Chapter 10---A Plan Is Put in Motion
The early evening of the day London was to make the airdrop had arrived. Kinch, Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk were all seated at the table in the common room drinking coffee; Newkirk had lit a cigarette and took a long drag. Hogan was in his quarters. All the men knew the Colonel was probably pacing back and forth as he usually did making sure he had accounted for every possibility.
Kinch checked his watch. "The Colonel should be out before long," he said. "We have to change and get ready to leave soon."
Milner sat on Carter's bunk reading a magazine. Actually, he was watching and listening. He knew the day before that Hogan had talked Klink into releasing Simmons and Lassiter from the cooler after one day by spinning a yarn that Lassiter had received bad news from home, and took it out on Simmons who said something Lassiter didn't like and the fight ensued. But that meant nothing to Milner except Hogan maintaining his cover with these innocent men who had no idea this American cared nothing about them, and wouldn't, or couldn't, defend themselves against him. So, Milner figured, once again it fell upon him to protect the men from a self-serving and dangerous American officer. And he now knew exactly how he'd get himself to become part of this mission. He would have to replace one of the four in the unit, and he knew exactly which one it would be. From what he'd observed, the choice was an obvious one. He didn't have long to wait.
Carter suddenly got up.
"Where you going, Andrew?" asked Kinch.
"Down into the tunnel," the young Sergeant said. "I just wanna check the weapons again one last time before we leave."
"Andrew, I swear you're worse that a ruddy housewife worryin' 'bout her bloomin' dinner burnin' on the stove," Newkirk said with a chuckle.
Carter headed toward the tunnel while looking in the Englander's direction. "Ha, ha," he remarked sarcastically. As he took another step, Carter suddenly went down yelping in pain, grabbing his ankle. Milner, dropping his magazine, immediately knelt down beside Carter, hands on the Sergeant's arm and shoulder as the other three jumped up and knelt beside Carter.
"You all right, mate?" asked an obviously worried Newkirk.
"My ankle," Carter whined, grimacing.
Kinch looked at Newkirk. "Get the Colonel," he ordered. Newkirk was about to get to his feet when he noticed the door to the Colonel's quarters open, and Hogan, attracted by the noise in the outer room, emerged.
"What's going on? What happened?" he asked, concerned.
"It's Carter, sir," Newkirk explained. "He tripped and fell. Hurt his ankle."
"He did it on purpose!" LeBeau raged, staring at Milner who seemed stunned by the accusation. "He deliberately tripped Carter."
"What are you talking about?" asked Milner, feigning hurt feelings. "It was an accident."
"That's enough!" Hogan ordered. "Carter, can you stand?"
"I think so, Colonel," he replied. Slowly, Carter struggled to his feet with Newkirk and Kinch's assistance. He took one step and nearly fell. If it hadn't been for Kinch and Newkirk, Carter would've landed on the floor. They helped him sit down on the bench.
"You injured Carter on purpose!" LeBeau again accused as he took a step towards the Captain. "I know you did it!"
"LeBeau! That's enough!" Hogan shouted with authority. The entire room went dead silent. The Frenchman looked at his commanding officer and saw the anger in his eyes. "Go get Wilson."
"But mon Colonel…." LeBeau protested.
"LeBeau, now is not the time or the place," Hogan explained. "We have a mission to do. Now, I'm telling you to go get Wilson." Hogan's tone of voice told the Frenchman not to argue any further.
"Oui, Colonel." LeBeau quickly hurried from the barracks, but not before glaring one last time at Milner.
"I'm all right, Colonel," Carter explained. "I'll be able to go on the mission."
Hogan, his arms wrapped around himself, gave his young demolitions expert a sympathetic smile. "You'll forgive me if I wait for a second opinion," he replied. His eyes shifted to Milner who had an expression of total remorse. "Captain, I want you to tell me exactly what happened."
Milner licked his dry lips. "Well, Colonel, I was seated on Carter's bunk reading a magazine, and I must've had my legs outstretched without realizing it. I wasn't paying any attention when Carter got up from the table. He probably tripped over my legs. I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean it"
Hogan sighed wearily. "I'm sure you didn't intend for Carter to get hurt. It was an accident." He looked up when the barracks door opened and LeBeau walked in with Wilson behind him carrying his medical bag. Hogan noticed the glare the Frenchman gave the Captain.
"LeBeau. My quarters. Now!" he said noticing LeBeau was about to say something.
"Oui, Colonel," LeBeau replied grimly knowing he was going to get it judging from Hogan's tone. He headed for the Colonel's quarters.
Hogan glanced at Wilson before he headed for his quarters. "Let me know how he is when you're finished, Joe."
"Yes, sir," the medic replied. Hogan then turned to follow LeBeau.
Closing the door, the Colonel motioned for the Frenchman to have a seat. LeBeau quietly sat down on the lower bunk and with head hanging, picked at his fingers while the Colonel picked up the chair from his desk, and turned it towards the bunk so he could face the Frenchman.
"Alright, LeBeau," Hogan began quietly. "Tell me what you believe happened."
Looking up, LeBeau explained what he believed occurred and how Carter had been injured. When he was finished, he looked into Hogan's impassive face, waiting.
The American sighed. "Believe it or not Louie, you and Captain Milner tell pretty much the same story except for one point. And that is he said his outstretched legs were an accident, and you say he did it on purpose."
"But mon Colonel…." LeBeau began. But Hogan held up a hand, stopping him.
"Look at it from my point of view for a minute. Why would Captain Milner deliberately injure Carter? What would be his reason?"
LeBeau thought for a long moment before he answered. "To get close to you."
"Explain," said the American officer, interested in hearing the Frenchman's explanation.
"Colonel, you need all of us to go on this mission with you to retrieve the weapons London is dropping tonight for the underground. I believe he wants to go on this mission with us. That way he can be close to you, Colonel."
"But you still haven't explained to me what sense it makes to injure Carter."
"Well, as I see it, by injuring Carter, he's hoping he won't be able to go and then you'll ask him to replace Carter. He wants to be certain he'll be included on this mission."
"But think about this, LeBeau. If he really wanted to harm me, he would want to get me alone; not tag along with all of us."
LeBeau sighed knowing the Colonel was right. How could the Captain possibly harm their commanding officer with him, Kinch and Newkirk all there. He wouldn't be able to.
"I know you are right, mon Colonel. But I just don't trust Capitaine Milner. I can't help how I feel. And I'm sorry if it troubles you."
Hogan got to his feet and wrapping his arms around himself, slowly walked towards the window of his quarters. He turned around. "I've made no secret of it that my gut keeps telling me something is not right where Captain Milner is concerned. And this accident with Carter comes at an inconvenient time. But, there is no evidence that the Captain is a danger to me in any way. There is nothing that involves him since he's arrived that can't be explained logically. And until there is, all I have is your suspicion and my gut. And that's not a lot to go on at this point."
LeBeau looked deep into Hogan's eyes. "Sometimes, Colonel, a gut feeling is all you have to go on," he said softly.
Hogan grinned. "Touche," he admitted. "But until there is some hard evidence, and for the sake of this operation, I'm asking you to keep an eye on the Captain. You don't have to like him, Louie. Just keep an eye on him and report anything suspicious to me. I believe I asked you that earlier."
"Oui, Colonel, you did. I will do as you request. Do you need me to stay?"
"No. We're finished in here. Besides, I want to find out how Carter's ankle is." He started towards the door when LeBeau's hand on his arm stopped him. Hogan looked over his shoulder at the Frenchman questioningly.
"I will do what you ask of me, mon Colonel, because it is my job to obey your orders," LeBeau said seriously. "But just let me say this. If by keeping an eye of the Capitaine I should discover he is out to harm you in any way, or should he attempt to hurt you, I will not hesitate to kill him myself before he has the chance. That is all I wish to say."
Hogan looked into LeBeau's face and saw he was indeed serious and not just speaking from emotion. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that, Louie," Hogan replied grimly. Opening the door, he and LeBeau walked out into the common room to find Carter sitting on his lower bunk with his ankle wrapped with a bandage. Milner, Newkirk, and Kinch were seated on the bench. Wilson was sipping a cup of coffee. He had apparently been waiting for Hogan to emerge from his quarters, not wanting to interrupt his conversation with LeBeau.
"How is he, Joe?" the Colonel asked, glancing at Carter's dejected face.
"His ankle's not broken thankfully," Wilson explained, then taking a drink of coffee. "Just a bad sprain is all. But he'll have to stay off it for a few days. I've given him something for the pain."
Carter looked at his commanding officer, his face pleading. "Colonel, I can make it on the mission. I won't let a sprained ankle stop me."
"Sorry, Carter," Hogan replied. "I won't risk you doing further damage to that ankle by having you running around out there. You'll have to stay here."
"Yes, sir," replied an again dejected Carter.
Looking around the room, Hogan's eyes focused on Milner. "Captain, how'd you like to accompany us on another mission?"
Milner, while inwardly jumping for joy, outwardly kept his face impassive. He glanced at the Frenchman who stood near Hogan with arms crossed, a dirty look on his face. He swallowed hard.
"Are you sure about that, Colonel?" he asked innocently. "I mean considering how LeBeau feels about me…"
"I had a talk with LeBeau," Hogan explained. "Everything has been straightened out, I assure you. But we'll need an extra pair of hands for this mission. You interested?"
"Yes, sir!" Milner hoped he sounded enthusiastic enough.
"Good," Hogan said with a smile. He checked his watch. "Okay. There's gonna be a slight change in my plan tonight. LeBeau, I want you to stay with Carter. Kinch, Captain Milner, Newkirk and myself can handle everything tonight."
"But Colonel…" LeBeau protested. Hogan held up his hand.
"That's my order, LeBeau, and I expect it to be obeyed. Besides, I want you to keep Carter company." He looked at the others. "You guys go on ahead below and start getting ready to leave. I'll be down in a minute."
There was a chorus of 'yes sir' by the others. Newkirk struck the hidden mechanism and the minute the lower bunk went up and the ladder dropped, the men started climbing below. Hogan waited until they were all out of sight before turning back to the Frenchman who looked upset at being ordered to remain behind. Hogan put both hands on LeBeau's shoulders.
"I thought we had straightened this all out in your office?" LeBeau asked unhappily.
"We did," Hogan assured him.
"Then why am I being punished?"
"You're not. I just thought you might want some time to see if you can find anything on the good Captain without him catching you." A grin appeared on the Colonel's face.
LeBeau's face brightened. "Merci, mon Colonel. That would be very helpful."
"Good man. I'd better get going." Hogan hurried to the tunnel entrance and, stepping over the bed frame and onto the ladder, started to climb below.
"Colonel?" LeBeau called out. Hogan paused and looked back.
"What is it?"
"Be careful," LeBeau told him, worry etched on his face.
Hogan smiled. "I intend to." He then disappeared below. After a few minutes, LeBeau walked over to the double bunk, struck the hidden mechanism, and watched the ladder rise and lower bunk drop. Then he sighed and put his hands on his hips thinking the best place to begin his search would be the Colonel's quarters.