by Saler
In the Rec Room, a huge Christmas tree held pride of place � easily twice the size of the pathetic bit of greenery that Goniff had dragged in last year. That had been an uncertain celebration, but this year they had decided to do things properly and the tree was sumptuously bedecked with all manner of colourful homemade decorations. Garrison had even managed to talk the housekeeper out of her emergency supply of candles, and while Chief fashioned holders for them from tin cans Goniff and Casino had teamed up to string swags of paper chains across the ceiling. Even the sergeant major had joined in the spirit of the season, lending them his gramophone and some of his precious record collection, and the sound of Christmas music echoed throughout the building.
Only Actor was missing. He was off on a 'secret mission' of his own. "I bet there's a bird involved somewhere," Goniff was heard to comment as he stood back to check if the decorations were level.
"A dame? Of course there's a dame involved," Casino was quick to agree. "This IS Actor we're talkin' about."
* ** * ** *
Actor let his eyes rest on the vision of loveliness as she stood before him in her simple white gown, the golden sash echoing her blonde curls.
"Bellissima," he whispered as his fingertips gently stroked her hair, "Mio bellissimo angelo." He thought back to the first time he had seen her and how she had miraculously come back into his life.
It had been in Paris just before his unfortunate trip to America. He had seen her in an expensive gallery in the Rue St Honor�, but he was working a con and could not risk blowing his cover. And now he had found her again, quite by accident. Even though it had been a few years since he had last laid eyes on her, he had not forgotten the porcelain perfection of her complexion or the delicate arch of her brow. He knew it was her; there could not be another with her looks, and this time he did not intend to let the chance of possessing her pass him by.
When HQ had told Garrison to organise the party, he had charged Actor with finding suitable gifts for their guests. With this in mind the conman had taken a trip to the city, and had decided to investigate the London street markets, where it was possible to find anything from second-hand clothing to priceless antiques. He had found some amusing trinkets, and while he waited for the stallholder to wrap his purchases he let his gaze idly drift over the milling crowds of shoppers. Suddenly something caught his attention and he craned his neck to see over the ever-moving sea of heads. A momentary gap opened and he saw what it was that had set his radar humming � an angel who seemed so out of place in this grubby street, her ethereal beauty setting her apart from the everyday crowds that thronged the busy streets. He smiled, and was sure that she smiled back at him.
Then the crowd shifted and he lost sight of her again. His eyes searched the area, but she was not to be seen. He was devastated - sure that she would be gone before he could locate her.
He turned back to the counter, willing the slowest sales assistant in the British Isles to hurry up, and when the woman finally finished tying the string and passed over his package, it was all he could do not to snatch it from her hand. Instead, he forced himself to thank her and take the parcel politely before he whirled to scan the crowds again � thankful for every one of his one hundred and ninety-three centimetres.
Finally, over the heads of two fur-wrapped dowagers, he spotted her again. His senses had not betrayed him � she WAS beautiful. She was beyond beautiful - tiny, delicate and absolutely perfect. He stopped in his tracks and, never taking his eyes from her, let the seething mass of humanity flow around him as he stood transfixed at finding such a treasure in these mundane surroundings.
He decided then and there that she would be leaving the market with him, and, with that aim in mind, he pushed his way through the crowd. Ten minutes later, he was walking down Bond Street with her on his arm.
* ** * ** *
It was already dark when he arrived back at the Mansion. The sky was clear, but the ground underfoot was crisp with the promise of frost. Behind the blackout curtains all was in readiness for the impending celebrations.
He dropped his packages on the hall table, then shrugged off his heavy overcoat and hung it over a chair. Tugging his jacket straight, he headed across to the Rec Room. He opened the door a crack and stuck his head through.
The room had been transformed from its normal everyday purpose to a fitting venue for entertaining important guests. Mrs Kennedy's candles flickered amongst the greenery of the tree, and, together with the leaping flames from the logs in the fireplace, gave the whole room a warm, welcoming glow. A long table, draped with a snowy cloth and decorated with tinsel and pine cones stood along one wall, groaning under the weight of the household's culinary efforts. In the corner, a small bar manned by an American NCO (who had manfully been fighting off the cons' efforts to 'help') stood ready for their guests.
Casino was the first to see him. "About time you got back," he growled, although his grin belied the insult.
"What took you so long?" Goniff asked with a nudge. "As if we didn't know," he added as an aside to Chief. The Indian said nothing, but a slight smile flickered around the corners of his mouth. He looked up at Actor with that slightly bemused, quizzical expression he employed on such occasions.
Just then, Garrison entered the room from the adjoining library. "Oh, Actor, you're back," he said, wondered why his comment evoked such mirth from the others. "Did you manage to get everything?"
"I'm sure he did!" Casino choked.
"Why d'you think 'e's so late?" Goniff added, and the pair of them dissolved into helpless laughter. Even Chief's grin widened.
A pained look crossed the Italian's face as he addressed himself to the Lieutenant and ignored the others. "I managed to get everything you specified, Lieutenant." He paused, "and there was something else I found�"
He opened the door wider and stepped through the door with his 'treasure'.
Garrison could only stare in amazement. Goniff and Casion stopped rolling about and even Chief stared, wide eyed.
Goniff was first to find his voice. "Where did you find 'er?" he asked in a hushed tone.
Casino whistled appreciatively.
Actor just smiled � he had guessed that she would have this effect on them, and he loved to be proved right.
"Well, where DID you find her?" Garrison was unable to stop himself asking.
"You'd never believe me," the conman replied with a knowing smile as he crossed the room, where he reached up and placed the exquisite 17th century Caravelli angel atop the Christmas tree.
Finis
