Author's Note: I don't own Hogan's Heroes. This is a fictional story any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.
LeBeau was pacing back and forth muttering to himself in French. Kinch watched him carefully. It's a good thing Newkirk maneuvered him into this cell. He thought briefly. They had been waiting for almost twenty minutes. Hogan was still plotting, but they all knew that there was nothing feasible to do.
"We could get in touch with one of the underground in the area and see if they could get a look at the farmhouse." Olsen suggested, mindful to keep his voice low. Even though it was Schultz on duty, they didn't need to be advertising their underground connections.
"That's not bad, Colonel." Newkirk chimed in, "They could at least see if we're on the right track."
Hogan shook his head, "There's nothing out that way. No reason to be there." He pushed his crush cap farther back on his head. "Whoever it was would be picked up in no time."
"We've got to do something." Kinch said, softly.
"I think we need to let the Germans play this one, at least for now." Hogan replied.
"Sure," LeBeau said, bitterly, "It's not someone you care about being tortured."
Newkirk opened his mouth to defend the colonel, but Hogan held up his hand and shook his head. "LeBeau, I don't like this any more than you do." Hogan sat down on the bunk, "But, if any one of us gets caught hunting Lutzen, Jocelyn, or Carter...we're done."
He stopped talking when Schultz came in with breakfast for the prisoners. Newkirk jumped up and hurried over to him. "Any news?"
Schultz shrugged, "I am not supposed to tell the prisoners details about military operations."
Hogan rolled his eyes, "Com'on, Schultz. We just want to know if you've found Carter."
Schultz looked at their worried faces. "I'm not supposed to say."
"Please, Schultzie." Newkirk tried.
Schultz cleared his throat and leaned in closer, "Langenshiedt lost Carter's trail. Major Hochstetter is taking charge and he's calling in more S.S. soldiers from Gestapo Headquarters in Hammelburg."
Hogan frowned, "They lost it?"
"They think he might have run in the water to hide his trail." Schultz whispered, "The kommandant is very upset and General Burkhalter is going to be here by noon."
"Burkhalter?" Hogan asked in surprise, "He's in Berlin. How did he hear about all this?"
"Major Hochstetter called him..." Schultz paused with a confused look, "How did you know General Burkhalter was in Berlin?"
"I took a guess." Hogan deflected, "Why does Hochstetter want Burkhalter here?"
"I do not know." Schultz said, going back to passing out the trays, "I do not want to know."
Hogan started to pace. Newkirk and Olsen dug into their breakfast. Schultz closed and locked the cell door and moved to LeBeau and Kinch's cell. After he delivered the trays and secured the cell doors, Schultz moved back to his place outside the door.
"What's next, Colonel?" Kinch asked.
"We could just let the Germans handle it." LeBeau muttered, spitefully.
Hogan ignored the remark and continued pacing. Why Burkhalter? Hochstetter could just go to the higher-ups in the S.S. Hogan stopped pacing as it dawned on him. He's already tried that. Hochstetter is like the boy that cried wolf. So, to make his charge unimpeachable, he'll use Burkhalter as a foil. Burkhalter takes the murder charge to the higher-ups and Lutzen goes away. Not bad, Hochstetter.
"Colonel?" Olsen said, pulling Hogan out of his thoughts. Hogan's head snapped up and a cocky smile spread across his face.
"I think our friendly, neighbourhood krauts need a little help."
1************************************1
Lutzen jumped down from the truck and surveyed the tree-line. Seeing nothing, he turned back to the truck and pulled the petite red-head out. She let out a small cry when she hit the ground. "Quiet." He said, gruffly and dragged her up right. Jocelyn felt sick, but complied.
Wilburt stepped in front of them and opened the door. Lutzen shoved her in, causing her to stumble and fall against the couch.
"Make yourself comfortable." Lutzen sneered. She stared after him as he went to the other room. Wilburt moved over to her and sat down on the coffee table. Jocelyn studied him. Young. Very young. She thought, How far have we fallen that we allow children to fight in war?
She was surprised to see him meet her gaze and even more surprised that his eyes were kind. Those eyes didn't hold hatred or lust. They held pity and even more than that, they held shame. He knows what's going to happen and it isn't good. "What is going to happen?" She asked, the fear in her voice was evident. "To me, I mean. What's going to happen to me?"
Wilburt looked away, "You will be asked questions."
"They could ask me questions from where we were before." Jocelyn knew he was avoiding her question. "What is he going to do to me?" she asked, again. This time he reached out and grabbed her arm, "Just tell him what he wants to know. Please, don't make this happen to you."
She sat there, slightly stunned by the care he so openly displayed. "I am prepared to forfeit my life for the cause."
"No!" Wilburt stated resolutely, "No. You don't understand. You will die slowly with lots of pain. Please, if you tell him what he wants he will release you."
"No, he won't." Jocelyn looked down at her hands.
"Yes. Yes, he will." Wilburt searched her eyes, "Give him the information he wants and he will leave you alone."
Hearing the general walk back to the living room, Wilburt moved over to the arm-chair. Jocelyn bit her lip. Maybe he's right. If I tell them what they want to know, maybe they won't hurt me. She started to open her mouth, but her next thought caused her to remain silent. That young man he murdered. I'm the only one who knows it was him. Like they say in the movies, I'm a loose end. He won't let me go.
She saw the pleading look Wilburt tossed her way and she made up her mind.
"General?" She stood with more confidence then she actually felt, "I have some information for you."
1*****************************************1
At ten minutes until noon, General Burkhalter pulled up to the gates of Stalag Thirteen. Kinch signaled Hogan, who yelled as loud as he could for Schultz. The hefty guard ambled in, "Colonel Hogan, please. They can hear you all over the camp."
Hogan continued shouting, "I know where Sergeant Carter is. We have to get to him before that mad man does!"
Schultz tried in vain to hush the American officer but Hogan's yells had the desired effect. Hochstetter, Klink, and Burkhalter all appeared in the door-way and all talking at once.
"Hold it." Hogan commanded, instantly silencing the room, "We should probably do this by rank. General?"
Burkhalter glared at him, "Hogan, what do you know of the missing prisoner?"
"I know where he is." Hogan said, shrewdly, "And I'll take you to him."
"Hogan!" Klink jumped in, "This is just one of your plans to escape!"
"Please, Kommandant, you're cutting into the general's time." Hogan chided.
"Where is he?" Burkhalter asked, coldly.
"More importantly, how do you know where he is?" Hochstetter added.
Hogan's fellow prisoners immediately started to protest with "Don't give Andrew up" and "Don't tell those krauts anything". Hogan held up his hands,
"Perhaps we should take this someplace where we won't be heckled." Hogan suggested, "Like the kommandant's office?"
Burkhalter's gaze bore into Hogan, "All right, but understand this." his voice lowered into a menacing growl, "Say or do anything I do not like and you will be shot for trying to escape."
"But, General Bulkhalter, he didn't try to escape." Klink interjected.
Burkhalter and Hochstetter collectively rolled their eyes and said, almost in unison, "Shut up, Klink."
Schultz opened the cell door and Hochsetter pulled Hogan out roughly. Burkhalter lead the way out of the cooler and into Klink's office. He only stopped once, to acknowledge Helga, and then continued into the office where he plopped himself down in Klink's chair.
"All right, Hogan." He opened Klink's cigar case and chose from its contents, "Where is the American sergeant?"
Hogan smiled, wearily, "I want an assurance that he won't be harmed."
"You are not in a position to make bargains!" Hochstetter barked.
Burkhalter waved him off, "What kind of assurance?"
Hogan shifted slightly, "I want to go with your men when they go to get him."
"Denied!" Klink jumped into the conversation, "You just want a chance to escape." Klink looked over to the general and his self-satisfied smile turned sheepish, "I beg your pardon, General Burkhalter."
Burkhalter rolled his eyes, "Your bumbling idiot of a kommandant is on to something. How do I know that this is not a ploy to escape?"
Hogan looked hurt, "General, why would I want to escape? This place is my home-away-from-home." then he sighed, "However, if you insist, I give you my word as a gentleman and an officer."
Hochstetter rolled his eyes and slammed his fist on the desk. "Enough of this! You will tell me where your man is, now!"
Burkhalter shot the Gestapo agent a withering glare, "I am in charge here, Major." turning to Hogan, he added, "I accept your proposal. Only I think instead of your word I'd rather have something else."
"Oh?" Hogan cocked an eyebrow, "And what's that?"
"If you use this as an excuse to escape," Burkhalter paused with a hint of a smile on his lips, "Then upon our return to camp your men will be executed."
Hogan swallowed hard, "That, uh, seems fair."
"Good. It's settled then." Burkhalter stood, "Hochsetter, continue your man-hunt. Klink, take Hogan and find your prisoner."
"What will you be doing?" Klink asked, then he turned bright red, "I'm sorry, General, I did not mean to question you in any way. You are highly intelligent and what ever you choose to do will be..."
"Shut up, Klink." Burkhalter said, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Have Fräulein Helga bring me some lunch."
"Jawohl!" Klink said, snapping into a salute.
1*********************************************1
Lutzen gazed at her impassively, "Yes?"
Jocelyn's eyes flicked to Wilburt, who seemed relieved, "The microfilm which you're seeking is in my room at the hotel."
Lutzen pursed his lips, "You are lying. I had your room thoroughly searched."
"But did they look behind the radiator?" Jocelyn tried, hoping her face did not reveal just how frantic she was inside.
"The radiator?" Lutzen turned to his sergeant and proceeded to chew him out for not checking behind the radiator. After he had calmed down, Lutzen ordered the sergeant and two of the other soldiers to return to Dusseldorf for the film.
"Shall I take the prisoner back to the truck?" Wilburt asked after the sergeant and his men left.
Lutzen stared at him, "Why?"
"I-I-I just thought she should be taken back to headquarters." Wilburt stuttered.
"You are not payed to think." Lutzen replied, coolly.
"But..." Wilburt started, before being cut off by Lutzen.
"Fielderbach!"
Wilburt snapped to attention, "My apologies, Herr General."
Lutzen gave him a curt nod and then proceeded to grab Jocelyn's left arm. Wilburt gave her a pitiful look and followed his general through the kitchen and down the cellar steps.
P.S. I know it's a short chapter, but I fought with it...A LOT! I hope you enjoy it. The next chapter will be longer, I promise.
Thank you for all the reviews! They keep my spirits up when my story-line gives me problems. :D
Oh, and I have come to the conclusion that setting up a writing schedule is a waste of time. I will try to post often but I can't promise every week. I am also considering a beta-reader, but I'm not sure how all of that works.
Anyway, if you have questions, criticisms, or comments send me a PM or review. Much love! :D
