"Actor find a way to get me off this bucket… And make it look good."
"I don't get it. Why'nt you just ride?" Goniff indicated the stretcher the boat crew had left leaning in the doorway.
"'Cause that Johns guy is probably waitin' out on the dock." They'd had run-ins with Captain Johns already; the safecracker didn't like him. "That right Lieutenant?"
"Alright, here it is…" Garrison took a deep breath and told them the truth. "If I'm not in good enough shape to keep track of you, you guys are in the stockade."
"Blimey!"
Casino turned on the tall Italian. "You know about this?"
"I surmised as much." Actor said with a shrug.
Chief gave a low whistle. "So how'r we gonna do it?"
g
They moved down the ramp together. The men were gathered in a close knot around Garrison, shielding him so the limp wouldn't be noticed, they were arguing over his head.
Johns approached, disgust clearly evident on his face.
"Knock it off," Garrison ordered and the squabble faded grudgingly away to silence.
Johns eyed the bandage on Garrison hand. "What happened to you?"
"I had a run in with a German guard dog. I'll have it checked out after I get these jokers settled back at the base." He turned his back on Captain Johns cutting off the next question. "Get to the truck," he ordered. When the men started to grumble about it he followed with a sharp, "Now!"
The group finally turned and headed for the truck but Garrison reached out his good hand and caught the closest one, Chief, by the shoulder. "Not you. You come with me."
Appearing to be shoving him off towards the staff car Garrison used the young man for support as they moved away. Chief struggled a little to throw their gait off.
"What's that all about?" Johns called out.
The two men kept moving but Garrison looked back over his shoulder. "Turf war," he told him. "I'll handle it."
Chief led them to the far side of the car so Johns wouldn't be able to see if the Warden had any trouble getting in. He opened the door and climbed into the backseat. Garrison dropped onto the cushion and pulled himself towards the center of the seat to give his legs more room. He still swore under his breath as he bent his knees to settle his feet on the floor and reached to pull the door closed.
"You okay, Lieutenant?" the young man asked as the driver pulled out ahead of the truck carrying the others.
"Yeah. Fine." Garrison relaxed back into the corner and closed his eyes; the driver was one of the regulars out at the estate, he didn't have to be on guard with him.
Chief was beginning to get the idea that word 'fine' meant something different to the Warden than it did to the rest of them.