part 6
Garrison was instantly on alert. The telegram had been bad enough but this man's tone was unsettling. "Yes, sir."
"Did you enjoy being with the family?"
He realized he hadn't asked Casino exactly what his mother had told them to get him released from here in the first place. The way the question was worded he figured it was some kind of Aunt/Uncle con job. He decided he didn't need to correct the impression the doctor had, and he had enjoyed being with the family, even if it wasn't his own. "Yes, sir, I did." he shifted uncomfortably on the chair. "Would you like to tell me what this is all about, sir?"
"Something's showed up on your last x-ray Lieutenant. I'm sorry."
I'll bet you are, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be too. "But they said everything was clearing up�"
"I know,,, there was an error. The films were mismarked and by the time we realized it you were long gone. It took a bit of digging to track you down. And the original problem has cleared up. This is something different."
"So� ah� What is it?"
"We don't know for sure." The doctor's voice and manner were even more casual, and he shrugged. "That's why you're back here for more tests."
I haven't spent all this time with four cons without learning a couple of things. Your tone is way too friendly, Jack, this is a snow job if I've ever heard one. And you have a pretty damn good idea of what's going on, he thought. "What kind of tests?"
"It's called a biopsy. I have you scheduled for one tomorrow morning."
"What will you do?" He'd heard the term before, but he needed the man to say it out loud, to tell him what he was up against.
"It's nothing. We'll do a little minor surgery and take a piece of tissue out to look at under the microscope."
OK, this guy is being way too careful. "Sir, the only person I ever knew who had one of those biopsies of yours was a cadet at West Point. He came up sick and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. They did that biopsy thing and he died about six months later."
"Did they tell you what killed him?" The doctor had shifted, his attention and gaze going back to the file he held in his hands.
"Yeah." His mouth had gone dry. "Leukemia. So, I think you'd better lay it out for me."
"Alright Lieutenant, here it is." Tossing the file aside the doctor rested his arms on the desk and leaned forward a bit, studying the young man who sat across from him. "The pneumonia and pleurisy that we treated you for was obscuring an underlying problem. We think it's a tumor and it may be cancer. But we won't know without the biopsy."
Think. May be. Won't know... Well, I asked for it. "Where is it? Can you show me."
There was a large envelope setting against the wall next to the doctor's chair and a box covered in opaque white glass hanging on the wall next to the desk. He flipped a switch on the box and selected a film from the envelope and held it up to the light. "This is what we're concerned with, right here."
"But that's just scar tissue." Relief flooded through him. I knew this had to be some big mistake. "They showed me that weeks ago. Said it wasn't anything to worry about."
The doctor pulled another film from the envelope and clipped it to the lighted box next to the first. "Lieutenant, scar tissue doesn't change like this. And it might cause some pulling, a sharp pain now and again, but not the constant discomfort you've been putting up with�"
How in the hell did he know about that?
"�or the fevers, or the weight loss� Believe me son."
No... No, this is some kind of a mistake. They just picked up some other guys file that's all. But the light scattering of metal through the thing the doctor was pointing out on the films was the same. One of the bullets he'd caught way back in France had fragmented and they'd said it'd do more damage to try and chase all those little pieces around than to just leave them where they were. They were the same on both films. "If it's... cancer� what'll you do about it?"
"Depends on how bad it is. We can take all or part of the lung to try and stop it."
Try and stop it, that doesn't sound too hopeful. "Who decides that?"
"I do. Either during the procedure tomorrow, or after the results of the biopsy come back."
Talk about not being in charge. Sounds you're going to be deciding if I live or die tomorrow, something I should have a little say in. "What if I don't have your biopsy? What if I don't let you do anything?"
"Look, son, your records finally got here. There's a vague shadow on one of the films that was done over there, but it's hard to make out. The films were damaged. The set we have here,,," Tapping the second film again to stress his point the doctor continued, "it's much more prominent. That means, if it is a tumor, it's a fast growing one. If we don't do anything about it's going to spread."
Say there, Dad "Any guarantees your surgery will stop it?"
OK, this kid said he wanted it laid out for him, he'd give it to him straight. "No. But if it's cancer and we don't do anything I can guarantee it will kill you. If we try, and we manage to get it all, we may stop it."
That's not exactly the guarantee I wanted. "I have some things I have to do first. Stuff I need to finish." Garrison studied the doctor that sat across from him. "Once you cut me open and report it they'll discharge me. I won't have the access I need�"
"I'll have to report this any way so there's no point in delaying it. And if we can stop this�" Worthing leaned forward in his chair and pressed his point. If the kid needed to think he'd still be useful after the surgery then he'd tell him that. "Lieutenant, they need men like you, experienced men, as analysts, advisors, as instructors. I know that's not what you expected to do in this war, but don't count on a discharge after I'm done with you."
"But no guarantees?"
"No." He'd watched the color drain from the young man's face as they'd talked. And he knew the internal dialog, he knew it by heart. This isn't happening to me, this is someone else we're talking about. He'd been through it all, said it all when they found the tumor that took his wife's life. He watched as the man's eyes searched the room and noticed that they sought every avenue of escape,,, the windows that looked out on the walkway that ran next to the building, the door that led into his private office, and the door that led back out into the hallway. When the young officer stood and headed towards that door he knew what was on his mind then too... He's going to bug out on me. And he pressed the button on the intercom on his desk. "Where are you going Lieutenant?"
Are you crazy!? Anywhere away from here, and just as fast as I can...! "I,,, I just need to get some air, sir." But before he could reach the door it had already opened and an orderly stood in his path holding the duffle bag he'd dropped outside the doctor's office before he'd been invited into this nightmare.
"Good. I'll just have Innis take you over to your room. It's across the campus in building B. You'll get a good walk on your way over." Worthing studied the pale face and noted the slight sheen of sweat and the rapid breathing. "I can arrange for a wheelchair for you if you don't think you can make it."
Surrounded. "No, sir, that won't be necessary." Garrison felt the muscles in his back and shoulders tense and his hand slide towards the place on his hip where his service revolver usually rested when he was in uniform. He made a conscious effort to relax and take a deep breath before he stepped towards the door. "I can manage it."
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They'd hung around after they let him out and watched him walk up into the large building. He'd told them to go back home after he'd thanked them, told them he'd let them know what was up after the tests were done. They'd argued but he'd insisted, and when that stubborn officer's edge came into his voice Casino had signaled his parents to back down. As soon as he'd moved far enough away from the car so he couldn't hear them they'd started their plotting. Casino spent a little time sitting in the car, just long enough to let the Warden get past the front desk and on where he was supposed to go. "Alright, I'm gonna go in and find out where they're puttin' him. You guys go park the car and I'll meet you back up here on the steps."
He turned the collar on his jacket up and pulled the heavy door open. As he walked across the lobby he pulled his wallet out and held it in his left hand. It felt like any one of the jobs they'd pulled over in Europe, but at least here language was no problem and they probably wouldn't put him up in front of a firing squad if he was caught. "Hey, beautiful! That last guy that walked in here, where'd he go?"
"Why?" The receptionist looked up from her work and waited for his answer.
He shrugged, "Aw, he left his wallet in my cab. Can't have him walking around with out any dough now, can we?"
Extending her hand she continued, her voice the practiced sort of bored that told him she was interested in him. "I'll see to it that he gets it."
Casino started to hand over the wallet, then snatched it back, "Oh, it's no trouble. I can see you're real busy. 'Sides I wanna do it." He turned his best smile down on her. "Might get a big tip, ya know?"
"He's just headed in to Dr. Worthing's office. That's down there, past the second hallway and two doors on your right."
"Thanks, babe." He gave her an appreciative wink as he swaggered towards the hallway, "If he gives me a good tip, what time do you get off?" and caught her smile before he moved off towards the doctor's office.
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Damn! She'd already talked her way into the doctor's office. She and Pop were still in there talkin' to the guy. If he hadn't been so loud about bein' the cabby he'd a been in there too. He'd waited around the corner until the Warden came out with an orderly that was probably takin' him to his room, and then went out to tell them where the doctor's office was, then he had to waste some time finding a side entrance to get back in so the little receptionist wouldn't get suspicious. By the time he'd found the damned office again they were already inside. 'Come on, already!', he thought. 'How long can it take to give somebody the low-down on somethin' like this?' The moment the door opened he stopped pacing, latched on to his mother's arm and towed her down the hall. "What'd he say?"
But it was Pop who spoke up as she fumbled in her purse, "The doctor said we should call the rest of the family."
Casino caught is breath and looked up at the two of them. "That doesn't sound good. What's wrong? Did he tell you?"
She was still searching through her purse, still looking down, until Casino handed her his handkerchief. "He thinks it's cancer." she said quietly and then she looked up at him as she dabbed at her eyes. "The doctor's worried he won't go through with the tests and the surgery."
Casino just stared down at her as a hundred images flashed through his mind: The look on the Warden's face when he'd handed him the cuffs that first time in the plane, the laugh they'd all shared when they left Manners to explain to the Germans why there was no money in the coffin, the glint in his eye when he floated the idea of them dressing up like dames to get those babies out a Germany, even the way he looked laying in that hospital bed on that Kraut air base when they'd gone undercover together. "Damn!" It wasn't supposed to be like this. Casino turned away from them and faced the wall. "Damn it!" and he took some of his anger and frustration out on it with his fist. "But he doesn't have anybody�"
She settled herself firmly on the bench that sat along the wall. "Yes he does," and kissed her husband when he sat down next to her.
"Yeah! He does." Casino kissed the top of her head and then turned, heading back down the hall to that damn receptionist. "I need to send a telegram."
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"They've assigned you a private room, sir." The orderly shouldered the door open and stood waiting for him to cross the threshold.
"Great." Solitary. His eyes went to the window, it was narrow and sat high up in the wall, near the ceiling, and then he checked out the two other doors as he walked into the room.
The young man pulled the closest door open, "Closet's here." And with a jerk of his thumb indicated the other. "John's in there. Do you want me to put your stuff away? You need any help getting dressed?"
I am dressed. "No thanks, I can do it." Moving through the room he opened the door that led to the bath, turning as he closed it, he brought both hands up to hold it closed, leaned his forehead against the wood and closed his eyes.
"Sir, if you need anything my desk is just outside in the hallway."
Swell. A guard on the door. The window's too small to get through too.
"Sorry about the chow, sir. Doctor said you couldn't have anything until after the surgery."
Damn! Not even a last meal!
"But you got all the hot water you want in there, sir."
Well, that's something, anyway. Maybe I can drown myself. "Thanks Corporal. I'll call you if I need anything."
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He'd hung his uniform away, used nearly all that hot water before he changed into the clothes Corporal Innis had laid out for him. They were the simple drawstring cotton pants he'd seen the doctors wearing, and a plain white T shirt. At least I don't have to be embarrassed by one of those damn hospital gowns. It was quiet in the room and he'd spent some time just sitting on the side of the bed. The pitcher of water on the table next to him was empty, he'd downed all of it but his mouth was still dry, and Innis had told him he couldn't have any more until after the surgery, like the food.
This wasn't the way he'd planned things. He didn't consider himself a coward but he didn't know if he could just sit in there and wait for the morning. Pretty clever of them to get you out of your clothes right away. Makes it harder to run� There wasn't a lock on the door. It wouldn't be that hard to get dressed again and just walk out the door. Innis doesn't look that tough. But just as he was considering that option the door opened and he looked up, "How did you get in here?"
"I can leave you alone if you like. But we've already talked to the doctor and none of us are going anywhere until after you have that surgery tomorrow."
Standing there like that she barely seemed taller than the door knob, but she effectively cut off his escape. And if she was staying , it looked like he was too,,, And she was probably way tougher than Innis. Looking past her he searched the piece of hallway visible through the open door. "Where�?"
"They've gone to find coffee."
"Then I guess you'd better sit down and make yourself comfortable." He closed his eyes and took as deep a breath as he could manage. There seemed to be a steel band around his chest and someone had been pulling it tighter and tighter ever since he'd read the telegram.
"Did they feed you?" As she walked across the room to the chair she watched him turn and settle himself on the bed. He was so thin... If he had to face something serious like this how was he going to fight it off? He needed weeks of someone feeding and fussing over him before he'd be ready to do this, but the doctor assured them it wasn't something that could wait.
"Can't have anything because of the surgery."
"Here I get you fattened up a little and they go and undo all my good work." she fumed and he heard a muted version of Casino's irritated manner.
He smiled over at her. "I want to thank you for that."
"You don't have to. The food was there, all you had to do was eat it."
"That's not what I mean." She knew it wasn't, she was hiding the fact by concentrating on the hands she held in her lap. "I haven't� It's been a long time since I had anyone fuss over me. It was nice� Casino's lucky."
"Well, we'll just have to find you a nice girl to�"
"No. I don't think that's such a good idea right now. I don't think I want anyone depending on me right now."
"You don't have a choice, people already do!" She leaned forward and rested her hand on his arm. "My son, those other men. Everyone you know depends on you in some manner. People you don't even know depend on you to do the best job you can to bring their sons and brothers safe through this. People you haven't met yet will depend on you, or the people you keep alive by what you do." She could hear the doctor as he told them how important it was to face something like this with confidence, determination, and belief in the future, supported by friends and family. "You owe it to them to do everything you can to survive."
"I don't know." He closed his eyes a moment before he looked back at her, shaking his head as he continued. "I don't think know how to fight something like this."
"Just like you would any other battle or any other enemy." She sounded just like a DI that last year at the Point, it made him smile and relax a little. "It's no different. You fight with everything you've got, just like you do over there in Europe. And you accept help from other people when you need it." She smiled at him and there was a light to her eyes that let him know she believed in what she was saying. "And besides I was thinking more of someone you could depend on."
They could smell the aroma of coffee before the door opened, and he gave her a quick smile. "I've already got that."
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"Sergeant Major/stop This is for the guys/stop�Very funny sense of humor, that one. I thought I'd best bring it up to you." Rawlins tossed the telegram on the table next to Actor and stalked from the room.
"Go on, what's it say?"
"Sergeant Major/stop This is for the guys/stop
Found tumor/stop Maybe cancer/stop
Surgery tomorrow/stop More later/stop
Casino/end"
"Cancer�" Goniff whispered as he took the telegram from Actor's hand and stared down at it. "That's what killed me Dad."
"What time is it over there?"
"I think there's a five hour time difference."
"Then it's already tomorrow, isn't it? They've already done..."
"No, it's the other way around. Casino sent this at five o'clock their time. They waited to deliver it." Actor glanced at his watch. "It's four in the morning there now."
"When'll they do somethin' like that?"
"How long will it take for 'em to know somethin'?"
"I don't know. But I know who we might ask."
"Riley!?"
Actor stepped to the intercom unit on the wall next to the door, pressed the button for the box in the office downstairs. "Sergeant Major, could you get Corporal Riley on the phone please?"
"Actor?! 'Ow many times do I 'ave to tell you to stay off this intercom!"
"And we'll need you in here as well, thank you."
"Bloody Hell!�" by closing the connection Actor not only spared them the ordeal of listening to the Sergeant Major's ranting, he insured the man's appearance to personally reprimand them for disobeying his orders. The con man was waiting just inside the door and handed over the telegram as soon as the man appeared.
"Now you lot 'ad better start looking sharpish or the Lieutenant�. What's this then?" They all watched as he read the cable and knew exactly when he'd reached the fateful words by the abrupt rise of his eyebrows. "What'd you want Riley for?" He looked up and searched their faces. "'Ee won't 'ave the answers we want. Come on! We'll go over to the base 'ospital and see Dr. Philips."
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They'd ridden back from the hospital in silence, lost in their own thoughts about what Philips had to say and what it might mean. When they'd arrived back at the manor they'd each gone their separate ways to continue that consideration and plan their next move. Chief left for a long walk on the grounds, Goniff, as always, headed for the kitchen and the solace of tea and biscuits, and Actor retired to the library to think.
Rawlins drove the jeep around to the garages and walked slowly back up to the house entering by the back door. He'd seen the Indian lad disappear into the trees and only wasted a moments thought on going after him, and he'd stopped and watched as his fellow Brit rummaged through the cabinets and set the kettle on the stove in the kitchen. Walking along the hall he noticed the library door was closed before he turned into the Lieutenant's office and closed the door behind him.
Gil moved up to the desk and lifted the first chair aside, then the second�. Bending forward he grasped the edge of the carpet the desk sat on and leaned back, giving it a tug that started it moving silently along the floor,,, then he stopped. He stood there a long time, staring at the desk that sat in front of him, thinking of what lay under it and what his orders were�.
"Gil, if anything should happen� I want you to see to it they get any paperwork that's in their files in this safe. Will you do that?"
"Of course, sir, I'll see to it. But nothing's going to�"
"Thanks Sergeant, but I don't need your reassurance, I just need to know it'll be taken care of if I can't do it,,, for any reason. They're going to need this stuff if I'm not around Gil, dead, missing, or just hurt bad enough that they could be shipped home before I came out of it. Have I got you word on it? �Good! "
They'd shaken hands on it� made a pact of it.
Philips hadn't pulled any punches after he'd looked over the Lieutenant's record. The doctor pushed through a call to the States while they waited too, and got hold of some of the test results they had there. He'd told them it didn't look good. Garrison had pleurisy he said, serious enough on it's own but when they'd finally tried to drain the fluid away to give him some relief the stuff had blood in it. 'A finding associated with cancer.' he said� Cancer. That was a death sentence as far as Gil knew, he'd never heard of anyone surviving it for long. If it turned out to be true, the young officer wouldn't be coming back. And he believed, as Garrison did, that the Army would move on the men and just ship them back to prison in America.
"Is there something wrong Sergeant Major?"
He hadn't heard the door open behind him and was startled into dropping the corner of the rug he held in his hands. Turning to face the penetrating gaze of the groups' confidence artist he cleared his throat and answered, "Just the bloody cleaning crew leaving a fold in the Lieutenant's carpet. I'll 'ave to 'ave another word with them." He knew by the man's raised brow he hadn't convinced him and was surprised another question hadn't followed the first, but the big man just gave a nod and turned back to disappear into the library again, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Rawlins moved to the other side of the desk and tugged the carpet so it was in its original position then he walked around and picked up the first chair and set it back in place. He couldn't set a seal on the man's fate. He couldn't bring himself to follow orders that turned on the man's death� not yet. Tomorrow would be time enough to carry out those orders. When the next cable came from America he'd have to carry out his instructions.
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The Warden had insisted they take off, go home and get some sleep. Jeeze! As if any of them were gonna to do that. What was wrong with him? He'd nix the idea in no uncertain terms, but sent his folks off to find a room and get some rest. Casino'd convinced the doctor that somebody ought to stick with the guy and it might as well be him, then he'd spent most of the night arguing with the Warden over the arrangement. Well, at least it had gotten them through 'til now. They both heard the gurney rattle to a stop just outside the door. "You scared?"
"No." Garrison closed his eyes for a moment before he looked over at Casino and actually managed a slight smile. "Terrified." Then his attention was riveted on the door as it swung into the room.
"You'r not doin' this alone, you know." They watched as the nurse came through the door with her tray of drugs and he stood up and got ready to leave.
"Yeah. I know. Thanks"
He picked up his jacket and started towards the door. "OK. I'll see you on the other side."
"What!?" Garrison stiffened, shoved himself up against the frame at the head of the bed as the nurse, that same damn nurse, was she the only one in the whole hospital?, came closer. He berated himself for his action, even though he had a 'history' with her, this wasn't some Nazi interrogator, this was just an Army nurse! But he couldn't help himself
"You ever had any surgery Warden?" Turning, his hand still on the door knob, Casino caught the nod and quick smile from the nurse that gave him the OK to stick around.
"Nothing planned. Just the Army's patch jobs." Garrison watched as the tourniquet was pulled tight and the vein that rose on the back of his hand was swabbed down with alcohol.
"Well, they keep all you guys that are waiting to go to surgery on this side a the operating room." The nurse drew up the drug that would start the Warden on his way to sleep and turned to deliver it. Casino had to turn away for a second as she slid the needle home. God, he hated needles! "After the doctors do their thing they roll you out on the other side and keep you over there 'til you'r feelin' good enough to go back to a regular room, see?" Casino had explained the same thing to Stefan when he was seven years old and just about to go in to have his tonsils removed. He only wished he could promise this surgery would be celebrated with ice cream when it was over. "They'll let us see you over there about the time you'r wakin' up. So� we'll see you on the other side."
Warmth flooded into him, starting in his hand and racing its way up along his arm. Then it seemed to pool in the middle of his chest before spilling out into every part of him. "It's getting hot in here� I don't want to do this, I can't� �I can't breathe."
"You'r OK. It's all over now. All you gotta do is get some sleep..."
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"Sergeant Major/stop This is for the guys/stop
It's all over/stop More later/stop
Casino/end"
"Well, what in the 'ell's he mean by that then?"
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As they sat with the doctor and listened to what he had to say and what he thought had happened Casino was amazed at the way things had come full circle. The trouble the Warden was in had probably started way back when they'd first met Sister Therese. And the contacts he'd made when he went looking for those kids had let him find Jeannie�And the Warden being sick had let him come home to bring her to his family� And now they were sitting here listening to this guy.
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"Occult Abscess�."
"There's your witches Chiefy."
"No Goniff. Occult can apply to those who practice witchcraft, but the word actually just means 'hidden'." Actor told him quietly.
"Lieutenant Garrison has had several things going on over a long period of time." Philips was sorting through the records he had on the desk in front of him. "It appears that when he got shot back in France the slugs pulled fabric from his shirt or jacket into the wound. They'd treated him there, and so there wasn't any reason for him to have any surgery once he got back here."
They'd treated him�. Actor thought. They'd probably used probes to find the bullet while the German officer stood over the doctor and questioned the Warden about who he was and what he and his group were doing over there. And then dug into the wounds left by the slug that had fragmented until he'd passed out on them. He'd never told them that, but there had been no incision or stitches and Actor had seen the bruises that were left on his arms and legs from the straps they'd used to hold him down during the procedure when he'd helped into his clothes. He'd seen the contraption where they'd tossed it in the corner of the room he'd found him in...
"The abscess probably first formed after he got caught in that explosion. With the pleurisy that followed he couldn't breathe properly, that set him up for pneumonia, and it all just kept going around in a vicious circle until he collapsed� They'd treat one problem without knowing there were others to deal with. When he'd get too tired the fever would come back, and pleurisy isn't always visible on x-ray so they explained away the pain by his history of broken ribs. He was dropping weight because of the recurring fevers and he wasn't hungry because he wasn't feeling well so he lost more weight. When the fluid finally formed in his chest it sat right over the abscess and obscured it while it was getting larger... And the abscess itself may have caused some pain by causing pressure." Philips leaned back in his chair and looked up at the men gathered on the other side of his desk. "We're not set up to treat multiple problems like that over here. Each time he'd come in he was just looked at in relationship to the latest injury."
"But he'll be alright now, right?"
"He should,,, if they leave him enough time to recover."
The three men shared a quick look as the doctor looked down at another one of the reports. The Warden would have a good chance at that recovery time now. Reynolds was back in charge. The Sergeant Major had given them the news before the first telegram came in. Reynolds was back, and Wilhoitz was headed home to cool his heels in a prison cell at Leavenworth� Seems he'd used some of the money he saved the section to line his own pockets�
"I understand he runs."
"Yeah, Well he hasn't for a while."
Philips waved that away, of course Garrison hadn't run for a while, he'd been too sick. But he was used to strenuous physical activity, over and above the normal training and exercise the regular troops got, and that would hold him in good stead to recover from this latest malady. "You run with him?"
"Some a the time, if we're out there together."
"Make it a point to be 'out there together' when he starts up again� He'll probably try and push too hard right at first." He'd dealt with the young Army officer enough to know what he was like. He'd had him in the hospital once and been talked into letting him go too soon and found out later that he'd gone back on his promise to 'take it easy'. The doctor smiled to himself� that might not be exactly true. After his talk with Actor he had to admit the guy probably didn't realize what 'easy' meant. "You guys make a competition out of it?" He could see by the look on Chief's face they did. "OK. You'll be able to set the pace then, for a while� And you'd better win while you can. When he gets back up to full steam I think you're going to have a hard time keeping up with him."
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The damn Limey had finally pushed the wrong button and he was gonna kill him! He heard the hinges on the door that led from the library out onto the patio groan in protest as the little pest beat it out a the mansion. If he thought he'd be able to hide from him outside on the grounds somewhere he had another thing coming. The safe cracker charged through the room and out the door without paying attention to who was sitting at the desk in the library.
"David Francis Lewandowski!"
Casino froze in his tracks. A moment later he shook himself. The inflection was just right, but the voice was definitely wrong. What just happened here?! Turning he stalked back along the stones and turned in at the French doors, marching on until he came to a stop, fists planted on hips, in front of the desk where the Warden sat. "She told you!"
And she'd worked with him that whole last week so he'd get the delivery just right too. Garrison didn't look up from the report he was working on. "Uh huh."
"Oh man!" there was a pleading tone in the safe cracker's voice. "You can't let the other guys know."
"They don't need to know, Casino." Garrison said quietly as he continued to work on his report. "It's enough that I know. But I have to tell you, this may be too good to keep to myself." When he set his pen aside he raised his eyes to meet Casino's and just smiled.
Jeeze! She'd taught him that one too. That was the kind a smile she always used when she wanted them to know they'd been caught. How in the hell was he gonna get around this guy now?!
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Mail call was usually a noisy affair. The group was lucky, stationed in England as they were mail easily reached them on a more, or less, regular basis. The men enjoyed letters from family and friends and Casino and Goniff even received occasional packages from home. The boxes created a holiday atmosphere as everyone gathered around to check out the contents
"Hey! Will ya look at that?!" Casino had received a package from his parents and grinned as he showed the picture around. They all gathered around him and admired the large family as he pointed each one out and identified them. "And that's my brother Marcus.'
"But I thought you said he had six more years to go�."
"He did! But I guess they really do knock off time for good behavior. He's been keepin' his nose clean, takin' high school classes and work trainin', volunteerin' in the prison hospital, stuff like that. Anything he could dream up that might make the parole board swing his way"
"Well it looked like it worked, man."
Goniff peered over Casino's shoulder and studied the man smiling back at them from the photograph. He'd tried some of those things when he was in the joint and been hassled out of them by the other inmates, but this bloke wouldn't've had any of that kind of trouble. Casino's older brother was half again as broad and packed at least thirty pounds more than his younger brother. Trouble had come to him a time or two. He had a scar on his chin and his nose had been broken at least once, but he gave the impression, even smiling there surrounded by family, that he could give better than he got. Goniff figured trouble might find a fella like that, but as soon as they were properly introduced it'd probably leave him strictly alone. He shook his head. Yeah, a bloke like that'd be able to improve himself in prison without any trouble from his 'mates.'
"You'r sister looks real good in her uniform."
"That's no uniform!" Casino snorted. "That's called a habit!"
Chief smiled back at him. "I know that, what'd ya take me for a 'dumb Indian'?"
Casino laughed as he took the photo back and handed it off to the Warden. He was still getting used to the fact that Chief would joke around with them now. The kid was really startin' to loosen up.
Garrison took a moment to look at the picture and be 'introduced' to Marcus and Angelica� Sister Mary Stephens now. He smiled as he looked the family over and recognized the setting. Giving the photo back he went on sorting through the mail and handing it out. The writing and addresses on the letters and parcels that came in were familiar to him now and he usually knew at a glace which man they went to. Checking another package he held it out, prodding his safe cracker in the arm with it. "Casino, you hit the jack pot. Here's another one."
Casino turned and glanced down at the package the Lieutenant was holding out to him, putting his hand out he shoved it back towards the man. "Jeeze! We need to get your eyes checked or somethin' Warden? That one's addressed to you." Ma'd written him after they'd gotten back that she was gonna do this, askin' if he thought it'd be OK.
Garrison handed the few remaining letters around, tucked the stack of official dispatches under his arm and took the package back, checking the recipients info to be sure before he turned and headed into his office. Casino raised an eyebrow and shrugged to the other's questioning looks as the Lieutenant's door closed. He thought the Warden'd be happy to get it, but sometimes you couldn't tell with people.
Garrison sat at his desk and carefully slit the string and brown wrapping paper with his pocket knife. Setting that aside he cut the tape that held the end flap of the box closed and slid out the contents. A handful of letters fell in his lap as he pulled out an object protected by several layers of soft cloth. He sat the bundle aside and sorted through the letters, smiling as he saw Jeannette's childish scrawl on one, Casino's mother's exuberantly looped writing on another. He checked the return address block on the others. Marika, Rebecca and Wendi had all included notes in the package. He neglected his reports for almost an hour as he read through all of them.
ggg
The call had finally come in later that day, just like they knew it would, and the Warden had taken off in a jeep headed in to London. There was no reason to wonder what he'd have with him when he returned. Anyone fool enough to bet against a mission would lose his shirt. The rest of the men had gone to relax outside for the time they had left but Casino was still inside the mansion. He'd gone into the Warden's office after he finished his letters from home expecting to see the framed photograph on the guy's desk and was disappointed when it wasn't there. He shook his head, she'd be askin' how that went over in her next letter and as he made his way upstairs to put his stuff away he wondered what he'd tell her. He stopped in the hallway, the room he and the others used sat on one side, the Warden's the other. Giving in to curiosity he pushed the door to the Warden's room open and smiled to see the photograph setting on the dresser� He shot a look up and down the hall just to make sure he was alone before he stepped inside and walked over to the bureau. His family, gathered around the kitchen table, smiled up at him from the frame and he grinned as he read the inscription;
'CFG, When you get tied up with this family it's a life sentence. Love Ma'.
but he picked up the small loose photo that leaned against the mirror, he'd never seen any pictures out, he didn't know the Warden had any.
The photo he held in his hand was old, fragile. It had lost bits off the edges and had gone a little yellow over time. There were some smudges where it had been handled and a crease ran across the bottom. Two people were there on the paper he held in his palm. Not smiling out at him like most pictures, but smiling at one another. The woman was dressed simply in a high collared dress that had pleats across the front. She wore her hair twisted up off her neck, and she was holding a bunch of flowers in the crook of her left arm. Her right hand rested on the arm of the man standing next to her. The young man was in the uniform of the last war. He was thin and a little hollow in the face, the large hand that covered the woman's as it rested on his arm was projecting from a sling and the smile he gave the girl lit the photo.
It didn't matter that the picture was black and white. Casino had no doubt that the hair under the man's cap was dark gold and the eyes that looked at the woman's slightly upturned face were hazel. They might have seen a vague resemblance in the painting they'd found in the house in Germany, but no one could mistake the man in the photo for anyone other than Garrison's father. It was hard to tell from the picture if he was shorter than the Warden or if his mother was taller than average. As they stood there together they looked almost eye to eye�.
The slamming of the large front door shook Casino out of his pondering, he put the photograph carefully back where he'd found it and beat it across the hall into his own quarters. The door was just swinging closed when he heard the Warden's shout.
"Casino! Get down here. We've got a mission on."
The End.
