"I get it! Okay! Jeeze! I get it. I fouled up. But if he makes us go through that damn course one more time somebody's gonna get hurt!" Casino lowered his voice and growled. "And I don't plan on it bein' me!"
Actor couldn't even marshal enough energy to be irritated with Casino and the trouble the safecracker's mistake on their last mission was causing all of them. He took a deep breath and got up from where they'd been taking a break in the shade. The con man dusted himself off and straightened his clothing before he set off for the low wall at the edge of the lawn where the Warden was sitting.
Garrison watched the older man make his way towards him and waited as he turned and settled on the stone retaining wall with a groan. "So you're the official deputation?"
The group's second-in-command turned to face their leader. "They are exhausted." He observed the younger man for a moment. "And so are you. I believe it would be advisable to continue this, if we must, tomorrow, after we have all had a chance to rest."
The Lieutenant shook his head. "We've got to work on it now. We've got to do better!"
"Why?"
"Because we screwed up over there because we were tired." The Warden shoved his hands through his hair in frustration. "Because I can't arrange for you to go into these missions 'after we have all had a chance to rest'."
Actor sat quietly. He knew there was more to this than Casino's error.
Garrison stared off into the distance for several moments. "Four weeks ago I went to dinner with a friend of mine. Three weeks ago he died. Two weeks ago they buried him…. He screwed up because he was tired too." He slid off the wall and took a couple of steps away. "Go on. Hit the showers and then go into the village for a while. Rawlins already has a car set aside for you."
The Italian pushed to his feet and took a step after their commander as he started back towards the path that led to the obstacle course. "You are coming with us…"
Garrison stopped for a moment but he didn't turn around. He shook his head. "I have to keep working on this. I have to get it right."
Actor watched as the Warden jogged away and disappeared into the trees.
g
Garrison pushed himself through the course. He managed to 'kill' three of the mansion guards and still shaved some time off but he was beginning to drag. Actor was right. He usually was, Craig thought with a shake of his head. He headed back towards the house but pulled up when he hit the rise that let him look down on the back garden. The men were still there. Still working in the fading light. And Casino's voice drifted up to him as he stood there and watched.
"No, no, no! Come on, you dummy! That's exactly what I did! Now try it again!"