Chapter 5 --- From a Traitor's POV

*** Found I had to create a new character: Major Thomas Brendel, RAF. Didn't think I'd need any more creations. Guess I was wrong!

The Major stood in front of the closed window in his office, looking out onto the grounds. He watched the gardeners manicuring the grass and trimming the hedges outside his office. A frown appeared on his face. This mission was so important. That was what he had told the man he sent into Germany. It was important that Hogan be silenced before he found out about him. He just wished he didn't feel so worried. But his worry was nothing that knowing Hogan was deceased wouldn't cure. Someone knocked on the door.

"Come," he replied, turning. He saw his aide, Captain Alan Derrick, a young twenty-something blonde with green eyes, enter. He saluted the Major.

"Major Brendel, sir."

Brendel returned the salute. "What is it, Captain?"

Captain Derrick handed the Major a folded sheet of paper. "This report just came for you, sir. From our operative in Germany."

Brendel, unfolding the paper, scanned the message. A slight smile suddenly appeared. "Thank you, Captain," he said when he finally looked up.

"Major, the operative wishes a reply. What should I tell him?"

Brendel turned away slowly and resumed looking out the window. "Tell him well done. And to let me know when the mission has been accomplished. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very good. Dismissed, Captain," Brendel replied without turning around. The Captain saluted and left the office, closing the door behind him.

Alone again, Brendel, real name SS Major Karl Heisler, unfolded the message again and re-read it. He let his eyes savor every word: 'Plant arrived safely Germany. Contact made with Papa Bear. Shouldn't be much of a problem. Will let know when mission accomplished.' He re-folded the message.

Shouldn't be much of a problem. Not where Papa Bear is concerned, Brendel thought, worriedly. There was always worry where Hogan was concerned. The only way he could safely relax and know it was really over was when Papa Bear was dead, and not before. He sighed wearily. None of this would have been necessary if that agent who had contact with Germany, in particular with Hogan and his men, hadn't recognized him. He had been forced to kill that agent, but not before he discovered the agent had been trying to contact Papa Bear. Brendel had no way of knowing if the agent had been successful or not. But he reasoned he couldn't take the chance. He'd have to do something about Hogan and quickly.

Brendel folded his arms as he continued watching the gardeners outside. Nobody suspected he was a German plant on the Prime Minister's staff, and had been for the past several years. During that time, he had been covertly gathering info on the underground, Hogan and his people, codes, names, places, dates, everything. He just hadn't sent anything to the SS yet. He figured he'd be able to expose everything first and then get out. Until that time, he'd keep everything safely locked in a separate office safe concealed behind a painting of Winston Churchill in his office. He'd secretly had that wall safe installed for things he didn't want anybody to know about. He felt it was necessary in case anybody wanted him to reveal the contents of his floor safe, expecting to find secret things there. Only one other person knew about his hidden safe and that was his superior in the SS. But even he didn't know what the contents contained. At least not yet.

Brendel turned away from the window and walked over to his liquor cabinet. Selecting a decantor of expensive brandy, he poured a glass. He looked at the picture of Churchill with a devious smile on his face. How appropriate that the documents which could lead to the destruction of the Allies, the underground, Papa Bear's organization amongst other things were in a hidden safe being protected by England's Prime Minister. Brendel had to chuckle at that one as he swallowed his brandy.

But as quickly as the smile appeared on Brendel's face it disappeared. He slammed the glass onto the cabinet. The only person who could ruin everything including himself was Papa Bear.

"Damn you, Hogan!" Brendel exclaimed angrily. He quickly poured himself another glass of brandy and downed it. "Do you know about me? And if you do, what do you know about me? What are you up to?" he asked to the air around him. Unfortunately, there was nobody there to answer his questions. All he could do was wait for news from the paid assassin he sent into Germany and Stalag 13. Brendel hated when he had to rely on someone else to do what he felt he could do himself. At least if he faced Hogan himself, he'd be sure he was dead. Instead he had to rely on someone else. But the SS had promised him this man was the best at what he did. He had never failed them. What made it even better, Brendel thought, the man was a defector.

One of the Allies who had been captured had been persuaded to join the Third Reich and become a 'hired gun' so to speak.

Brendel wondered what inducements had been offered to make the man change sides. Right now, he really didn't care. All he cared about were results. And he wasn't a patient man. But his superior warned him that this mission would take time as Papa Bear was no ordinary man and special care must be taken if he was to be eliminated. So patience was necessary. Brendel let himself smile again. He had never told his superior anything about Papa Bear's identity or where his base of operation was. All he had said was that he had located Papa Bear and had a plan to kill him. For now, his superiors were willing to not know the true identity of 'the most dangerous man in Germany.'

Letting out a deep breath at last, Brendel returned to his closed window and again watched the gardeners working outside while trying to keep his mind off his worries and Hogan.