Chapter 2: Secrets

"Kommandant I am an Officer and a Gentlemen. I give you my word that I have not touched her. I…I just wouldn't do something like that." Hogan defended.

"I know it can be lonely for a POW. I also know about you and Fraulein Helga's flirting. One could not blame you for taking advantage of the situation." Klink confessed.

"Look Kommandant, I don't like what you are implying. Yes it does get lonely, but I would never stoop that low. I c…I … I just wouldn't."

"I believe you Colonel. But he does look an awful lot like you. I just stopped by to see how Maria and Robert are doing. After everyone is done eating, you need to be getting back to camp. Maria I trust you and Robert will be fine here. I will come by later to check on you. I will see everyone back at camp." Everyone took their time eating breakfast. No one wanted to leave Maria or Robert.

"Take care and I'll see if one of us can come by and check on you also. Do you believe me?" Hogan asked Maria staring deep into her eyes.

"Yes I do. You are not an animal like some people in Germany."

Hogan bent down and gave Robert a kiss on the forehead. It is scary on how much he does look like me. Coincidence? I have a feeling there is more to her getting pregnant than we know about.

STALAG 13

Klink sat in his office with Maria's file in front of him. It was hard enough reading it the first time, let alone twice. There has to be something that I missed. Klink started thumbing through it. When he got to the end, he noticed that there were twenty-four pages missing! There are a few days missing from each month. How could I have missed that? Where are they and what secret are they trying to hide? "Fraulein Helga, please get me Colonel Jason Beauman on the phone." A little while later, Colonel Beauman was on the phone. "Hello Colonel Beauman This is Colonel Klink. Heil Hitler! I need you to help me with a problem. I have a prisoner here who is missing some information from her file…. I would appreciate any help you could give me….Yes…I have my suspensions…. Thanks again. I owe you... Don't worry. I'll pay you back some day. Good by... Oh yes Heil Hitler!"

I wonder if I should let Hogan know there are a few pages missing from her file? He might be able to fill in the blanks some. No, he might not like what is finds and then go and do something stupid. It is probably nothing. Maybe it's just a filing mistake. As far as Robert looking like Colonel Hogan, that could be wishful thinking on everyone's part considering the alternative.

That afternoon, the men finally arrived back at camp. Hogan went down in the tunnel and just sat at the table and thought. I wonder what is bothering me about this? I wonder why the Nazi's didn't put Maria in a breading camp to start with? I know why, it's because they want to get to me. Could Mertz have been right and she is here to help the Nazi's control me by threatening her? There are a lot of unanswered questions. I don't want to ask Maria some of them. She has been through a lot. I don't want her to try and remember the horrible things that she went through for those three months. I know how hard it is to put them behind you. Looking at her file might answer some, but I will not invade her privacy like that. I know I don't want any one to read mine.

Kinch walked up to Hogan "Are you ok? Any thing you want to talk about?"

Hogan looked up at his second in command and his closest friend. "Just thinking and trying to figure a few things out."

"Any answers yet?" Hogan just shook his head. "Colonel, I have been meaning to ask you something. I know you don't have to answer it, but we would really like to know. That day when you went into the tunnels to be alone and didn't come back until roll call, where did you go?"

"That's private information."

"Figured you would say that. Just next time you decide to do something like that, please give me a heads up so we can come up with an excuse incase you are not here for roll call. You like to have blown it with that Colonel Beauman."

"Sergeant, I think this conversation is over."

Kinch just shook his head. I figured I wouldn't get anywhere, but I had to try. Some one had to. Maybe I ought to get Maria to ask him. She might get further. But then again, when Hogan doesn't want to talk about something, there is no making him. We can't afford to have our CO taking unnecessary risks. Maybe I said enough for him to at least start to think about his actions. A blind person can see what is going on between those two. I just hope it doesn't get either one of them or someone else killed. This is one line of work were you cannot let your feelings control your actions. Kinch looked back at his CO "I was thinking about making a cradle for Robert. It would give the guys something to do. I noticed some of them are getting restless. You could tell them it is for Klink to sell in town to help get money to buy us supplies with."

"I'll talk to Klink and see what he says. It would be nice to build her something."

KOMMANDANTUR

Hogan walked into the outer office and went over to Helga's desk. "How are you doing?" She just ignored him. "Look I'm sorry. I have been preoccupied. I'll make it up to you. How about we sneak off and have a picnic."

"How do you propose to do that when you are lock up in a POW camp?" Hogan and Helga turned around to see Klink standing in his doorway.

Helga giggled at Hogan getting caught "Well a man can dream cant he?"

"Is their something you wanted Colonel, or are you just here to distract my secretary from her work?"

"Can I speak to you in your office?"

Klink stepped to the side and motioned for Hogan to enter. "Now what do you want. If it is more trips to see Maria, denied. This is not a resort where you can come and go as you please. Sometimes I think you forget you are a prisoner."

"Okay, so forget the first question. The second is we wanted to build a cradle for Robert. You can say that it is to sell in town to get money for supplies. We have some wood left over from when we repaired the roof's"

Klink thought for a moment. "You have an idea there. You can build the cradle, but your men will also have to build something for me to sell in town. This could help with the money shortage."

"Now Kommandant, you know that according to the…"

"I know. After all it is your suggestion. You have noticed how our supplies are coming further and further apart and getting fewer and fewer. These cutbacks that Berlin is making not only affect me, but the prisoners as well. This would be a good way to help ensure that there are enough supplies for everyone."

I hate it when Klink makes since. If he would stop pocketing some of the money for his get away, there would be enough. Maybe I'll have Newkirk get into Klink's safe and snag some of the cash he is hiding. He talks about a money shortage and he has a safe full of it. "How do I know that the prisoners will benefit from this, and that you won't keep the money for yourself?"

"I guess we will have to trust each other Colonel."

As much as Hogan didn't want to, he realized that he was going to have to trust Klink. After all he did trust my men and I go to be with Maria. "You have a deal Kommandant. I will ask the men to make an extra piece."

BARRACK TWO

"Newkirk, I want you to sneak into Klink's safe and grab some of the money he has locked up in there. He says there is a money shortage and no money for supplies. I figure he might need to be relieved of some of his money."

"I will get right on it Sir."

"Thanks. Kinch get some volunteers to build the cradle and something else. Klink likes the idea of us building furniture to sell to buy supplies with. He gave me his word that he will buy supplies for the prisoners with it. Since he trusted us, I decided to trust him with one piece and see if he keeps his word. And since London is also getting on us about supplies, it is a chance we have to take."

Later…

"Gov'ner you wont believe what I found or should I say didn't find in Klink's safe?"

"Let me guess. No money. He must have moved it. I know he wouldn't spend it. That is his ticket away from here." Hogan commented while thinking of where he could have moved it.

"That was a lot of money. It was enough to buy one's freedom." LeBeau

Hogan looked at LeBeau "Louis you got it! I think I might know where the money went. But would Klink really sacrifice all that money for someone else?"

"What are you thinking Colonel?" Carter inquired.

"You don't suppose that the money did buy someone's freedom. So to speak."

"You think Klink bought a leash for Hochstetter." Kinch said shaking his head. "It is a possibility. Klink has been doing everything he can to protect her. Are you going to look into this more?"

"No Kinch. I like believing that the money went to a good cause."

THE HOUSE

A few weeks later while Maria was holding Robert and just singing to him, a dogfight between two airplanes could be heard overhead. About the time Maria got up and went outside, all she could see is the parachute coming down and the Allied plane falling from the sky in a big fireball.

"I hope Hogan and his men find him before the Nazi's do."

An hour later, a military truck pulls up at the house. A Gestapo lieutenant gets out and walks to the door. Maria's heart stopped. Why was he here? I don't want them to take Robert and don't want to go back into Gestapo custody. What am I going to do? There was a knock at the door. Nervously, Maria opened it.

"Guten tag Fräuline Heil Hitler!"

Maria decided this time it was best to play along "Guten tag. Heil Hitler." I think I am going to be sick.

"According to our records, this house belongs to a Colonel Wilhelm Klink. Is he available for me to speak with?"

"No. He is at Stalag 13. He is the Kommandant of the camp. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Who might you be?"

"I am Sarah Bowman, Colonel Klink's niece. He is letting me stay here while I have my baby and my husband is at the Russian front."

"Have you seen any one suspicious around here. There is a downed enemy flier in the area and he could be dangerous."

"No Lieutenant I haven't"

"I shall leave one of my men with you to protect you. I am sure your uncle would want this."

"No need. Here he comes now. Hi Uncle Wilhelm. Glad to see you." Praise God for small miracles.

Klink looked at her suspiciously and then at the lieutenant. Smart girl. "Something I can help you with Lieutenant?"

"I was telling your niece that there is a downed enemy flier around here who is thought to be dangerous. I was going to leave one of my men with her for her protection, but since you are here I wont, unless you still want me to."

"That is alright Lieutenant. I will have one of the guards from camp come out. Thanks for your concern."

"Very well have a good day Colonel. Heil Hitler!"

"Heil Hitler" Klink and Maria said in unison

After the Gestapo was gone, Klink turned to Maria "Uncle Wilhelm?"

"I had to think of something to keep us from getting into trouble. That was the first thing I could think of. I figured they would not harass the niece of the Kommandant of the toughest POW Camp in all of Germany."

"You also speak German?"

"Ja"

"Any other surprises I should know about?"

"Not at the moment."

"I will send Shultz out. Just incase the downed Allied flier turns up, he can take him into custody. I seriously doubt that you will notify me if you see him."

"Good guess Kommandant."

"Is there anything you need while I am here?"

This is unusual for a Kommandant to be asking a prisoner. "No thank you, but if you run into the lieutenant again, I am using the name Sarah Bowman."

"I'm not going to ask. How is Robert doing?"

Klink is genuinely concerned. I wonder if what I have heard about Klink is true? It seems like we all have secrets around here. I don't think I will confront him now about it, maybe later. "He's fine Kommandant."

"I will let you be then. Have a good evening."

STALAG 13

"Colonel Hogan, message from London." Kinch handed Hogan the note.

"Okay fellas listen up. London wants us to take pictures of some documents that a dignitary will have with him. He is suppose to be visiting here soon. When we get the photos, we are to inform London and they will send someone code-name Peter Pan to get the information. They will be with the International Red Cross."

"Sounds simple enough gov'ner."

"Yea all we have to do is wait now."