saw who was driving the jeep. That would make things a lot easier. "Remember don't hurt the Lieutenant but you can do what you like with the other guy, short of killing him."
Charlie measured the distance as the jeep traveled towards them. It wasn't his first hit and run and he knew exactly when and where to hit the on coming jeep to cause enough damage to stall its progress without doing too much harm to the occupants. The van roared out of the country lane, hitting the jeep just behind the driver's seat as their quarry frantically spun the wheel to the right. The force of the van and the driver's evasive maneuver was enough to run the jeep off the road and into a low hedge on the right of the road. A small flock of birds in a nearby tree took flight as the sound of metal on metal and snapping branches filled the air.
GG
Chief didn't need Garrison's yelled warning. He could see the van heading directly for them as he frantically pulled the steering wheel hard to the right and planted his foot on the accelerator in an attempt to avoid the crash. He caught a glimpse of Garrison bracing for the impact as the jeep careened into the hedge. The hard right turn and the sudden stop wrenched the steering wheel out of Chief's hands. With nothing to brace against Chief was flung chest first into the steering wheel before he rebounded back into the back of the seat unconscious.
Garrison tensed leg and arm muscles against the dash and floor of the jeep as it hit the hedge head on, but he couldn't control the gasp of pain as his so recently healed ankle protested this latest round of abuse. From the corner of his eye he saw Chief hit and rebound off the steering wheel, slumping unconscious beside him. Garrison reached out a hand and shook Chief gently, calling his name urgently as rough hands pulled him from the wrecked jeep and pushed him towards the van. "What are you doing? Chief needs help." Garrison swung around to go back to Chief but was confronted with a gun pointing directly at his chest.
"Don't worry about him Lieutenant, my men will take care of him. All you need to do is get into the van." Jimmy pressed the gun to Garrison's chest forcing him to take a step back.
Garrison ignored the threat and stood his ground watching helplessly as Chief was dragged from the jeep by the two heavies and dumped on the ground. The larger of the two men toed Chief in the ribs. "Aw Charlie, he doesn't want to play."
"Well then wake him up Tiny." Charlie grinned as Tiny drew back his foot and landed a hard kick to Chief's ribs eliciting a groan of pain from the Indian.
"See Tiny you only had to be more persuasive." Charlie watched as Tiny kicked again, this time flipping Chief over onto his stomach.
Garrison stepped forward but was stopped by the gun pressed to his chest. "For God's sake, make them stop before they kill him." He ground out between gritted teeth.
"Don't worry Lieutenant they have orders not to kill him, yet." Jimmy replied absently as he watched the two heavies work over the unconscious Indian.
Charlie bent down and pulled the right sleeve of Chief's jacket back revealing the wrist sheath and blade. "Well, what have we here?" He grinned as he released the blade. "I could use one of these." Charlie pocketed the blade. "Come on Tiny, there's no fun in this if you can't hear him yelling. Might as well dump him in the van and get out of here before someone comes along. You know the boss won't like it if we get seen."
"Maybe when he wakes up I can have some fun then?" Tiny whined as he bent down and picked up one arm as Charlie grabbed the other.
"We'll have plenty of time later on Tiny, don't you worry about that. The boss won't let these two live once the jobs done." Charlie replied as the two men dragged Chief to the van and threw him in the back.
Garrison quickly followed, climbing in and rushing to where Chief lay in a crumpled heap in the corner. He wasn't even aware that Jimmy had climbed in after him or that they were moving as he carefully straightened out Chief's body and began checking him for injuries. After running his hands over Chief's arms and legs and finding no obvious signs of injury, Garrison turned his attention to the Indian's head and chest.
Jimmy lent back against the back door of the van and watched as Garrison carefully checked the con for injuries. He wondered idly if Bird would take such care if he were injured, probably not he thought bitterly.
Chief moaned softly when Garrison's fingers brushed across his injured ribs. Garrison pushed harder, feeling several ribs give under his fingers as Chief tried to pull away from the painful pressure.
"Easy Chief," Garrison whispered, leaning over Chief, "you've broken some ribs."
"Hurts." Chief moaned. "Hard to…breathe."
Garrison shifted to sit on the floor of the van with his back leaning against the side wall. Carefully he eased Chief up to a sitting position and rested him back against his chest, relieved when the Indian didn't pull away from him. Garrison glared at Jimmy who seemed to have a look of envy on his face. "Who are you? What do you want with us? Chief needs to go to the hospital now?"
Jimmy shrugged. "No hospital. He won't need one soon anyway."
"You won't get away with this. I have an important meeting in London. When I don't show up they'll be looking for us."
"Won't matter if they do because they won't find you." Jimmy stated.
The van hit a pothole causing Chief to gasp in pain. Garrison returned his attention to his wheelman, ignoring Jimmy who watched the interaction between the two men with a growing sense of trepidation. He was beginning to think that just maybe Dicky had bitten off more than he could chew. Not only was the boss taking on a group of experienced cons he was also taking on the army. If the rest of the cons had as much respect for the Lieutenant as the man seemed to have for this one, then they could all be in trouble. To be honest he didn't really see how Dicky's plan to force the other cons to pull the job was going to work anyway. Maybe, just maybe it was time to get out of the game for good, but that would require money. Money he didn't have unless the Lieutenant's cons pulled off the next job.
The van lurched to a sudden stop, throwing the occupants in the back against the sides. Caught unawares, Garrison wasn't able to prevent Chief from hitting the side of the van when he slipped from his arms. He quickly gathered Chief in his arms again, as the Indian tried to take short gasping breaths between the moans of pain. "I've got you Chief," Garrison said as the van started forward once more, only to stop again.
The back doors were thrown open by the two heavies. "Alright, get them out." Jimmy ordered the two men who eagerly complied, grabbing Chief from Garrison's grip and pulling him roughly across the van floor.
Charlie grinned as Chief cried out in pain at the rough handling. "Listen Tiny, sounds like you'll get your wish to play with our guest after all."
Tiny grinned as he pulled Chief harder across the van floor, eliciting another pained cry from the injured man.
"Save it for later Tiny," Jimmy snapped, disgusted at the big man's penchant for causing suffering. "The boss wants us back at the house as soon as possible. You can have your fun after the job is done."
Tiny scowled, picking up Chief and carrying him into the storage room at the back of the abandoned warehouse, dumping him in a heap on the floor. Garrison was pushed through the door by Charlie and then the door was slammed shut and bolted from the outside leaving the two men in darkness.
GG
Actor heard the phone ringing in Garrison's office as he walked past. Quickly opening the door he rushed to the desk and lifted the handset from the receiver. "Hello," he answered in a deep cultured voice.
"Is that you Actor? It's Major Richards here. Has Garrison left yet?"
Actor arched an eyebrow at the rushed words he was hearing and snapped his fingers at Goniff as the pickpocket walked past. "Yes Major Richards it is Actor speaking." Get Casino, Actor mouthed to Goniff. "Lieutenant Garrison and Chief left four hours ago for the meeting Sir."
"I see."
Actor had a bad feeling at the way this conversation was going. "What's wrong Major?" he queried as Goniff and Casino joined him in the Warden's office.
"Garrison never showed for the meeting, Actor." Richards replied quietly.
Actor paused, "Perhaps the jeep has broken down somewhere. I can't imagine there would be much traffic on the roads this time of day on Sunday, Sir. Would you like us to follow their route from here? See if we can't find them." Actor listened to Richards's agreement and his suggestion that he would send some men from London and also contact the local hospitals, just in case. Actor nodded in understanding and confirmed they would leave immediately before hanging up the phone.
"What's going on Actor?" Casino demanded, studying the worried countenance of the conman.
"It seems that Chief and the Warden never made it to London. We are to start the search from here and follow their route and the Major is sending men from his end as well. He is also going to check the local hospitals in case there has been an accident."
"Blimey," Goniff muttered as the three men hurried from the office.
GG
Richard Bird slammed the handset down on the receiver in anger. That was the third time in the last two hours that the dialed number had rung out.
"Maybe they were sent on a mission." Jimmy offered tentatively from his place against the hallway wall.
"Don't be stupid Jimmy. The army wouldn't send them anywhere without that damn Lieutenant or the other one."
"Well then they might have gone to ground then." Jimmy suggested.
Richard shook his head. "No, no my guess is that they are out looking for our guests. Somehow they already know that they are missing. "
"Maybe the army told them. That Lieutenant was supposed to be going to a meeting." Jimmy pointed out.
"Don't be ridiculous, the army isn't going to confer with a bunch of criminals. No, there has to be another answer." Bird snapped.
"Well maybe Goniff still has some contacts here and they told him."
"And how would they know unless you or one of those two idiots told them?" Bird cursed the apparent downturn in his plans.
GG
Major Richards lent back in his chair and contemplated the three cons from Garrison's team and the information they had supplied. "So the jeep is a right off?"
"Yes Sir." Actor agreed solemnly. They had left immediately after he had finished his call with the major and driven just over half way to London before they had come across the wrecked jeep. Not long after their arrival at the scene the men sent by the major also arrived. A thorough search of the area had provided no clues to what had rammed the jeep or where the two missing men were. "The jeep was hit with some force on the left side, just behind the driver's seat. You can see where Chief swerved sharply to the right to try and avoid the crash. Whatever it was that hit them, pushed them off the road and into the hedge. Casino found where the other vehicle was waiting to intercept them. There were fresh cigarette butts and tire marks in the dirt where the vehicle took off at speed."
"So you think it was deliberate and not just an accident?" Richards asked.
"Yes Sir, we do. There were enough breaks in the trees for Chief to have seen the vehicle travelling on the other road but he didn't, which means it must have been hidden from Chief's view until it was too late for him to avoid the collision."
Richards sighed. "And there was no sign of either Garrison or Chief?"
"No Sir. But if it's any consolation, there was no sign of blood either, which would indicate injuries." Actor offered up the thought even though he didn't really believe what he was saying. If one or both of them weren't injured then they wouldn't have allowed themselves to be taken and would have been waiting for rescue or they would have walked to the nearest house for assistance.
"But who would want to kidnap Garrison and Chief and for what? It wasn't as if they were carrying important documents or have information useful to anyone in this country." Richards replied in frustration.
"Maybe the ruddy Krauts kidnapped them. I mean we go over there and do the same thing to their people." Goniff suggested.
"Don't be stupid Limey." Casino snapped. "There ain't no damn Krauts."
"And why not?" Goniff asked hotly. "The Allies aren't the only ones with special units you know. If we can get into Germany and France and wherever else we get sent then I'm sure Jerry can get into this country too."
"Goniff does have a point Casino." Richards interrupted, "And Garrison would be a valuable prize to the Reich."
Actor remained quiet, ignoring the heated discussion going on around him as he thought on who would have had the audacity to kidnap two men, one of them an army officer, in broad daylight. Actor sighed. He feared Goniff wasn't too far off the mark, only they weren't Germans they were looking for. "I think we need to look closer to home than the German army."
"You know who did this Actor?" Richards asked in surprise.
"Not precisely Major Richards but I do have an idea as to who might be behind it and unfortunately why."
Richards waited impatiently for Actor to continue. He had a man, no… two men, to find. "Well?" he demanded.
Actor looked at his two team mates. "I believe we should have a talk with Dicky Bird."
Casino groaned, Goniff gasped and Richards looked confusedly between the three men. "Who is Dicky Bird?"
"Richard Dicky Bird, Sir, is a British career criminal." Actor began as Casino and Goniff nodded in agreement.
"And what does a career criminal want with Garrison?" Richards asked.
"Nothing Sir, Craig is merely an end to get to us. He wants us." Actor nodded to Casino and Goniff, "and perhaps Chief."
Richards sighed heavily. "I think you had better start at the beginning and tell me exactly what is going on Actor."
GG
Garrison stood still, allowing his eyes to grow accustomed to the darkness of the room. The room was a mix of patches of deep blackness and lighter shadows thanks to several cracks in the outer wall that allowed in thin rays of light. From what he had seen on entering the room, it wasn't much more than a glorified box maybe eight by twelve feet and like the warehouse was abandoned and empty. He could hear Chief's laboured breathing in the far corner of the room and the receding sound of an engine, indicating that their captives had left the area. Garrison reached out and tried the door despite the fact that he knew it was bolted shut. Sighing, he moved carefully across the small space, stepping in a puddle of water as he made his way to the corner where Chief lay groaning with each gasped breath.
"Chief," Garrison called softly as he crouched beside the injured man, touching his shoulder lightly.
"Where?" Chief wheezed loudly.
"An abandoned warehouse somewhere on the outskirts of London would be my guess." Garrison replied as he deftly checked Chief's ribs for more damage.
Chief tried to pull away from the pressure of Garrison's hands but the movement sent a fiery eruption of pain spearing through his chest. The pain was overwhelming and he could feel himself sinking into the velvety blackness caressing the edges of his consciousness.
"Easy Chief. I know it hurts but I need to find out how much more damage your ribs have taken," Garrison cursed Chief's sharp intake of breath as another rib shifted under his hands. "You need to stay still Chief; you've got three maybe four broken ribs."
Despite the pain and Garrison's warning Chief tried to push himself to a sitting position only to slump back into Garrison's arms with a loud gasp. "G…got to…get out of…here."
Garrison shook his head, despite the fact that Chief couldn't see the movement in the darkness. "There is no way out at the moment Chief. We're stuck here until the others can find us."
"What do they…want with us?" Chief had a nagging feeling that he knew both the who and why but in his present condition he couldn't seemed to be able to get his thoughts connected.
"I don't know Chief. I don't even know who has us." Garrison admitted quietly. "Try and get some rest; save your strength in case we get a chance to escape."
Chief didn't reply but Garrison felt him slump further into his arms as he sat on the cold floor of the warehouse. Garrison sighed as he felt Chief shiver. The weather was inclement and the warehouse damp, draughty and cold. He just hoped the rest of the team could find them before Chief's condition deteriorated further.
GG
"So Actor what makes you think Bird is going to call you?" Casino asked from his place slumped in the chair beside Garrison's desk. The discussion in Richards' office had been long and heated but eventually Actor had gotten his way and the cons were now waiting for a call from Bird while Richards tried to discover who had tipped Bird off as to Garrison and Chief's movements. Casino snorted quietly. Of course Richards had not wanted to believe that one of his staff was supplying information to the 'enemy' so to speak. "Maybe he just needed Chief for his heist."
Actor lent back in Garrison's chair and puffed on his pipe. "It's possible but I doubt it. The offer was made to all of us. And as Goniff has pointed out what Bird wants, Bird gets, anyway he can."
"So you think he's kidnapped the Warden and Chief so we'll do the job for him?" Casino cursed.
Actor nodded, "that would be my guess."
"But 'ow did he capture them? There ain't no better fighters than Chiefy and the Warden."
"The jeep's a right off Goniff. They were hit hard and hit that hedge hard." Actor explained. "My guess is one or both of them are injured and we all know they wouldn't jeopardize the others safety to fight or make a break for freedom."
Casino glared at Actor. "You didn't tell Richards that."
Actor shrugged. "That information was irrelevant to the conversation."
"So what do we do when 'Ee rings Actor?" Goniff asked.
"Play along with him. Find out what the job is and hope that Richards comes up with an informant before we have to actually carry out the job."
"Still don't see why we can't just do the job, take down Bird and keep the proceeds." Casino grumbled.
"Because I am sure Bird will have given orders that Garrison and Chief are to be killed as soon as the job is completed. We can't take that chance Casino. We need to play this out long enough to locate and rescue them first."
"Why would 'Ee kill Chiefy, Actor? "Ee needs Chiefy to drive." Goniff pointed out.
"Does he Goniff? It would seem that he already has a driver, considering the wrecked jeep."
"Bloody 'ell. Chiefy's in trouble then."
"Yeah and so are we." Growled Casino. "You can bet your bottom dollar that if the Warden gets snuffed, the brass'll blame us and then we'll be sent straight back to the states if they don't shoot us first."
"They wouldn't blame us, would they Actor? I mean we didn't ask Dicky for a job, 'Ee offered us one."
Actor shrugged, "Casino is right, Goniff. Our fault or not, the army will blame us and we will no doubt be sent back to the states."
"But the Major; 'Ee'll back us. 'Ee'll tell them it wasn't our fault."
"Goniff, it is unlikely that the army will listen any better to Major Richards than they will to us."
The shrill ringing of the telephone perched on one corner of Garrison's desk brought the discussion to an abrupt halt. The three men stared mutely at the device as it continued its raucous music.
"Don't you think you should answer it Actor?" Goniff questioned cautiously