Chapter 9: Observations and Theories
Hochstetter and Burkhalter had stayed the night. Early the next morning, they stood on Klink's porch and watched as the prisoners filed out for roll call. The prisoners in Barrack 6 caught their attention. "That's your secretary, isn't it?" asked General Burkhalter.
"Yes, Sir," replied Klink. "He's their new Barracks Leader. Since he took over, they've reported for roll call like this every morning."
Shultz went over and began to count the prisoners in Barracks 2. The three German officers left Klink's porch and headed over to join them. As they approached, Hogan noticed Burkhalter give another glance towards the prisoners from Barrack 6. He also heard the General say, "Impressive. Very impressive."
"Ja," agreed Hochstetter.
"I agree, General Burkhalter, " Klink stated. "I told Hogan his men could take lessons."
Burkhalter glared at Klink. "So could your guards, Klink."
Hogan chuckled and said, "He's right, Klink, they could." Several of the other prisoners voiced their agreement.
A look of wonder flickered across Hochstetter's face. "You know, I never thought it possible, but for once, I agree with Hogan," he declared.
Hogan smiled cockily. "Let's not make a habit of it."
Hochstetter gave Hogan a sour look. "Don't worry, I won't."
- - -
Burkhalter finished his Lutwaffe business and left early that afternoon. A short time later, Hochstetter prepared to leave, as well. As usual, he still suspected that the saboteurs of the weapons factory had come from this camp but was unable to prove it. On his way out, he stopped at Hilda's desk. He picked up one of the papers Carter had typed and examined it. There was evidence of only a few corrected mistakes.
"A pity, actually. Too bad you're not on our side," Hochstetter declared.
Carter was puzzled. "Sir?" he prompted.
"I'd have you transferred to Berlin."
Carter was a little nervous. "For interrogation?"
"Why? You have something to hide?" Hochstetter asked, a hint of suspicion now in his voice.
"Does using a flashlight to read a letter from home after lights out count?"
"Nein."
"Then, I guess I don't…have anything to hide."
Hochstetter brought the conversation back to his original topic of conversation. "Soon the Allies will surrender to the glorious Third Reich. When they become part of our colonies, I shall request your transfer to my office. Efficient help is so hard to find these days. Till then, Auf Wiedersehen. Heil, Hitler." Hochstetter gave the usual salute.
Carter started to return the salute. "Heil--" Stopping himself, Carter declared, "You almost got me, Major."
With a shake of his head and a slightly amused look on his face, Hochstetter left. Carter sighed with relief and went back to work.
- - -
A short time later, Hogan entered the office. "I noticed our favorite Krauts have both left," he said, the sarcasm obvious in his voice.
Carter nodded. "Yeah. Hochstetter wants to have me transferred to Berlin."
Hogan became very serious, his voice reflecting his concern. He spoke very quietly so he wouldn't be overheard. "I'll contact London. I'll have them send the sub. We'll have you transferred to London tonight."
"Not for interrogation," Carter explained. "He wants me to be his secretary when the Allies surrender."
Hogan breathed a sigh of relief. "Then, we have nothing to worry about." Carter gave him a puzzled look and Hogan added, "The Allies aren't going to lose."
"Oh, yeah. Right," Carter agreed. "You here to see Klink?"
"Later." Major Hochstetter wasn't planning an interrogation but Colonel Hogan was. He pulled an empty chair up alongside Hilda's desk. That way, they wouldn't be overheard. It was good for effect, too.
"So, how's the 'observing' coming along?" he asked.
Carter was a little uneasy. He couldn't help but notice the look Hogan was giving him. He'd seen it too many times before. Sort of the 'cat that swallowed the canary' look that Hogan got when he was about to trap someone. "All right, I guess. Of course, Burkhalter's and Hochstetter's arrivals slowed things down a bit. Now that they're gone…" Carter gulped nervously and added, "We'll see."
"That 'little accident' at the research lab was fortunate for our side, wasn't it?" Hogan asked.
Carter's eyes went to the papers on his desk, tryng to avoid Hogan's gaze. "Yes, Sir. I suppose it was."
"From the look of that smoke, I'd say it will be weeks before they get it operational again, wouldn't you?"
"I wouldn't know, Sir. I didn't go outside."
Hogan feigned curiosity. "Why not? Almost everyone else did."
Still keeping his eyes on the desk, Carter noticed the phone. "Well, somebody had to monitor the phone," Carter offered as a weak excuse.
"Expecting an important call, were we?"
Carter squirmed under Hogan's scrutiny. "You never know."
"I suppose not." Hogan abruptly tried another approach. "Well, how about Evans? Did he go out?"
"How would I know?" Carter protested. "Like I said, I didn't go out."
Hogan was pleased. His change in questioning had produced the desired effect. Carter was definitely becoming more nervous. "That's right," Hogan agreed. Then, Hogan snickered and said, "You know, that would be very odd. If two of the people who didn't go out were both from Barracks 6."
"It would be a coincidence," Carter nervously suggested.
Hogan gave his wayward sergeant a patronizing look. "Well, I'd better let you get back to work," he said, standing and returning the chair to the corner. He'd given Carter enough rope. Now, he'd let Carter hang himself.
Hogan headed for Klink's office and entered. Carter watched him leave with mixed emotions. He was relieved that the interrogation was over. But he didn't understand it. Usually, when Hogan had his victim where he'd had him, Hogan would move in for the kill. Instead, Hogan just left. And why had Hogan mentioned Evans? Surely, Hogan didn't suspect, did he? Of course, Hogan was smart. Carter decided that he'd have to be even more careful in the future.
- - -
Hogan entered the front office shortly after roll call on Wednesday. "Colonel Hogan, I need to speak with you," said Carter as soon as he'd entered.
"Been doing some more observing?" Hogan asked.
"This is serious, Sir. I was filing the mess hall records yesterday afternoon and I found this in the folder." Carter explained, showing Hogan a paper.
Hogan carefully examined the paper. It was a memo from General Burkhalter to all Luftwaffe officers. It was dated almost three weeks ago, long before this thing with Carter came up. They wouldn't have known Carter would be working in the office. Therefore it didn't look like a trap. The paper must have accidentally gotten mixed in with the mess hall records and was filed by mistake. The memo was about suspected traitors to the Third Reich. The Luftwaffe personnel were asked to keep the suspects in their area under surveillance and report any suspicious behavior to Berlin immediately. The Gestapo would handle it from there. Looking over the list of names, a couple of them caught Hogan's attention. He knew they were important members of the Underground. He hadn't heard anything about them being taken in for questioning yet. Therefore, he had to get this information to London as soon as possible.
"We have to get this information to London," Hogan told Carter. "While I keep Klink busy, write up a list of those names."
"I'll do better than that, Sir," promised Carter.
Hogan entered Klink's office wondering what Carter had in mind.
After about ten minutes in Klink's office, Hogan returned. Carter handed him a paper and stated, "I typed you a copy."
Hogan looked at the neatly typed paper in his hand. It was an exact copy of the entire memo. "Good work, Carter," he complemented. "London will be glad to have this. You may have saved a lot of lives."
Carter smiled. "Thank you, Sir. I'm glad I could help."
"Carry on with your observing, Sergeant," quipped Hogan as he left.
- - -
Hogan entered Barracks 2. The others were seated around the table. "Kinch, get on the radio with London," he ordered. "I have some very important information to deliver."
"Yes, Sir," acknowledged Kinch, getting up and hurrying towards their hidden bunk entrance to the tunnels below. Hogan followed.
Newkirk and LeBeau watched them go, then rushed to catch up. "What is it, Sir?" asked Newkirk, as they got to the bunk.
Hogan started down the ladder. "Names of suspected traitors to the Third Reich. At least two of the names are Underground agents. I don't think they've been arrested yet. London has to pull them out."
Newkirk followed Hogan to the radio room below. "But where? How?"
LeBeau walked up and stood beside Newkirk. Recognizing that the questions pertained to his information, Hogan quickly explained, "Carter found a memo in one of Klink's file cabinets in the front office. The memo's three weeks old. I don't think it's a trap."
"London's on the line," said Kinch.
Hogan went to the radio. In code, Hogan informed London that he had important information that needed to be picked up. Due to the sensitive nature of said information, they couldn't risk detection by sending it via radio. They would need to arrange a pickup. London agreed to send a plane that night and gave the coordinates.
When he'd finished speaking with London, Hogan looked at Newkirk and declared, "Newkirk, you're the little old lady tonight. We're just an elderly couple out for stroll in the moonlight."
"How romantic," jeered Newkirk. Then, he switched to his 'little old lady' voice. "But I'm warning you, Sir. Any funny business, and I'll whup you with my bag." Newkirk resumed his normal voice. "So, Carter found this, huh? Our Carter is getting pretty resourceful."
"From what I've seen, he's not doing too bad as a Barracks Leader, either," LeBeau added.
"Maybe a little too resourceful," agreed Hogan, solemnly.
"I've been noticing a few things this week," Kinch began. "I've been coming up with a little theory of my own. I know it's going to sound stupid but…You don't think Carter is behind what happened at the research lab, do you?"
Hogan winced. "I'm considering that possibility, yes."
"But that is stupid, if you'll pardon my saying so, Sirs," argued Newkirk. "We've all heard Carter's ideas in the past. The word stupid doesn't begin to explain them."
Hogan had a theory, too. "Back then, he had the leisure to act impulsively. But since he became Barracks Leader, he has a command, a small one, though it may be. His men are his responsibility. A responsibility that he seems to be taking quite seriously. He's obviously taken the time to plan his decisions, weighing their strengths and weaknesses. But if he's involved in these so-called accidents, it's not good enough, I'm afraid. He could be playing with a dynamite far more deadly than any he's ever used. If he is, it will have to be dealt with. I'm just hoping it won't cause a permanent rift."
Newkirk was very concerned. "You think maybe Carter won't ever want to come back, then?"
"Nobody said command was going to be easy," stated Hogan with frustration as he headed for the ladder.
His men quietly watched him go, their faces reflecting their concern.
