October 1942

Stalag 13

"But Colonel..."

"No, Hogan, I do not want to hear any of your excuses. He knew what he was doing. He was caught red-handed."

"Yes, but maybe his hands wouldn't have been so red if the barracks were a little warmer." Hogan watched as Klink's expression clouded for a moment in confusion.

"What has the barracks got to do..." Klink stared at Hogan for a split second, anger written on his face. "No, Hogan. Not this time. You will not distract me with your double talk! Your man was caught with the codebook. I demand to know what he thought he was doing stealing top secret documents out of my safe!"

Hogan countered, "Well, perhaps if you brought Newkirk in here, you could ask him. I'm sure I don't know." Underneath the banter Hogan was worried, but he was not about to show it. "Newkirk sometimes has sticky fingers, but I'm sure he had a good reason. Maybe you dropped it somewhere...you have lost it before, you know."

Klink scowled. "I did not lose it, and you know it. No. Your man stays in the cooler until further notice. And I will get to the bottom of this. I am not the fool you seem to think I am. Do not push me, Hogan. Dismissed."

Hogan was startled when the Kommandant barely nodded and turned away from him. Klink placed the codebook into a desk drawer and ignored him completely. Uneasy, he slipped from the room. Oh, boy, Rob. You may have just blown it sky high! He trudged back to Barracks Two, pulling his jacket tighter around himself, deep in thought. They would just have to wait for Klink's next move.

~HH~

Klink called Schultz into his office. "I want you to put two guards on the cooler. Specifically, on Corporal Newkirk's cell. I do not want him to have any visitors. As of now, he is in solitary confinement."

Schultz's eyes widened. "Jawhol, Herr Kommandant-wait, not even Colonel Hogan?"

Klink eyed his sergeant coldly. "Most especially not Colonel Hogan. Please go inform Hogan." As the guard turned to obey, Klink's voice stopped him and he turned back around. "And Sergeant. See that you do not allow yourself to be bribed by Corporal LeBeau's offers of strudel or other food. Otherwise, it will not go well for you. Do I make myself clear?"

Hans Schultz studied his commander for a moment. It was as if the man had turned into a block of ice. He nodded grimly. "Jawhol, Herr Kommandant." And he left the office without another word. Hilda sat at her desk and watched Schultz go. She was as confused as the sergeant. What had happened? It was not the first time Peter had been caught at the safe. What had made this time so different? Why was her boss acting so strangely? He had nearly bitten her head off when she had taken some letters in for him to sign. She shook her head as she returned to her filing. She would simply do as she always did...keep her ears open, and report to Hogan when she could.

~HH~

Schultz entered Barracks Two nervously. Even though he was their guard, most of the time, he felt more like a guardian and a friend than an enemy. Not this time. He could not explain the Big Shot's attitude. He was acting almost as if he were someone else. In all the time Schultz had been under his command, he had never seen his commander act this oddly...so cold and uncaring. He may not have been the bravest soul in the world, but Wilhelm Klink had never once been a calculating or cold person...not until today. And now Schultz would have to bear the brunt of Hogan's anger because of it. And he had no doubt Colonel Hogan was going to be very angry. And Schultz didn't blame him one bit.

"What?!" Hogan was furious.

Schultz held his hands out before him, trying to placate the American as the other prisoners crowded around, also protesting. "Please, Colonel Hogan! I told you, there's nothing I can do! No-thing." He paused sadly. "I wish I could. I have never seen the Kommandant like this." He turned to go, and then looked back, as serious as they had ever seen him. "And boys, I know you have ways of breaking in and out of the cooler whenever you like. Please don't. I will tell Newkirk the same thing. I am very afraid the Kommandant would have him shot." And he left the stunned group silently.

~HH~

Alone in his office, Klink sat behind his desk, staring blankly down at the mounds of paperwork. He saw none of it. He saw nothing at all. Well, that was not exactly true. He leaned back in his chair, and sighed deeply. Why? Why had the young corporal stolen it? How could he have taken the one thing that could ruin everything? The one thing that could betray them all? And what could he do? The damage was done. Stiffly he rose from his chair. He stepped out of his office. Hilda turned from her typewriter, concern written all over her pretty features.

"May I help you, Kommandant?"

Gravely he shook his head. "No, thank you, Fraulein. No one can help me now. I am not feeling well. I will be in my quarters. Please tell Schultz I am not to be disturbed when he returns. You may leave after that."

Hilda nodded, not daring to express her thoughts as the Kommandant disappeared into his quarters. She did not dare try to see Hogan today. It would have to wait. She settled back behind her desk, but knew she would not be getting any more work done that day.

~HH~

"Solitary? Fer 'ow long? Crikey, wot the hell'd I do?" Newkirk was incredulous. "An' wot's with the extra guards?" His accent was nearly unintelligible.

Schultz regarded the younger man carefully. "You know what you did. You got caught."

Newkirk calmed slightly. "Yeah, but it's not like it's the first time. What's got Klinky all tied up in knots this time?"

"I do not know. But you have upset him badly. He has ordered that you are to have no visitors at all. Not even for meals. The guards are to see to it. I am afraid he would have you or the others shot if you try any monkey business."

Newkirk looked deeply into Shultz's eyes and realized the big guard was not joking. Slowly he nodded. "Don't worry, Schultzie, we won't. But could you do me a favor?"

Schultz nodded slowly. "I will try."

"Tell Colonel Hogan and the others I'm fine. And not to try anything. Whatever's wrong, it's not worth it. I'll be okay. And I'll see them after Klink gets over 'is snit."

Schultz nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Pieter. You are a good boy. I will tell them."

And Schultz left, stopping by Barracks Two on his way back to the Kommandantur to deliver Newkirk's message.

For his part, Newkirk lay back on the hard wooden bunk wondering what he had done to cause the normally mild-mannered camp commander to get so angry with him.

As he pulled his greatcoat tighter around himself, he felt something in his hidden pocket-something he had forgotten about in all the excitement. He pulled out the small book he had pinched along with the codebook. He had figured it might contain some useful information. He settled back, grateful for any distraction at this point. He had no clue the battered little book was about to change his life.

~TBC~