Chapter 25
Kinch hurriedly sat down at the switchboard and after adjusting the strap of the microphone around his neck, plugged into the switchboard and dialed Klink's office number. The phone rang several times before he heard someone pick up.
"Colonel Klink here. Heil Hitler."
"Colonel Klink, this is Major Schermerhorn of the Wiesbaden Gestapo. I understand a Major Hochstetter is there," Kinch said in his most arrogant German voice. "I wish to speak with him. Now! I will wait."
"Oh yes, sir, Major Schermerhorn," Klink replied coming to attention and clicking his heels together. "He's right here." Klink handed the phone to Hochstetter.
Growling softly, the Major took the phone while staring at the Kommandant. "Major Hochstetter here. Guten tag, Major. Heil Hitler. Major, although it's good to hear your voice, I am somewhat at a loss as to why you are calling at this time." As Hochstetter listened to what he believed to be his friend from the Wiesbaden Gestapo, Klink noticed a change come over the Major's face; something akin to excitement.
What makes you think these people are the ones I am looking for, Major?" Hochstetter asked.
"Because one of them is an American officer. He is wounded in the leg and has suffered a head injury as well. There is also an older man by the name of Richter. In addition, we are holding his two sons, Braun and Wilhelm, and a young girl Gretchen. When I heard about the Berlin Express in Hammelburg, I contacted your office. They told me you were at Stalag 13 so I hoped to reach you there. I believe we have the people you are searching for including this American who refuses to give us his name."
"What does this American look like? Describe him to me."
"He is about six feet tall, black hair and brown eyes. He…"
"That is him!" Hochstetter shouted with excitement. "I knew he was alive! And now I have him! You saved me from having men brought to Stalag 13 and searching this entire camp. Keep him and the others there. I am on my way. Danke for calling. Auf wiedersehen. Heil Hitler." Hochstetter hung up the phone and glared at Klink who sat nervously behind his desk. "That, Klink, was my dear friend, Major Maban Schermerhorn of the Wiesbaden Gestapo. He has arrested your Colonel Hogan and that Richter family who were obviously hiding him." The Major slammed his fist on the desk. "I told you Hogan was alive! And now I have him!" he growled. Hochstetter put on his gloves. "Klink, I will head to Wiesbaden immediately and question Hogan and the others. And if I should find out you played some part in this, I will be back for you."
"For me, Major? I haven't done anything," Klink stammered.
"Then it must be very warm in here, Klink, because your monocle is fogging up." Hochstetter growled bringing his face close to Klink's with a look of absolute glee. Then, he straightened up and yanked open the door and stormed out, slamming it behind him.
Hearing the phone hung up, Kinch disconnected from the switchboard and hurried back to the radio room to contact the underground and then London.
Hogan was seated on the cot in the radio room when Newkirk and LeBeau emerged from the changing room having changed from their uniforms into the blacks with grease smeared on their faces. They were both checking their weapons carefully.
"We're ready, mon Colonel," LeBeau said sticking his weapon in the back of his waistband. Newkirk did the same.
Everybody turned as the Lehmann family all reappeared with their suitcases; Bruno also had his medical bag. Hogan checked his watch. He knew it was going to be very close; but that was when his men were at their best. He turned his attention to Kinch after he removed his headset. "What have you got for me Kinch?" Hogan said.
Kinch, holding his clipboard went over everything item by item. "Hochstetter bought the entire story hook, line and sinker, Colonel. And he was about to call for reinforcements when I made the call. As to the others, I spoke with London first. They can't have a sub pick up our packages until 2200 hours tomorrow night at the earliest. Then, I contacted Lancelot. He'll have men waiting at the usual rendezvous spot at 2100 hours tonight, and will hide them until tomorrow night and escort them to the sub."
Hogan checked his watch again. It was seven fifteen. He sighed as he looked at the family standing in front of him. He allowed a slight smile to appear. "Just try and relax. In about an hour you'll all be on your way to your next destination and then the following night the underground will get you to the sub which will take you to England."
Just then, Carter appeared from around the bend. Hogan looked at him. "Carter, what are you doing down here? I thought you were watching the door upstairs?"
"I had Olsen relieve me. I just thought you might want to know, Colonel, that Hochstetter just left the camp."
"Good. That takes care of him for awhile at least," Hogan replied. "It'll take him several hours to get to Wiesbaden."
Greta sided up alongside Hogan. "Robert, how will you get back into camp after we leave without that horrible Major Hochstetter arresting you?"
Hogan looked into the teen's face with a lopsided grin. Her concern for him touched him and he appreciated it. He sighed. "Don't worry about me, Greta. I have an idea how to get officially back into this camp and there won't be anything Major Hochstetter will be able to do to me. But, first things first."
The next hour went by too quickly for Greta. But finally, the time had come to say goodbye to Hogan and his men. Bruno, Josef and Dieter had shook hands with each of the men except for Hogan who received hugs from the teens. Bruno, gripping Hogan's hand tightly, thanked him for everything, and made sure to again advise him to take it easy or he'd come back from London and join Sergeant Wilson in confining him to his bed. Hogan gave him a dirty look.
"Please take care of this brave man," said Lehmann to the others. "All of you, take care of yourselves and stay safe." He followed Josef up the ladder. That left Greta alone with Hogan. The two of them looked at each other for a long moment before Greta wrapped her arms around Hogan's neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for everything, Robert," she said hugging him tightly. "I will never forget you and what you've done for me and my family." She then whispered in his ear, "And I will always love you."
Hogan, who had his good arm wrapped around her waist, kissed the top of her head. "You're welcome, Greta," he replied. "You and your family saved my life. I'll never forget that or any of you." He didn't think it wise on his part to respond to her last statement. Releasing her, he smiled a smile that lit up his entire face. "You'd better get going. Your family's waiting." He watched her scamper to the ladder leading to the emergency tunnel exit and climb up. Carter and Kinch watched Hogan's face after the family had left. Kinch quietly approached the Colonel. Hogan's smile had disappeared.
"They'll be all right, Colonel," he said gently. "I'll make sure to find out when they arrive on board the sub and let you know."
"Thanks, Kinch," Hogan said dejectedly. The radioman noticed a sadness in the Colonel's eyes that hadn't been there earlier. He put a hand on the Colonel's good shoulder.
"Still worried about Greta, sir?"
Hogan sighed. "I hated to break her heart, Kinch. She's been through so much in her fifteen years. But there's no way anything was ever going to happen between us. But still…." he paused.
Kinch looked at his commander oddly. "But still what, Colonel? What's wrong?"
Hogan sighed. "It's just that Greta's feelings for me made me realize just how lonely a prisoner-of-war's life really is, and what it would be like to have the love of a good woman to sustain you when you feel lonely." He turned and walked in the direction of one of the branch tunnels without speaking another word.
Kinch and Carter looked at each other. Oddly, Kinch thought he had an idea of what Hogan needed. He picked up the headset on his radio.
"What are you doing?" asked Carter.
Kinch adjusted the headset. "I think the Colonel needs Tiger right now. And I hope she's back from France. I think the attention Greta paid the Colonel made him realize just how lonely he really is."
"But he has us," Carter replied innocently. "So, there's no need for him to be lonely."
"Sure he has us, Andrew," Kinch answered. "But it's not the same thing. We can't love the Colonel like Tiger does or in the same way. He needs to feel her love to help him through his loneliness, and make him forget the war, at least for a short time anyway." Kinch proceeded to contact the underground and only had to wait a short few minutes to receive a reply. He smiled as he acknowledged the message before removing his headset.
"Well?" asked Carter. "What'd they say?"
"Tiger returned last night from France. She'll wait for confirmation that everything is back to normal here and then will set up a rendezvous with Colonel Hogan. But the Colonel's not to know, Andrew. Got it?"
Carter grinned. "Got it," he said. "I won't tell a soul. Promise."
In another area of the tunnels, Hogan leaned his back against a dirt wall and sighed dejectedly. Greta's attention made him think of Tiger. He wondered if she was still in France. He missed her desperately, and didn't realize how much until Greta revealed her feelings to him. He needed Tiger right now in his arms, holding her, loving her, showing her how much he loved her. At least when he was with Tiger, for a short time anyway, he could forget the war, the violence, the death, his command, everything. All that would matter would be the two of them as if there was nobody else in Germany but them. Letting out a deep breath, Hogan turned and headed back to the radio room.
Two hours later Newkirk and LeBeau returned to camp. Hogan, Kinch and Carter were waiting for them.
"Well?" asked Hogan, worried. "Any problems?"
"Piece a cake, Gov'nor," Newkirk replied excitedly. Lancelot and Otto met us at the rendezvous place and took possession of the family. But LeBeau and I had to duck a Kraut patrol on the way back. But they didn't see us or the others."
Hogan exhaled. "Good."
Kinch folded his arms. "Colonel, just out of curiosity, we've been wondering why this family was so important that they had to be sent to London. I mean, they really didn't tell us anything as you were the only one who spoke with them before you were transferred out of here."
Hogan repeated the information Lehmann had given him about the assassination plot against General Patton and the list of those involved passed on to Lehmann by a dying underground agent he had been treating at the time. When he finished, he heard whistles from the two of the men while the other two stared at him wide-eyed.
"I can see why London would want that info as-soon-as-possible," Kinch said finally. "We've heard there's been several threats made against the General. But an actual assassination plot…"
"I know, Kinch. But it makes sense when you stop to think about it. Patton is the one Allied General most feared by the Germans. If they were to succeed in eliminating him, it could change the entire outcome of the war for us."
"Colonel, you said you had an idea how to get officially back into camp and Hochstetter wouldn't be able to do anything to you," Kinch reminded him.
"Yeah, I do. And this is what we're gonna do," Hogan replied with a grin as he explained his plan to the men. When he was done, his men all stared at him, worry and concern evident on their faces.
"Sounds a bit risky to me, Colonel," Kinch remarked.
"I think you've gone crackers…sir," Newkirk said.
"That's just plain nuts…sir," Carter added.
"Oui, mon Colonel," LeBeau said. "You're taking a big risk that Bosche Hochstetter won't come and drag you to Gestapo headquarters."
"Glad you all like my idea," Hogan replied, a bit annoyed. "We move tomorrow morning. Kinch, I'll need you to contact General Burkhalter pretending to be Klink, and get him out here."
"Sure thing, Colonel. But why Burkhalter?"
"Because Burkhalter has the authority to override any decisions made by Hochstetter. Remember, Hochstetter's only a Major and Burkhalter's a General. We don't make our move until I know that Burkhalter is definitely on his way here. Timing is gonna be important with this." Hogan looked around at the four men standing in front of him, all looking worried. He allowed a lopsided grin to appear. "Relax, fellas. If everything works the way I hope it will, by tomorrow I'll be back in my own quarters again." He let out a deep breath.
"Something wrong, Colonel?" asked Carter.
"Just one thing," said Hogan. "I think it's time I pay a visit to Colonel Crittendon and let him know I'm back."