part 5
"What's up, Warden?" He and Eddie had just trailed in from the obstacle course. It was one of the little blokes favorite things to do about the place but he hadn't had much of a chance at it for the last day or two, the weather'd turned wet and cold on them. Today, though, today came on all sunshine and breezy blue skies. They'd been out since right after breakfast and Eddie wasn't the only one who'd come back all draggled and ready for a bite and a bit of rest.
"A call from the prosecutor handling the case against Milford came in last night while I was gone." Craig watched the color drain from the little Brits face. "Come on in the office. I think you and I need to talk."
g
He found him down in the kitchen happily puttering over the tea things. After turning to give him a quick smile Eddie turned back to the stove, leaving him to fumble with his opening line.
"You know they're gonna have a trial for that vicar, Eddie." Goniff could see the boy's spine stiffen. "And, uh, ... Well, they might need you there to tell 'em what...."
Eddie whirled to face him, a look of betrayal on his face. "But you said I wouldn't have to!"
"I know I said that Eddie. And I hope I'm tellin' the truth... But, ... but there's only just you and me, see. And, uh, ... and, well, .... Just me's not gonna be enough."
"But I can't, Goniff. I can't. .... Everybody'll find out! " He hadn't had to say it out loud to anyone else except that doctor they took him to see, and that was hard enough, even with Goniff sitting right outside in the hall. But to stand up in front of all a them people? "Nobody'll believe me Goniff..." He wrapped his arms around the cat burglars hips and buried his face in the pick pocket's shirt. "Nobody..."
Goniff looked down and tried to smile. "I b'lieved you, Eddie."
"Then you tell it. You tell 'em what I said. You tell 'em...." The boy turned a tear streaked terrified face up to him. "You promised you'd do it 'stead a me. You promised!"
"But the lawyer said it'd be better comin' from you."
"Don't make me go Goniff. I'll do anything you say if you don't make me stand up and tell it. ... I'll, ... I'll, ... I'll let you." The little boy's voice had dropped low, not much above a whisper.
Goniff's heart froze. He knew what the boy was offering even if he couldn't come right out and say it. "Don't you never say that again. You don't mean it! And you don't know what you'r sayin'..."
"Yes I do." Eddie dropped his arms and then reached out and slipped his trembling fingers around Goniff's hand. "He said it was the only thing 'bout somebody like me that was any good, that anybody'd want..."
Goniff jerked his hand out of the child's grasp and stepped back, scrubbing his palm on the side of his trousers. "Well I don't want it!" And before he could call the words back they'd had their effect on the little boy standing in front of him. He looked down at the upturned face, there'd been hope in it before, even if the eyes were full of fear, there'd been a bit of hope. Now that hope was fading out of those brown eyes and Goniff knew if he waited and it faded away to nothing, if it disappeared, Eddie might never get it back.
"Don't you get it Eddie? You don't need to trade nuthin' t'get me 'r any other decent person t' like you... " Goniff dropped onto his knees in front of the boy and took him by the shoulders. "And even if we was to need t' bargain over this, y' never trade somethin' as important as that... Understand?... What that bugger did...how he... how.... Well, ain't even the proper way t' go about such things. You'll see. You'll see when you'r older. But it's not somethin' you ever use to get nothin' back. Even if somebody tried...Even if somebody took it from you, it's still yours and it's somethin' that's so important, that's so precious, that y' only can give it away for free. When you find a person y' love so much you know you wanna spend every day of the rest of your life with 'em... Well, that's when y' think 'bout given that present to 'em. And even then y' have t' really think if you should do it, Eddie, 'cause that person has t' feel the very same way about you..." He ducked down so he was looking right in the child's face. "Understand?"
He could see that the boy was trying to understand what he was saying, trying to believe it, but there was still the fear of going to that hearing lurking in his eyes, there were still tears trailing down his face. Goniff hung his head and thought a moment. They said it would be best if the boy knew ahead of time that he might have to get up and talk in the hearing. They said it would be better if he had a chance to get used to the idea. But he couldn't let him fall apart like he was doin' now, could he? He could let him worry himself into a fit over it.... And he couldn't go back on his promise.
"OK Eddie." And he gathered the boy into a hug. "I'll tell it for you. You won't have t' go. I'll see to it."
g
"How'd it go Goniff?" He'd stayed out of it, letting his pick pocket handle the child in his own way but it'd been over an hour and when he went to find them in the kitchens they were gone. Craig checked the library and then the room the men shared and found them empty before he headed out for a search of the grounds. The others were complaining their way through a practice session on the firing range, they hadn't seen anything of the second story man or the boy. The obstacle course was deserted, so was the gardener's cottage.... He'd begun to fear that he had a couple of runaway's when he finally found the little cockney staring out the window in his office.
Goniff scrubbed at his face with his hands a moment before rolling off the window frame and slouching against the wall where he could face his commander. "Terrible." He jammed his fists deep into his pockets and screwed up his resolve. "I ain't lettin' them make Eddie go in there, Warden."
He was dead serious, Garrison could see there was no reason to argue the prosecutor's point of view. Besides he agreed with Goniff. If anyone was to be compelled to testify it should be the other adults. They should be the ones standing up for what was right, not the kids.... "That only leaves you..."
"Then that'll Bloody well have to be enough wont it?!" Goniff flung away from the wall and started to pace the room. "If it's not... If I can't make 'em see what 'ee is and what 'ee done. If they don't think hearin' bout what he done t' me and what that doctor fella'll say 'ee done to Eddie is enough t' do right by us... Well, then, I'll jut find a way t' deal with 'im me own self!"
"Goniff...." He rested a hip against his desk and watched the little man pace out his frustration and anger.
"D'you know I dreamt a killing that bastard for years after it happened.... For years, Warden. I couldn't get through the night th'out one a them dreams comin'." Goniff came to a halt in front of the windows and leaned against the glass as he stared out at the grounds that surround the mansion. "They kinda faded away when I got older... But I started havin' 'em again, soon's I saw him down in th' pub... Eddie's havin' them dreams, Warden. "Ee won't tell me 'bout 'em, but he don't have to. I know. I hear 'im an I have t' deal with him in the night."
Goniff wrapped his arms across his middle and stepped away from the window, pacing the room for a moment before seeking the safety of a corner. "I don't want 'im t' grow up just havin' dreams a that bastard getting' 'is due." He jammed his back against the walls and hunched his shoulders forward as he studied the carpet at his feet. "I want Eddie t' know it's done and he don't have t' be afraid a seein the dirty bugger again, of havin' 'im walk up b'hind him on the street some day... I want him t' be dreamin' the stuff little bloke's r' s'pose to..." When he looked up his face was bleak, determined. "An if the courts won't see to it then I will. I'll kill the Bloody bastard for 'im if the law won't put him away the rest a 'is days."
"You don't mean that Goniff."
"You didn't see 'im... you didn't have t' stand there an listen..... You know what he was willin' t' do if I'd let 'im off the hook? He.... 'ee thought...." Goniff shuddered and scrubbed at his face again and then made a swipe at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I figure it'd be a fair enough trade."
Garrison shoved away from the desk and came to stand in front of his second story man. "And I say it wouldn't! And Eddie'd say the same thing if you'd give him the chance. He doesn't need that from you Goniff what he needs is to know you'll be around, whatever happens with Milford. That you'll be there to show him how to get through it like you did."
The little Brit gave a snort. "Like I did?! Then we'll have another cringin' at shadows an duckin' t'hide whenever some big loud mouth bloke comes along. Ee'll be shakin' in 'is boots when 'ee has t' go anywhere alone, and shakin' just as bad when he's in a mob a fellas 'ee don't know... That's all I can show him Warden."
"That's not all Goniff." Garrison grabbed the little man by his shoulders, pulling him out of his corner and making him stand up straight. "That's not how you are, and if that's how you feel inside then you have even more courage than I thought because you don't do those things." Craig dropped his hands and shook his head. "You might not be the first one to volunteer Goniff, but you haven't let any of us down yet. The first time out you killed a guy that was about to let me have it. You waltzed right into that prison in Norway and helped pull me out didn't you? You were interrogated by the Germans when we went over to get Charlie out and never gave them anything. That's not the kind of stuff someone who 'cringes at shadows' does Goniff." Now it was the Warden's turn to pace. "You care what happens to people, you care if they're feelings are hurt, you want the best for them. After what happened to you most people wouldn't give a damn about the other guy, but you do. I don't know how you managed it Goniff but you do, and that's what you have to show Eddie... That's what he sees when he's with you... that even after going though that there's a way to laugh and have friends and do the right thing." He came to a halt in front of the pick pocket, taking him by the shoulders he shook him until they stood eye to eye. "Understand?"
Goniff nodded. He couldn't quite believe it but he tried. When the Warden let go of him he stepped back into his corner and hunkered down there a bit to let it sink in.
"Where is Eddie now?"
The little man shrugged. "There's a little passage runs from next t' the fireplace up t' the attics. I showed it to 'im when he first come to stay." Goniff saw the flash of surprise that lit the Warden's eye. "The other blokes don't know nuthin about it, only me. I told Eddie it was my secret place and he could go there if he got scared... there's a lock on the inside a the panel that'd keep him safe from us if he... well, if he thought he needed it. He's used it a couple times."
"He ever use the lock?"
Goniff shook his head. "Not even t'day."
Craig waited for a moment, watching his man and thinking of the times the cockney theif had gone missing. "You ever use it, Goniff?"
The little man nodded and shoved deeper into his corner. "Just once..... Right after we come back from that hearing." He remembered the dread he felt coming back to the mansion that day, the terror of the other blokes knowin' all the particulars a what had happened back then even though they all said it didn't change nothing.
He'd got up in the rooms before the rest and sat on the other side a that little panel, locked in the dark all hunched in on hisself as he waited for 'em t' come, waited sos he could hear what they'd really say when he wasn't around. It didn't take long to get an earfull, all of 'em were pretty loud about it, even Chiefy. And he had lots a new ways a doin' the bloody vicar in after he sat there and listened as they shared their whiskey and told out what they'd do to the bastard if he was t' show 'imself out where they could get hold of 'im.
Goniff finally shoved out of the corner and headed for the door. You didn't hide in the dark if you didn't do nothin' wrong... It was the bloody vicar should be hiden away from the light, shut up behind some locked door... not Eddie, an not him.
ggg
It wasn't the first time they'd been called out in the middle of the night, but it was the first time they had to make arrangements for a small boy that had been left in their charge.
"You'r goin' off without tellin' him?!"
"Blimey! What am I s'pose to tell 'im? 'Sides I don't wanna wake the little fella up, do I? 'Ee needs 'is sleep and..."
"Casino's right, Goniff. You can't just go off without sayin'. You don't want him to just wake up and have you not be here..." Chief still remembered the feeling of panic when he'd gone back into the rooms where his mother stayed and found them empty. It didn't matter that he hadn't lived under the same roof with her for months. "What if somethin' happened, man. You don't want to just leave it like that."
"But..."
"Get up there and tell him what's goin' on you little coward!"
They didn't have much time. The Warden was in his office doin' the final arrangements with Sergeant Major Rawlins like he always done. Goniff looked from the men standing around him to the stairs that led up to the second level where their sleeping quarters were. Eddie'd spent all day out charging about the grounds and had managed to sleep through the organized chaos the call created.
"But...uh,... Actor'll be here. And, well, he'll, uh,... He'll..."
"Oh no 'he' won't!" Actor stepped away from the group and reached out a hand and turned the reluctant pick pocket towards the stairs. "Casino and Chief are right Goniff. That boy should be told what's going on and he should hear it from you. ... Especially now...."
"But...."
"Get going Goniff." Garrison stood in the doorway to his office looking at his watch. "The truck'll be here for us in five minutes."
It still took a threatening move from Casino to get him started but once he was headed up the stairs Goniff took them two at a time. He stopped a moment at the door to their dormitory trying to figure out just what he was going to say. Somehow he didn't think 'We're just off on a little outing' was going to be good enough. Easing his way through the door he moved across the room to the cot that sat next to his bed and stood watching the boy sleep.
Goniff didn't want the thoughts that were pushing and shoving around inside his head. He didn't want to think that he might never get back here to stand and watch the boy sleep again. He didn't want to think about Eddie being left on his own, especially now that he was just settling in. And even though the thoughts had already come to him, he didn't want to think about sending him away to live somewhere else.
It hadn't taken very long for him to get used to having Eddie around. He'd got to where he sort of liked all the questions now, and havin' someone tag after him around the place. He'd got used to sitting in the library as Actor set the boy his lessons, or sitting outside in the hall when the teacher came to give him the tests. He'd got used to bein' moved around the grounds like a chess piece as the boy acted out his history or setting at the table in the library while he let him teach him his spelling. And he liked pretending to go to sleep while Eddie was readin' one of his books to him... He'd even got used to dealin' with the nightmares that came to the boy...though they weren't happenin' every night now.
"Eddie?" Goniff eased down onto the side of the cot. "Eddie?" He smiled at the frown his gentle approach caused. Staying with them in the dormitory Eddie'd gotten used to the Sergeant Major's more direct method of throwing the door open and shouting 'On your feet you lay abouts!' He watched as the boy came out of his curl and stretched before turning onto his back where he could raise himself up on his elbows.
"S'it morning already Goniff?"
"No... well, uh, yeah. But not mornin' enough for you t'be up." Goniff waited for the boy to rub at his eyes and sit up a little straighter. "We, uh... Well, I, uh,... I gotta leave for a couple a days.... And I, uh, ... I didn't wanna go off without sayin." He watched as Eddie turned and pulled his legs out from under the covers twisting to sit on the edge of the cot. "What'r you doin', then?"
"I'm goin' too... aren't I?" The Sergeant Major had been dangling a promise of an overnight 'maneuver' and though Eddie wasn't quite sure what that was he wasn't about to be done out of it.
"Nah! You ain't goin'. This is business." And before he could come up with the next thing to say Eddie'd shot off the cot to stand in front of him and he was dealing with little bony arms flung tightly around his neck.
Business! "Don't go, Goniff! I don't want you t'go."
Goniff hesitated a moment before gathering the boy onto his lap. "But I gotta go, Eddie. It's my job." he felt a sob cut through the child's body. "'ere now! None a that." and he threaded his fingers through the fists knotted at the back of his neck, untying the boy's fingers so he could sit him back to look into his face. "I told you all about the deal I have with the Warden... didn't I? I give him my word that if he'd let me outta jail I'd work for him whenever he said..."
"But you could....." He wasn't a dunce. He'd listened to the story about that arrangement, and he'd watched the big fella, Actor, movin' around with the help of that fancy cane. He'd even heard 'em talking around here when they didn't think he could hear. "You could....."
Goniff picked the boy off his lap and sat him firmly in front of him. "Yeah, ... I could... But I'm not gonna, ... I promise, OK? This is just a simple one, Eddie. We'll be back here b'fore that teacher comes out for you'r next test.... So you better study up good. Actor, he's not goin' with us this time so he'll be watching out for ya...."
"But...."
Goniff picked the boy up as he got to his feet and swung him up onto his own bed, throwing the blankets over him. "Now you go t'sleep in there while I'm gone... but don't you get too comfortable 'cause I'm taking that bed back when I get home." And because he didn't really know what else to say he turned his back on the boy and headed straight for the door. Closing it behind him he laid against the door and listened as the child he'd left behind cried.
g
"Where'r they? What'r they doin' now?" Eddie stood with his hands clasped behind him as he stared out at the rain that was throwing itself against the library windows.
"Well, Sergeant Major Rawlins said they'd radioed that they were starting back so they are probably somewhere just off France." Actor hadn't been able to entice the boy to the table for his lessons today. "Would you like to go into the map room? Maybe we can plot their progress on the Warden's charts of the channel." The invitation sent the child on a straight course to the room that adjoined Garrison's office and Actor levered himself up out of his chair and followed him, leaving the cane behind. The boy had already found the right atlas and had it spread out on the table waiting. This had become something of a ritual since the others had left four days ago. Each stage of the trip had been marked out for him on the maps, and though he doubted much of the information had been absorbed, Actor had told the boy all about the area the men were working in, from it's history, to the plants that grew there. Maybe now that they were headed home he could keep him occupied with a discussion of the tides and how they might impact the time that it would take them to finally return.
g
"But they should be here by now! Somethin' must a happened."
They had the time the group left the continent from Rawlins and worked out the current tides, and they'd even taken the weather into consideration. The boy was right, Actor thought, they should have been back by now. "They always have to go over the job with Colonel Reynolds, ... Our boss." When that comment lit hope in the boy's eyes he found he couldn't bring himself to mention the possibility of an injury causing the delay. "They'll gather in his office and talk over the whole thing. That way we learn from each mission... just like you do when you discuss your test scores with Miss. Mackinzie."
Eddie heaved a sigh and turned back to stare out the window. That made a bit of sense... and sometimes those talks took more than a little time. It was getting dark outside, coming onto time for supper. Surely that boss a theirs wouldn't keep them at it past their supper.
g
They were down in the kitchen, it didn't seem right to go to the effort of setting the table in the dinning room and moving the dishes there if it was to be just the two of them again. Neither of them were very interested in the meal but Actor felt keeping the boy on some sort of schedule was probably best. When the child sprang up from the table and set off for the front of the building he was sure, even though he'd heard nothing, that the youngster's sharp ears had picked up the sound of tires on gravel. The boy had been on the alert since mid afternoon.
The door to the mansion was pushed open and a small form hurtled through and raced for the staff car, pulling up short as Goniff was helped from the vehicle. The pick pocket was pale in the light of the moon as it shone through the clouds that were breaking over head, and a little unsteady on his feet as he leaned against the car.
"Goniff!" Eddie jumped the last two steps to land on the ground in front of the man and slipped to his side, under the arm that wasn't tied up in a sling, elbowing the Indian bloke outta the way. He frowned up. "You broke you'r promise, Goniff."
"Well, maybe just a little.... But I tried not to."
g
Goniff let Eddie help him all the way up the stairs and into the dormitory room. He even let him take off the coat he had slung over his shoulders, and unlace his boots and pull them off and help him get settled down onto his bed. But when the boy started in to staring at him and looked like he was going to screw up and cry he launched a diversion. "So, did you do all you'r lessons like you was s'pose to do? ... And don't bother comin up with no stories, 'cause I'll get the straight a the matter from Actor in the morning."
Eddie wiped at his eyes and nose with the sleeve of his shirt. "We had lessons... we just changed them a bit on a'count a I couldn't settle down to the other ones. I got to use the maps in the office downstairs everyday! ... And... and I heard all 'bout grapes and wine and how that place where you went makes it and how they do it. And cheese... they make cheese too, and ..." Eddie reached a tentative hand out to touch the pick pocket's injured arm. "Are you hurt bad, Goniff? Does it hurt?"
"Nah. It don't hurt hardly at all. Y'know what I done, Eddie?" He lied smoothly. "I broke a window t' get into a place and I didn't pay enough attention when I was comin' out again... I got tied up with a sharp bit, ... that's all."
Eddie took a long look at the sling that held Goniff's arm. He knew it was a lie, he'd cut himself on a bit of glass from a broken pitcher once and he didn't need no sling... He knew it was a lie, but he felt better for hearin' it. It felt better to believe it than to sit and think of what really happened and how it could a been worse. He turned and searched the room for the book he'd been reading. "You want me to read you some story for a while Goniff?"
"Sure! What's the story about, then?"
"It's about a knight... Well, he's almost a knight. And it's about the squire he's got and how they help each other with their lessons and quests... That's stuff a king sets a bloke to do sos he can prove he's good enough to be a knight."
"That sounds like somethin' I could listen to for a bit." Goniff watched the boy open the book on his lap. "Where'r you in the story now? What's goin' on?"
"Well the King, he sent the bloke that wants to be a knight off to spy on his enemy, see, and the little one, he tagged along after him. The squire, that's the little bloke, he thought he'd be helpin' the knight, but he's just got him caught by the other side. They got throwed in a dungeon and the bad guys are gonna make the knight... the almost knight I mean, fight to get them outta there." Eddied looked up and caught Goniff's nod as he squirmed into a more comfortable position.
"OK... They just told Stephen, ... that's the knight, that he's gotta fight a real knight to win their way free. And the bloke came by the cell to show off and he's a big, burly sort... All dressed up in black armor."
"It don't look very good for Stephen then, does it?" Goniff closed his eyes and settled in to listen.
Eddie placed his finger on the page and ran it under the words as he read them out. 'If I die, don't morn my lost youth, but count me lucky instead. I'll not feel the grip on my sword hilt weaken, nor see the bright flame of determination fade from my own eye. To die without knowing the creeping decay that comes to the body and spirit with age, young squire, that is a good thing. A thing songs should be sung about...'
Eddie knew Goniff usually pretended to be asleep, but he wasn't pretending now. He slipped off his cot and tugged the blanket up over him and stood watching him for a moment before turning back to settle in on his own bed. He reached up and tipped the shade of the lamp so a shadow fell across Goniff's face and he snuggled down against the pillow and lifted the book back onto his lap.... He'd stay up in case anything was needed in the night... he'd convince the others... And if he couldn't, well, ... he'd wait until they all went to sleep too.
g
"How badly is he injured?"
They were gathered around the table sharing a glass of brandy, but the circle wasn't complete. Goniff was upstairs sleeping, with Eddie standing guard nearby.
Garrison sipped at his glass before setting it aside on the table. "Well, Phillips would've been happier with him if he'd stayed in the hospital overnight."
"He got clipped by a bullet as we were pulling out." Casino hooked an arm over the back of his seat. "He lost enough blood they needed to top him up when we got back."
"It was kind of a surprise, him wantin' to come back here tonight. You know Goniff, man. He likes the 'personal service' over at the hospital."
The safecracker snorted a laugh. "He likes the nurses they got over there, ya mean."
"But he didn't want Eddie to worry."
Actor's eyes ranged over the group gathered around the table, coming to rest on the Warden. "I hardly think seeing Goniff show up here in a sling saved the boy from that. He worried about him the whole time you were gone. I could hardly get him to eat his meals." They'd all gotten used to having the boy around, and they'd all derived pleasure from the association but the Italian con artist knew what it would be like for the child if he were to lose Goniff now... "I hate to be the one to mention it, but I believe it would be in the best interest of the child to.."
Garrison put up his hand. "Goniff's already brought that up, ... On the way back. We're going to start looking for a permanent place for him tomorrow." He picked up his drink again and took another sip. "Did Eddie say anything about the trial? Was he worried that he'd have to go if Goniff didn't come back?"
Actor took a long time to consider it. That subject had never come up. All of the boy's questions had swirled around where they were, what they were doing, and if they were safe, and when they'd be back. "I don't think he had anytime to think about it.... He was too worried about Goniff to consider what would happen to him if he didn't return."
g
They made their way quietly into the room they shared. Goniff seemed to be resting comfortably enough but Eddie was curled up at the head of his cot asleep under the light of the lamp. Casino lifted the little boy up as Chief turned back the blankets, Actor set the book aside but after they'd settle the child and tucked the blankets around him they decided to leave the light on. If he awoke in the night he might need the reassurance of seeing Goniff sleeping safely nearby.
ggg
Goniff started in on the problem of what to do with Eddie the next day. While the boy was working on his lessons, catching up to get ready for the weekly tests, he made his way to town, under the guise of a doctor's visit, to talk the problem over with Mrs. Reid. Chief acted as his driver but allowed as how he'd just sit a while in the car while they did their talkin'.
"Oh I knew it couldn't be a permanent arrangement, Rodney." Elizabeth placed the tray of tea things on the table in front of her visitor, stepping back she laid a hand on his shoulder. "But this time with you has been so good for him. I've had excellent reports from Miss. Mackenzie on his progress with his lessons. And when he was by here the other day to play with Emory he never lost his temper, not once."
That was the real wonder... that somehow being with this man most of the people in the village thought of as a scamp and a misfit, that being accepted by him and the men at the mansion, had helped the child curb the anger he had inside. As she settled onto her chair she didn't think she'd be able to come up with another who could have done as well with the child, but she had been giving it some thought. "You know Reverend Whitehead approached me about Edward..."
Goniff took a sip of the tea before he looked up. "I don't think that'd be a good spot for 'im... It's hard enough to talk 'im in the church door of a Sunday, ... You can't b'lieve he'd get comfortable livin' right there.... Especially that one."
"But they won't be staying much longer. This is just a temporary assignment for Mr. Whitehead and his family. He told me the bishop will be moving them off up to the borders soon. He has a posting at Walls End that will start in the spring."
Goniff still shook his head, pricking the bubble of the idea before it could get off the ground. No. The new vicar was a nice enough fella. He was young and had a wife and two boys of his own. He'd made it a special point a tryin t' make Eddie feel comfortable when he first saw them at services...having heard about him from his bishop. But after he'd suggested that Eddie somehow find it in his heart to forgive that old bugger Milford... After singin' the praises a forgiveness all through one a his lectures and explaining how everyone, if they repented their sins, could earn a spot in heaven... Well after that they'd kept their promise to Mrs. Reid by traveling over to the next village and doing their Sunday duty over there. Eddie told him, and he'd agreed, that if C. Barton Milford was gonna be up in heaven he didn't want no part of it hisself. 'Sides he didn't want the little bloke all that far away. He'd got used to having him around and was hopin' for a spot near by sos he could still get a visit or two with him now and again.
"There's a Mrs. Townsend, up on the high street, that's been looking for a child to take in. She's an older woman and she hasn't any children of her own. She's been to the teas that I hold for the children here at the house, you may have met her." Mrs. Reid offered the plate of biscuits and took one herself after her guest had made his choice. "She doesn't speak anything other than English I'm afraid so she isn't a good match for the children coming from the continent. He'd have to help out around the house, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind. There are several children living near by and she's quite close to the school."
He knew the place. She was quite close to the school alright, and quite close to that little twit Geoffrey. "Don't y' think Eddie'd be better off with a couple? You know some as would act like 'is parents for 'im.... Maybe even have a kid or two about the place for 'im to play with."
"Well of course that would be best... That's why I thought that Reverend Whitehead...."
g
Chief looked up when the door opened. "You come up with anything?"
"Blimey! She's a nice enough lady, that one, but she's got 'er sights set on the Reverend Whitehead....Can ya b'lieve that? Either that or some old crone that lives up in the snobby part a town with that Geoffrey nit."
The young man waited for his passenger to get settled before firing up the engine and putting the car in gear. "You gonna like any one she picks Goniff?"
"Well, uh, ... Sure. If it was, uh, .... If it was a good match for 'im."
Chief glanced at the man riding next to him. "Sure, Goniff." They rode along in silence for a while. "So? You got anybody in mind for him?"
Goniff rubbed at his chin for a bit then worried his thumbnail with his teeth. "Maybe...." He looked up and spotted where they were on the road. "Take that next turning off to the left. I got a stop to make on the way back."
ggg
It'd taken Goniff better than a week to screw up his courage.... A week he spent with the little boy almost constantly in his sights. He knew it was the right thing to do, ... he knew it... but he hadn't done a very good job of getting that across to Eddie.
"You'r tryin' to get rid a me!"
"A'course not. You an me are family aren't we... that's permanent. I'm just tryin' to find you a soft spot... I wanna keep you out here Eddie but how, can I? I'm no sort a fella they'd give you to....Blimey, I haven't given over bein' a kid m'self! You can't stay here.... You want a Mum and a Dad, maybe even a brother,.. Or a little sister or somethin'. Wouldn't that be nice, Eddie? Havin' a place that's yours, a room you don't have t' share with a bunch a old snorers..."
"I don't need none a that Goniff! And nobody like that wants me......"
"A'course they do! Everybody wants you Eddie"
"You don't!"
And with that indictment still ringing in the air the boy made a rush at him first shoving at him with his hands, then crossing his arms together and bulling him back towards the door. The rubber soled shoes gave him the traction and his anger gave him the strength. Goniff lost his footing and landed on his bum in front of the boy, jarring his injured arm. He saw him ball his hands in fists and thought for a moment he'd be getting a black eye, or a bloodied nose but instead the little boy turned and snatched up the lamp that sat on the table at the end of the sofa...and dashed it to the floor right next to him before spinning on his heel and heading for a vase that sat on the table at the other end. The vase met a similar fate and he was off around the room.
Goniff scrambled to his feet and took off after the angry little ankle-biter, but the more he tried to catch him the more he twisted and turned to avoid his grasp. Eddie'd turned himself into an eel...one bent on as much destruction as it could manage. Anything that was with in his reach was dashed to the floor or pulled over. Goniff was pelted with all manner of pillows and cushions but when the crystal started heading his way he beat a hasty retreat.
He pulled up in front of the Warden who was already outside in the hall. Even though he was safely out of the room he cringed and ducked at the next loud crash and turned to stare at the pieces of flower pot that rolled over the threshold and into the hall floor. They each reached a hand to the doors and pulled them closed.
Garrison pulled Goniff around to face him. "What's going on? What'd you do?"
"Me?! I din't do nothin'! We was just talkin' 'bout where ta put him. ... Ee's got it that I want 'im no more," there was another loud clatter. "'ee's not listenin' when I tell 'im different."
"What n' the hell's all the racket?" The explosive's expert watched the little pick pocket cringe as something heavy hit the door he was leaning against, making the wood shudder.
"I dunno. I dunno. I was talkin to 'im 'bout how nice it'd be to have a place with somebody'd be willin' to act as his Mum and Dad and he just sort a boiled up. He took to tippin' stuff over and I couldn't get 'im t' stop."
They stood there staring at one another and listened to the sounds of carnage. Garrison ran through the contents of the room in his mind. There weren't any weapons stored in there, they were all locked away in another building. His service revolver was in the gun safe in his room upstairs. At the muffled sound of shattering glass they all ducked and watched as fragments shot out from under the heavy door. There was a set of fireplace tools in there, the kid could do a fair amount of damage with that. There was another loud crash and they could hear the sound of running feet as the boy made his way around the room.
Goniff paled and turned back to open the door but found the Warden's hand on his. "Maybe you better just let him wind down a bit."
"No, I gotta get back in there!"
"Jeeze! Are you nuts?" Casino caught the cat burglar by his good arm. "You'r probably the last thing he wants to see right now." He tugged the little limey away from the door and watched as the Warden took his place. "Come on! Let's you and me get outta the line a fire."
Garrison looked over his shoulder at the two men. "Goniff, get out of here. Casino take him downstairs for a while." But Goniff stood rooted to the spot, his eyes riveted on the door. The Warden turned and reached a hand out, laying it lightly on the pick pocket's injured arm. "It's alright Goniff, I won't let him hurt himself... Now get out of here."
g
Craig waited for his men to clear the hall. The sounds of destruction were fading away on the other side of the door. He could still hear the child's footsteps as he made his way around the room. He could still make out the sound of sobs and muttered cursing...
Garrison step inside the room, closing the door behind him and eyed the child, he was standing in the middle of the room, his shoulders heaving and his hair plastered to his forehead by the sweat he'd worked up. He had a small crystal dish clutched in his dirty fist and Craig leaned in the doorway and waited to see if he still had enough energy to throw it. The object was small but heavy enough to take out a window... or crack open a skull.
Eddie looked down at the thing he had in his hand. He wanted to break it, shatter it on the floor and grind the little pieces into dust. He brought his arm up and dashed it to the ground but it didn't break. The satisfying crash didn't come as it landed in a soft layer of dirt that already covered the floorboards. And somehow that was enough to take the pressure that had been building up inside him away. If it had broken he would have kept going, somewhere inside he knew that... But the fragile looking little thing didn't break...And for some reason he couldn't understand he wasn't really angry anymore. He looked at the little dish laying at his feet and didn't need to break it after all.
Eddie stooped down and picked the little dish up and as he straightened up again he looked at the damage he'd done. The pots were turned over and he'd yanked the plants out. Some of the tables were turned on end and he'd even managed to pull one of the overstuffed chairs on to its side. Pictures hung askew on the walls. Pillows and cushions were everywhere... Everything that had been on the tables was on the floor now, broken and useless, except this one small sparkling little dish.
...He was in for it this time. It wasn't softhearted Mrs. Reid who'd just take him into the room he'd shared with all those other boys and set him on the bed and try and talk to him about what he done and why it was wrong standing in that doorway, it was the Yank officer who ran the place. He knew he was in trouble, but as he looked around at the room it dawned on him that he'd be getting Goniff in trouble too. Goniff who was the one who said wanted him out here. Eddie took a deep breath and turned around. He couldn't bring himself to look at the officer's face as he trailed across the room and he had to screw up his courage to do it after he'd come to a halt in front of the bloke...
Garrison looked down at the top of the boys head and waited while dug his toe into the dirty carpet. Eddie turned the crystal dish over and over in his hands for a few moments before he finally held it out, offering it to him as he found the courage to look up and face him. Craig took it and turned in his own hands studying it a moment as he tried to figure out what to do next....
"I'll clean it all up."
An eyebrow arched up. "That you will." He made another survey of the room and reached for the switch on the intercom mounted on the wall next to him. "I'll get the others and we'll get started."
"I don't need nobody else! I done it and I can make it right."
Garrison looked around at the mess the boy had made of the room. He'd be filling out more damned reports over this one... It wasn't broken windows and furniture this time, but there was quite a bit of minor damage and a whole lot of cleaning up to do. This was the formal parlor and there had been vases on the tables and a few potted plants sitting around the room. All that was a mad scramble of broken pottery and dirt strewn across the floor. The mirror was cracked and one of the lamps had been broken during the boys fit of temper.
"You really think you can handle all of this all on your own?" he watched the determination settle on the grimy face and harden the brown eyes.
"A 'course I can!"
"Alright then, get to it." He settled a hip on a table that rested in the corner of the large room and watched the boy go to work.