Chapter 16
Carter and LeBeau were standing around the switchboard at which Kinch was seated.
LeBeau put a hand on Carter's shoulder. "Ready, Kommandant?" he asked with a grin.
Carter smirked nervously. "No."
The others grinned knowing the young sergeant was nervous as were they all. Kinch plugged into the switchboard. "Make it good, Andrew," he said as the phone on the other end rang. He waved with his one hand for the others who were talking among themselves to be quiet when he heard someone pick up on the other end. "Guten morgen, fraulein," Kinch said in his best German accent. "Un moment, bitte." He then handed the receiver to Carter who took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Guten morgen. This is Kommandant Klink of Stalag 13. Heil Hitler. It is very important that I speak with General Burkhalter right away. Danke. I will hold." He immediately covered the mouthpiece. "What do I say to him again? I don't remember."
LeBeau rolled his eyes. "You must get him to come to Stalag 13 because there is trouble taking place in his camp and he needs to come right away."
"Oh, right." Carter, uncovering the mouthpiece again, put the receiver to his ear. "Hello? General Burkhalter? Colonel Klink speaking. Heil Hitler. Yes, sir. Stop babbling and what did I want. Well, sir, it's very important that you come out to Stalag 13 immediately. In fact, it is of the utmost urgency. What for, sir? Well, sir, there is trouble brewing in the camp and I…why can't I handle it myself. Well, sir, it's like this. After Colonel Hogan was shot by one of my guards…didn't you get my previous message, sir? I called a few days ago and was told you were indisposed. Oh, you never got that message. I don't understand, sir. I mean I remember very clearly….No, sir, I'm not doubting your word. Who was the guard who shot Colonel Hogan? It was Sergeant Schultz." Carter's eyes narrowed. "Do I hear laughter, Herr General? Yes, sir, Schultz couldn't hit the side of a barn. I know that General, but, well, sir, it's just that the prisoners are saying that Sergeant Schultz didn't shoot Colonel Hogan but that another of the guards did. No sir, I don't know why. Why am I calling you about this? Well, sir, I feel that I need your expert assistance to straighten out this matter before any action can take place. You will, General. Thank you, sir. When might I expect you? Yes, sir. You get here when you get here. I understand. Well, General Burkhalter, I shall be anxiously awaiting…yes, sir. Auf wiedersehen. Heil Hitler." Carter let out a deep breath as Kinch unplugged the receiver from the switchboard. He saw Carter rest an arm atop the switchboard and bury his face in his arm.
"Carter you were brilliant!" Kinch exclaimed with a smile. He looked at LeBeau. "Burkhalter will be here sometime today."
"Merveilleux!" LeBeau exclaimed with a wide smile. "And when he gets here we barge into Klink's office with our evidence and make him listen to us about Dietrich."
"Right," Kinch replied. "LeBeau, I need you to go to visit Schultz and tell him that when General Burkhalter arrives, we want him to tell him exactly what he told us. Also tell him we will be there as well. Understand?"
"Oui. I will do what you ask." LeBeau started out.
"Oh, and Louie?"
"Oui?" the Frenchman paused and looked back.
"Watch out for Dietrich."
"I will. Be right back." LeBeau gave Kinch a 'thumbs up' sign and then took off. Moments later, Carter looked up.
"I can't believe I got away with it," he murmured.
"Carter, you were beautiful." Kinch got to his feet. "Let's go. We have work to do. We have to have everything ready when Burkhalter gets here."
Alice became more and more disgusted by thoughts of the American Colonel. She had no idea as to how she would dispose of him, but she had a few ideas forming. And if she could get one of them to work, the blame would fall on somebody else instead of her. But she had to find exactly what she could use that wouldn't be obvious to the naked eye. And she'd have to be careful what she chose as once Hogan was dead, the doctors would more than likely conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death. But that didn't bother her as much as making certain she wasn't fingered. Also, there was the fact that she had no access to the American's room which limited as to how to carry it out once she had her chosen method. Looking around the area where she was, she saw one of the cleaning men pushing a cart loaded with cleaning products on it down the hall and the corners of her mouth curled upward as it came to her. A cunning smile appeared as she now knew what she could use, and it was so simple she had no idea how it didn't come to her before. And it was something she could easily get her hands on.
Alice shook her head figuring some of her husband had rubbed off on her, but she didn't consider it something to brag about. But still, she believed she had to be sneaky in this instance as the American had been nothing but trouble since he had been admitted; even going so far as causing the death of a Gestapo guard. And that was only one of the reasons she hated this Colonel Hogan. Add to that the fact that he was an American, that just made it all the worse. She checked her watch and noticed she would soon be off duty and decided to wait until either Gretchen or Rachel relieved her enabling her to leave and go home. But before she left, she had two stops to make in the hospital and two things she had to obtain. She had plans to make if the American Colonel was to be dead before tomorrow night.
Baker was in the radio room monitoring the radio with Olsen sitting on the cot reading a magazine keeping him company when the radio suddenly came alive. Quickly putting on and adjusting the headset, Baker snatched a pen and began scribbling the incoming message as Olsen, tossing the magazine aside, jumped up and stood just behind the radioman and read what he was writing over his shoulder.
"Holy cow!" was all Olsen could utter. "Is Prust sure about this?"
Baker had stopped writing and waved his hand for Olsen to be quiet as he replied in Morse code for the message to be repeated in five minutes then stand by for a response. After transmitting, he tore the paper off the clipboard and handed it to Olsen.
"He's sure. I asked him to transmit again in five minutes and stand by. Take this to Kinch right away," he said urgently. "Tell 'im Prust will be standing by for a response."
Olsen turned and hurried as fast as he could knowing Kinch was in the barracks. Climbing quickly up the ladder leading to the common room, he immediately spotted Kinch seated at the table with Carter and LeBeau who all looked over when the lower bunk rose. LeBeau immediately went to the door and cracked it open to keep watch. Olsen handed Kinch the message and waited for his reply.
Putting down his coffee cup, the acting Senior POW read the message and with concern looked up. "Is Prust certain about this?" he asked. His question caught the attention of both LeBeau and Carter causing them to look at him.
"Baker said yes. He asked the message be sent again in five minutes and for Prust to wait for a reply. We thought you might want to speak with him."
Kinch got up and followed Olsen to their tunnel entrance. As Olsen descended, Kinch automatically looked over his shoulder at Carter and LeBeau. "We'll talk when I come back," was all he said indicating he knew what one of them was going to ask. Still mindful of his still sore arm, he climbed down the ladder following Olsen below. It took a bit longer, but he finally made it below and hurried to the radio room where the two men found Baker just removing his headset. He and Kinch exchanged looks. "Prust just finished re-transmitting his message. Same thing; nothing different," he said getting up so Kinch could sit down at the radio. "He's standing by."
"Damn!" Kinch muttered. "I was hoping with the additional guards watching the colonel we wouldn't have any more problems at the hospital. Now we might have another problem totally unrelated to Dietrich." He sighed wearily and then looked at Olsen. "Olsen, go to the infirmary and fetch Wilson. I need to speak with him right away. I may need you to go into town to the hospital tomorrow morning after roll call dressed as a Gestapo Major, but I'm not sure yet. Now go."
"But Kinch, what about Newkirk? He's in the infirmary right now."
Kinch pinched the bridge of his nose. With this latest news regarding Hogan, he had momentarily forgotten the Englander was in the infirmary. "From what Wilson told me earlier, I think Newkirk can do without Wilson for a short while. Besides, Joe does have Sergeant Bennett assisting him with cases. He can watch after Newkirk. And if my plan goes off without a hitch, this latest danger to the colonel should be eliminated and he'll be safe. Get going."
"On my way, Kinch," Olsen replied over his shoulder as he scurried down one of the tunnels which led to their secret entrance into the infirmary.
"But, but surely you don't suspect one of Prust's people to hurt the colonel?" Baker asked, stunned.
"This person is not one of the underground," Kinch explained. "Prust and some others have had suspicions about her since that incident earlier. And she hates Americans. No, Richard, I trust the people Prust has selected to watch over and care for the colonel. But this nurse is not to be trusted at all. I wouldn't put it past her to try and harm the colonel somehow. That's why we have to force her hand and get her to reveal herself somehow. I have an idea but I don't like the means needed because it would require using Colonel Hogan, in his condition, as bait." He put the headset on and tapped out in Morse code to Prust to keep a close eye on Alice and he would contact him again in an hour with additional information once a plan had been formulated. When finished, he removed the headset and handed it back to Baker.
"I'm beginning to feel Colonel Hogan might have been safer here in camp than at the hospital," Baker remarked with a sigh. "At least here all we have to worry about is Dietrich."
"Unfortunately, Richard, we had no choice but to leave the colonel in the hospital right now," Kinch admitted. "We're not set up to care for him with the type of injury he had. And we're not a hospital. Also, Wilson is a damn fine medic; the best. But he's not a doctor and Colonel Hogan required the services of a doctor."
"You've got something in mind?" asked Baker with a grin.
"Yeah, I do. Richard, I need you to contact Dieter for me. I need to speak with him. We're gonna set a trap for Alice to force her hand. Unfortunately, as I said, we're gonna have to use the colonel as bait."
Baker looked unhappy. "Do we have to Kinch?" he asked.
"I don't like it either," Kinch said. "But we have no choice. Alice wants to go after Colonel Hogan, so, we make it easy for her and we better be damn well ready when she does."
"In other words, we better not make any mistakes, right?" asked Baker as he put the headset back on.
"Right. Get Dieter on the horn." Kinch turned when he heard voices from behind him. Looking over his shoulder, Kinch saw Olsen with Wilson beside him.
"Olsen said you wanted to speak with me, Kinch?" asked Wilson.
"Yeah. I need some medical advice," Kinch replied as he guided Wilson away from the radio so their conversation wouldn't interfere with Baker's transmissions.
"Sure, if I can. What is it?"
"We're laying a trap for someone at the hospital who may try and kill Colonel Hogan. She's a nurse there and as such would have access to many drugs. If you wanted to kill someone without arousing suspicion, what might you use?
Wilson sighed as he folded his arms; his eyes narrowed as he thought for a moment. "She could use any number of things. An overdose would be the most common and the easiest. But I thought Michael and certain underground agents were caring for the colonel. You don't think one of them…"
"No. It's somebody else. We're gonna use the colonel as bait." He saw Wilson about to argue and raised a hand. "I don't like it either, but it's the only way to catch her."
"Well, as I said an overdose of something he's already receiving would be the logical thing. This way there's no proof an outside drug was used. Also, I would make sure it didn't point to me as the one who did it. And one way to do that would be to have someone else give the injection after I've made the substitution. But, and this is a big but, if it were me, I would substitute what he was being given with something that on the surface looked similar to what he's been receiving."
Kinch's face darkened. "So what you're saying is she could either give him an overdose of something he's currently being given, or substitute one drug he's currently being given with something else."
"You got it. Even plain water once it's injected into his vein could kill Colonel Hogan."
"Thanks, Joe," Kinch replied slapping the medic on the back. "You've been a big help." He then approached the radio table as Baker handed him the microphone and an extra headset. "Dieter, this is Papa Bear. Listen, we have a problem at the hospital. No, no, Colonel Hogan's fine right now. But he may not be if we can't stop what's going to happen. Olsen's gonna meet you at the hospital after morning roll call disguised as a Gestapo Major. Now listen, here's what I want you to do." As he outlined his plan to the underground operative, the faces of Baker and Olsen broke out into grins.
In the common room, Carter sat at the table playing solitaire while LeBeau nervously kept watch at the door. Both of them were thinking the same thing; and that was that something was wrong at the hospital if Prust was contacting them. And to them it meant only one thing, that something had happened to Colonel Hogan.
LeBeau let out a deep breath while his eyes scanned the compound as he blinked away the tears. His couldn't stop his gut telling him that Colonel Hogan had died despite every measure haven been taken. He felt it even in his heart that this was what Prust had contacted them about. What are we going to do without you, mon Colonel? How do we keep going? He wiped his eyes and tried concentrating on what he was doing.
Carter nervously laid down red cards on top of black ones. He face belied his true feelings. His eyes were bright and his lower lip trembled but he fought the urge to cry. He would wait until he was alone and then he would mourn the man he admired and looked up to more than anybody in his entire life. Like LeBeau, Carter's gut was telling him Hogan had died and it broke the young sergeant's heart. How am I going to tell Newkirk? He's gonna be devastated, just like us. And what about poor Schultz? I don't know if I want to continue in this operation without you, Colonel. It'd be too hard taking orders from somebody else.
Just then, both men looked around as Kinch and Olsen reappeared from below, with Kinch striking the hidden mechanism. He motioned for LeBeau, Carter and Olsen to follow him into Hogan's office where the others found places to sit as Kinch closed the door. He then leaned against the desk with his legs crossed and arms folded. He was about to speak when he noticed the long expressions on the faces of LeBeau and Carter.
"What's bothering you two?" he asked. "Carter? LeBeau?"
"You're going to tell us the Colonel's dead aren't you?" Carter asked, his voice quivering.
"Andrew, where'd you get that notion from?" Kinch asked, his eyes narrowing and a look of disbelief on his face.
"It's true then isn't it?" asked LeBeau. "Why else would Michael contact us? He has no reason to, mon ami, unless it is to inform us that the colonel has passed."
"Let me allay those fears right now then," Kinch said. "First, Colonel Hogan is not dead. He is very much alive. Michael contacted us because he and two of the underground nurses at the hospital have discovered a nurse there who may be planning on killing the colonel and we've got to stop her before she does. But rest assured when I say that Colonel Hogan is not dead."