Chapter 6: Sticky Fingers
The temperature had warmed up to a warm thirty-five degrees and all the snow was starting to melt. Colonel Hogan, Kinch and Newkirk were standing outside of barrack two. "Newkirk do you think you can handle this job. If not, I need to know now so I can come up with another plan."
"I think I can 'andle it. Do either one of you 'ave the time?" Newkirk asked with a smile.
Kinch and Hogan looked at their wrist to find that their watches were missing. "Okay Newkirk, give them back. You made your point."
"Sorry Sir. I just thought it would be good for me to practice a little."
Hogan and Kinch shook their heads. "I think you will do just fine Peter."
A grey staff car pulls into the compound. General Burkhaulter and another gentleman get out and walk into the Kommandantur. "Gentleman, I do believe our guest has arrived. Lets go listen in."
"Listen in?" Newkirk asked
"Sorry Newkirk, there is a lot we have to re-explain to you. Just keep everything you see and hear a secret."
"Kommandant Klink, may I present to you Count Philippe Leroux. He is interested in building a chemical weapons research plant near here and is checking out anything that could pose a security risk." Burkhaulter said.
"I assure you Count Leroux, that Stalag 13 is not a security risk. There has never been a successful escape from here."
"Shut up Klink. I have authorized that when the plant is built that some of your guards will be working there."
"How am I going to guard my prisoners adequately?"
"That is your problem Klink. I want you to arrange dinner for us here tonight."
"No problem. Count Leroux we have an excellent French chef in camp. Shultz tell Colonel Hogan I wish to speak with him at once."
"Is this chef a prisoner here?"
"Yes, but don't worry, I usually ask Colonel Hogan to join us. He is the senior POW her, and this help insures that the Frenchmen does not try to poison us."
"Yes Kommandant you wanted to see me?"
"Hogan you are slacking again."
"Sorry sir, I'll try and catch up."
"What? Oh never mind. I am having a dinner party tonight and I need the Frenchmen to cook and one of your men to serve."
"According to…"
"We will discuss this later. Tell the Corporal to have the dinner ready around eight o'clock."
Kommandant you are making this too easy. But I guess it is time that something goes easy for us.
That night at the party, LeBeau was in the kitchen cooking a nice meal, Newkirk was dressed in a waiter's uniform and Hogan was in his dress uniform. As Newkirk was pouring the drinks, he glanced at Count Leroux's inside pocket and saw the papers. Newkirk gave a slight nod to Hogan which he returned to give the go ahead. I can do this. Newkirk thought. I don't want to let 'ogan down. Newkirk brought in the dishes and set them on the table accidentally knocking over Count Leroux's drink, spilling it all over him. Newkirk quickly got a towel and started wiping Count Leroux's jacket, also removing the papers. "Sorry sir. I apologize for my crumbliness. I will 'ave a fresh drink for you in just a moment." Newkirk went into the kitchen and handed Carter the documents to be photographed. There were only a couple of pages so it didn't take long. When Newkirk got the documents back, he went into the dining room and pretend to trip and land on top of Leroux.
"Get off of me you clumsy fool!" Leroux shouted as he felt to make sure the papers were still in his pocket.
"I am so sorry sir. I don't know what is wrong with me tonight."
"Just leave me alone to eat in peace."
"Yes Sir."
"This food is delicious Kommandant. It reminds me of a chef my family use to have in Paris. Could I meet your chef and congratulate him on a fine meal."
"Why certainly Count. Corporal LeBeau, please come in here."
"LeBeau? Could it be the same person?"
LeBeau walked through the kitchen door and up to Klink. "You wanted to see me Sir?"
"It is Louis LeBeau! It has been along time. Nice to see that you haven't lost your cooking touch."
With disgust LeBeau answered "Count Leroux."
His attitude was not lost on Leroux "You are not still upset over that little incident are you?"
"What incident?" Hogan asked breaking into the conversation.
"Noting really I was at a bar with Louis and had to much to drink. Then some Englishmen went bumping into me, much like your waiter. I noticed that he had stolen my wallet. I went after him. When I caught up with him, I pulled out my pistol and demanded he give me back my wallet. Louis caught up with me as we started struggling over the gun. It went off and the Englishmen lay dead."
"You call killing a man in cold blood nothing!" LeBeau was reaching the point where he was about to loose his temper and Hogan knew it.
"LeBeau you are dismissed for the rest of the evening." Klink interjected. Apparently Hogan wasn't the only one who could see what was going on.
"Gladly Sir" LeBeau turned and left.
"Klink whydo your dinner parties always have something go wrong?" Burkhaulter questioned.
"I don't know Sir. I am sorry for all of this Count." Klink apologized.
"This has been a fun evening, I think I will go. Good night gentleman." Hogan stood up and left. He was interested in seeing what was in those documents.
When Hogan got changed back into his regular uniform, he went down into the tunnels to see what had developed. There he found Kinch trying to calm LeBeau and Newkirk down and carter's eyes were getting wide as he was reading the film from the pictures he took of the documents.
"QUIET!" Hogan shouted so he could be heard. "What is going on down here? Do you want to alert the entire German army that we are down here?"
"Sorry Colonel." They said in unison.
"Kinch tell me what's going on."
"Well sir it turns out that LeBeau was with Leroux when he killed that Englishman. And come to find out, Leroux went through his pockets and took his wallet. The victims name was Henry Newkirk."
"I can't believe that we are suppose to be friends and you would keep something like that from me!"
"Calm down Newkirk. I am sure LeBeau has a good reason for not telling you." Hogan looks at LeBeau with this better be good look.
"I am sorry. I didn't want to hurt you. I don't have a good reason for not telling you. I am not going to ask for your forgiveness because I don't disserve it."
"Your right you don't. Wouldn't you want me to tell you if things were switched?"
LeBeau could no longer look into his friends hurt eyes. He just simply nodded his head.
"Newkirk what are your intentions?" Hogan asked sternly
Newkirk thought for a moment. He knew if he told Hogan about getting revenge, that he would find himself locked up in the cooler or something. "I feel like I ought to get revenge for my brother, but the feeling is not in my 'eart."
"Lets keep it that way. However we might be able to manage for him to still pay for his crime. I'll see about having him sent to London and inform them of his crime. Kinch and Carter you will grab him when he leaves camp. I wish Maria were here to help. Oh no I forgot about Corporal Cummings. LeBeau get Baker down here to send a message to London for the pick up. Tell them there willbe two packages and one is hot.Carter did the pictures turn out of the documents."
"You bet they did boy…um Sir."
"Good. I am going to get Cummings and get him ready to move out with Leroux."
Everyone did as they were ordered. Hogan looked at Newkirk and LeBeau. "I am sure I can trust you two to behave while I am gone. For good measure I am making it an order." Hogan left to get Cummings.
It was one o'clock in the morning when Kinch and Carter returned with a not too happy Leroux. Kinch's muscles tightened as Newkirk walked up to Leroux. Kinch gave him the look that said remember what the colonel said. Newkirk just glared at him; his hands tightening into fists. Newkirk just spat on Leroux and went upstairs. "That was close."
Later that morning, LeBeau looked at his watch, "It's almost time for roll call and Colonel Hogan isn't back yet."
"He'll be here." I hope thought Kinch.
"Roll Call! Everyone up! Raus!" Shultz yelled as Hogan was coming up from the tunnels. "Please Colonel Hogan do that when I am not in here"
"Sorry Shultz." Hogan said out of breath "Man am I out of shape."
The men hurried back in after roll call and headed for the tunnels. "What did London say about the packages?" Hogan asked.
"Make sure your packages are there this time. There is one problem. Leroux destroyed the documents before we could get to him. I informed London and they said the International Red Cross would be making the inspection next week. Still pass on the film as planned. They don't want to take the chance of Leroux destroying that also. They also said good job and they will take care of Leroux when he gets to London."
"Thanks. Now we have a party to plan. Maria will be back tomorrow. Lets give her a good welcome."
That night, Kinch and Carter took Cummings and Leroux to the rendezvous and sent them on their way. LeBeau and Newkirk were in the common room playing cards and talking. "I can at least give Kathryn some closure."
"Who's that?" LeBeau asked puzzled.
"I think she is my sister in law. When I heard Henry's name, the name Kathryn Murphy came to mind. I have an image in my mind of a wedding. Henry cleans up right nice. Kathryn and Henry were sweethearts for a long time. I think they were expecting their first child when he was killed. I think they had a son named James. He would be seven now."
"Hay Peter this is great! You are getting some of your memory back."
"Good job Newkirk. I am going downstairs to wait for Kinch and Carter to get back." Hogan said as he made his way down the tunnel.
"Poor Colonel. He has so much on his plate. At least two of them are off. I wish we could send him on a vacation or take some of the load off of him."
"Know what you mean mate. Me loosing my ruddy memory isn't helping things either."
"Be patient. It is starting to come back just give it some time."
"What took you guys so long? Did you get lost?" Hogan asked as he saw it was now two o'clock in the morning.
"Sorry Colonel, there are a few patrols out." Kinch answered.
"At least you are home, now hit the sack."
After roll call the next day, Klink went to his house to be with Maria as the family he has chosen came to get Robert. "How are you doing Maria?" Klink asked with as much compassion as he could muster. I wonder if I should tell her about the missing pages that were in her file. Knowing who the father is would give her some peace of mind, but how will it affect the way things are at camp? For now I think I wont say anything.
"As well as can be Kommandant. When is the family suppose to be here?"
"Any moment now. Can I hold him for a minute?"
Maria handed Robert over to Klink. I hope you will be happy with your new family. Maybe they can bring you by some time. I wish things were different so I wouldn't have to separate you, but it is better for both of you. Klink gave Robert a kiss on the forehead and hands him back to Maria. Maria hugged Robert tight as tears started to come to her eyes. When she heard a car door shut, she quickly wiped the tears away. Klink went to the door and opened it. The family walked inside.
"Why didn't you tell me you were the ones who are adopting Robert." Maria said as a smile started to come to her face.