Chapter Seven – Carter and Newkirk: Mission Accomplished

Carter watched the crowd of girls leave the room, checking to make sure that Newkirk and Greta made it out safe. He then began pacing and staring at the ground. Now his job was to stall the Gestapo long enough for the girls to make it outside so that Otto could take Greta away.

When he heard the door close, he stopped pacing. "So, Herr Rumpelmeyer," he said. He looked up and met Marlene's gaze. She gave him a small wink, which almost caused him to smile.

"What is this?" he shouted, and whirled to face Major Dietz. "I told you Rumpelmeyer was dangerous and now you've let him escape!"

Major Dietz jumped in alarm and looked over at the two girls handcuffed to the sergeant. "Sergeant, where are they?" he shouted. "Why are those girls here?"

The sergeant's mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

Carter walked over and stood in front of Marlene. "Why is it," he said calmly, "that you are handcuffed to this man instead of Hans Rumpelmeyer?"

"I don't know," Marlene answered. "I just came in here with the other girls, and the next thing I know, I tried to raise my arm and found myself handcuffed."

Carter shifted his gaze to the guard. "And you," he said dangerously. "Why is it that two people attached to you have disappeared, only to be replaced without your knowledge?"

"I don't know, Colonel," the guard replied.

"You don't know?" screamed Carter. "A traitor to the Fatherland and the most dangerous man in the Underground escape under your nose, and you don't know?"

"Colonel," Major Dietz started.

Carter whirled around. "Silence!" he screamed. "Major Dietz, I warned you that Berlin considers this matter very important. They will not be very happy with you when I tell them what has happened."

Major Dietz swallowed nervously and opened his mouth to speak.

Carter pointed his finger at the Major. "If the next words out of your mouth are that you are sorry and you don't know how this could have happened, I promise you that you will be on a train heading east so fast that you will be eating borscht for breakfast!" he screamed.

Major Dietz closed his mouth and looked straight ahead.

Carter turned back to the sergeant. "Sergeant, do you plan to keep those girls as souvenirs?" he asked.

The sergeant shook his head. "No sir, I don't," he replied.

"Then why don't you remove the handcuffs and let them leave," Carter said calmly. "Before I rip your arms off and let the girls take them home!"

Carter watched the guard fumble though his pocket to find the key and remove the handcuffs. He also noticed that Marlene was trying very hard to suppress a snicker. When the girls were free, he smiled at them. "Fräuleins, I am terribly sorry if this has inconvenienced you," he said. "You are free to go."

"But Colonel," Major Dietz protested. "What if they know what happened to Hans Rumpelmeyer and Frau Baumgarten?"

Carter whirled again to face Major Dietz. "Major!" he shouted. "I do not take kindly to incompetent fools trying to pass off blame to innocent young girls for their own mistakes!"

Major Dietz shrank back away from Carter. "Yes, Colonel Carterhof," he said meekly.

"Now I suggest that you telephone your colonel and tell him what has happened," Carter said.

"But he is asleep, Colonel," Dietz protested. "He does not like to be awakened."

"I don't care if he's sitting on the toilet with his pants around his ankles!" Carter screamed. "Ring him now and tell him to expect to lose a Major if the two escaped prisoners are not found!"

Major Dietz fumbled with the telephone receiver before he managed to pick it up and raise it to his ear.

"And you, Sergeant," he said, turning to face the shaking guard. "I suggest that you round up every man in this building and go look for the prisoners."

"Every man, sir?" the sergeant asked.

"I said every man!" Carter shouted.

The sergeant flew out of the room like a shot, and Carter turned in time to see Major Dietz put down the telephone receiver.

"Major, I would suggest that you find these prisoners before I get back to Berlin and make my report," Carter said. "Otherwise, you might be taking their place in front of the firing squad." He turned and strode out of the office.

When he reached the street, he saw the group of girls waiting outside. He tipped his hat to them and said, "Thank you for your help, fräuleins." He looked for Marlene and didn't see her in the group. "Where is Marlene?" he asked.

One of the girls pointed down the street, and Carter saw her standing alongside his car waiting. He tipped his hat again at the girls and walked towards Marlene.

"We did it," she said with large smile on her face.

Carter smiled back. "Yes, that we did," he said. "You were great." He paused for a second and then quickly added, "All of you girls were great. You performed an excellent service to your country tonight."

Marlene giggled. "I realize that," she said. "And I realize just exactly what kind of service, too."

A small frown formed on Carter's face. "I don't think I understand," he said cautiously.

She reached forward and grabbed Carter's hands. "Colonel, if you really are a colonel" she said. "I am not as naïve as I may appear to be."

Carter's frown deepened.

"If those people truly were Gestapo agents, you wouldn't have had to go through all of that to get them released," she said.

"But they were undercover," Carter insisted.

"I'm sure they were," Marlene countered. "And one of them is crouched in the back of your automobile waiting for you to get away before the Gestapo get wise to your trick."

Carter's eyes widened. He realized then that she knew he wasn't really part of the Gestapo. "Marlene, you won't …" he started.

She put a finger to his lips. "I won't say anything," she said. "Your secret is safe with me."

Carter gazed into her eyes, looking for any hint that she might not be telling the truth. He smiled at her. "Thank you," he said. "But as you said, I must be going before the Gestapo get wise to my trick."

As Carter pulled his hands away, she quickly threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close for a long kiss. "I hope I'll see you again," she said breathlessly when their lips had parted.

Carter gave her one of his lopsided grins. "Boy, how can a guy say no after a goodbye like that!" he said.

Marlene pulled away and began to run down the street. Before she had gotten halfway to her friends, she stopped and turned around, blowing Carter a kiss and waving.

Carter was startled from his thoughts by Newkirk banging on the car window. Quickly Carter ran around and got into the car and drove away.

----- ----- -----

Newkirk crouched in the back seat of the car that they had brought from Stalag 13, waiting for Carter to leave Gestapo Headquarters. Every so often, he would raise his head to glance up the street towards the group of girls that had led him to freedom.

After a while, he was startled to see the girl that had taken his place next to the guard walking towards the car. She stopped alongside, and casually glanced into the back. Seeing Newkirk, she flashed a smile and gave him a quick wave before totally ignoring him.

Not long afterwards, he saw that Carter was outside talking to her. Blast it, Carter! Get in here and let's go, he thought. We need to be back in camp before morning roll call!

Newkirk felt his jaw drop as he saw the girl throw her arms around Carter and plant a huge kiss on his lips before walking away. Blimey!

When Carter remained motionless after she left, Newkirk reached over and banged on the car glass, motioning for him to get in. He watched Carter run around the car and get into the driver seat. As the car zoomed along the deserted streets of Frankfurt, Newkirk climbed into the front.

"What are you doing?" Carter asked. "Get in the back. We might run into a checkpoint."

"Checkpoint, hell!" Newkirk uttered. "What was all that back there?"

Carter was silent for a moment. "I'd prefer not to talk about it," he said simply.

"What? You can't be serious!" exclaimed Newkirk. "You come into Gestapo Headquarters with a troop of young ladies, and afterwards one gives you a tonsillectomy on the street - and you prefer not to talk about it?"

"That's what I said," Carter replied.

"Andrew, that's cruel and inhuman punishment!" Newkirk cried.

"Newkirk," Carter said calmly. "What goes on between a guy and his girl is nobody else's business."

"Girl?" Newkirk exclaimed. "I thought Mady was your girl. And before that, Mary Jane! What would Mady think if she knew about this?"

Newkirk noticed a small smile playing on Carter's lips. "Newkirk," Carter said. "You should know that when a guy is playing the field, he doesn't tell the other girls."

Newkirk began laughing. "You're a pip, you know that Andrew?" he said.

Even though Carter didn't look at Newkirk, the Englishman could tell that he had enjoyed the way things happened that night.

After riding for a while in silence, Newkirk cleared his throat. "Look, Andrew," he said. "Thanks for getting me out of there."

Carter was silent, staring straight ahead as he drove. Finally he said, "We had a mission to complete, and we did it. Now get in the back before we come to a checkpoint!"

Newkirk regarded his friend for a moment before scrambling into the back seat.

----- ----- -----

"What took you so long?" Hogan asked when he returned to the tunnel after roll call.

"Sorry, Colonel," Newkirk replied. "It's just that I …"

"The Gestapo was guarding her closer than we thought at first, Colonel," Carter interrupted. "We had to be extra careful in order not to be caught ourselves. But everything went off without a hitch."

Newkirk stared at Carter, speechless.

"Well, you did pull it off," Hogan replied. "But it was close. Schultz was beside himself until you snuck out and got into line."

"Sorry, Colonel," Carter replied. "I guess we did cut it a little close."

Hogan waved the apology away. "You two did a good job," he commented. "Why don't you go and get some sleep now. I'm sure you could use it."

Newkirk and Carter headed towards the ladder up to the barracks.

"London sends their congratulations as well," Kinch said from the radio set. "I also received a message from Otto in Frankfurt confirming that Greta is now safe and will be moved to London when the heat is off."

"Great," Hogan said happily. "Another mission in the books."

"Otto added something else," Kinch added. "But I don't understand what it means."

Carter was halfway up the ladder and stopped, causing Newkirk to bump into him.

"What's the message, Kinch?" Hogan asked.

"It says, and I quote, tell Colonel Casanova that Marlene says to come back and visit sometime," Kinch read. "And to bring his handcuffs."

"Colonel Casanova?" Hogan asked.

Carter scampered the rest of the way up the ladder and was halfway to the barracks door when before he heard Colonel Hogan yell, "Carter!"