Chapter 25---Getting Even
Metzger returned to Klink's office shortly after his conversation with Hogan. He knew if he played it just right, by tomorrow night, he would not only have his art collection back, but he would kill Hogan personally, expose his entire operation and reveal Klink and Burkhalter as being involved. He slowly sat down in the chair facing a nervous Klink. He smirked.
"I trust you were able to take care of what you had to, Herr General?" asked Klink softly. He could see why Hogan disliked this man so much; actually, hated might be a better term.
"Yes, I was, Colonel," Metzger replied with that sickening grin of his that even Klink had come to hate. "In fact, I believe I will be able to wrap up my investigation by tomorrow evening."
"Glad to hear it…." Klink caught himself. "I mean, we'll be sorry to see you go, sir."
Metzger chuckled. "I'm sure you will be, Klink." He checked his watch. Any minute now.
Hogan reentered the barracks and not seeing his men anywhere, immediately walked into his quarters where he found all except Kinch gathered around the coffeepot.
When Hogan walked in, they all turned and faced him with grim expressions on their faces.
"What's happened?" Hogan asked, puzzled.
"Metzger made a phone call before you spoke with him, mon Colonel," LeBeau explained. "He told whoever he was speaking with that he was expecting you to come and tell him his ammunition was in route back to Germany as you suspected he would. But then he said you would probably set up a meeting to want to discuss how to transfer the ammunition back to him once it arrives…"
"…And it would be at this meeting he planned on killing you, sir," added Carter.
"Gov'nor, we don't feel you should go to this meeting alone this bloody bastard. He can't be trusted. Let one of us go with you to watch your back."
"I appreciate the offer, Newkirk. But I have to do this alone. I'll be all right. I won't let Metzger get the drop on me and I won't waste any time. He'll be dead before he realizes it."
"But sir," chimed in Carter, deep concern on his face. "Suppose you develop breathing problems. You'd be a sitting duck out there all alone."
"Carter, I'll be all right. I promise. And I don't want anybody following me to this meeting at 2330 hours tonight. And that's one order I want followed. Understood?"
There was a discouraged chorus of 'yes sirs' from the three men. Just then, they all heard the phone ring in Klink's office.
"Colonel Klink here, Heil Hitler. Who? Oh yes, Lieutenant Brunwald. General Burkhalter wants me to come to Berlin now? But, sir…that is to say I can't leave just…no, sir, I'm not disobeying the General's orders. Yes, sir, I'll leave immediately. Heil Hitler." Klink, discouraged, hung up the phone. He glanced nervously at Metzger.
"What was that about, Colonel?" asked Metzger innocently.
"That was Lieutenant Brunwald, an aide to General Burkhalter. It seems the General wants me to me to come to Berlin immediately for a meeting. And I don't feel comfortable leaving right now."
"Now why would Burkhalter want Klink to come to Berlin for a meeting?" asked Hogan of nobody in particular.
"That's another thing we were going to tell you, mon Colonel. While Metzger was on the phone, he told someone to wait ten minutes and call Klink informing him that Burkhalter wants him to come to Berlin right away for a meeting. He wants Klink out of the camp for several hours."
"I had a feeling Metzger might try something like that," Hogan said.
"What do we do, Colonel?" asked Carter.
Before Hogan could respond, Baker walked into Hogan's quarters and joined in the conversation. "Colonel, anything you try with Metzger is gonna make him suspicious and could endanger the operation. I say if it's me he wants, then I'm willing to take whatever he dishes out."
Hogan looked at him, concerned. "I'm not allowing you to sacrifice yourself to this bastard. He'll probably come to the barracks after Klink leaves. I'll do what I can to draw his attention solely to me." Hogan held up a hand when the protests began. "He won't kill me. He needs me right now."
"But Gov'nor, isn't there some other way to stop Klink from leaving?" asked Newkirk.
Hogan seemed to give it some thought before looking at Newkirk. "Who's guarding Klink's car in the motor pool?" he asked. "Maybe we can sabotage the staff car."
"Forget it, Colonel," LeBeau muttered. "Bruno is on duty tonight at the motor pool. He's a real tough one."
"Old Iron Pants," Newkirk agreed. "You'll never get past him, sir."
Hogan let out a deep breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Then I'll have to do it the old fashion way."
"What's that, Colonel?" asked Carter, puzzled.
"I'll just have to tell him," Hogan replied as he gripped the doorknob and, turning it, hurried out of his quarters and out of the barracks. He noticed Klink's staff car outside the Kommandantur with Metzger standing on the porch, watching. He noticed Hogan quickly approaching. Klink, wearing his long coat and cap, hastily walked down the steps.
"Kommandant," said Hogan. "Can I speak with you a minute?"
"Not now, Hogan," Klink uttered. "I'm late for a meeting in Berlin with General Burkhalter." Klink waited for Schultz to open the back passenger door.
"Burkhalter called? I didn't know Burkhalter called." asked Hogan innocently.
Schultz held open the back passenger door and saluted Klink as he climbed inside.
"The General didn't call, Hogan. It was one of his aides."
Hogan prevented Schultz from closing the door. He leaned in close to Klink, and spoke in a low voice. "Kommandant, since when does Burkhalter have one of his aides call to advise you of a meeting. He'd call you himself. Think about it, sir. Contact the General before you leave." Hogan suddenly felt pressure on his shoulder. Glancing at the hand, he looked around and saw Metzger standing directly behind him. Hogan stiffened under Metzger's touch.
"Colonel Hogan, you are preventing the Kommandant from leaving. He is already late for his meeting."
Hogan straightened and pulled away from Metzger's hand. Schultz closed the car door. Hogan glanced over his shoulder at a smirking Metzger. In a huff, Hogan abruptly turned and marched quickly back to the barracks as Klink's staff car headed towards the front gates.
Carter quickly got out of the way when Hogan stormed through the barracks door, slamming it behind him. Hogan began to pace back and forth.
"What happened, sir?" asked Baker, worried. "Couldn't you stop Klink from leaving?"
Hogan paused in his pacing. "Do I look like I did?" he asked harshly staring at Baker. Immediately, his face softened. "I'm sorry, Richard. I didn't mean to yell at you."
"It's all right, Colonel. There's no problem. So what do we do now?"
"For one, Baker, I suggest you hide in my quarters. If I know Metzger, the minute Klink's car goes through the front gate, he'll get a few guards and come directly to this barracks looking for you and me. If you're not here, maybe I can convince him to just take me. As I previously said, he won't kill me. He still needs me."
Carter, who had resumed watching at the door, suddenly turned. "Colonel, quick! Metzger's heading this way with two armed guards!"
Hogan spun Baker around and shoved him in the direction of his quarters. Baker barely had time to close the door to Hogan's quarters when the barracks door flew open, and Metzger, followed with two armed guards, entered. He pointed at Hogan.
"Cuff him!" he ordered. As one of the guards moved towards Hogan, some of the men in the barracks stepped forward to interfere.
Hogan gave the men a stern look and shook his head indicating for them not to interfere in any way. His hands were roughly jerked behind him and the cuffs clamped tightly on his wrists. He noticed Metzger looking around the barracks before finally resting on Hogan.
"And where is your Sergeant Baker, Colonel?"
"I have no idea, General," Hogan replied with anger. "We haven't seen him since this morning. He could be anywhere in this camp."
Metzger smirked. "Well, since he is not here, I will have to pick somebody else to take his place." He started looking around the barracks.
"Just take me, Metzger. Do what you want with me. You don't need to involve any more of my men in your twisted little games."
Metzger ignored Hogan's pleas. He smiled cunningly as his eyes landed on the man he wanted. "I'll take you along with the Colonel." He was addressing Carter. "What is your name?"
"Sergeant Andrew Carter."
Metzger glanced at the other guard. "Cuff Sergeant Carter," he ordered.
Just then the door to Hogan's quarters opened, and Baker stepped into the common room. "There's no need to take Sergeant Carter, General. I'm right here."
Metzger grinned. "As I thought. You will cuff this animal and bring both him and Colonel Hogan to the cooler. I will resume the interrogation from yesterday, and Hogan will be a witness." After Baker had been handcuffed, Metzger then ordered the guards to remove the two prisoners from the barracks. As Metzger headed out of the door, he noticed the other prisoners advancing. "I suggest if you want to see Colonel Hogan returned to the barracks alive, that none of you interfere. Or he will pay for it." He closed the door.
Newkirk looked at LeBeau. "Louie, you better go find Sergeant Wilson and tell him to come to barracks two right away. I got a feeling we're gonna need his services."