Chapter 10-- A Monkey Wrench

Erlichman, accompanied by Captain Heinman, entered cell 21. They waited until the guard had closed the door behind them.

Hogan looked up from his seated position. He gave them his best lopsided grin despite still feeling ill, slightly dizzy, and nauseous. He looked at his watch. "Kinda late aren't you?" he cracked. "I've been conscious for several hours."

Heinman glared at Hogan. "You're very fortunate today, Colonel Hogan. Not only are you not being given any more of the drug we previously have been giving you, but you are going to have an examination by Doctor Erlichman."

"That's not really necessary, Captain," Hogan put his feet on the floor. "I had one last month at Stalag 13. Passed with flying colors by the way."

Erlichman looked at the Colonel as he placed his medical bag on the cot. He noticed Hogan glaring at him. Erlichman swallowed hard.

"You will not give the doctor any trouble, Colonel…." Heinman patted his holster. "….will you?"

"Whatever you want, Captain," Hogan smirked. "I aim to please."

Erlichman glanced over his shoulder at Heinman. "There is no need for you to stay, Captain. I'm sure Colonel Hogan will give me no trouble." Opening his bag, the doctor removed a stethoscope and motioned for Hogan to unbutton his shirt. The Colonel complied, his eyes never leaving Heinman.

As the doctor listened to Hogan's heartbeat, he leaned close to Hogan. "Colonel Hogan, I am on your side," he whispered. "I will try to help you escape."

Hogan gave no indication he had been spoken to.

"Just what is the purpose of this exam, Captain?" Hogan asked sarcastically. "Don't tell me you're suddenly concerned about my well-being?"

"Not at all, Colonel," Heinman smiled evilly. "Major Frolichman and I both want you in excellent health when you leave us."

Hogan suddenly felt a knot forming in his stomach. "Leaving? Where am I going?"

"You might as well know. They have agreed to our terms. In forty-eight hours you will be turned over to another interested party in exchange for our operative. These people are quite eager to make your acquaintance."

Hogan licked his suddenly dry lips. He hoped the fear he felt didn't show. He forced a grin on his face. "I suppose I should be flattered to be in demand by so many people. Did you know in school I was voted most popular?"

Heinman smirked at the Colonel's apparent babbling. "Colonel Hogan. You won't be so smug once you meet your new friends." He suppressed a chuckle. "They have tactics that will make the Gestapo look tame." He checked his watch. "I have a meeting with Major Frolichman, doctor. You will continue with your examination. Report to Major Frolichman when you're done. Understand?"

"Jawohl, Captain."

Both Erlichman and Hogan watched Heinman leave. Now alone, Hogan looked at the doctor. "You've got to inform Major Teppel that the trade is being completed in forty-eight hours. He'll know what to do."

Erlichman sighed nervously. "Colonel Hogan…." he stammered.

"Doctor, you said you were on my side. If you don't help me, I could be a dead man. And I have an aversion to dying. Will you do it?"

Erlichman looked into Hogan's brown eyes and thought he saw a trace of fear in them. But also, he saw a fierce determination to survive.

Erlichman let out a deep breath. "Ja, Colonel. I will do it."

Having finished his examination of Hogan, Erlichman quickly left the prison cell and hurried to Major Teppel's office upstairs. He hoped the Major was in his office. He didn't want to be there too long before reporting to Frolichman without him becoming suspicious. Reaching his destination, the doctor furiously pounded on the door. He was relieved when he heard Teppel's voice. He entered. Teppel, seated behind his desk, looked up when he saw the doctor.

"What's wrong, doctor? Has something happened to Colonel Hogan?" Morrison asked, alarmed at the doctor's frightened expression.

"Major, you must do something. I was examining Colonel Hogan when Captain Heinman told him he is to be traded in forty-eight hours for Frolichman's operative. He wanted the Colonel examined to make sure he was in good condition before the trade."

Morrison got to his feet, concerned. He thought he would have a bit more time. "Thank you doctor. I'll take care of everything. And don't worry. When Colonel Hogan leaves here, it will be to return to Stalag 13."

Morrison quickly left his office to make contact with Hogan's men and the underground.

"What?!" Kinch exclaimed when Morrison told them about the pending trade of Hogan within forty-eight hours. Hogan's men and the members of the underground had only been back at the safe house slightly less than three hours when Morrison appeared and gave them the news. They were all stunned.

"What do we do?" asked one of the underground members, nervously. "We thought there would be more time."

"The plan can still work," LeBeau stated. "We'll just have to move sooner, that's all."

"Louie's right," Newkirk added. "We can't let this Major Frolichman have his way with our Colonel."

Lancelot nodded in agreement. He looked at the others. "They're right. If we don't move sooner, Colonel Hogan will be lost possibly forever."

Morrison looked at Hogan's men. "Doctor Erlichman, the doctor who was administering the drug to Hogan is on our side. He told me he was able to convince Frolichman to stop giving Hogan the drug because it was making him very ill. It's an experimental drug developed by the Gestapo."

"Can you trust this doctor?" asked Carter.

"I think so. He's the one who told me about the trade taking place. Also, he told me Captain Heinman was the Snowman and that Hogan's drugging was deliberate."

Kinch, Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk all exchanged angry looks.

Newkirk, picking up a pistol from the table, looked at it calmly. "I will be quite happy to put a hole between the good Captain's eyes," he said. "It wouldn't bother me in the least, y'know what I mean?"

Morrison took a deep breath. "I know how you feel, Newkirk. But let the brass in London take care of him."

Newkirk sighed. He put down the pistol. "It was just a bloody thought, that's all."

Morrison smiled at everyone. "We must get everything ready tonight," he said with determination. Because tomorrow we make our move."