Chapter 5--The Calvary's on the Way
Morrison knew where cell 21 was located. He also figured that Frolichman might have at least one guard posted at the cell door. He would have to chance it. It was important he get to see Hogan if only for a few short minutes. Morrison was aware that Frolichman outranked him even though both were Majors, so he'd have to watch his step. Hang on Hogan. Help's coming! Morrison quickly made his way down to the lower levels where the prison cells were located, and kept going until he came to where the cells were numbered 20 through 30. He paused. There was a single armed guard posted outside cell 21. Morrison took a deep breath before approaching the guard who looked at him as he approached. The guard stood at attention.
"Guard, unlock the cell door. I wish to check on the prisoner." Morrison said in his most authoritative voice.
"I'm sorry, Herr Major, but I cannot. Major Frolichman's orders. Nobody is allowed to visit the prisoner."
"I am not visiting the prisoner, corporal! And since when does Major Frolichman's orders ever include any of his officers?"
The guard licked his suddenly dry lips. "Never, Major Teppel," he said nervously.
"Then I suggest you unlock this door at once! Mach Schnell!!" Morrison could see the guard hesitating. "Well, corporal… what are you waiting for? I said unlock the cell door!" He got right up in the guard's face. He could see the young man sweating.
"I cannot, Major Teppel. I am sorry," the guard stammered.
"Corporal, and for the time being you are still a corporal. You will be even sorrier if you do not do what I order. I would hate to tell Major Frolichman that you refused me access to check on his prisoner, and something happened to his prisoner that could have been avoided because I was not allowed to check on him. Now, for the last time, are you going to unlock this cell door and allow me to check on the prisoner?"
The guard swallowed hard. While he was afraid of Major Frolichman because of his reputation, he was even more afraid of what the Major would do to him if something happened to the prisoner and it could have been avoided just by letting Major Teppel check on him to be sure he was all right. Removing the keys from his belt, the guard unlocked the cell door and stood aside to allow Morrison to enter. Standing in the doorway, Morrison turned to the guard, unsmiling. "I won't need you right now, corporal. Thank you." The guard closed the cell behind Morrison after he entered.
Alone, Morrison hurried to the cot where Hogan lay, unconscious, arms at his sides. Morrison knew he didn't have a lot of time. Grabbing Hogan by both arms, he gently shook him repeatedly. "Hogan! It's me. Morrison. Can you hear me? Say something. Hogan!"
Getting no response from Hogan, Morrison dejectedly eased the unconscious man back on the cot. He pressed his fingers to Hogan's neck to check for a pulse. He was relieved to find a steady one. What did they give you, Hogan? Glancing over his shoulder at the closed cell door, Morrison bent over the unconscious man and spoke softly. "Hogan, I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm going to contact your men. And we're going to figure a way to get you out of here somehow. You just have to hang on for awhile." He glanced over his shoulder again. "I can't stay any longer, Hogan," he said softly. "I have to go. I don't know if I'll be able to come back again, but I promise you we'll get you out of here." Morrison squeezed Hogan's shoulder as if to offer encouragement, then called for the guard to open the cell door and let him out.
Kinch, Newkirk, LeBeau and Carter all examined the still drying negatives of Hogan's death certificate and of his last medical examination side by side. Kinch was examining them closely using a magnifying glass.
"It's a good thing you remembered the Colonel had a medical exam a month ago, Newkirk," Kinch commented. "Look at this. The Colonel's death certificate shows cause of death as heart failure, but yet he was given a clean bill of health after his last medical exam."
"Then the Snowman did kill Colonel Hogan," said an angry LeBeau. "He must be made to pay!"
"Don't worry, Louie," Newkirk remarked. "We'll see he does. He took the Colonel's life, so it's only fair we take his."
"But that's murder!" Carter exclaimed, shocked at what he had just heard Newkirk say.
Newkirk put a hand on Carter's shoulder. "Andrew, what the Snowman did to Colonel Hogan is called murder. What we're gonna do to the Snowman is called payback."
"I think the discrepancy between the Colonel's recent medical exam and his death certificate leaves little doubt that the Colonel was healthy a month ago, Carter. How could a healthy person with no medical problems suddenly die from heart failure?" LeBeau asked Carter, looking at him.
"He couldn't, " replied Newkirk, anger heard in his voice. "Not without help from someone who gave him something that caused his heart to fail."
"Question is…." Kinch explained, sighing, "….how do we find this person? We have no idea what he looks like. The Colonel was the only one who ever met him."
They were interrupted at the sound of the lower bunk rising up. LeBeau automatically went to the barracks door to keep watch. Baker emerged from the tunnel carrying a slip of paper. He handed it to Kinch.
"This just came in from our contact with the underground," he said. "I thought you'd want to see it right away."
Kinch hastily read the message. "It's from Robert J. Morrison," he explained. "He says it's urgent that he meet with the four of us at 2400 hours tonight outside the abandoned ball bearing plant just outside of town. He said it has to do with Colonel Hogan."
The men exchanged looks.
"Maybe Morrison has a lead on who the Snowman is," said Carter.
"You might be right," replied Kinch. He looked at Baker. "Contact the underground and tell them to inform Morrison we'll be there."
"Right," Baker started to leave, then stopped. He looked at the others. "You guys really think we can find this guy?"
"We won't stop looking until we do, mate," Newkirk replied, lighting a cigarette.
Baker nodded before disappearing back down into the tunnel. LeBeau hurried to the double bunk bed and hit the top bed frame and watched as the lower bunk dropped over the tunnel entrance.
Kinch checked his watch. It was a minute before midnight. He, Newkirk, LeBeau and Carter, all armed, were waiting at the rendezvous place. Each of them was wearing black pants and turtlenecks, and all except Kinch had black oil smeared on their faces.
They froze when they heard rustling sounds in some nearby bushes.
"Morrison? Is that you?" Kinch said softly, raising his weapon.
Morrison, dressed in dark clothing, stepped out from the shrubbery. He greeted Hogan's men warmly.
"Do you have a lead on who killed the Colonel, mate?" Newkirk asked.
Morrison held up a hand. "Hogan isn't dead," he exclaimed.
The men looked at him with shocked expressions.
"If this is some kind of joke…." Kinch began.
"I've seen Hogan. He's very much alive, for now at least. But he's being held prisoner by a Major Frolichman and his aide Captain Heinman at Abwehr Headquarters in Berlin. Frolichman has Hogan drugged though."
"The Gov'nor's alive? You're sure?" asked Newkirk warily.
"Positive. As I said, I got to see him for a few minutes only. It seems Frolichman plans on trading Hogan to somebody in exchange for one of his operatives. I don't know who this operative is or who the people are that Frolichman's dealing with."
"You said the Colonel was drugged," Kinch remarked.
"He was. But his pulse was strong. However, he wasn't even aware I was there Why do you ask?"
Kinch explained to Morrison the circumstances leading up to and including Hogan's death. He even explained about the findings with the death certificate and the results of the Colonel's latest medical exam.
Morrison shook his head. "My guess is whoever this Snowman is contacted Hogan and asked for him specifically with the intention of giving him a drug that simulates death. It was probably necessary to fake Hogan's death so he could be taken out of Stalag 13 without anybody trying to rescue him. Nobody would look to rescue a dead man."
"Bloody diabolical!" Newkirk declared angrily.
"But why Colonel Hogan?" asked LeBeau. "I mean, why would this Major Frolichman want him?"
"I wish I knew," Morrison replied grimly.
"You said he's being held in Abwehr headquarters," said Kinch. "Any idea as to how we're gonna get him out of there and away from this Major?"
"I'm working on it. But for now, I'd better get going. And you men need to return to camp."
LeBeau, Carter, Kinch and Newkirk were, for the first time, hopeful. Hogan was alive! It was the best possible news anyone could have given them. And they were determined to get him back. As they started to leave, Morrison called out to them. As one, Hogan's men stopped and turned to look at the Major.
"Don't worry, men," Morrison said with a faint smile. "We'll get Hogan back, and we'll get him back alive."
Back in Barracks two, Hogan's men were seated at the long table. Even though it was late, they were too wound up to sleep. The other men in the barracks were sound asleep as they were accustomed to Hogan and his men coming and going at all hours so the noises made didn't bother them. LeBeau poured coffee for all four of them. Newkirk lit a cigarette.
"I can't believe the Colonel is alive," said Kinch.
"Oui," remarked LeBeau, relieved. "And we are going to get him back!"
"Bloody right we are, mate," Newkirk took a drag on his cigarette. "No ruddy way are we gonna stand by and let some big shot Major trade the Gov'nor for one of his spies."
"What about London?" Carter suddenly asked. His question put a damper on the upbeat mood of a moment ago. They exchanged looks.
Kinch sighed as he slowly got to his feet. "I don't like it, but I think we should contact them and let them know that Colonel Hogan's alive but being held prisoner. Maybe they'll help us rescue the Colonel."
LeBeau rolled his eyes. "I won't hold my breath," he said. "But it would be nice if they offer to help rescue the Colonel should we need it."
"I'll contact them right now. LeBeau, watch the door." Kinch remarked heading towards the hidden tunnel entrance.