Code Name Angel
By
Jennaya
Current Day:
"So, what are we going to do now Colonel?" Carter asked as he and Newkirk placed the briefcases in the trunk. "Can we go see a movie?"
"No Carter, we can't. You and Newkirk are going to stay here and follow Angel. I want to know everything she does. I'm going to go get some answers." Hogan was determined to get to the bottom of this situation.
"Right Colonel, where are you going?" Newkirk knew he wouldn't just take her at her word. Something didn't smell right to him either.
"I'm going to use Snowman's radio. I don't want either of you going back into the gallery until I get back. Stay out of sight, but don't lose Angel." Hogan left his men at the hotel, and took the car to a farmhouse on the outskirts of town. He stopped about a half mile from the farm and hid the car in the woods. Approaching from the south side, Hogan found a clump of trees to observe the farm's activities, before he made contact. He could see the Lantash family, who owned the farm going about their daily chores. When he was convinced they were alone he made his presence known. "Hello Jacob," he called out from the tree line walking up to the man.
"Colonel Hogan, what a pleasant surprise! What brings you to our humble home?" The elder farmer greeted him warm heartedly.
"I have a bit of a situation going on and need your help. Can we go inside and talk?" The two men went to the house and Rosha, his wife, brought them some hot tea leaving them alone to talk. "Have you ever heard of an underground agent by the name of Angel?"
"Ja, I have done a few jobs for her. What's this all about?" Jacob was an old friend that Hogan trusted.
"I've been ordered to get her to London, but I'm having some difficulty with the situation." He might trust him but Jacob didn't need to know everything.
Jacob laughed and shook his head, "That doesn't surprise me at all, Robert. If there were ever two people more alike it would be you and Angel. She is fiercely protective of those she's been charged with looking over, and saves the most dangerous assignments for herself. She can be difficult and quite stubborn. Does that remind you of someone?" He had a twinkle in his eye watching Hogan absorb this new information.
Hogan still didn't believe that was all there was to it, and he had to wonder which side Angel was on. He needed more information and could only think of one way to obtain it. "Would it be possible for me to use your radio? I know you have contact with London from time to time, and I need to report in."
"Of course you may, let me take you to it. Our antenna is the lightening rod on the barn roof; it will reach London for you." The two friends made their way to the barn loft where Jacob dug out the radio. "I will leave you to make your call."
Hogan set the radio up; he knew he had to take the risk. There was no one else that could give him straight answers. Was Angel an agent, an assassin, or a turncoat? Would she wait until she knew more about their escape path, or take them out before they got back to the Stalag? This was the only way to contact the one person he trusted for straight answers. Using the emergency code he started his call.
"Papa Bear to Mama Bear come in Mama Bear. Papa Bear to Mama Bear come in Mama Bear." Hogan listened to the static for a moment hoping he could reach the person he wanted.
"This is Mama Bear go ahead Papa Bear," a British voice came across the air waves.
"I need to speak with Archangel," Hogan requested.
"We are checking to see if he's in the building, Papa Bear. HQ is requesting an update on your retrieval of Angel."
"We have made contact and are preparing to bring her in."
"Roger Papa Bear, Archangel is out of the building and will be back in two hours. Is there anyone else who can help, or would you like to make contact again then?"
"No, I'll make contact at that time. Papa Bear out," Hogan shut down the radio and went back to the house. He was tired and hungry.
After lunch Lisal took her sketch pad, and started walking around Düsseldorf looking for the right scene. She noticed there wasmore Gestapo around today, more than usual for this place. Snow started falling so she went into a café, where two elderly men were playing chess; they'd obviously been friends for many years. Lisal asked for permission to sketch them and then settled into a window table to begin. About half way through her drawing, three Gestapo came into the shop to check identities. The Captain checked the identities of the two men she was using as models, and then walked over to Lisal.
"Papers Fraulein," he requested. She handed him her paperwork with a smile.
"Is there anything wrong with my papers?" The look on his face was one of surprise as he reviewed them.
"Nein, a little unusual, but everything is in order." He handed them back to her, and ordered his men to leave. Lisal smiled, having connections made her paperwork above reproach. She went back to finishing her sketch.
"Dang its cold out here lets go back inside Andrew," Newkirk led him across the street into the hotel lobby.
"I thought that Angel was going out, but she's still up in her room." Carter was trying to get warm; the snow had begun falling again.
"Let's just hope that gov'nor comes up with the answers he wants. He should be back soon it's nearly four now. I'm going to get us a coffee and something to eat, you keep watch," Newkirk ordered.
Hogan had planned to close his eyes for a few minutes, and woke with a start when Rosha gently shook him an hour and half later. She had fixed him a sandwich which he accepted gratefully. Then he went back to the barn to finish his call.
"Papa Bear to Mama Bear come in," he called on a special emergency frequency.
"Mama Bear here we read you Papa Bear. This is Archangel, what can I do for you Papa Bear?" An American voice came across the radio.
"I need to ask you about my package, what can you tell me about it?" His package was Angel, and he wanted...no…needed answers.
"Papa Bear, you've been asked to return package to home; what else do you need to know?"
"My package appears to have another agenda, before returning home and can't explain the delay satisfactorily. Require information to make sure package is on the level."
"If your package has unfinished business, assist in anyway possible." Why did he know that would be the General's orders?
"Can you tell me what unfinished business is concerning? What can you give me about package being recalled?" Damn he wished he didn't have to speak in code, but if the Germans overheard their conversation or got a lock on his location everything could be lost.
"Honestly Papa Bear, I don't have that information. I don't know if package requested recall or not. Why the questions, Papa Bear?" The General knew Hogan rarely questioned orders like this.
"Something isn't right about package, and my gut tells me I need to be alert."
"Give me a minute son," the General conferred with someone else for a few seconds. "Papa Bear, what I can tell you is that your package was asked to be dropped in by Hunter last year. I don't know what the delay is, but if those two are up to something – enjoy the ride. Give any assistance possible."
"Roger, Papa Bear out." Hogan was surprised by that revelation; Hunter was the over the air code name for Nimrod. Whatever was going on was big, and he could see that with all the extra Gestapo in the area. He had no choice but to go back and wait. Hogan wasn't a patient man, so waiting was not one of his strong points. Looking at his watch he needed to hurry; it would be close to six when he reconnected with his men. After putting the radio away he went to tell Jacob and Rosha goodbye.
"Next time you're in the area, I hope we get to spend more time together Robert." Rosha said as she handed him some food for their trip back.
"I hope we do too, thank you for the food," he gave her a hug.
"I need to be going also Robert. I have to met up with my team we have a job tonight," Jacob informed him.
"What are you doing?" Hogan was more than interested.
"Several new ack-ack batteries have been brought into town, and we are going to place a radar installation unit for the bombers tonight to follow. Hopefully, the bombers will take them out first, and then the targets in town. Angel brought them to us last night," Jacob handed him one to look at. It was the next generation of the radar unit that General Walters had brought to the camp a couple of years ago.
"She's serious about this bombing raid going off tonight." Hogan was beginning to wonder if Angel was what he'd been told. "Be careful tonight, we don't want you captured."
"We'll be careful, you do the same," Jacob shook his hand goodbye.
Hogan headed back to town to regroup with his men. At half past six Hogan finally made it back to his men, he'd been held up by traffic of a battalion passing through. As he parked the car his men came out of the hotel.
"Welcome back gov'nor, did you get the answers you were looking for?" Newkirk asked climbing into the car.
"I think I did, what has Angel been up to?" Hogan questioned.
"She hasn't left her room all day, sir. We thought she had planned to go out," Carter answered him.
"Maybe her plans changed, now all we can do is wait." Hogan responded and moved them into position behind the hotel.
Lisal finished her drawing and headed back to the Hotel; on her way up to her room she asked room service to bring her dinner. Once in her room she called Hochstetter, but he was out of the office and his aide promised to deliver her message to him. Dinner arrived a few minutes later, when she finished she put the cart outside her room and drew a hot bath.
At seven forty five Angel had changed into dark clothing, and slipped a few personal things and the items she didn't want Hogan to see into her backpack. She added her gun and four knives to her outfit, and now felt properly dressed. Watching the hallway, she waited until it was cleared, and then climbed the stairs to the roof. Slipping out on to the dark roof, she locked the door behind her. Quietly she moved across three mores roofs, and then down to the alley where she came up behind Hogan's car. He smiled as she entered through the backdoor; he'd seen her coming across the last roof.
"Blimey luv, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Where did you come from?" Newkirk was astonished; he didn't see her enter the alley. Carter shook his head in agreement.
"Out of the dark mate, if you don't mind start driving please. In thirty-eight minutes, Düsseldorf will be wiped off the face of the earth. I suggest we move now." Angel was more than ready to leave this town.
"Get us out of here Newkirk," Hogan ordered. "Were you able to accomplish everything you needed?"
"Yes, Colonel I was, now all we have to do is to wait for the bombers, and get us out of here alive." Angel settled back into a comfortable position for the drive.
"Has Nimrod gotten out safely?" Hogan deadpanned her.
Angel's head jerked around to him with angry eyes penetrating deep into the Colonel's soul. "How did you know he was here?"
"I have my contacts," Hogan toyed with her.
"He left town two hours ago and is safe. He did want me to convey his thanks for your assistance in this operation."
"I hope to someday meet him."
"You have Colonel, many times."
"Who is he?"
"Ask your contacts," she smiled as she settled back. That was all he would ever get out of her about Nimrod. He would remain an enigma to Hogan.