The sun was just starting to rise above the horizon. "Hurry up and eat," snarled Hochstetter, as Frau Linkmeyer and Carter sat nibbling what remained of their breakfast. Hochstetter had finished his own and was anxious to continue with his plans. "It's time to get moving."
Carter had just raised his hands, now cuffed in front of him, to his mouth and taken a bite of food. A puzzled expression flickered across his face. He finished what he was eating, then asked, "Moving? Where?"
Hochstetter grinned, evilly. "The next step on our journey, where else? I don't want Hogan catching up with us just yet. I want him to experience a little of the frustration he's give me before I kill him."
"You can't kill Colonel Hogan," protested Carter, considerably appalled.
"Can't I?" hissed Hochstetter. "I'll see that you have a front row seat for the executions, his for espionage and that imbecile Klink's for negligence. Now, enough talk. Both of you, on your feet. Schnell." Once they'd complied, Hochstetter waved his gun in the appropriate direction. "Back to the car. You first, gnädige Frau. And take this." Hochstetter tossed his pack to Frau Linkmeyer. After catching it, she started off as ordered. Then, Hochstetter stepped closer to Carter, his gun aimed inches from Carter's head. "Now, you. And no monkey business. You wouldn't like the consequences."
Carter followed Frau Linkmeyer, with Hochstetter bringing up the rear, until they reached the hidden car. Upon arrival, Hochstetter ordered, "You will drive this time, Frau Linkmeyer. Just put my pack on the seat beside you. And you, Sergeant Carter, will ride in back with me."
Having no choice but to obey the armed Hochstetter, the two prisoners climbed into their assigned positions. Hochstetter followed Carter into the backseat and handed Frau Linkmeyer the car keys. "That way," he stated, pointing in the direction that led further away from Heidelberg. Frau Linkmeyer started the car and drove off as indicated.
- - -
Schultz approached the door to Hogan's apartment. When the men hadn't shown up at his factory as planned yesterday and he hadn't been contacted the entire day, he'd grown concerned. He knew that Hogan wasn't one to break a promise, not without a good cause. The night before, he had slept fitfully, wondering if something had come up. He'd finally decided to come and check for himself. That was why he was at Hogan's door so early in the morning instead of at home having breakfast.
After knocking, Schultz didn't have long to wait till Hogan came and answered the door. "Schultz, what are you doing here?" Hogan asked.
"No one showed up yesterday," replied Schultz. "And I heard nothing. I was concerned."
"Sorry, Schultz. We were busy." Then, Hogan opened the door wider. "Come on in, Schultz and let us explain."
"Danke," acknowledged Schultz, entering the apartment and following Hogan into the living room.
"I believe you know everyone here," stated Hogan.
Schultz was surprised to find both Marya and Colonel Crittendon there. "Jawohl."
"Have a seat," Hogan invited. Once Schultz had sat down, Hogan explained, "Most of us were out searching for Carter and Frau Linkmeyer. Hochstetter's grabbed them."
"Hochstetter! That spells trouble," declared Schultz.
Hogan nodded. "You're right. And he shot Carter."
A concerned Schultz grimaced. "How bad?"
"Unfortunately, we're not sure. A witness saw Hochstetter force him to drive away from the scene, so it seems that it wasn't extremely serious. That's all we know."
"I want to help look for them," announced Schultz, decisively.
"All right," Hogan agreed. "You can team up with Newkirk." Hogan glanced at the others as he continued. "Colonel Crittendon and Marya, you two will go out together. The remaining teams will remain the same as yesterday. Now, for today's search…"
Hogan pulled out a map, spread it out on the coffee table, and proceeded assigning the areas to search. When he had finished, LeBeau and Marie left. Crittendon and Marya quickly followed. After they'd gone, Newkirk glanced quizzically at Hogan. "That area you assigned Crittendon and Marya, Gov'nor…"
"What about it?" Hogan asked.
"Isn't that dreadfully close to an area already patrolled by soldiers from your headquarters? Hochstetter would be stupid to turn up there."
Hogan managed a weak grin. "You know, Newkirk, you're right. How could I possibly forget something like that?"
Newkirk grinned conspiratorially in return. "Right, sir. How could you?"
From their positions nearby, Schultz and Klink exchanged glances and grins with one another, as they realized that Hogan had forgotten nothing. He had planned it this way all along.
- - -
Having reached his new destination, Hochstetter ordered the car hidden in well-concealed spot. Then, he marched Frau Linkmeyer and Carter to a spot a short distance away. He ordered them to the ground and had them start brushing the dirt aside. Soon, their efforts revealed a steel door buried there. Hochstetter had them open it, then descend the steps below. He figured the area was obscure enough that it would be safe to leave the door open for a few minutes till he had secured his prisoners and got the generator going.
In the dim light from the open doorway, the prisoners could see that they were in some sort of industrial bunker. "Get over there and sit down," Hochstetter ordered, indicating a far corner of the room. Once the two prisoners had complied, he walked over and started the generator. The lights came on, as well as a pump that brought in air from the outside. A quick glance around the room proved to Hochstetter that it was just as he'd remembered it and easily adapted to his purpose.
Huge hooks on pulleys that were used during the manufacturing process hung from the ceiling. Hochstetter pushed a button and lowered one a little within reach. "Carter, over here," he demanded.
Guessing what Hochstetter had planned, Carter was reluctant to comply. The situation would leave him completely vulnerable.
Hochstetter waved his gun threateningly in Frau Linkmeyer's direction. "Get over here or she dies. I can arrange my trap with one prisoner as easily as two…maybe more so. And since you were one of Hogan's close associates, I would guess you are the most promising, eh?"
As reluctant as ever, Carter gave in to Hochstetter's demands. He slowly walked over to Hochstetter's side as ordered. "Hands above your head. Schnell," insisted Hochstetter, impatiently. When Carter obeyed, Hochstetter used his free hand to slip the handcuff chain over the hook. Then, he raised the hook to a height where Carter could still stand on the floor but would be unable to slip free.
Hochstetter turned his attention to Frau Linkmeyer. "Now, you, gnädige Frau. Let's see what we can do to accommodate you." He started to glance about the room once more. His eyes soon fell on a coil of rope on a nearby table. He went over and cut off a piece. "All right, your turn. Get over here."
Having no choice, she quickly complied. In almost no time at all, Hochstetter had bound her wrists and then secured her in a hook as well. Then, he took a moment to go up and close the door.
"Now, I want some information," Hochstetter stated.
"Andrew Carter, Technical Sergeant, Service--" Carter started to respond.
"Going to prove difficult, eh?" growled Hochstetter. "We shall see. I can think of more than one use for that rope." He went over to the table, cut off another piece of rope, and fashioned it into a makeshift whip. Then, he came back over to where Carter was standing. He unfastened Carter's jacket and shirt and slipped them up his arms, draping them over the hook above. "Now, we shall try again."
"Andrew Carter, Tech--" Carter stopped as Hochstetter sharply struck his exposed back with the makeshift whip.
"I want the name of your colleague who was Kommandant Braun," hissed Hochstetter.
Carter held his ground. "Andrew--"
Hochstetter struck again, even more fiercely. "Bah. This is getting us no place. Perhaps if someone else were threatened."
"Leave her out of this," Carter pleaded.
Ignoring him, Hochstetter went and struck Frau Linkmeyer so severely that even through her clothing it caused her to gasp and let out a small cry of pain.
"Now, I want his name," insisted Hochstetter.
"Tell him nothing," Frau Linkmeyer urged, causing another blow to fall upon her back.
"You will tell me what I want to know or perhaps I can bare her back as well," threatened Hochstetter.
"All right, it was me," Carter confessed. "I was Kommandant Braun."
"Lies!" screamed Hochstetter. "I will have the truth." Hochstetter struck Frau Linkmeyer once again.
"But I am telling the truth," Carter persisted. Then, recalling a scene in Klink's office, Carter spoke as Kommandant Braun, saying, " 'Do I have to repeat myself? Go back out and do it right.' That's what I told Colonel Hogan. And when we were in Berlin, you took me to the local Hofbrau to celebrate my promotion. Your lady friend worked there. Fräulein Elsa, I believe."
Hochstetter stared long and hard at Carter. Finally he snarled, "So, you really were Kommandant Braun…And I had them make you a general. Well, let me show you a little respect, General Braun."
Hochstetter raised his makeshift whip and viciously struck Carter's exposed back. He continued to strike repeatedly for what both he and Carter estimated to be twenty-five to thirty times. Then, he tossed the whip towards the wall, as he declared, "No one makes a fool of Major Hochstetter!"
Leaving Carter where he was, Hochstetter walked over and released Frau Linkmeyer from the hook. He left her hands tied, however and guided her toward the far end of the room, a considerable distance from Carter. "Sit," he commanded. She complied and he walked back to his pack. Opening it, he took out a packet of their rations and handed it to her. "Now, eat. I have some things to take care of in another section of the facility. You will stay in this spot. I warn you, try to help him and he will receive another beating more severe than this. Count on it." With that, Hochstetter picked up his pack, headed towards a door leading deeper into the facility and left his prisoners alone.
A concerned Frau Linkmeyer silently watched Carter for several moments. Finally, she asked, "How are you, really?"
"Sore…very sore," he replied.
"You should not have confessed," Frau Linkmeyer gently reprimanded him.
"I couldn't let him keep on hurting you…not on my account. This thing, I was the main one involved. It really did nothing towards exposing the operation. But if Major Hochstetter wants information about the others or the operation itself, I can reveal nothing…under any circumstances. Understand?"
"Ja," agreed Frau Linkmeyer, solemnly. "I understand. That is how it will have to be."
- - -
Several hours passed before Hochstetter finally returned. The two prisoners had remained where they were and complied with Hochstetter's orders as they'd had no idea when he might return. Besides, Carter was currently in no shape to attempt an escape.
After leaving a pitcher of water on the table, Hochstetter lowered the hook and pulled Carter's shirt and jacket loose. Then, he raised the handcuff chain up over the top and released his hold. Once free, Carter fell to the floor, exhausted and with pin and needle sensations flowing through his arms and legs, having been in that position for so long. Hochstetter reached into his pocket, pulled out two packets of food and tossed one to the floor beside Carter. "There's water on the table if you're thirsty. Eat…then sleep," he ordered. On his way out, he handed Frau Linkmeyer a packet. "Both of you."
The two prisoners consumed their meager meal, then lay down to rest. Carter had a hard time complying with that order, unfortunately. No matter how hard he tried, he was unable to find a comfortable position. His shoulder still ached from the gunshot wound and rudimentary surgery and his entire back now seemed to be aflame with pain. Finally, shortly before dawn, he drifted off from sheer exhaustion into a temporary peace.