Chapter 16--Nightmare Revisited

Morrison smiled as he held up his glass of wine and saluted Klink with it. "Excellent dinner, Colonel. Excellent. My compliments to your chef."

Klink was trying to smile, eat and talk all at once. "My chef...yes...that would be one of my prisoners, a Corporal Louie LeBeau."

"Really? I seem to remember him being one of Colonel Hogan's men. If my memory is correct, that is," Morrison remarked.

"He was," Klink replied.

Morrison raised an eyebrow. "Was?"

Klink took a sip of his wine. He sighed. "Colonel Hogan passed away suddenly a few days ago. One of his other men, Sergeant Kinchloe, is now the temporary Senior POW officer."

Morrison sensed a note of sadness in Klink's voice when he mentioned Hogan's name. Apparently, Hogan hadn't let his being alive be known yet. But, why was not the reason Morrison had come to Stalag 13 tonight.

"Would you like some more wine, Major?" asked Klink, hoping to change the subject.

"Yes. Danke."

Klink motioned for Carter to bring more wine for him and his guest. Carter refilled both glasses. Newkirk removed both empty plates and took them into the kitchen where Schultz was sitting supposedly keeping an eye on LeBeau who had been preparing the meal and Kinch who was helping him. Instead, Schultz was devouring his third helping of LeBeau's beef stroganoff and fourth glass of wine. Both men watched him eat. All LeBeau could do was shake his head in amazement. Neither had never seen anybody pack food away like Schultz.

Morrison took another sip of wine. He eyed Klink. "Tell me, Colonel, had Colonel Hogan been ill?"

"Not that I was aware. It seemed the cause of death was heart failure according to the death certificate. Why do you ask?"

Morrison shrugged. "No reason. Just curious." He paused for a moment. "I would like to speak with Colonel Hogan's men privately, Colonel."

Klink could only stare. "You may use my quarters if you wish, Major Teppel. But I'm afraid I don't understand. Why would you want to speak with these men? What could they possibly have to tell you?"

Morrison smiled warmly. "One never knows, Colonel. These men were very close to Colonel Hogan, no? Perhaps since they are in mourning for this man, they may be able to tell me things they wouldn't ordinarily. Keep in mind, Colonel, this not an interrogation on my part. So there's no need for you to be present. Just a few simple questions. To feel them out I believe is the phrase."

Klink seemed to mull over what Morrison had said. He finished his wine. "I have some paperwork in my office I could do. Should take about an hour. Would that be long enough?"

"That would be perfect. Thank you Colonel," Morrison replied standing. Klink stood also. The two men shook hands. Morrison watched Klink leave the room. He then turned his attention to Carter and Newkirk. "You need to get Kinch and LeBeau in here as well," he told them. "You should all hear this."

Newkirk peered into the kitchen. He noticed Schultz still stuffing his face. He then motioned for Kinch and LeBeau to come into the dining room. Once everyone was gathered, Morrison looked at them.

"What about Schultz?" Morrison asked, concerned.

"Don't worry about him," Newkirk replied. "As long as the food doesn't run out he won't be a problem."

"How's Hogan?" he asked.

"The Colonel is a bit ill, dizzy and nauseous," said LeBeau, "but we had the camp medic examine him to be sure. He believes he'll be all right."

Kinch appeared worried. "Morrison, you just didn't come here to check on Colonel Hogan, did you?"

"No. I thought you should all hear this directly. Doctor Erlichman was found dead earlier today lying beside his car. He'd been shot twice in the back."

Hogan's men all exchanged shocked looks. None of them liked hearing this news especially with it's implications.

"Any idea who did it?" asked Carter.

"I've been hearing things. Apparently, it could be the same group of individuals who Frolichman was negotiating with for the release of his operative. I've also heard that these individuals do not fear doing worst things than the Gestapo."

There was a collective intake of breath as this latest bit of news sank in.

"What about Colonel Hogan?" asked Kinch. "Do they know he's Papa Bear?"

"I don't think so. From what I've found out, these people do not take kindly to not getting what they were promised. And they were promised Papa Bear. But I don't believe they know Papa Bear's true identity. That might be the only thing that's keeping Hogan safe for the time being."

"Did these people kill Doctor Erlichman?" asked Newkirk quietly.

"I believe so. There's no doubt in my mind. Don't forget. He was the one who stopped Frolichman by killing him."

Morrison checked his watch. "I can't stay. When Klink gets back I have to return to Abwehr headquarters. I just thought this information should be delivered in person."

Kinch shook Morrison's hand. "Thanks for everything, Morrison," he said. "We'll let Colonel Hogan know what you said."

"Good. Give Hogan my best."

"We'll do that for sure, mate," Newkirk said. A look of concern appeared on his face. "What about you?" he asked. "Will you be all right?"

"You mean has my cover been blown? I don't think so. As far as anyone knows, all I did was bring the Gestapo to cell 21. I played no other part in it."

Carter bit his lower lip. "Any idea who this operative was that this Major wanted back?" he asked.

"That's one bit of information I haven't been able to find out, I'm afraid," Morrison explained regretfully. "Whoever it is, his or her identity is being kept secret. We may never know."

Kinch suddenly had a thought he didn't want to have. "Is there any chance this operative knows the Colonel is Papa Bear?"

Morrison sighed wearily. "I really don't know, Kinch. I wish I could tell you different, but I can't. I just don't know."

Two hours later after Morrison had departed Stalag 13, and the men had returned to the barracks, they found their Colonel in the tunnel area resting on the bunk in the radio room that Kinch kept there when he was monitoring the radio. Seeing them approaching, Hogan sat up. They then informed him of what Morrison had told them.

The Colonel ran a hand over his dark hair. "Sorry to hear that," he remarked sadly. "He saved my life and I won't forget it."

"Still feel you want to stay, Colonel?" asked Kinch nervously. "I mean, we don't know who these people are much less where they are."

"But don't worry, Gov'nor. We won't let..."

Hogan held up his hand indicating silence. "Don't worry about me. And to answer your question, Kinch, yes, I'm still staying. I've never run from anything or anybody before, and I'm not about to start now."

Hogan noticed all the frightened looks on the faces of his men. He gave them his best lopsided grin. "Now, have any of you genuises figured out how to introduce me back into the land of the living?" he asked.