Chapter 24 --- Hogan's Plan Goes in Motion

Hogan checked his watch and ran his hand over his dark hair. Alone in his quarters now, he wondered what was keeping Newkirk and LeBeau. He figured they should have been back over an hour ago. He checked his watch again. Something must have gone wrong. Getting to his feet, Hogan was about to grab his crutches when his door opened and Newkirk and LeBeau came in.

"Where have you two been?" Hogan asked, his annoyance showing. "You two should have been back here over an hour ago. Where were you?"

"We ran into a ruddy problem, Gov'nor," Newkirk began. "Klink was in his office when we got there."

"Klink was in his office?" Hogan exclaimed with raised eyebrows. "At this time of the night?"

"Oui, Colonel," added LeBeau. "He was sitting at his desk with a bottle in front of him. He was getting smashed."

"Don't tell me you sneaked into his office with him there? Please don't tell me that."

"No, sir," Newkirk replied, running a hand over his brown hair. "I had LeBeau get Schultz and we had him help old Klink to his quarters. After they were gone, LeBeau and I sneaked into the Kommandant's office and I put the gun in his safe like you wanted me to. In other words, Colonel, it was a piece of cake."

Hogan sighed, shaking his head. He suppressed a smile for now. "As long as the lookalike luger is in the safe." He checked his watch. "It's late and we have a busy day tomorrow. I suggest you men turn in and get some sleep. Good night."

"Night, sir," said Newkirk.

"Sleep well, Colonel," added LeBeau as he and Newkirk left Hogan's quarters. They passed Kinch as he was coming in. They both bid Kinch goodnight. The radioman smiled as he closed the door behind them. He handed Hogan several papers.

"Thought you might want to check the phoney radio transmissions before you turned in, Colonel."

Hogan looked over the papers, carefully scanning each page. A smile appeared despite the twinge in his cheek. He handed them back to Kinch. "Kinch, you do great work. You really do."

Kinch smiled. "Thank you, Colonel. I'll say goodnight."

"Goodnight. Oh, Kinch?"

Kinch was halfway out the door. He paused and looked around. "Colonel?"

"Any word yet from General Brennan?"

"Not yet, Colonel. Sorry."

Hogan sighed. "It's the waiting I hate, Kinch."

"I understand. Try not to worry, Colonel. I'm sure they'll find the information Major Brendel's hiding wherever it is."

Hogan pursed his lips. From his expression, Kinch knew his commanding officer would worry until he heard the documents had been found and destroyed.

"Goodnight, Colonel." Kinch closed the door leaving Hogan alone with his worries.

The next morning, Schultz was counting the prisoners at roll call as Klink slowly emerged from his office wearing sunglasses. He massaged his forehead as the headache was fierce from the hangover.

He slowly made his way down the stairs and towards the formation where Schultz had finished counting. The Sergeant turned and saluted the Kommandant who gave a lazy salute.

Hogan noticed the sunglasses. "Going to the beach, sir?" he asked.

Klink held a hand to his head. "Hogan, what are you babbling about? What makes you think I'm going to the beach?"

"The sunglasses, sir."

Klink adjusted his sunglasses. "The sun has been bothering my eyes lately, that's all." His headache was getting worse.

Hogan chuckled. "Uh-huh. Sorry to hear that, Kommandant. For a moment I thought you were going Hollywood on us." Hogan's remarks brought smirks and laughter from the other prisoners.

Klink looked at his Sergeant. "Schultz?"

"Herr Kommandant. All prisoners present and accounted for."

"Very good, Schultz. You may dismiss the men. And after you do that, go get me some aspirin." He gave another lazy salute.

Schultz returned the salute. "Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." He turned and faced the prisoners as Klink walked away slowly back towards the office. "All prisoners dismissed."

The men began to scatter except for Hogan, Kinch, Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk. They surrounded their commanding officer as he sat down on the bench outside the barracks, his crutches leaning against the wall near the door. He looked at the Englander.

"Newkirk, do you have it?" Hogan asked softly.

"Right here, Gov'nor," Newkirk replied patting the left breast pocket of his jacket where the gun was nestled inside.

Looking around the compound, Hogan looked for Corporal Koch. His eyes finally found him patrolling near the main gate. The Colonel's eyes shifted to his men.

"Carter, LeBeau, you know what to do. Go to it. Newkirk, be ready to plant the gun on Koch when he's distracted by LeBeau and Carter."

"Right, Colonel."

"Oui, mon Colonel."

LeBeau and Carter walked quickly towards the main gate with Newkirk slowly strolling behind them, but keeping a safe distance behind them. As they got closer to where Koch was patrolling, LeBeau suddenly pushed Carter.

"Carter, you can be so stupid sometimes!" he yelled.

"Oh yeah?! Well at least I don't act stuck up like you do!" Carter yelled back, shoving LeBeau.

"Who are you calling stuck up?!" LeBeau yelled shoving Carter again.

Carter grabbed LeBeau's arm. "I'm calling you stuck up, you...you....Frenchman you!" Next thing both men were grappling with each other.

Corporal Koch raced over to where the two men were wrestling with each other and struggled to separate them. Newkirk suddenly raced over and joined Koch in trying to help break the two men apart. As the four men wrestled with each other, Newkirk deftly slipped the gun from his pocket and into Koch's coat pocket. He then winked slyly at LeBeau.

"C'mon, LeBeau, Andrew," Newkirk shouted. "Break it up! Do you want Colonel Hogan to catch you two?" Newkirk suddenly looked up. "Uh-oh. Now you two are in for it. Here comes the Colonel."

Seeing Hogan approaching, LeBeau allowed Koch to separate him from Carter. Looking angry, LeBeau folded his arms while Carter looked embarrassed at having Hogan catching them. He stuck his hands in his pockets.

Hogan slowly made his way using his crutches until he was up close. He looked angrily at both of his men. "LeBeau, Carter, what's going on here? I saw you both from across the compound. Now what is this about?"

"Ask Carter, Colonel," snapped LeBeau.

"Well, it's all your fault, LeBeau," replied Carter.

"All right, hold it!" Hogan demanded. "LeBeau, I want both you and Carter to report to me in my quarters immediately. Newkirk, go with these two and keep them separated until I get there."

"Right away, Colonel," Newkirk replied. "Okay you two. You heard the Colonel. Let's go." Grabbing each of them by one arm, Newkirk led them away and towards the barracks.

Watching them walk away, Hogan turned towards Koch. "Thank you Corporal for breaking up the fight before somebody got hurt. I don't know what the problem is between them, but I assure you it won't happen again."

"I'll overlook this incident this time, Colonel Hogan," Koch replied. "Make sure it doesn't happen again. Next time I will drag your men into the Kommandant's office."

Hogan gave Koch his best innocent-looking expression. "Don't worry, Corporal. You won't see it happen again. Of that I promise you." Then, Hogan turned away and slowly made his way in the direction of the barracks. He was met halfway there by Kinch. Hogan looked at him with a grin. "So far so good, Kinch."

Kinch grinned. "Newkirk, Carter and LeBeau just returned to the barracks, Colonel. I passed them on the way here."

"Okay. Kinch, I want you to give Newkirk those phoney radio transmissions. Tell him to plant them in the guards barracks in Koch's belongings and then return to the barracks right away."

"Will do, Colonel. What happens then?"

"And then I have Klink contact General Burkhalter and get him here in time to expose Corporal Koch as the killer of Major Von Strasser and make Klink look like a hero in the end."