99. A Fox in the Hen House
Chapter 4
The truck with Garrison and his group reached the safe house a couple minutes behind the truck with the artwork. The partisans were just beginning to unload the boxes from the back to take them into the house. Terry ran inside and up the stairs to get the steno pad. Actor removed his jacket and tossed it over the back of a chair in the main room, making sure the table was clean before any of the paintings could touch it. Casino joined him with a small pry bar and a hammer to open and re-seal the boxes. Chief and Goniff remained outside, taking up the watch. Garrison passed his sister coming down the stairs as he went up to get the microfilm camera.
Actor and Terry went to work cataloging the paintings as they were removed from their boxes by the safecracker. This time it went faster as there were fewer boxes than were on the train. They were just getting to the end when Gabrielle came in and walked straight up to Garrison and began whispering to him.
"Don't put anything away," said Craig.
"Why . . . ?" asked Casino accusingly.
Actor and Terry paused and eyed the Lieutenant warily.
"It seems this wasn't the main load," Garrison said. "Another resistance group managed to hijack two trucks on another road. They're on their way here. We catalog the contents and they will transport them to their hiding place."
Terry gave a long sigh. "So much for getting a little nap this afternoon."
"Figures," grumbled Casino.
"And how soon will they arrive?" asked Actor.
Garrison looked at the three. "Within the hour."
Actor handed the last painting to Casino to be boxed back up. He went over to a chair, sat down, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Terry handed the steno pad to her brother so he could photograph these pages before she started anew. When the boxed painting was removed by one of the partisans, they all took seats.
'Within the hour' was a little more than thirty minutes. Everybody got up and stretched and went back to their positions. The three working with the art had it down to a routine and were a little faster this time. Still, it took hours. It was getting dark when they were finally finished and the last truck moved out.
Thinking they were finally done, and too tired to even think about eating, the three who had been working with the paintings headed for the stairs.
"Lieutenant!"
Everyone froze. The three on the stairs looked at the man who had entered the room. Gabrielle had a look of urgency.
"The Tedeschi are searching for us! We have to leave! Now!"
Garrison headed for the stairs. "We'll grab our gear and meet you outside," he said.
They grabbed their kits, and those of Chief and Goniff, before hurriedly meeting at the back of the truck. The pickpocket and scout were already in the back. Garrison, Actor and Terry stopped beside Gabrielle, Casino tossed the kits up to Chief and climbed in the back.
"Where are we going?" asked the Lieutenant.
"Back to pick up Giorgio," replied the resistance leader. "You will not be staying. He will take you to a group to the east, by the entrance to Brenner Pass. Your contact is Matteo. Hurry! We must leave now!"
The three joined the others in truck and took their seats on the floor. Terry was between her brother and Actor, and the others were facing them. Chief moved to the tailgate, where he could look around the flap for a tail. Nothing was said until they were on their way.
"Does he know about us?" Actor made a sweep of his hand at the others to indicated which 'us' he was referring to.
"No," replied Terry. "I try to keep everyone separated, except with Frazini."
Now she had the attention of the other three men.
Garrison eyed her. "You've worked with this one before?"
"Yes," answered his sister.
"He the one you've been blowin' trucks with up on that pass?" asked Casino.
"Yes," was another short reply.
"So you know 'im," said Goniff. "So wot's the problem."
The others had picked up on the answer to that already. Terry made more of a grimace than a smile.
"Matteo is the head of one of 'my' cells," said the woman.
Goniff looked around at the others and finally realized the problem. "Oh," was all he said.
This was something Garrison was not used to doing with his sister. "How do you want to handle this?"
Terry took a deep breath. "I want all of you to avoid him as much as possible. Craig, you can't but you will have to think of me as a member of another group, like OSS, who was sent with you because of my expertise with art. Actor, he doesn't know you and I want to keep it that way."
"Why?" asked Casino. "So he's your second-in-command."
"Yes," affirmed Terry. "Think about it. What if they find out they have both leaders of Jaguar in their camp? What if one of that cell is a plant by the Germans?"
"They would give us up and wipe us all out," added Actor in explanation. "The Germans would love to destroy another resistance group. Kill Teresa and I, and destroy Jaguar."
"Terrific,' said Chief in disgust. "And what's stopping somebody from tryin' to bump you off?" he asked Terry.
"Nothing," she replied.
"So why send us there anyway? I thought you said the pass was closed?" continued the safecracker.
Terry allowed a tiny bit of aggravation to seep into her voice. "I, for one, did not check what the weather forecast for the entire northern part of Italy was before we left England."
Garrison picked up the explanation. "If it isn't snowing, the Germans are in a hurry to remove the art work, so they will probably be clearing the railroad lines across the pass, and the road alongside of it."
Chief wasn't happy with the situation. "So why are they even opening it up if it's gonna snow again?"
"Because we have been working in this area, so they have to open another route through Austria to Germany," continued Garrison.
"Our preventing the artwork from going over the Gotthard Pass is most likely giving Herr Goebbels a fit," added Actor. "So the Germans will have to open another pass far from the one we are leaving."
"Won't they be watching for us there?" asked Casino.
"Most likely," admitted Garrison.
"So why don't we just go back to England?" asked Goniff.
"Because we haven't been told to come back yet," said Garrison firmly. "Now knock it off."
Terry frowned in concentration. "Casino, do we have enough explosive left for a couple more trains and trucks?"
"It's gettin' low, but I can make it work," said Casino. "Why?"
Terry didn't answer him, but looked at her brother instead. "You want me to contact Madge and have her tell Major Richards we need a drop of more?"
Garrison thought about it. "Let's see how this first one goes and if we need more then we'll ask for a drop."
The conversation ceased as they rumbled and bumped along the dirt track. Casino and Terry finally fell asleep despite the jerking and bouncing. Garrison, as usual, stayed awake. As the track smoothed out, Actor's head drooped, fatigue taking over. He just barely noticed Teresa starting to list toward him, still sound asleep. He didn't try to move her back. Garrison slapped his sister on her near arm with the backs of his fingers. She startled awake. Actor's hand moved subtly over to grasp her wrist as it was about to come up, switchblade open in her hand.
Terry looked around in confusion. "What? Are we there?" she asked, dubiously.
"You don't have to sleep on him all the time," said her brother calmly in Blackfoot.
Terry gave him a disgusted look. She pulled her wrist away from the con man and closed the knife, securing it in her arm sheath. That move was not missed by Garrison.
"Mi dispiace," she said somewhat sarcastically to Actor.
Casino looked across at the tension between the officer, his sister, and his second-in-command. He immediately got the picture and grinned. "Come on, Babe. You can lean on me."
"I'm not sleeping on any of you," said Terry crossly.
She closed her eyes, but that was the end of her sleep. Every time her head began to drop, she jerked herself awake. Actor found himself doing the same thing. He really had no problem with the girl leaning on him. Something was bothering the Lieutenant.
Again it was hours before they arrived at the previous safe house. Quickly, they left the truck they were in and began transferring bags and themselves to the back of Giorgio's truck.
Actor stayed back and reached a hand out to Garrison's arm, motioning with his head to step away from the others. Garrison followed him and looked up in annoyance.
"I don't know what the problem is this time," said the Italian in a low voice. "I thought you were over this. Neither Teresa nor I have had enough sleep. If you want us to be able to work quickly and efficiently, then I suggest you allow us both to sleep. And if that means Teresa leans against me, I for one have no problem with it. Would you care to tell me what is bothering you?"
Garrison swallowed a sharp retort. The con man was right. And truthfully, he did not know himself. He shook his head. "If this is another easy mission, it's becoming more dangerous. And, like all of us, I'm tired. I just need to stay awake. We can't all be asleep back there."
Actor nodded in understanding. "Now you know why I don't like to be in charge." He gave a small smile. "See how Chief is doing. If he is fine, then perhaps you can get an hour's sleep anyway."
"Now Garrison nodded. "I guess if you don't have a problem with Terry, then go ahead and let her sleep against you. And I'll talk to Chief."
They climbed in the back, three pair of eyes avoiding them, and one watching. Garrison whispered to Chief, received a nod, and went to sit down. The seating arrangement was the same as before.
Actor put his arm out and tried to pull Teresa to him. She pulled away and shook her head, saying nothing and looking at the floor.
"Go ahead," said Garrison in Blackfoot. "You need sleep and you do better resting against him." He paused and said softly, "I apologize."
Terry turned her head to look at him. She saw the same exhaustion in his face as she felt. "Thank you," she replied just as softly in the same language. Reaching across herself, she picked up Actor's wrist and held it up enough to duck under it and wiggle closer.
Actor tightened his arm around her and looked over her head at her brother. They did not speak, but seemed to know things were better now. He watched Garrison lean against the front wall of the truck and close his eyes. The con man's eyes closed too.
Casino looked at the three and shook his head before closing his eyes. The Limey was already asleep.
Now the going was even slower over tracks and dirt backroads to their next destination. As the light became dimmer into darkness, the going became slower. A full moon and the entrance into snow, with the decrease in temperature, made it slightly easier for the driver to see where he was going. But more difficult to drive through, and more dangerous.
Garrison slept for two hours before awakening at a bump that had his head hit the metal wall. He levered himself up, stepped over legs and approached Chief.
"You need sleep too," said the officer quietly.
"I'm okay, Warden," said the scout.
"Yeah, but much more and you'll be in the same shape I was." Garrison smiled. "Go on. If I get too tired, I'll wake you or one of the others."
The Indian nodded and handed his machine gun to Garrison. He switched places with the officer and moved back to where the man had been sitting.
Craig watched out the back for slit cat-eyed headlights, but doubted even the Germans would be after them wherever they were. The truck had steadily been gaining altitude and seemed to hit the peak of the trail they were on. It did not move any faster downhill, but eventually the snow lessened and disappeared.
He wondered why it was whenever he was exhausted, he took it out on Terry. Something from an old West Point psychology class tickled his brain. People tended to take their problems out on those closest to them, be they friend or relative. When his brain was working properly, Craig knew Terry would not take up with Actor after the war. Like himself, she loved working a good con, but there was a big difference between the cons they were pulling now and doing it like Actor would after the war, only for the pleasure and monetary gain.
Maybe the other thing that was bothering him was allowing his sister to take the lead role with the resistance leader from her own group. She had to keep her real identity secure, keep Actor out of it as much as possible, and be the go-between of the two groups. Craig knew he hated to give up control of the group to even Actor, though he had come to trust the confidence man. That was a little odd too.
Eventually they reached a small valley between the foothills and the mountains. The truck zig-zagged through trees until reaching was looked to be a somewhat dubious safehouse. It might have been a hunting lodge at some point, but now was in a state of disrepair, roof sagging and some windows broken. The sky was just beginning to lighten, but it would be a couple hours before sunlight made it to the house through the trees and surrounding rugged hills. The truck turned and backed up close to the house.
Garrison held his machine gun at the ready and looked around. A man came out of the house, hands away from his body, but weaponless, though the officer had no doubts there were guns trained on them and the man was armed in some hidden way. As the man approached, Garrison climbed over the tailgate and to the ground, still wary.
The man was probably in his thirties. He was about Casino's height, dark hair and a rugged face that told of interrogation with scars and creases reminiscent of Emilio Frazini. He walked with a decided limp, as though his left knee had been damaged. Garrison walked forward to meet him.
"Lieut. Garrison?" asked the man.
Garrison nodded. "Matteo?"
"Sì" the man replied.
They moved away from the truck to talk. At Garrison's nod to Chief, who had taken his place at the tailgate, the occupants began climbing out. The officer noted to himself the resistance leader was keeping a surreptitious eye on who was gathering at the end of the truck. Matteo gave a sharp look at Terry as she descended last.
"You have a woman?" asked the partisan suspiciously.
"Yes," said Garrison. "She's independent. She was recommended by OSS as an expert in artworks. The tall man is also."
They moved away as the small group was led by another partisan to the house.
Matteo spoke softly to the American, seemingly uninterested in the others anymore. "We have two truckloads of art pieces, mostly paintings from Rome. There are two caves in the area we will take them by mule to hide them in. I will have my men begin bringing them into the house."
Garrison nodded. The two men parted, with Garrison following his people into the house and Matteo disappearing into the woods. Inside, his men were moving furniture to make room for the art boxes and a table to work on.
"Two truckloads," he said to Actor. "Mixed art."
"Do we know which caves?" asked Terry.
"Not yet," answered Garrison. "I'll have him show me on the map when he comes in and give you the number for each truckload."
The woman nodded, going to her bag on the floor by the wall to retrieve her steno books and pen.
"Blimey," said Goniff. "Don't these people eat?"
Garrison shook his head at the usual question from the always hungry pickpocket. Terry tossed her steno pads on the table and headed for the kitchen. Conveniently the partisan who had brought them into the house had disappeared in the direction she took to be the kitchen.
"Warden," said Chief. "I'm gonna watch outside."
"Goniff," Garrison turned to the slight man. "You go too,"
"Why me?" whined the blond.
"Because you're the only other one not needed in here," said Garrison firmly.
Casino grinned. "If Terry comes up with some food, we'll bring it out to you."
Face showing he was clearly not happy with those answers, Goniff followed Chief slowly out of the house.
Terry scrounged around for even some bread and cheese. Matteo came into the kitchen from outside. The resistance leader of this Jaguar cell eyed her. "You are leading us," he said quietly in Italian. "Yet you work with these men. Why? Or even better, how?"
Terry gave a small smile, and out of habit, answered in Italian. "I freelance with a lot of people. SOE, OSS, Free French, even another partisan group to the east. They don't have to know who I am. Better they don't. How? We listen to the radio. We know when someone, somewhere needs help. I just show up."
"What if you are killed?" asked Matteo.
"What if you are killed?" she parroted back. "I imagine you have someone next in line capable of leading your group. I have to have someone able to take over and I do."
The man accepted that. He went to a cupboard and brought out a half loaf of rustic bread and a small chunk of cheese. A drawer yielded a serrated knife.
"Do you have food to feed your people?" asked Terry dubiously.
Matteo nodded. "We have more coming." He stopped and looked at her again. "These men do not know you are Trifoglio?
Terry shook her head. "The name I am using with them is 'Terry.' The big Italiano calls me 'Teresa'," she said with the Italian pronunciation. "Oh, and Garrison needs you to show him on his map where the caves are so we can track where each load goes."
She set about on the well-scarred kitchen table, cutting the bread and cheese into portions. Matteo produced a somewhat ragged towel for her to put the food on. Together they went back to the main room. Terry opened the towel on the seat of a wooden chair and ripped out two blank pages from one of the steno pads, one for Garrison and the other for herself, putting a portion on each. She took the smallest portion. Actor removed his clean handkerchief from his trousers and picked up a slice of bread and piece of cheese. He could not allow his hands to get dirty eating food or have the food on the table he was working on. This now left Casino's portion and two for the men outside.
The safecracker picked up a piece of bread and cheese making a half sandwich from it, careful not to let the crumbs from the bread get near the table the other two would be working on. The towel he made into a packet and headed out the door to deliver it to Chief and Goniff.
Matteo met the officer at the table as Garrison unfolded a map. They looked at it and the resistance leader pointed to one, calling it the first truckload, and another for the second truckload.
"Terry," said Garrison. "The first truckload is number 10 and the second is number 12."
Terry nodded, taking a bite of dry bread and a nibble of cheese. The front door opened and a man entered with the first painting box. Matteo left with him to help unload the truck.
9