Well just when I think I am getting close to finishing this tale somebody else has to pop up and throw a spanner in the works. Thank you to everybody who read, reviewed, followed or prompted. Your continued support is always greatly appreciated.
No Honour Among Thieves
Chapter 9
"So Cesare," Goniff began but stopped at Actor's loud groan. "What? That is the name you're using isn't it? You don't expect me to call you Actor do you? Or 'im…" Goniff pointed a finger at Casino, "…Casino. I think Rudolph's a lovely name."
"It's Rudy you damn Limey."
"Ah, ah Rudy, remember I'm Rodney."
"You'll have a busted jaw if you keep this up." Casino threatened.
"What did you want to know…Rodney?" Actor asked hoping to avoid another argument between the two cons.
"Oh right…'ow am I supposed to get out of the car if I can't walk." Goniff asked as they pulled out of Charles and Elizabeth's driveway for the short drive to the Metternich estate. "I mean, wouldn't it 'ave been easier just to push me there in the wheelchair?"
"You will allow Casino…Rudy and I to lift you out of the car and place you in the wheelchair, Goniff. Lord and Lady Covington do not walk anywhere. They are always driven." Actor explained as he turned into the Metternich estate. "Anything else you want to ask?" Actor guided the big car to a stop at the foot of the steps leading to the front door of the mansion.
"Even if I did 'ave any questions, I reckon it's too late now to ask them." Goniff replied as he stared out the window. The house was much the same as the one they had just left but somehow this one looked far more imposing.
"Alright, now remember Goniff, wait fifteen minutes and then have a turn. Casino and I will carry you up the stairs while Charles and Elizabeth keep our hosts entertained." Actor reminded the little Englishman as he opened his door.
"This turn," Goniff asked as Actor opened the back door of the car, "'ow exactly does it work again?"
"Jeez, you dumb limey, haven't you listened to anything that was said to you." Casino demanded.
"I listened," Goniff defended, "but I just want to make sure I get it right."
"You're not trying to win an Academy Award you know, just moan a bit and pass out." Casino growled whilst getting out of the car.
"You will do splendidly Rodney love," Elizabeth said, accepting Actor's hand as he helped her from the car.
Actor shook his head. "Please don't encourage them Elizabeth." Actor moved to the back of the car and opened the trunk, lifting out the wheelchair that Goniff would use and wheeled it to Goniff's side of the car. "Ready Goniff?" Actor asked as he reached in and slid Goniff closer to the door. He nodded at Casino and the two men lifted the pick pocket out of the car and placed him in the chair.
Elizabeth came around the back of the car and spread a tartan blanket over Goniff's legs, nodding in satisfaction as she ran a critical eye of her 'wounded nephew'. "Perfect."
Charles took Elizabeth by the arm and then stood back to watch as Actor and Casino picked up the wheelchair and carried it up the six steps to the front porch of the mansion. "How much did you eat last night?" Casino grunted as his side of the chair thudded onto the polished wooden boards of the porch. Actor returned to the car and retrieved the basket that Elizabeth's maid had packed for them. He climbed the stairs once more and knocked loudly on the heavy wooden front door.
"Maybe there ain't anybody 'ome," Goniff whispered when nobody immediately came to the door.
"Or maybe they're hiding the evidence." Casino growled.
Actor raised his hand to knock once again but the door was opened by a diminutive woman dressed in the traditional long black skirt, white blouse and white apron of a maid.
"Can I 'elp you?" She asked in a heavy cockney accent.
"Please inform Mister and Misses Metternich that the Lord and Lady Covington and their nephew have come to pay a visit." Actor replied haughtily.
The maid opened the door fully and stood aside to allow the visitors entrance. "Follow me," she said walking across the large entry hall to a door on the left of the ornate staircase. "Please wait in 'ere and I'll inform the lady of the 'ouse that you are 'ere." She waited until the group had entered the room before she closed the door behind them.
GG
"Well Frankie?" Harry McCoy demanded as soon as the heavily built muscle man slid into the seat beside him. Frankie Sneddon grinned; a rare sight and it piqued McCoy's interest. "What did you see?"
"Well the dame's home I guess and got visitors. Didn't see the dame but the maid let the visitors in and they haven't come out yet." Frankie chuckled.
"Alright Frankie, what's so funny? I haven't seen you this happy since you beat little Willie Green to a pulp in the fourth grade." McCoy stated.
"You'll never guess who her visitors are." Frankie chortled.
McCoy sighed. As much as he found Frankie's glee amusing, it was information he wanted. "I'm not in the mood for guessing games Frankie. Just tell me."
"Her ladyship, herself and Charlie and that little pick pocket Goniff. You remember him don't you boss? He did a couple of jobs with us a few years ago. Funny though, he was in a wheelchair and all bandaged up. There were a couple of others with them but I haven't seen them before."
McCoy scowled, "So Bird's information must be correct then. Why else would Lady Muck be poking around? Those other two with them must be the ones Bird tried to recruit."
"Maybe they're just visiting boss. You know, been neighbourly and like." Frankie suggested.
"Don't be ridiculous Frankie. Lady Muck doesn't just go visiting, not unless there is something in it for her. Go and get the boys Frankie, we're going to join the party."
GG
"Well that was easy." Goniff stated eyeing all the brightly coloured trinkets displayed on the mantel above the large stone fire place.
"Yeah, too damn easy if you ask me." Casino grumbled.
"Well nobody asked you Casino…" Actor hissed, "…and Goniff, eyes off. We can't afford to arouse suspicion."
"Aw Actor, you can't blame a guy for looking. You do it all the time."
Before Actor could reply the door opened again and the maid who had shown them in to the room returned. "The Lady Metternich will be pleased to see you in the conservatory. Follow me." The maid turned on her heel and walked down the hall, past the staircase, three closed doors and then turned left, entering a large fully glassed room that looked out on the immaculately mown back lawn with its border of hedge roses. A tall elegantly dressed women rose from an armchair facing the lawn and came towards them. Actor went to move forward and take the woman's hand before he remembered what his position was in this caper and forced himself to remain still. 'If only,' he thought as he studied the beauty walking towards them. Fine chiseled features, milk and honey complexion, blond hair delicately braided and wound into a bun, blues eyes, the colour of the bluest sky, long graceful neck…
"Lady Covington, it is an honour to have you visit us." Katharina Metternich said as she offered her hand in greeting before turning to Charles, "And of course you too, Lord Covington."
"Please there is no need to stand on ceremony. My name is Elizabeth and my husband is Charles and this is my nephew Rodney." Elizabeth made the introductions.
"And my name is Katharina."
"I hope you don't mind us dropping in un-announced but I thought it was time that we officially met and welcomed you to our country. My cook has prepared some afternoon tea for us. If your maid would kindly show Cesare where to take it." Elizabeth suggested.
"I don't mind at all Elizabeth. Actually I am very grateful you have come for a visit. If I have to watch the grass grow on the back lawn for one more minute, I think I shall go insane. Doris, please show these gentlemen to the kitchens and inform my husband that we have guests." Katharina ordered.
"If you don't mind Katharina, my nephew requires the assistance of his nurse at all times. Cesare, you are dismissed. We will call you when we are ready to leave."
"Of course Lady Covington," Actor bowed slightly and followed the maid, Doris, from the room.
Katharina allowed her eyes to follow the retreating back of the Covington's tall driver before turning her attention back to her guests with a soft sigh. She studied the young man hunched uncomfortably in the wheelchair. His right arm was strapped tightly to his chest and a blanket covered his legs, despite the warm afternoon. She could just make out the fading bruises on his face. "How is it that you were injured?"
Goniff swallowed, looking worriedly to Aunt Lizzie. What was he supposed to say? They hadn't discussed how he was supposed to have been hurt and what did he know about war injuries anyway? Probably more than most if truth be told but still… He wondered if it was too soon to have that 'turn' Actor told him about.
"Rodney was very brave, a hero, really." Elizabeth began, "Of course he doesn't like to talk about it, modest to a fault. It happened while he was home on leave. He's in the air force you know. It was after one of those horrid bombing raids the Germans make. Of course he volunteered to help search for those unfortunates trapped in the rubble of their homes. He was rescuing two dear little children when an unexploded bomb exploded in the house next door. He protected the children with his body when the roof collapsed on them."
"Oh my," Katharina commented.
"It was nothing; anybody would 'ave done the same thing." Goniff replied solemnly.
Casino, who was standing behind Katharina, rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelief at what he was hearing. He wanted so badly to comment on Elizabeth's tale but a stern glance from Charles forced him to swallow his words, which produced a chocked cough from the safe cracker.
"This war is such a waste of lives," Katharina sighed sadly, "I am so grateful that we are no longer in Austria. What the Germans have done to our homeland and its people…and to think we are allies in Hitler's madness." She smiled wanly. "I am sorry; I should not be airing my views like that. My husband is always warning me that I should be careful about what and too whom I speak."
"You don't have to worry about us Katharina," Elizabeth replied kindly, "And I doubt that your views are any different from those of any of my countrymen and indeed the rest of the world."
"It would seem you have been regaling our visitors with your ideologies again, my dear."
Casino and Charles spun quickly on boot heels as the new voice joined the discussion, warily watching as the tall blue eyed blonde entered the room and moved lithely to stand beside Katharina, placing a chaste kiss on her cheek before turning his attention to the assembled guests. "Doris will be in shortly with our afternoon tea." Katharina smiled lovingly at her husband before making the introductions.
"Please excuse my tardiness in joining you Lady Covington," Johannes began, bowing slightly and accepting the gloved hand in greeting. "But I'm afraid once I start writing one of my articles, I seem to loose all track of time."
"No apologies are needed Johannes," Elizabeth smiled, retaking her seat as Katharina and Johannes sat on the couch opposite her. "After all we did arrive un-announced."
Charles sat down next to Elizabeth. "You mentioned writing an article? I didn't realize you were a writer Johannes. Are you writing for one of the papers here in England?"
Johannes laughed derisively, "I am an Austrian, Charles, and an ally of Hitler according to your war machine. I live in this country only by the grace of my wife, who is Jewish by birth and my mother who was English. No paper in England would dare to print any of my articles. I write of my experiences and of those around me so that, when this war is over and I and Katharina can safely return to our homeland I can print my articles in my paper in Graz." Johannes turned to Goniff, "Perhaps Rodney you would agree to tell me your story sometime."
"Me…I…aw…you don't really want to 'ear about me…do you?" Goniff stammered nervously.
Casino cleared his throat loudly and glared pointedly at Goniff, making it quite clear to the pickpocket that it was time to go to work.
"I mean…I…" Goniff twisted sharply in his chair, gasping loudly as he forced his body to go rigid. His hands gripped the arms of the chair until his knuckles showed white and he made little gagging noises in his throat.
Elizabeth was instantly on her feet calling Rodney's name and then Rudy's. She turned pleading eyes on their hosts, "Please he needs to lie down immediately. Cesare…Cesare come quickly," she called in a high pitched, flustered voice.
"Come my dear," Charles cajoled softly as he steered Elizabeth away from Goniff. "Let Rudy do his work. I'm sure Rodney will be fine."
Casino rolled his eyes as he glared menacingly at Goniff who still had his face scrunched up as though he were in pain and was making little panting sounds; he had no idea what he was supposed to do. Actor hadn't given him a role description for this job. He sighed and thought quickly to the last time one of them, himself he realized with a start, had been injured on a job. He had made similar panting sounds because he'd cracked a couple of ribs. What had Actor and Garrison said? Breathe slowly. They had coached him until his breathing had evened out. Casino nodded. "Slow down your breathing Roddy. Listen to my voice, in…out…in…out…That's it, you're doing fine." Casino turned to the Metternich's. "Is there somewhere where he can lie down so that I can work on his back for a half hour?"
"What about on the settee here," Johannes suggested pointing to where he and Katharina had just been seated.
Casino shook his head. "I need somewhere flat, with room to move and privacy. A bed would be better."
"You can use the guestroom upstairs." Katharina said. "It's the second door on the right at the top of the stairs. But how will you get him up there?"
"You called Lady Covington?" Actor asked as he entered the room.
"Yes please Cesare, help Rudy carry Rodney up the stairs. He has had another one of those turns."
"Of course Lady Covington." Actor turned and followed behind Casino who was pushing Goniff's chair towards the stairs.
Elizabeth watched the three men disappear out the door before she turned back to the Metternich's and sat down, favouring them with a wane smile.
"Aren't you going to see if your nephew is alright Elizabeth?" Katharina asked.
Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. "As much as I would like to, dear Rodney is a very private person and he hates to be seen by anybody in his weakened condition. And the things that Rudy does for him, well…"
"I understand. Do these turns happen often?" Johannes asked.
"At first they were a daily occurrence, but now only if he moves too quickly. Even so they are horrible to watch. I don't know what we would do without Rudy. He has been a godsend to us since Rodney came home from the hospital."
GG
"Jeez you dumb limey, what was with all the gagging? You're just lucky I remembered what the Warden and beautiful here told me when I busted my ribs." Casino groused as he closed the door to the bedroom.
"Well I 'ad to make it look believable didn't I Actor?" Goniff defended as he stood up and stretched stiffened muscles. "Cor' I'm glad I don't have to use one of those things all the time. Damn uncomfortable, they are. "Ay Casino shouldn't you be doing your thing with the safe?"
Casino shook his head in exasperation. "We gotta give Elizabeth and Charlie time to settle our hosts first, right Actor?"
Actor sighed heavily – why him? – He thought. "Charles, his name is Charles, Casino. Please refrain from calling him Charlie, especially to his face."
"Or what?" Casino asked belligerently.
"You may find you don't like his reply. Now, enough time has past, you had better find that safe and make it quick." Actor opened the bedroom door to raised voices coming from the floor below.
GG
Harry McCoy ignored the two men who slid silently into the back seat of the car he and Frankie Sneddon were waiting in. The long moments of silence were finally broken with the creak of leather when Harry turned to regard his two men. "You know what to do?"
Fitzy Granger nodded earnestly, cracking his knuckles as he spoke. "Sure do boss. Frankie makes sure the little ladies stay nice and quiet while me and George take care of the muscle and you convince Prince Charming to open his safe and hand over all his valuables."
"Just make sure you keep your wits about you and don't let any of those men in there get the drop on you. If they are the same ones Bird tried to hire, then they are extremely dangerous and not to be taken lightly."
Fitzy cracked his knuckles loudly. "Don't worry boss, me and George can handle anything they can dish out."
"I wouldn't be so presumptuous, was I you Fitzy. You don't want to end up in the same predicament poor old Dicky has found himself in. Do you hear me?" McCoy warned before glancing at his watch. "Alright Frankie lets go. They should all be enjoying a nice cuppa about now."