by Saler
One Saturday evening in early 1943, four men met in the back room of a small out-of-the-way pub in the backstreets of Whitechapel to consider their future.
The meeting was called to order by the tall man who wore his utility suit as if it had been tailored especially for him in Savile Row. The others sat around a table littered with the remains of a basic, but ample, meal provided by the landlord�s wife, in attitudes that varied between pure animosity and cool disinterest.
�So, what did you want us all here for?� asked the short, dark, man, who slouched in his chair surveying the room, and his companions, with a characteristically belligerent air.
�Well, maybe if you gave �im a chance �e�d tell us, wouldn�t �e?� the fair-haired man sitting on his left suggested.
�I wanted to discuss something with all of you, away from the prying eyes and ears of the Estate,� he began. �Something which concerns our future.�
�We all know about our future - the duration plus six months - IF we survive!�
�But what about after the �six months�?�
�Like what?�
The tall man looked at the fourth member of the group for comment then, when he received nothing but a black stare in return, he continued. �What do you remember about the last mission?�
�You mean apart from being double-crossed by that �friend� of yours?�
�Yes. Think of the positive aspects.�
�Well, I�m positive we were double-crossed!�
�You mean what we nearly had?� came a surprise comment from the man on the other side of the table, as he leant his chair back on two legs, his booted feet coming to rest on the edge of the table.
�Exactly. What did we nearly have?�
�We nearly had a pocketful of jewels each,� the surly one groused.
�Like these?� The tall man held a necklace aloft, its stones sparking fire even in the dim light of the bare 40w globe hanging over the table.
The boots hit the floor as the chair noisily came to rest on all four legs again.
�Where did you get that from?� The blond jumped to his feet, reaching for the trinket.
�Not so fast!� was the response, as the bauble was jerked out of reach.
�How come you kept that, when we all had to give them up?� the others wanted to know.
�Merely a small souvenir - and the beginning of an idea on how we might be able to do ourselves some good out of this deal we have got ourselves into.�
�So spill it then. Don�t keep us in suspense.�
�Well, I was thinking; going on past experience how often are we likely to find ourselves in a situation where we can pick up some little �something� and no-one would be any the wiser?�
�Yeah, but the Warden makes us put it back, don�t �e?�
�Ah, but how would he know if we didn�t put it ALL back?� he answered with a small smile, his eyebrow raised in a questioning arch. �What would be to stop us keeping a small souvenir whenever the opportunity presented itself?�
�Well, nothing, I guess, but it wouldn�t be worth the trouble fencing them, would it?� the blond replied, his eyes never leaving the contents of the other�s hand.
�But it could be - if we collected them together and pooled the proceeds in a Swiss bank account, for instance, couldn�t it? And if we were to invest those funds carefully��
�You mean�?�
�I mean that after this war is over, even if the Army reneges on its deal, we would have a nest-egg to help us make a fresh start, wouldn�t we?�
�You mean we do a few deals for ourselves on the side? I like it!�
�Exactly. We have the skills, why not take advantage of them?�
�The Warden wouldn�t like it.�
�The Warden wouldn�t know about it, would he? We�ve successfully hoodwinked him with plenty of other things, why not this? Something for our own benefit. Something for our future.�
�I don�t like the sound of it.�
�Why not? You goin� soft on us?�
The chair clattered to the floor as the man leapt to his feet. �What d�you think?� he growled, leaning over the table, his face just inches from the other man. �I just said I didn�t like the sound of the plan.� He straightened up, but kept his eyes on his detractor.
�You ain�t heard the plan yet!�
�Well, the Warden�s been pretty straight with us, and it don�t seem right to do this to him.� He retrieved his chair and sat down again, silently daring anyone to repeat the accusation.
�But we�re not thinking of doing it to HIM, are we? We would not really be doing it �TO� anyone. We would be doing it �FOR� us!� the first man explained with exaggerated patience. �There is no way it can backfire on the Warden. If we take a bit of basic care, he need not know anything about it.�
�He�d better not find out, then. He�d skin us alive.�
�You thinkin� of tellin� him?�
�I never said that!�
�Well, don�t even think it!�
�You callin� me a stoolie?� Again the chair scraped across the linoleum.
�Nobody�s callin� nobody a stoolie,� the fair-haired man said placatingly, jumping between the antagonists, trying to defuse the situation. He knew how quickly his companions� volatile tempers could flare and didn�t want to be caught in the middle of the fistfight that was bound to follow.
�I just want to know more about it before I decide, OK?� Grudgingly he pulled his chair up to the table again, his dark stare daring the other to say anything out of line.
�I have not finished explaining it yet, have I?�
�So, get on with it then.�
Chapter 2
Even though the Lieutenant noticed a new air of co-operation between his men, he never guessed the reason behind it. They started to look out for each other, cover each other�s backs, and, eventually, to almost trust each other.
At irregular intervals the four met in the Whitechapel pub for an update on the state of their �business account� from their associate. In time, they managed to offload some counterfeit currency for a good return and a certain �excellent copy� of a van Loon self-portrait was passed off as the original to a Nazi sympathiser. After their sojourn in Herr Berger�s jewellery store, and their self-generated �crime-wave�, there was a definite boost to the profits. Perhaps not as much as they had initially hoped for - thanks to outside interference - but their disappointment was tempered by the knowledge that the Warden would probably have made them donate their booty to the Underground or some other �good cause� anyway. Hence, the rather surprising amount of loot that appeared from pockets and other, less accessible, hiding places once the mission was safely over.
In fact, it was quite amazing what turned up after any given mission - even ones where there would seem to be no opportunity for enrichment. The pickpocket, in particular, rarely returned to the Mansion empty-handed, and the others, while not in the same class, were not exactly reluctant to do their bit when it came to adding to the kitty if presented with an opening.
Although anything on the Continent was considered fair game, they had an unspoken agreement not to pull any jobs on British soil. The local pickings were, for the most part, slim anyway and it might not pay to upset their �hosts� and risk jeopardising their base of operations. One exception was a silver cigarette box, which the others had insisted be thrown into the pot despite protestations from the thief that he intended it as a present.
Then, one weekend, the tall conman was invited to a houseparty at large country house by one of his upper-class connections. He came away with a whole new plan hatching in his brain. He told the others of antique trinkets on side tables, works of art in bedrooms and people with more money than sense leaving their possessions lying around in full view. After that, most times when they had a weekend pass at least one night would be utilised to practice their special talents - sometimes after a visit by their friend, sometimes whilst he was still there, but occasionally just on spec. Very rarely were they disappointed.
The kitty grew by leaps and bounds.
Chapter 3
One evening toward the end of 1945, four men met in a private dining room at the Savoy Hotel in London to consider their pasts and discuss their futures.
After the best dinner the hotel could furnish in the aftermath of wartime shortages, the tall man again called the meeting to order. This time his suit WAS tailored in Savile Row, but the air with which he wore it was unchanged.
�Well, gentlemen, it is possible that this could be the last time we need to meet like this, hence the change of venue: I thought we deserved a celebration. I think it only fitting, therefore, that I give you a complete rundown on our current financial standing.
Over the last three years we have accrued a startling amount of capital - much more than even I originally envisaged, thanks to some lucky �finds� - and, apart from one or two minor details which are being taken care of at this time, every penny is now legitimate, legal and above board.� He passed around a copy of the balance sheet to each of them. It was met with whistles of appreciation.
�You mean we each get an equal share of this?�
�That is how it stands at present.�
Even the usually disagreeable one was silenced by the amount. �How do we get at it?� he wanted to know.
�It is in a numbered Swiss bank account which requires a password to access it,� he advised. �However, there is one more matter of business I want to discuss with you before we move on to that.�
�Oh, yeah?� the blond one was curious. �What�s that?�
�Should�a known there�d be somethin�! You never could just do anything straight forward, could you?� the surly one couldn�t help letting a little of his usual grouchy persona surface.
The other dark man did not comment, but was obviously waiting for his companion to continue, if his look of cautious interest were to be believed.
�Yes, I have just heard something from a well-placed acquaintance which could be of great interest to us, but I wanted to talk to you all before I did anything about it.� The others knew him well enough by now to hear the undercurrent of excitement in his controlled tones as he continued. �I know we agreed to wind up our joint venture at this time, but I think you will have to agree that this is irresistible.�
�So, tell us! What is it?�
He looked around at the faces of his companions. Even the quiet one was looking openly curious now.
�I was wondering if you might be interested in an investment in some real estate?�
�Real estate? Why�d we be interested in real estate?� the sceptical fourth member of the group spoke for all of them.
�This real estate is rather special.�
�So give!�
�I have just heard that the estate we have called �home� for the past 2 years will soon come onto the market. The present owner has decided he likes living abroad and needs to sell the property to finance his move.� He looked around expectantly at his companions and, if he was anticipating that his revelation would galvanise them, he was not disappointed. Its effect was immediate.
�Our Estate?�
�The Mansion?�
�The whole thing!�
�What�s the catch?�
�There is no catch - that�s what is so great about it. The price is very good and it is a perfectly legitimate deal.�
�You mean WE�d be landlords to the US Army?�
�For as long as they continue to lease the property.�
�And then what?�
�Then we decide whether we want to retain ownership or sell up.�
�Whatta joke!�
�It's perfect!�
�And just what would we have to do?�
�All we have to do is put up the money.�
�We got enough?�
�We have more than enough, and, if we all agree to put in, it will be only a small percentage of each share.�
�But how�re they gonna react when they find out we�re the new owners? Don�t you think they�re goin� to wonder where we got the money?�
�We would form ourselves into a company. No-one would need to know that we were the principals of the company and all our dealings would be through an agent.�
�You mean like General Motors?�
�We won�t be quite that big, but �yes� - and we will need a company name. Any suggestions?�
�Yeah, how about �Gorillas Inc�?�
�Hey, I like that.�
�A bit obvious, don�t you think, if we are trying to hide our identities?�
There was silence as they considered possibilities.
�How about Con D�or? The golden con. Our last and greatest con.� The suggestion came from the least likely source.
�So, I picked up a bit of lingo over the last couple of years!� he answered when all eyes turned in his direction.
�An excellent suggestion, but may I recommend that we make it Condor Estates?� the chairman proposed. �Are we all agreed that we go ahead, then?�
�Oh, yeah! Its perfect.�
�I�m in.�
�Me too.�
�We are unanimous? Good! Then I will set the wheels in motion.� The tall man stood and, smiling, raised his glass. �Let us drink to our new enterprise: Gentlemen, I give you Condor Estates.�
