Chapter 1

The bar of the small French hotel was crowded with German soldiers. A layer of cigarette smoke hung below the low ceiling and the mellow lighting made it hard to see across the room. Above the loud chatter, the raucous laughter and the shouted comments, any normal conversation was virtually impossible. The barmaids, all wearing variations of peasant costumes, with tight bodices and swirling skirts, were kept busy, delivering orders, collecting empties and keeping out of the reach of the customers.

One of the barmaids slipped through the tables, deposited several fresh tankards, then swung away from a groping hand towards another table. Here, she leant over to collect their empties when one of the soldiers put his arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. She turned and smiled at him, gave him a quick peck on the cheek before pushing him away and getting back to her feet. As he made a grab for her again, she knocked into the table, causing several drinks to spill. While the other soldiers cursed and steadied their drinks, the barmaid was already swirling away towards the bar and kitchen beyond. The soldier's companions laughing as he gazed longingly after her.

In the corner of the room, a group of SS had been watching that particular waitress for some time. When their commanding officer saw the tell-tale signs of restlessness amongst his men - one beginning to get to his feet, while another dropped his arm to his side, he slapped his gloves on the table.

''Not here,'' he hissed. ''I've seen enough for now. Let's go.'' Then turning to his second in command, he nodded in the girl's direction, ''Bring her with you when you leave.'' Reluctantly, the rest of his men drained their beers and got to their feet, following the officer outside.

GG

An hour later, the waitress placed her last tray of empty tankards by the sink. Quickly washing her hands, she picked up her coat, called ''au revoir'' to the other girls, then slipped out of the door at the rear of the building. Having left the warm, smoky atmosphere, the cold night air caused her to stop and pull her coat more tightly around her. But something else made her hesitate and her hand reached into a hidden pocket, gripping the knife she kept there. As she stepped cautiously forward, a tall figure emerged from the shadows and took her arm.

''Qui fais-tu...?'' she twisted in his grasp but he held her tightly, preventing her from using the blade.

''You need to come with me,'' he ordered. Having recognised the man in his SS uniform, the girl complied.

GG

''Hey, I tell you, she's a natural. Almost had them eatin' outta her hand,'' grinned Casino.

''What's that supposed to mean?'' growled Chief.

''He just meant she pulls a great con,'' intervened Goniff. ''Ain't that right, Casino?''

''Sure,'' Casino agreed, well aware that Chief was itching to lash out after watching his younger sister attracting the attention of several German soldiers.

Garrison looked up from the papers he was reading. ''That's enough, Casino. Chief, take first watch. Actor should be back soon.'' Garrison was aware that his scout was not happy with the way this mission might be going, without tension between him and Casino rising too. Sending him outside might cool his temper a little.

GG

Sometime later, Actor slipped through the door.

''Where's Gina?'' asked Garrison, looking around for the young woman.

''Talking to Chief,'' replied Actor. He walked over to the far side of the room, where Garrison had been studying plans of the local Town Hall.

''Do you think she will agree to do it?'' Garrison said quietly.

''Yes. I filled her in on the mission, on our way here,'' Actor told him. ''Do we have to use Gina? Couldn't Goniff do it?''

Garrison hesitated before replying. ''Normally yes, but the bar is probably the best place and she certainly managed to get close enough tonight. Besides, Goniff can't speak German. If things get nasty, he has no way out. It's too much of a risk.''

Both men were well aware that if the pick-pocket was caught then the situation could easily escalate out of control. Lowering his voice further, so they were not overheard, Actor hesitated slightly before continuing. ''Gina did suggest another way...'' Garrison listened in surprise and growing unease as his con man recalled their earlier conversation while he was escorting Gina back to the safe house.

GG

Gina made her way over to an outcrop of rocks amongst the trees where Chief had stationed himself. ''How long were you in the bar tonight?'' she asked as she sat beside him.

''Long enough!''

Aware her brother would have preferred she was safely back in the States rather than here in occupied France, she tried to reassure him. ''Rainey, I have a job to do and sometimes that involves getting close to the soldiers, especially when they are drunk, then they talk about things which could be important to the Allies.''

''I know,'' Chief sighed ''But it's dangerous.''

''No more than the things you and the others get up to,'' she countered.

''That's different. That's not what I mean. Drunken soldiers...''

''I know what you mean. But I can take care of myself and all the girls at the tavern look out for each other. I will be careful but I'm not going to stop working with the resistance.'' Gina stood up and turned to leave, putting her hand on his shoulder to give it an affectionate squeeze. ''I'd better go and see Garrison.''

Putting his hand over hers, Chief felt her pause. ''You're still my kid sister. Just... be careful.''

Giving his shoulder another light squeeze, Gina walked over to the safe house. When the door opened, Chief smiled at Casino and Goniff's enthusiastic greeting. Then shutting his mind to everything else, he concentrated on the night sounds while he kept watch.

GG

Having given Gina chance to talk to his men, Garrison beckoned her over to where he and Actor were still discussing the mission. Garrison smiled at the young woman, ''It's good to see you again Gina. It didn't take them long to send you back into the thick of it I see.''

''No, it seems London can always find an urgent mission or two, to keep us busy,'' she replied. Glancing up at Actor, she continued, ''I know about your mission, London had forewarned me, and I've found out what I can. But, as I told Actor, lifting those keys is not going to be easy. ''

''Actor mentioned your plan ,'' Garrison told her ''but what you propose is far too dangerous. I'm not prepared to take that risk''

Gina shrugged off his concerns. ''It would be easier than trying to take the keys from his belt in a packed bar-room. Have you seen the number of keys he keeps there? And then have to try and replace them later.''

Garrison had to agree his initial plan was seeming more improbable after an evening spent watching their prey in the bar. The man in question carried a whole bunch of keys attached to his belt, which would be nigh on impossible for anyone to remove without somebody noticing, especially the key-holder himself. But... what Gina was proposing was not something he could sanction. They'd have to find another way.

Never ones to be left out of the loop, Goniff and Casino came over to join the discussion just as Garrison replied with a slight shake of his head. ''Tomorrow, we'll check out the area around the Town Hall and put a tail on the guard. If an opportunity arises, we'll make use of it, but it's vitally important the Germans are unaware we have used the keys. No one must know we have accessed the safe and photographed the contents.''

''Did you find out any details about the safe?'' Casino asked.

''Not a lot, just that its large and old,'' conceded Gina. ''Though, I did hear some soldiers laughing about it the other day. One of them said they hadn't even bothered to post any guards cos it was so old no one would possibly be able to open it.''

''I used to take old safes apart just for fun,'' bragged Casino. ''Should be a cinch.''

''Famous last words,'' smirked Goniff , nimbly ducking under a swipe from Casino.

GG

Garrison was despondent. They had spent the day scouting the area and watching the comings and goings from the German headquarters as well as the Town Hall next door. Meanwhile, Actor and Goniff had been following the key-holder throughout the day, whenever he left the Town Hall, but no suitable plan had presented itself. Returning to the safe house, they had discussed several different ways to snatch the keys but every scenario involved too many opportunities for something to go wrong.

Now, the Lieutenant and his men were back in the hotel bar, where they had started the night before. It seemed as if the whole German Army was in there too. Like the previous evening the beers flowed, the room filled with cigarette smoke and the barmaids worked hard to replenish drinks, whilst trying to avoid wandering hands. The German guard they had been watching all day, had made his way here after work with his friends and looked as if he was set to remain for the rest of the evening.

'' Maybe 'e'll get so drunk, 'e'll pass out in the john, then we can half inch 'is keys,'' suggested Goniff.

''If only it was that easy,'' thought Garrison.

As the evening wore on, Gina had made a point of favouring that particular table, flirting with the soldiers and seemingly enjoying their attention. It wasn't long before she was sitting close to the German guard they had been watching all day, sharing his drinks, laughing and whispering with him. As she rose to leave the table, the guard grabbed her hand and got up with her. Gina glanced at Garrison and gave a slight nod, before weaving her way slowly across the room, followed by bawdy comments from the soldier's companions.

Shocked, Garrison glared across the table at Actor, while Casino and Goniff looked at each other in alarm and confusion. Chief's unblinking stare focused on Gina, as she and the soldier walked towards the door. Gathering his thoughts Garrison hissed out his orders. ''Casino, Chief get to the car and wait for us there. Goniff meet me in the alley.'' When the others had reluctantly left the bar, Garrison turned to Actor. ''Did you know she was going to go ahead with her plan?''

Actor shook his head. He had been as surprised as the others when he saw her leave the table. 'I would have tried to talk her out of it, had I known.''

''Let's hope she knows what she's getting herself into. Stay here and keep an eye on the situation,'' Garrison ordered. ''But get her out of here immediately if anything starts to go wrong.'' With that Garrison turned away and followed the rest of his men. Actor was slightly taken aback that the Lieutenant would even consider he had encouraged Gina with her plan. However, his immediate concern was for her welfare, knowing what that plan entailed.

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Reaching the end of the bar, Gina leaned over and picked up the two opened bottles she had left there earlier. The soldier placed his arm round her waist and pulled her close, as she led him out through a side door. The air was fresher here but Gina hoped he had drunk enough not to sober up too much. Checking the labels, she passed him one of the bottles and watched him drink, before taking a drink herself from the other bottle. Laughing together and supporting each other, they staggered up the stairs, stumbling from one step to another. By the time they reached the landing, the young woman was struggling to keep the man on his feet for the last few paces to the unlocked door of the nearest bedroom. Leading him to the bed, she swung out of his arms and pushed him down, so he was sitting on the edge facing her. Swaying away across the room, she unpinned her hair and shook it loose. Observing the man carefully, Gina picked up her bottle and moved slowly back towards him, drinking as she went. Encouraged, he downed the rest of his beer and raised his arms in her direction. Teasingly, she twirled out of reach, slowly dancing from side to side and giggling at his attempts to stand up and join her. Then, as she watched, his legs buckled and he abruptly sat back down on the bed to steady himself. Slowly the man's eyes began to glaze, while his head and arms started to slump. Fearing he might fall forward, onto the floor, Gina stepped over to the bed, pushing his shoulders with both hands. The movement caused the man's head to jerk upwards but unfocused eyes stared straight ahead as the soldier succumbed and tumbled backwards onto the blankets.

She waited, allowing several minutes to tick by, before checking he really was unconscious then, heaving him over onto his left side, Gina quickly unclipped the keys from his belt. Praying that Garrison had understood her sign earlier, she attached the keys to a ball of string, hidden on the window sill, before carefully opening the window. Relieved to see Goniff loitering in the shadows, Gina lowered the keys down to the two men below. Once the string had been retrieved, she sat down to wait.

GG

Casino was shocked. He couldn't believe what he had just seen in the bar. He'd always thought Gina was different from other dames - seems he was wrong. He couldn't even share how he was feeling with Chief, who was sitting stony-faced beside him in the car.

Aware of movement behind them, Chief glanced in the rear-view mirror and seconds later Garrison and Goniff climbed in behind them.

Goniff jangled the keys. ''Gina came good. Dropped 'em outta 'er window,'' he said with glee.

''She ok?'' Chief asked quietly.

''Yep, fine from wot I could see,'' replied their pick-pocket.

''Let's go,'' ordered Garrison.

''Where now?'' growled Casino, as Chief started the engine

''The Town Hall, of course!'' snapped Garrison, in no mood for Casino's grumpiness, even though he was more than thankful that Gina's plan seemed to have worked so far. He just hoped she had given the man enough to keep him unconscious until they could get back to her.

The journey to the Town Hall wasn't long but Goniff could tell there was tension in the car. Well, not surprising really. After all, he had been as amazed as the others to see Gina leave the bar with a Jerry. But hadn't he just seen her, smiling down from her window and appearing totally unscathed. No, he felt reassured that whatever con she had just pulled, had worked to their advantage.

Casino was unusually silent in the front seat, unpicking his earlier thoughts. Seems Gina had managed to pull some sort of con to obtain the keys for them. Of course he'd never doubted she could come up with the goods, besides, Garrison and Goniff wouldn't have left her there if they thought she was in any danger.

At the Town Hall, Garrison led the other two men to the rear of the building, leaving Chief to reverse the car into a lane opposite, where he could watch and wait and mull over what had just happened. Despite his concerns earlier, Chief knew Gina wouldn't put herself in a position she couldn't get out of. Nor had he sensed she was worried about leaving the room with the Kraut. The initial shock of what she might be about to do, had twisted in his guts, he just hoped she hadn't overestimated what she was capable of. But Actor was still there and Chief knew the con man would do whatever possible to ensure her safety. He just wished he was there too.

GG

The Town Hall was much smaller than the building next door, now occupied by the German military. The Nazis may have made their Head Quarters in the larger structure but Allied Intelligence had discovered that the occupying forces were also utilising rooms in the Town Hall. More importantly, a large, old safe in the basement had apparently been commandeered for the storage of important documents. Throughout the day, they had seen soldiers and clerks moving from one building to the other via the front doors, suggesting there were no connecting internal doors.

In Goniff's hands the bunch of keys were quickly put to use, allowing the men to make their way quickly and quietly into the rear of the Town Hall. As Gina had suggested, security appeared very lax. There had been no sign of an alarm system but the three men moved cautiously along a corridor on the ground floor, just in case the building now had its own patrols. Peering around a corner, Garrison could see the door leading to the basement. Beckoning for the others to follow him, he and Casino kept watch as Goniff found the correct key and unlocked the door. Beyond, it was pitch black.

His shaded torch hardly illuminated the stone steps, as Garrison led the way down into the cellar. At the bottom the space opened out. Casting his torch beam around the walls there appeared to be no signs of any windows or doors, allowing the others to turn their torches on too. The dark stone walls rose to just above head height and supported a vaulted ceiling in a creamy limestone, the ribs radiating from a single boss in the centre.

''Wow! Could be a scene from Frankenstein,'' whispered Casino, his voice producing a light, hollow echo. ''Hey, Boris Karloff would be right at home here.''

''More like a bleedin' crypt,'' muttered Goniff. ''I'll be glad when we're outta here.''

''Goniff, check the door upstairs is closed and see if you can find a light switch,'' directed Garrison. ''We need more light down here.''

Not having to be asked twice, the light-fingered Cockney sprinted away back up the stairs and soon the basement was flooded with light. Looking around the men could see the whole place was empty except for a large box-like structure, about four feet high, standing on a low sturdy antique table in the centre of the floor.

''What the blazes is that?'' asked Casino, in astonishment, moving forward to take a closer look. ''Looks like a piece of old furniture.'' He ran his hands over the structure, then walked around it, examining each side. Darkened with age, the box appeared to be made from iron, strengthened with metal bands, which latticed vertically and horizontally forming a grid pattern on the surface. In the spaces between these strips were, what appeared to be, huge round rivets. ''There's no way to open it. It's solid all the way round,'' declared the safecracker. ''No door, no keyhole, no tumbler system. Nothing.'' Casino looked at Garrison in bewilderment. ''You sure this is the safe?''