See? Posting an update ahead of schedule. Just as an apology for missing so many updates.


CHAPTER 4

Newkirk slept through that day and was back to normal for the following one. By noon, Kinch was hovering over the radio waiting for word that the Luftwaffe general had been spotted in the hotel. Hogan paced and glowered at everyone who tried to engage him in conversation.

Carter hadn't noticed Hogan's bad mood and came into the barracks to collapse at the table. "Wow, boy, doing exercises is hard when it's cold outside. I mean, it warms a body up but still." He turned to Hogan. "Colonel, I was wondering, how are we supposed to get back to the hotel so Newkirk can rob the safe anyway?"

"Carter, when I know that, you'll be the first to know." Hogan tried to glare but it was always hard to glare into Carter's sunny disposition. This was no exception.

"Well, I figured that if you can't come up with a really good plan, we can always just sneak out and break in! I mean, it's not that much harder than sneaking out to blow up a bridge, right?" Carter dug in a pocket and brought out one of his strings to begin making a cat's cradle between his gloved fingers. "It's kind of a long walk, just ask Newkirk! He walked it but it took him hours so we'd have to get a truck or car from the motorpool, but we've done it before, right? So you know, that's a plan right there! Not that your plan won't be ten times better, sir, because you always think up really good plans." He rather absentmindedly strung the lines into a complex pattern and turned his hands about to look at it. "Has Kinch heard anything from town yet?" His cheerful face turned to Hogan and he held up the string pattern to show it off.

"No, not yet. But I'm expecting to hear soon." Hogan laughed softly, his bad mood evaporated suddenly. "That's a nice one." He motioned to the gloves. "You know, it'd probably be easier without the gloves."

"Well, what would the fun be in that?" Carter undid the string and suddenly jumped up. "I'm gonna go find Newkirk and show him." He headed for the door as quickly as he'd entered.

Hogan stopped him. "Once you've shown Newkirk, tell him I want to see him here. Find LeBeau too."

"Sure thing boy... I mean sir!" Carter bustled out, string in hand to look for his friends.

Hogan checked the door and then motioned for a nearby man to keep watch while he went down into the tunnels. Finding Kinch, he saw the radioman tense when he walked up and made sure to clap a hand on his shoulder and smile. "Any word?"

"No sir." Kinch relaxed at the evidence of Hogan's improved mood. "BlueBird should be available in the next twenty minutes or so, but he could be late."

"Good good." Hogan gave a rueful smile. "Sorry if I've been snapping at you. These plans are important and we need to get them to London. With these papers, we can help the Allies know where the next big German air offensive is planned and how many planes they're sending. It's something that could save many lives and I don't want to blow it." He inhaled and glared at the radio a moment. "Now if the Germans would just cooperate and that general show up on time so we can go steal his precious papers, things would be just spiffy."

Kinch nodded. "Sometimes I think these Germans just don't want us to win, sir." He glanced up and saw Hogan trying to suppress a smile. "Don't worry, sir. We already know the General plans on staying at the hotel in town, and if he does, he'll certainly keep the plans in the safe."

"Yes, and as soon as I figure out how to get us there to steal them, things will be great." Hogan sighed. "Carter suggested we just sneak out."

Kinch thought it over carefully. "Wouldn't be the first time."

There was a cheep from the radio and Kinch hurried to place the earphones on his head. Hogan waited impatiently as he scribbled down the message and handed it over. "General at the hotel." said Hogan. "Good. Now I have to figure out how to get there." He motioned at the radio. "Send acknowledgment and shut down for the day. Meeting in my office in fifteen minutes."

He climbed the ladder back up into the barracks. Taking a cup of coffee, he wandered outside to check on the compound. He spotted Carter leading LeBeau and Newkirk towards the barracks. Newkirk was back to his usual jaunty self although from the look of the trio, LeBeau was rapidly taking him down a few notches. Since most of the insults were being delivered in French, he wasn't sure how effective they were.

"I found them, Colonel Hogan!" Carter didn't seem fazed by the loud argument taking place behind him.

"So I see... and I also see we have company." Hogan nodded towards the main gate where an unfamiliar staff car was being passed through.

Newkirk and LeBeau noticed as well. LeBeau spoke first. "That's a high ranking Lufewaffe officer."

"That's my guess too." Newkirk lit himself a cigarette as he watched it drive across to the kommandantur. Schultz rushed to open the door and came to attention. "A major? Were we expecting any majors?"

"These Germans, they never call ahead properly." Hogan jerked his chin towards the barracks door. "Let's listen in, folks."

As they filed inside, Kinch came up from the tunnels and closed the bunk entrance. Carter called out to him. "There's a Kraut major here!"

They got the coffeepot listening device set up in time to hear Klink fawning over the major in greeting.

"Major Feigenbaum! What a surprise! I did not expect to see you again so soon. I do hope you enjoyed our little party the other night." Klink's voice sounded nervous.

An unfamiliar voice barked at him. "Silence! I did not enjoy the party once I realized that one of your prisoners stole General Hafner's briefcase! I intend to find out which one of them took it and get it back immediately!"

Hogan looked around. "Wait, we stole a briefcase? Who's holding out on me?"

All eyes turned to Newkirk and he held up his hands. "No no, I didn't take anything!" When no one seemed to believe him, he insisted. "I swear, mates! I didn't!"

Klink had progressed into panicked confusion. "Oh but I assure you, my prisoners did not..."

"General Hafner says they did! One of them was seen outside of the floor the party was on, in fact, he was spotted on the same floor that the general's room was located on!"

Eyes returned to Newkirk who continued to protest. "I was looking at the safe! I didn't take the bloody general's briefcase."

Klink began to profess his innocence but Major Feigenbaum cut him off. "I will see the prisoners that served at the party. Whichever one it is will be taken back to the hotel so General Hafner can interrogate him in person."

Newkirk paled slightly but made an effort to appear nonchalant. "Well, at least now we know how I'm getting back to the 'otel, right?" He swallowed hard and his eyes darted away, betraying the underlying panic. "I really didn't take the thing."

Hogan clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be going with you. They can't take you away without your senior officer to witness any interrogation. For once, we're actually innocent of the charges so we'll manage to figure out something and then we'll be at the hotel so maybe, if we've got any sort of luck on our side, we'll get a chance to retrieve the papers too."

Newkirk nodded, visibly relaxing as Hogan included himself in the mix. "Carter, get me that miniature camera, I can stick it down inside a seam on me jacket if I'm quick enough."

Hogan waved for Kinch to put the coffeepot away. "Everyone make sure you haven't got anything naughty in your pockets in case the major decides to search us in Klink's office. Remember, we're dealing with the Lufewaffe, not the Gestapo so don't panic." He moved quickly to the main room of the barracks.

Carter rushed up to hand Newkirk a tiny camera disguised as a lighter. "I couldn't find the smaller one, will this do?"

"Perfect, mate." Newkirk palmed it and dropped it into a pocket. He grabbed his heavy outer coat. "If one of 'em takes it away, I can just lift it back 'opefully." Schultz came in the door and Newkirk managed to bury every expression of nervousness as he greeted the big guard. "Schultz! Now what are you doing, busting in 'ere without knocking, mate? You know that's rude..." He shut up when Schultz gave him a warning look and stepped aside to come to attention. "Company..."

"Achtung!" Schultz's eyes pleaded with them to behave and not give any trouble. The men of the barracks fell into place beside their bunks properly as the Kommandant and the major walked in. "Kommandant Klink wishes to see Colonel Hogan immediately!"

Hogan stepped up casually tucking his thumbs into the pockets of his bomber jacket. "Kommandant. If I had only known that we'd get company today, we'd have baked a cake."

Kommandant Klink didn't look amused. "Hogan, I want all the prisoners who worked at the party lined up, right away!"

Hogan nodded at his men. LeBeau, Carter, Kinch and Newkirk obliged him, stepping over and lining up to stand in front of the kommandant. "This is all the ones that volunteered at your party. What's this all about? Someone complain about the service?"

The major ignored his banter to stalk up the line. He sneered at Kinchloe, dismissed LeBeau and peered closely at Carter before deciding on Newkirk. "This man. This one matches the description." He swiveled on his heel and glared at Klink angrily. "I demand he be brought back to the hotel so the general can question him in person."

"What'd I do?" Newkirk kept his tone to one of innocent confusion even as his stomach turned over.

Hogan interrupted. "Now see here, you can't be taking prisoners out of the stalag! Corporal Newkirk was part of a voluntary work party and he did all that was asked of him. I demand to know why he's being taken away!"

Klink puffed a bit. "Apparently General Hafner's briefcase disappeared and he thinks that one of you took it. Major Feigenbaum is here to try to clear up this matter."

The major was not pleased and turned on Klink. "Briefcases do not 'disappear' on their own, especially not when they are filled with sensitive materials that cannot fall into the wrong hands!" He waved a hand at Newkirk who edged slightly out of range. "I will take this man to the general immediately!"

Hogan stepped up beside Newkirk. "Not without me, you won't! This is a blatant violation of the Geneva Convention! You can't drag a prisoner off the grounds and interrogate him without any proof! I demand to be present!"

"Bah! Bring them both! Klink, if it's proven that these men took that briefcase, you'd better plan on packing your bags for the Russian Front! General Hafner is not lenient with those that cause breaches in security!" He stomped out leaving Klink to insist he had no choice but to let the major take the two prisoners.

Hogan and Newkirk were both cuffed and escorted to the staff car. The impatient major scowled angrily at everyone as they left, ignoring Klink's continued protests of innocence.


End chapter

Told you there was more...