Chapter 10

The next few days passed by uneventfully. Maisie slowly became impatient with the lack of contact from the Underground. Except for the meeting with Matilda, she hadn't heard anything at all, and the waiting was starting to get frustrating. It was the 'not knowing' that was the hardest part. That little flicker of hope burning in her heart that Hogan might still be alive had begun to be snuffed out as the days slipped by. Perhaps she was just wishfully dreaming there was some slim chance he had managed to evade death at their hands. The Gestapo was thorough. She knew first-hand of how they managed things. They didn't have their reputation for no reason. Even the Luftwaffe despised them.

Somehow, though, deep inside her heart, she wished and prayed with all her being that Hogan was alive.

Apart from Newkirk, she hadn't had any further contact with those back at the camp. With the increase of Gestapo activity in the vicinity, she didn't wish to risk heading back or sending word and getting caught. Not when she might have answers about Hogan. With Crittendon in charge, though, she had a feeling that Hogan's men were having a time of it.

The waiting was driving her crazy. Waiting and thinking. Waiting and hoping. Waiting and praying. All along, her heart had refused to accept that Hogan was gone, and the feeling was growing stronger. She just couldn't accept that it was final. That he was gone. And until she saw undeniable evidence, she'd stay in denial. With her family, she'd seen them die. Those memories still plagued her day and night. Their ends had been final. There was no question. They were gone. She'd watched them die. Her heart knew and accepted they were gone. With Hogan, however, her heart refused to believe it was true, even though her mind tried to convince it otherwise. Inwardly, she was fighting her own war. A war of emotions, her heart and mind both so tangled together she couldn't rest. She had to know. She had to know the truth.

While they waited for word, she'd thrown herself wholeheartedly into helping Willy and Jenny as best as she could. The house and barn were the cleanest they'd ever been, Annike's harness fairly shone and the farm chores were taken care of efficiently. The Gustavssons were grateful for the help, but they were concerned for her wellbeing. It was no secret how much she struggled with her arm being the way it was, Maisie all too painfully aware of her limitations. The glove Hogan had made for her, though, was a huge help. But each time she wore it, she was constantly reminded of who made it. She missed him. Missed him so much that it scared her. When had she gotten so close to him?

She was experiencing the very nightmare she had been worried about all those months ago. Of loving and losing. She'd already lost her family, her world, and now another piece of her heart had been broken. Yes, she called Hogan her Papa; she was more attached to him than her own father. Somehow, seemingly overnight, it had occurred. But it had been the little things he'd done that had slowly won her over. Finding her a copy of her favorite book, reading to her, spending time with her. When she'd let him in her heart, she'd loved him unconditionally. He'd become her family, and now, he was gone, too. Or was he?

'Anything I can help with?' Maisie offered, as she walked into the kitchen. 'Weeding is all done, the chicken coop has been cleaned and I've turned the goats out into the back pasture.'

Jenny looked over from her baking as the teen washed up in the sink. Maisie's hair had worked out of its braid, her face streaked with dried mud and her clothes just as dirty. She chuckled with amusement at her appearance. 'I can see that. My, you have been busy.'

'Better to be busy then to be idle.'

'You do need to rest every now and then-'

'I'll rest when I get the truth about Papa, not before.' She interrupted as she wiped her hands on a towel. 'Anything I can do?'

The woman looked her up and down, motioning to her clothes. 'I think the first thing you should do is get cleaned up. You're a mess.'

Maisie giggled. 'I am, aren't I? Alright, I'll go tidy up. And after-'

'You sit and rest for a little while. You've been going since dawn, you're going to exhaust yourself.'

'Fine, fine. You win. I will.' She threw her hands up in the air as she left the room, hearing Jenny laugh as she headed down the hallway. Making her way up the stairs she entered the guest room she'd been staying in and began to change out of her dirty clothes. After a few minutes, she'd changed into one of her dresses and fixed up her hair before washing up at the wash basin.

Jenny is right. I guess I do need to rest, she thought, looking into the mirror as she wiped the mud and dirt from her face. She'd hardly slept since she'd spoken with Matilda, the dark bags under her eyes betraying her tiredness. Splashing some water on her face to freshen herself, she sighed heavily. How much longer would she have to wait?

She picked up the hand towel beside the basin as she finished, walking over to the window to look out as she dried off her face and hands. It was late in the evening, only a couple hours of sunlight left. In the distance, she could see Willy working with Annike in the field, and she lingered for a moment to watch them.

Returning the towel back to the basin, she went to the wardrobe, pulling her bag out from its hiding place, and after a moment, had gotten Colonel Hogan's collar pins out. I sure hope you are alive, Papa, she thought, as she caressed the pins in her hand, the only thing she had left to remind her of him. I miss you so much.

A tear escaped her eye, falling onto the cold metal, and she quickly brushed it away as she sniffled. It was so hard not knowing. Not knowing if he was really dead or if he was still alive. If he was still alive, why hadn't they heard anything? What were the Gestapo to gain by faking his death? Both of those questions she had been pondering over for days without finding any answers.

The sound of someone knocking on the front door caught her attention, and she quickly returned her things to their hiding place, sneaking over to the closed door to listen. She frowned, unable to hear what was going on. Someone had come to visit, but who?

'Maisie-' Jenny called out. 'Company, sweetheart.'

A shiver of excitement and apprehension ran up her spine at Jenny's voice. Perhaps finally they were going to get some answers! Quickly she double checked her appearance in the mirror, brushing off the last of the dirt she'd missed, and made for the door. As she came out, she could hear voices speaking from the sitting room, and as she came closer, she could recognize the voices. Otto and Matilda!

Her heart beat a little faster, the teen plastering a nervous smile on her face as she entered the room. 'Herr von Hatten, Matilda.'

'Good evening, Maisie.' Otto replied warmly. 'I hope you've been keeping well.'

'I'm alright. Doing the best I can.'

'Would either of you like some tea?' Jenny questioned, as Maisie found herself a seat. 'I have a batch of ginger cookies fresh out of the oven.'

Matilda smiled. 'That sounds lovely.'

'Indeed.' Otto agreed. Jenny nodded as she left the room, and he turned back to Maisie. 'Matilda has some information for you.'

Maisie turned to her expectantly, holding her breath.

'It's not much, I'm afraid-' Matilda started. 'But it's a start. Our contact in the Dusseldorf Gestapo office was able to get hold of Colonel Hogan's file. The file is still open, but the last known information he was able to obtain from it was that of a transfer to Berlin.'

She frowned. 'What does that mean?'

'We think that Colonel Hogan might have been moved to Berlin Gestapo Headquarters,' Otto said. 'The transfer information was dated the day after the camp Kommandant was told that Colonel Hogan was killed during an attempted escape. Our informant, however, could find no record of such an event occurring except for the details of an execution that took place the day before.'

'However-' Matilda continued. 'That is all he was able to tell us.'

Maisie stood, musing over what she'd been told as she started pacing around the room. 'So, we still don't know if Papa's alive or not.'

'Afraid so.'

She sighed heavily and turned back to them. 'What do we do now? If they took Papa to Berlin, how would we find out?'

'That's where you come in.' Otto replied. 'We haven't been able to contact our informant in the Berlin Gestapo Headquarters. Not yet, anyways. He's been assigned to a special mission by London, and he's due to return within a couple days. I imagine, however, you're pretty anxious to get some answers.' The teen nodded. 'How would you feel about a trip to Berlin?'

'Me? Go to Berlin?' Both her eyebrows raised in surprise. 'I-I don't know… I mean, how would I get there? Where would I stay-'

'We would take care of all the arrangements.' Otto interrupted her rant. 'That is, if you wish to go. If you choose not to, that is fine. It'll just be a bit longer before we can get back to you with any information.'

'I've waited long enough as it is, I need to know if Papa's alive.' In a split second, her mind had been made up. Yes, just the thought of going to the capital of Germany was terrifying, but if it meant she could find news of Hogan, then the risks were worth it. 'Yes, yes. I'll go.'

'We thought you would come to that decision,' Matilda said, with a hint of amusement at her enthusiasm. 'So we've started making arrangements to get you there. You'll be leaving the day after tomorrow.'

'How am I going to get there?'

'You will hear from us when the arrangements have been finalized. Just be ready to go at a moment's notice, okay?'

Maisie nodded. 'I'll be ready.'

'You've been awfully quiet tonight.' Willy remarked, as Maisie returned to the sitting room after finding herself another book. 'Something on your mind?'

Jenny looked up from her mending at her. 'You haven't told us what Otto and Matilda were here for, either.'

'Yes, what did they say?'

Maisie placed her book aside, taking a deep breath. 'I'm heading to Berlin.'

'Your what?' Jenny questioned, with surprise. 'Berlin?'

'Why?' Willy asked, as equally shocked at the turn of events.

'They believe Papa might have been moved to Gestapo Headquarters. Their contact in Dusseldorf was able to find records of his transfer to Berlin. The day after his death had been reported to Colonel Klink.'

The woman gasped. 'Colonel Hogan might be alive?'

'They don't know, yet. They can't give a confirmed answer. All we know is that he was transferred to Berlin, and that's where I'm heading.'

'But Maisie, it's too dangerous. What if you get caught?' Jenny asked.

She shrugged. 'It's a chance I'm going to have to take.'

'Are you sure about this?' Willy asked, after a moment, his voice thick with concern.

'I'm sure.'

Jenny placed the shirt she'd been mending aside. 'When will you be going?'

'I'll be leaving the day after tomorrow. I'll be given information on how I'm to get there and where I'll be staying soon.'

'Do you know when you'll be back?'

'I don't know. It depends on what I find when I get there.' Silence descended upon the sober group, Maisie picking up her book once more. Now that she'd told them what decision had been reached, she didn't feel much like reading. 'I'm going to turn in early. I'm going to need the rest for the trip.'

'Sleep well, Maisie,' Willy said, returning the girl's goodnight hug.

'Good night.' She turned to Jenny and gave her a hug, also, the woman placing a kiss on her head.

'Pleasant dreams, sweetheart.'

Book in hand, the teen left the room and made her way upstairs, closing the door of the guest room behind herself. Despite the fact that she might find more information about Hogan, she was still frightened of the thought of going to Berlin. I don't feel so brave, Papa, she thought, resting against the closed door, staring into the darkness. The only light in the room was the grey glow of the crescent moon shining through the window. Why can't I be brave like you? Her stomach was in literal knots just at the very thought of going to Berlin, and her mind was racing with questions she had no answers to.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. You can do this. She tried to reassure herself with more courage than she felt. Lingering a moment longer, she placed the book aside and changed into her pajamas, taking Hogan's collar pins from their hiding place once more. His pins held tightly in her hand, she climbed into bed and pulled the covers over herself. Lying in the moonlight, she looked at the pins, then clutched the pins to her heart, tears coming into her eyes again. What if she went there and found out he really was dead?

'Hurry up, Louis. We're never going to make it to see Maisie at this pace.'

'I'm coming.' LeBeau grumbled, untangling his foot from a tight root. After a moment, he had freed himself, and they were able to continue onwards. 'Are you sure we're headed in the right direction?'

'Sure, I'm sure,' Carter said. 'To follow along the road until you reach the big tree. We've already passed the big tree, so we're on the right track. It shouldn't be much further, now-' He pulled the compass from his pocket, squinting to see the reading. 'We're headed north. We're going the right way.'

The pair of them continued on again in silence, slipping through the thick forest until finally, the farm came into view on the horizon. Quietly, they made their way to the house, knocking softly on the door. After a short moment, the door opened.

Willy held up the lantern, smiling as he recognized the two men on the doorstep. 'Come in, come in. Maisie will be glad to see both of you.'

Both Carter and LeBeau hurried inside, the door being closed behind them.

'This way. She's in the sitting room working on some mending.' He led the way through the dark hallway, returning the lantern to its place on the table. 'Maisie, you've got visitors.'

Maisie looked up, her face lighting up as she saw who was in the doorway. 'Carter! LeBeau!' She stood and hurried over to them, giving both of them a hug. 'I didn't expect to see you two.'

'Newkirk let us out to come see you. Carter was sending us all stir crazy,' LeBeau said teasingly.

Carter's cheeks turned red. 'I-I um… I just wanted to make sure my little sister was okay.'

'Don't tease him, LeBeau.' Maisie placed her arm around the sergeant. 'It's nice knowing I've been missed.'

'We've been worried about you. You know, with Crittendon around and you gone, the camp just isn't the same anymore-'

Jenny stood, placing her mending aside. 'I think I'll turn in and let you three catch up.'

'Alright. Good night, Mrs. Gustavsson,' Maisie said.

'I'll head to bed, too. Can you make sure you blow the lanterns out when you head upstairs?' Willy questioned.

Maisie nodded. 'Of course.' After a moment, they left, leaving the three of them alone in the room. She motioned to the couch, and they sat down. 'Everything alright back at camp?'

'As alright as they can be with Crittendon in charge.' LeBeau snorted. 'London still won't send anyone to replace him.'

'You shoulda heard him and Newkirk earlier today. Oh boy, were they going for it!'

She giggled, snuggling up to Carter. 'I can imagine. Newkirk has quite the temper, sometimes.'

'Sometimes? One of these days Crittendon's going to find himself with a black eye from him, and we'll be right there to give him another.'

'Must be bad, then.'

'You sure are the lucky one-' LeBeau said. 'You don't have to put up with it. Believe me.'

'Has London said when they'll be able to send someone out?'

'Not soon enough.'

She smiled a little at the frustration evident in LeBeau's tone. 'I'm surprised you guys haven't thought of a way to get rid of him, yet.'

'Oh, we've tried, believe me.' Carter spoke up. 'I even made up a fountain pen that explodes, but Newkirk won't let me give it to him. Too messy, he says.'

'And I offered to add a little something to his food-' LeBeau added. 'And that got turned down, too.'

'Why don't you just make Klink believe that Crittendon is going to try and make an escape? Get Crittendon transferred out that way, and then you won't have to deal with getting rid of a body.'

'We already tried that. Didn't work.' The Frenchman replied.

'Oh.' She sighed, trying to think of something else she could suggest, but nothing else came to mind. 'I see.'

'And we're all outta ideas.' Carter placed his arm around her. 'I sure wish Colonel Hogan were here. He'd think of something good to get rid of Crittendon.'

'Ay, I sure do miss mon Colonel.' LeBeau agreed.

Maisie's voice sobered at the mention of Hogan. 'I can't believe it's been almost two months since he's been gone. It isn't fair.'

'Been way too long that we've had Crittendon for, too, believe me.'

Silence descended for a little while, then LeBeau changed the subject. 'So, when will you be coming back to camp, Maisie?'

'I don't know.'

'Yeah, how long are you going to be gone for?' Carter questioned. 'We really want you back at camp.'

'I don't know. Tomorrow, I'm going to Berlin.'

The two of them looked at her with surprise. 'Berlin?' They questioned, in unison.

'What are you going to Berlin for?' LeBeau was dumbstruck. 'Why on earth would you want to go there?'

'The Underground has a mission for me.' There was no way she was going to tell them what she was going to the capital for. 'So, I don't know how long I'll be gone for. It depends on the mission.'

Carter frowned. 'The Underground is sending you on a mission to Berlin? Who's sending you?'

'Matilda. The agent who has taken over my Uncle's position.'

'And just what does this mission entail?' LeBeau prodded.

'I'm afraid I can't share that with you.'

'Maisie-' LeBeau looked at her sternly. 'What is going on?'

'I told you. I'm going to Berlin on a mission for the Underground-' She folded her arms across her chest, matching the intensity of his gaze. 'And that is all I can tell you, right now.'

'But isn't that going to be dangerous?' Concern was evident in Carter's voice.

Maisie shrugged. 'I guess so. I've done dangerous things before, and I'm still here.'

'Newkirk's sure gonna be hopping mad when he hears about this-'

'And you aren't going to tell him. Well, not straight away. Okay? This mission is important, I have to go. It's the first mission I've gone on since…' Her voice trailed off, and she sighed heavily. 'Look, I have to go. It's important.' She looked at Carter, then to LeBeau, her eyes pleading with them. 'I can't tell you what the mission is, but I need to go.'

LeBeau gave in after a moment. 'What do you want us to tell the others?'

'Just that I've gone to Berlin on an assignment. I'll find some way of getting word back to you of how things go, promise.'

'We'll hold you to it,' Carter said, with concern. 'We've already lost Colonel Hogan, we don't want to lose you, too.'

Maisie smiled sadly, wrapping her arms around him. 'I know. I'll be okay, big brother. And that's a promise.' Silence fell on them again, the grandfather clock chiming that it was eleven o'clock.

'We better get moving, Carter.' LeBeau remarked, with a glance to the clock. 'We told Newkirk that we'd be back by midnight.'

'Do we have to go now?' He questioned, sounding almost like an impatient schoolboy. 'Can't we stay a little longer?'

The teen yawned softly as she pulled away from him. 'You better go, Carter. It is getting late, and I need some sleep.'

'Come on, Carter-'

'Alright.' He gave in with a sigh, then turned back to Maisie. He kissed her forehead and gave her a hug. 'You keep well, okay?'

'I will.' She agreed, as they rose to leave, and she picked up the lantern, leading them to the door. 'You both look after yourselves, too. Try to not let Crittendon get to you.'

'That will be impossible, but we can try.' LeBeau replied, as they embraced, and he kissed her cheek. 'Be careful, ma petite. Come home soon.'

Maisie smiled sadly. 'I will.'

'Maisie, this is Klaus.' Matilda introduced. 'You'll be traveling with him to Berlin.'

Maisie smiled and shook the man's hand. 'Nice to meet you.'

'You, too.' The grey haired farmer replied, with a smile. 'I'm afraid your ride might be a bit uncomfortable. You'll be traveling in the wheat shipment I'm taking to Berlin.'

'I've traveled in worse, believe me.' She turned back to the agent. 'And once I get to Berlin-'

'Once you get to Berlin, you'll be staying at the Kaiserhof. You'll make contact with a secretary there, a Monika Weber, code name Starlight. We've arranged for her to be on duty at the front desk tonight. When you meet with her, you will receive your next instructions.'

Maisie nodded. 'And the contact from the Gestapo Headquarters? How am I to reach him?'

'You won't reach him. He will make contact with you. He is due back any day now, and once he does, another informant will pass on the information to him about you being in Berlin.'

'So, that's it then? I get to Berlin and wait?'

Matilda nodded. 'Yes.'

Maisie raised an eyebrow as she shrugged. 'Okay, then.' She didn't sound convinced or enthusiastic about the arrangements, but those were her orders. 'When do I leave?'

'The truck is being loaded up as we speak.' Klaus replied. 'We'll head out within the hour.'

'Here are your papers-' Matilda pulled an envelope from her pocket. 'They will do until you make contact with our Gestapo informant. He will know what to do when he meets you. Here are enough marks to cover the hotel room and a bit extra for anything else you might need.'

The teen nodded again, placing both the envelopes into the inner pocket of her jacket. 'Danke, Matilda.'

The agent patted her shoulder. 'Good luck.'

Without another word, the woman disappeared from the deserted barn, and she turned back to Klaus. 'How will I get on the truck?'

'I will pick you up from the Gustavssons' farm. Be ready to leave within the hour.'

She nodded again. 'I will.'

They departed from the barn, the man heading back to his home, and Maisie making her way to the Gustavassons' farm. The barn they had met up in was about a mile from there, and she made good time in returning. Her heart was pounding faster, her nerves starting to make her anxious, and she took a deep breath to calm herself. You can do this, and you're going to do this.

Jenny was in the vegetable garden as she arrived back at the farm, and she looked up as she walked into the yard. 'How did it go?'

'I'll be leaving shortly.'

The woman stood, brushing off the dirt from her pants. 'You ready to go?'

Maisie nodded. 'I've already packed. Matilda gave me my papers and things.'

'I want you to promise me you'll be careful.'

'I promise.' She agreed, with a smile. 'I'll just go grab my bag and wait out front.'

'I'll just finish here, and I'll come see you off.'

The teen nodded again and went inside, picking up her bag from the guest room. Opening it, she made sure she'd packed what she needed and mentally checked off a list so she made sure she hadn't forgotten anything. Clothes, check. Books, check. Papa's pins- she pulled them from her trinket box, running her fingers over the metal. Check.

She lingered a moment longer, tucked them away once more, picked up her bag, and left the room. I can't believe I'm doing this, she thought to herself, as she walked down the staircase, feeling her palms becoming sweaty. I'm going to go to Berlin, am I crazy? Closing the front door behind her, she took a seat on the porch steps to wait for her ride, her bag tucked beside her.

'All ready?'

She nodded as Jenny came around the side of the house and joined her on the steps. 'As ready as I'll ever be.' She replied nervously.

Jenny placed her arm around her. 'You scared?'

'Terrified, is a better word-' She took a deep breath. 'But I have to go. I can't wait any longer. Papa's been gone almost two months… I have to find out the truth.'

'I'm sure everything will be alright.'

'I sure hope so.'

'Jenny says your about to be on your way-' Willy remarked, as he came out of the house, drying his hands on a towel. 'So, I thought I'd better come say 'goodbye'.'

She smiled as she looked up at the old man. 'You both look after yourselves. I'll figure out some way of letting you know how things go.'

'Just be careful-' The sound of a truck coming up the drive interrupted him, and he motioned towards the vehicle. 'Promise?'

'I'll be careful.' She replied, touched at his concern for her. She stood as the truck came to a stop in front of the yard and picked up her bag, first giving Jenny a hug, then Willy.

'All ready to go?' Kraus questioned, as he stepped from the driver's seat.

'Ready.'

'Godspeed.' Jenny kissed her cheek, fighting back tears as the girl stepped down off the porch. 'We'll be praying for your safety.'

'Danke.' She stopped at the back of the truck, Klaus giving her a hand to climb up.

'Here's a wheat bag for you to hide in.' Klaus instructed, as he climbed up behind her, handing her an empty sack. 'We've got checkpoints to go through. I don't believe I have to tell you to stay still and quiet.'

'I've done this before, I know the routine.' After a moment, she'd gotten inside the bag and lay down in the spot he'd cleared for her.

'As soon as we reach Berlin, I'll get you out.'

She nodded and held her bag against her as he closed the bag shut, darkness falling around her. Don't panic, you're okay, she told herself, trying to settle her nerves. She could hear rustling and felt some more wheat bags packed around her, then all was quiet. You're okay. You're okay.

The engine started, and the truck lurched forward after a moment, the girl reaching inside her bag to hold onto Hogan's pins. She closed her eyes tightly, clutching the pins to her heart as she felt the truck gain momentum. Perhaps soon, she might have some answers.