Chapter 4

Terry had an eleven o'clock meeting in Brandonshire with Col. Hammond and Major Schaeffer for debriefing. At nine, she wandered downstairs and headed for Garrison's office. Terry asked Actor to come and look at her report before she took it in. He found that odd as she wrote excellent reports, but figured there might be an ulterior motive. He shut the door behind him and hitched a hip on the corner of the desk facing her.

Terry reached in her pocket and pulled out the velvet bag. She dumped the contents into her hand. Actor eyed it with interest. She reached over and dropped it into his outstretched hand. She knew her hunch had been right when she saw his eyes widen at the sight of it.

"I somehow did not think this was something that should be in the pile," she said. "I just wanted to verify that with you and see what you think I should do with it."

Actor's voice was cautiously casual. "Does Casino know you have this?"

"No," Terry replied. "I dropped it into my pocket when I took it out of the safe. Do you recognize it? I see it has your attention," she said with a bit of humor.

"I am almost positive I know what piece this is." Actor was studying it under the lamp light. There was an unusual touch of eagerness in his voice that she had only heard when he and Craig were about to come up with a really devious con.

"Those are all real diamonds and sapphires?" asked Terry.

"Oh, yes, those are real diamonds and sapphires," assured Actor. "Late 18th or early 19th century. Do you have someplace extremely secure to place this in, outside of the mansion?"

"Safe deposit box in Brandonshire?" offered the girl.

"That will have to do," said Actor. "You need to put it there today. Do not keep this anywhere here."

"Can you-uh . . . broker it?" Terry tried to find a better word for fence. "I'll split it with you. Fifty-fifty."

Actor chuckled. "Teresa, if I found a buyer for this, we could each retire off of our half. Finding a buyer would be very difficult, time consuming, and very dangerous."

Terry looked at him in surprise. "Just what is that thing?" she asked. She had never heard him be hesitant about dealing with jewels before.

"I must look it up to be absolutely certain. I will show you when I find the picture. I believe there is one in a book here at the mansion. In the mean time, put it in the safe deposit box and do it immediately."

"Like right now?" she asked in confusion.

"On your way to debrief. I will have the picture when you get back."

Actor took the velvet bag and carefully, if reluctantly, put the necklace in it before handing it back to the girl. That she had obtained it from the German's safe and knew enough to hide it from the greedy safecracker impressed him. That she had no idea just what she had acquired was obvious. He could not believe it himself.

Terry took it with her when she left the mansion. Actor strolled into the library with a bored look on his face. That look was replaced with one of eagerness as he searched through the books on the shelves. Finding the one he wanted, he stood, thumbing through it, until he found the correct page. Staring back at him on the shiny paper was a picture of the exact necklace. It had been missing for more than a century. The thought of it being in his hands just minutes before sent a thrill though him that he had not experienced in a long time. He moved over to the table and tore the corner off a piece of notepaper. This was placed very carefully between the pages so only a tiny edge was visible to mark the spot. He went back to the common room and took his seat again, picking up the classic he was reading.

Terry returned several hours later. There was no briefcase attached to her wrist so they were safe for another twenty-four hours at least. The girl went upstairs and changed into her regular clothes. Coming back downstairs, she glanced at the con man. Actor put his book down and held the larger volume out to her.

"Here is something for you to study," he said. "We will start with jewels and gems. There are two volumes to this. Read them, study them and become familiar with the pieces and where they are from. Then we will start on antiques."

Terry walked over and accepted the book. She looked at the cover. It was 'Great Jewel Collections of the World, Volume I."

"You're going to teach me how to heist jewels?" she asked brightly.

"No!" was the firm reply. "The Warden has expressed a desire for me to teach you of the finer things in life. That is all. Not how to acquire them through illegal means."

"That's all right," said Casino. "I'll teach you how to do that."

"I know how to reach in a safe and pull something out," she said drolly. "And I guess I have already taken a jewel from a museum."

"That was paste," said Actor. "You need to be able to tell the difference."

Terry took the book and went into the office, closing the door again. She plopped in Craig's chair, leaned back to cross her feet over the corner of the desk, and opened the book, finding the marked pages. Her eyes got like saucers as she recognized the piece. Her feet hit the floor.

"Lieber Gott in Himmel!" she whispered in shock to herself. She read the history of the jewelry twice to make it sink in.

The necklace had been missing from the collection for over 100 years. It was the sapphire necklace of Josephine Bonaparte. The rest of the collection was at the Louvre. The piece resting so innocently in her safe deposit box, belonged in a museum. It had been worth 84,000 French Francs in 1812. The value of the jewels alone had to be much more now, not to mention the historical value of the piece. Actor was right. If they sold it, they could easily retire in a life of luxury. Oh, the temptation of that. She wondered how strong Actor's response would be to her wanting to put it in a museum.

Later that evening, she found herself alone with the confidence man in the upstairs common room.

"It needs to be in a museum," she said quietly.

"You are correct," said the man regretfully. "But it would be safer to do it after the war is over. I would imagine that was headed for Goering's private collection."

"It is a temptation," she acknowledged.

"That is why I had you lock it away immediately." Actor looked away from her. "It would be too much a temptation for Casino . . . and myself."

"You would steal it from me?" asked Terry in amusement.

"That thought did flash through my mind," admitted the con man.

"Actor," said Terry admonishingly. "Are you getting a conscience now?"

"No!" he denied quickly. "You are correct though. The piece should be in a museum."

Terry knew a month or two ago, that thought would never have entered the man's mind. She smiled. "Am I rubbing off on you?"

"I sincerely hope not," said the Italian haughtily.

Terry laughed and hugged his arm. "I sincerely hope so, Caro," she said. With a triumphant grin over her shoulder, she left him and headed out the door.

The rest of the day the cons kept an eye on the girl. She seemed to be almost her usual self. After dinner, she parked in a chair in the library and began to study the book Actor had given her. She had thought to find it boring, but there was history attached to every piece of jewelry and every gem. It really was becoming quite interesting. She knew the confidence man had dealt in jewels and antiques. She wondered if any of these had been in his hands.

It was 3 am and Terry could not sleep. Try as she might to bury it, the body of the janitor continued to pop into her mind. Giving up tossing and turning, she got up and put on her clothes. Barefoot, she slipped down the hall and padded down the stairs.

Approaching Garrison's office, she noticed light coming out from under the door. Cautiously she opened the door a crack. A waif of pipe smoke greeted her. She pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Actor was sitting at Craig's desk looking at her. There were stacks of file folders around him, one open in front of him and a legal pad with notes at his right hand.

"Couldn't sleep, Little One?" asked Actor.

Terry shook her head. He wondered if she was having nightmares about the killing. If she wished to discuss it, she would. He would not push her.

"You know how to analyze intelligence?" she asked.

"The Lieutenant has been teaching me. He does most of it, but allows me to do some and checks it before he sends it off."

"You have clearance?" asked Terry in surprise.

"Of course not," replied Actor.

Why would not having clearance stop the man? Obviously Craig trusted him. Terry walked around the desk and looked over him, a hand on his shoulder. "What country are you doing?"

"Italy."

"Naturalmente," said Terry wryly. "Give me France."

Actor turned upraised eyebrows at her and reached for one of the thick files. "You know how to analyze raw intelligence?" Was there nothing this girl didn't try to do?

Terry took the folder and pulled out another legal pad and pencils from a desk drawer. "I've never done the raw data before. I was analyzing the analysis reports in Washington, including Craig's. Now that I've been on a few missions with you, I see he really sanitized them."

Actor's grin reflected her own, "He would have to, would he not?" As she moved over to the big table, Actor told her, "The maps are on the arm chair."

Terry set the file and paper down and went to dig through the rolls of maps. Her eye caught one of Norway and she made a face. "I wish I knew Norwegian. I'd love to know what he is doing over there. I know they are sending him in alone. For some reason it gives me a bad feeling."

"Why?" asked Actor, curiously. He too had a bad feeling about Norway, but could not put a finger on the cause.

Terry shook her head, "I don't know, I just have a gut feeling something is going to rear up and bite him."

"He is very good at the con," assured Actor. "He should be okay."

"I know," replied Terry. "He had a good teacher." She nodded an acknowledgement to him, "And still does." She frowned, "I just don't like it."

They continued to work for another two hours. Finally Actor sat back and stretched. "Would you like some coffee?"

Terry nodded. "I can make some."

"So can I," said Actor. He returned a bit later with two steaming mugs. He set one beside Terry. Pulling a chair around, he placed a foot on the seat, and leaned on his knee, reading over her shoulder. He was impressed with her insight.

"I'll type yours if you proof mine," offered Terry.

"Deal."

The next two days passed without incident. Apparently G-2 did not have any missions they deemed suitable for the fledgling leader, so they were left alone. Terry went back to working at the bar and the cons were on their best behavior, though they did sneak off to the Doves one night while she was gone.

It was nine o'clock in the morning when the jeep returned with Lt. Garrison. He entered the mansion and looked to the common room. There were friendly greetings welcoming him back. It made him wonder what they had been up to. His sister wasn't in sight.

"Where's Terry," he asked as he headed for his office.

"Sleeping," replied Actor. "She worked at the Fox last night."

Craig raised an eyebrow at that. He gave a jerk of his head for Actor to come to his office. The con man followed him in and shut the door.

Actor silently observed the young officer. His face was drawn and he did not have his usual energetic air. Something was weighing on him and Actor would bet it was whatever this mission he had been on was. The Italian casually took a seat in the chair facing the desk and pulled out his pipe and tobacco.

Craig hung his jacket on the coat tree and sank into his chair with something akin to relief. He was glad to be back. This was not a con he cared for at all. It was almost refreshing to be back with his 'hoods.'

"Any injuries?" asked Actor conversationally.

"No," replied Garrison. Except to his peace of mind, he thought. "Any missions?" he queried back.

"One," replied the confidence man.

"Any problems?" Craig asked worriedly.

"Minor," said Actor, taking a couple puffs on his pipe.

"Injuries?"

"None."

Craig steeled himself. "How did Terry do?"

Actor chewed on his cheeks. "She handled herself very well. For the most part, she led the mission. She seems to have picked up the planning ability from you. She can hold her own against Casino's objections." The Italian stifled a smile at the memory of the briefing.

"But?" asked Craig. With his sister, he knew there would be a 'but.'

"She was initiated into the killing of a civilian," said Actor, looking at Garrison's face for a reaction.

Craig looked back at him. "She do it?"

"No, Chief did." Actor outlined the incident as he had been told by the occupants of the room.

"How'd she take it?" Craig was worried.

"Quietly. No hysterics. Just very quiet."

"She talk to you about it?"

"A bit," replied the con man. "Actually I believe she received more assistance in handling the situation from Chief and even a bit from Casino."

Garrison was a little surprised. Chief he could understand. Casino? Well, the man did have his finer moments. They were just few and far between. Craig rubbed the back of his neck trying to ease the tension in it.

"Bad mission?"

"It was fine," was the short reply.

Actor was not fooled. He knew the Warden was tense and bothered. If the man wished to talk, he would be happy to listen. However, Actor knew better than to ask the questions. He would have to let the lieutenant initiate the conversation and right now, it did not look like the man was willing to discuss it.

A knock came at the office door. It slowly opened a bit and the gamin grinning face of the second story man peered into the room. "Breakfast, Warden?" asked Goniff with a grin.

"Sure," grinned Garrison.

Goniff pushed the door wider and walked in carrying a plate and steaming teacup. He set it down in front of the officer. "'Ere you go, Warden. A nice cuppa and a little something to tide you over until Terry gets up."

"Thank you, Goniff," said Garrison. He looked down at the plate that held a toasted crumpet with a bit of butter and a generous smear of orange marmalade. Crumpet? Lord, his sister must be learning her way around the black market. He shook his head with a grin. It was good to be back.