**Sorry chapter 17 took so long. RL, medical problems for myself and my cat Hogan, and writer's block got in the way. But better late than never as they say.**
Chapter 17
Carter and LeBeau exchanged unsure looks before again looking at Kinch.
"You're not just saying that, are you?" asked Carter. "The Colonel's really alive?"
"He's alive," Kinch reiterated. "But he won't be if we can't stop a nurse in the hospital from killing him."
"Who?" asked LeBeau with a touch of anger in his voice.
"The head nurse; her name is Alice. According to Michael, she dislikes Americans and has a problem with the care Colonel Hogan has been receiving. Red Angel and Blue Sapphire both suspect she may be connected to Dietrich's attempt on the colonel. So, we're gonna force her hand by allowing her to attempt to kill the colonel." He saw both men about to argue and raised a hand silencing them. "I know. I don't like it either. But it's the only way we can catch her and keep the colonel safe. Now, I'm sending Olsen into town after morning role call disguised as a Gestapo officer."
"In the daytime?" asked an incredulous LeBeau. "That's kind of risky, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is. But Olsen is the best for this situation. He is our outside man, don't forget, and he knows the language and the area better than anyone."
"You have a plan, mon ami?" asked LeBeau.
"Yeah, I do. And here it is."
Morning roll call came and went quickly for which the men of barracks two were grateful. The minute they were dismissed, everybody hurried back inside with Kinch, Olsen and LeBeau going below with Carter keeping watch up above. As Olsen quickly changed into his uniform of a Gestapo officer, Kinch handed him the identification papers he would need just in case.
"You shouldn't have any problems with these papers," Kinch told him. "Now, you remember what you're suppose to do." It was a statement as opposed to a question.
"Don't worry, Kinch," Olsen replied. "Alice won't know what hit her in the end." He then stepped back for Kinch's appraisal. "How do I look? And don't tell me good enough to shoot."
"Then we won't tell you," LeBeau joked.
"Ha, ha," Olsen said sarcastically as the three men walked towards the ladder leading to the emergency tunnel. Kinch slapped him on the back. "Be careful as it's daytime, and good luck. The car from the motor pool is parked not far from the emergency tunnel. And remember, Colonel Hogan's life depends on everything going according to the plan."
"Understood," Olsen replied as he climbed up the ladder with Kinch and LeBeau watching.
"What now?" asked the Frenchman eagerly.
"Now I'll contact Michael and let him know Olsen's on his way and under what name so he'll know. Then, I'll ask to speak with Dieter." The duo headed back in the direction of the radio room.
Alice watched the activity going on around her while patting her uniform pocket where she was hiding the syringe. A cunning smile appeared on her face knowing that the American would be dead within minutes, if not seconds of receiving the injection. Only thing now was to find the right opportunity. She was aware the American was receiving injections of pain meds and an antibiotic. All she needed was an opening where she could make a switch of syringes. Her attention was suddenly drawn down the hall where a Gestapo major, tall, rather handsome looking with dark hair, walked through the door and immediately strode towards the Nurses' station. He appeared very confident in his walk and everybody who passed him gave him a wide berth. In fact, she could say he seemed almost arrogant which she had heard was true of most members of the Gestapo. She straightened when the major got closer. Standing in front of the nurses' station, he gave Alice his most charming smile.
"Gnadige Frau, I am Major Felix Avery, Gestapo," he touched the brim of his cap. "From your name tag I see you are nurse Gunter."
"Jawohl, Major," Alice replied with a tense smile of her own. She was just as afraid of the Gestapo as of Dietrich. She had known of and knew people who simply vanished never to be seen or heard from again when the Gestapo was involved, and didn't want to be one of them. She swallowed nervously as Avery's eyes never left her face. He secretly wondered how could this woman possibly care for an American or even allow one to be cared for. He saw Alice's tense smile and smirked. This woman was nervous in the presence of the Gestapo and that pleased him tremendously. Perhaps the reason he was here wouldn't be as difficult after all.
I understand you have an American named Hogan in this hospital. A Colonel Hogan from Stalag 13."
"Jawohl, Major," Alice replied. She secretly wondered what this major wanted and just why he was here.
"What can you tell me about this American officer? The information I have on him is somewhat limited. How is he doing physically? Will he live?"
"For that you should speak with his doctor, Major."
"That would be a Doctor Prust I believe?"
"Jawohl. But from what I've heard, he should recover fully."
Avery appeared disturbed by this news. "Damn," he uttered under his breath.
"Major, is something wrong?" Alice kept her voice low. "You sound as if you are disappointed that this American will survive."
"I shouldn't say this, but can I can trust you not to repeat it? Because if I can't, I can see that you disappear as so many others have. And somehow, I don't think your family would want that." He didn't know if this woman had a family or not, but might as well let her think he knew for his purposes.
"You can trust me, Major. I am a loyal German and would not betray your confidence."
Avery smiled a wicked smile. "I detest all Americans and wish them all dead."
Alice appeared confused. "Then why are you having him guarded? If I may ask that is."
"Because my superiors have ordered me to have this animal guarded. If it was up to me, I would let whoever shot him have another chance to finish him off. The filthy American is responsible for the deaths of many Germans. I can't forgive something like that."
Alice suddenly felt a kinship with this handsome major. He apparently felt as she did about Americans. But still, she felt she had to be careful. She discreetly patted her uniform pocket again. "Sounds like you wish he was dead or would die from his injury, Major."
Avery looked around. "I do wish this dog had died. If he had, I would not have to waste my time when I could be handling more important things for the Fatherland. American dog!" With pursed lips and a sneer on his face, Avery appeared to be fighting to control his temper. "There has to be some way to dispose of this American mongrel without raising suspicion." Out of the corner of his eye he spotted another nurse coming towards them. He straightened as she came closer. Avery looked her up and down approvingly and smiled, touching the brim of his cap. She glanced back at him, returning his smile. She was an extremely attractive woman; he just wished he had the time. His eyes watched her as she obtained something from behind the nurses' station counter before turning and walking away in the direction from which she came. Alone again, the major leaned forward again, keeping his voice low.
"As I was saying, gnadige frau, my time could be better spent if the swine had simply died. And believe me when I say, he will pay for all the loyal Germans he has killed, even if I have to see him dead myself before he leaves here." He smiled. "I am sorry to burden you with my feelings, but this has upset me since I was ordered to be here because of this man; and now only to find out he will live is a bitter pill to swallow. It was just more than I can take. Danke for letting me express myself. Now, if you'll excuse me, I will go check on this American. Auf wiedersehen." Touching the brim of his cap again, he started to turn and walk away.
"Major," Alice called out; she had made a decision. Also, she saw an opportunity to get close to Hogan and decided to use it. She saw Avery turn and take a few steps back to the nurses' station. Looking cautiously around and seeing nobody within earshot, he leaned forward again.
"Can I do something for you, nurse?" he asked.
"Major, if you meant what you said, I think I might be able to help you."
"I said a lot of things. Anything in particular?"
Alice licked her dry lips. "About wanting the American dead. I think I can help you."
Avery's eyes narrowed as he thought her words over. A cunning smile appeared on his face. "What did you have in mind?" he asked.
Reaching into her pocket, Alice produced the syringe and held it up for the major to see. His eyebrows arched.
"A syringe? What's in it if I may ask?"
Alice smiled. "I came up with the idea yesterday. It's simply a mixture of bleach and water. It resembles one of the medicines the American receives. All I need do is to switch the regular syringe with this one and whoever gives him the injection will kill him. This way it won't be connected with me." She then held her breath as the Gestapo major simply looked at her; a grin appeared.
"Excellent idea my dear," he said, his grin widening into a smile. "But why can't you give him the injection yourself?"
"Doctor Prust has selected certain nurses and his back up, Doctor Szell, to care for the American. Nobody else is allowed in his room. In fact, a day or so ago someone got past the guards posted outside his room."
"Guards? What guards? I ordered no guards posted yet. How many?"
Alice seemed puzzled. "There are three outside his room and two more inside his room. The ones inside were ordered after someone got past the ones outside." She became distressed. "In fact, one of the guards posted outside was killed by my husband and was replaced with someone else."
Avery shook his head sadly. "Must have been Major Hochstetter who ordered them. I understand he is, shall we say, obsessed with this American colonel." He eyed Alice. "You said someone got past the guards outside his room. Did you know who this was by any chance?" he asked tilting his head slightly to the side with narrowed eyes.
Alice hesitated for a few minutes, not sure if she should reveal anything about her estranged husband. Yet this Gestapo major was extremely nice and wanted this American dead as did she. Licking her dry lips again, she glanced around making certain nobody was nearby. She decided to chance it. Maybe she could benefit from this.
"My estranged husband was the one who tried to kill the American the last time. He made me help him, though. He threatened if I didn't do as he ordered he would kill me. He won't leave me alone, and he scares me. Major, I have two children to care for. He's the one who killed your corporal. I'm sorry."
Avery appeared to be thinking things over. "Who is your husband?"
"His name is Karl Dietrich. He is a sergeant at a POW camp. Stalag 13 I believe."
Avery raised an eyebrow. "A prison guard at a POW camp? Interesting. But why should your husband want to kill this American?"
"I suspect he's the reason this colonel is here to begin with." Alice couldn't prove it, but she was just about certain Dietrich was responsible for Hogan being injured.
"I see. Gnadige frau, I have an offer for you."
"What is it, Major?"
"I have an idea in mind from which we can both benefit. I will make certain your husband never troubles you again if you will do something for me."
Alice looked at Avery wide-eyed. She hadn't expected such an offer from this man. To be able to see the American dead and be rid of Karl at the same time was just too tempting to pass up. She smiled slyly. "What do you want me to do?"
"I can't get you into the American's room without arousing suspicion, but there is a way to inject him with the contents of that syringe. You do this for me and I will see that your estranged husband never bothers you again. Ever. Also, we will put the blame on one of the nurses chosen by this Doctor Prust, and I will see to her arrest personally, and nobody will ever know you and I were involved. It will appear she did it on her own. But first, I need to know the names of the nurses this doctor has chosen to care for the American; then we will choose one of them."
"He has chosen Judith, Gretchen, Sarah, Jana, Rachel and Mara."
"I see," the major scratched his chin curiously. "And who normally gives the colonel his medication?"
"From what I understand, that would usually be Mara or Rachel."
"Are both of these women on duty now?"
"Mara is but it is Rachel's day off."
"Has the American has his medication yet?"
Again Alice checked her watch. "Within the hour he should be receiving it, Major."
"Excellent. We will have this Mara prepare the American's medication. I will make sure she leaves the tray with the meds on it at the nurses station and then I will distract her for one or two minutes while you switch the syringes. Then she will take the tray into the American's room and give him his medication. It will appear that she did it."
"But I could be accused of switching the syringes by Mara."
"Not to fear my dear. I will be uh, watching you the entire time. And I will swear that you never touched the tray or what was on it. Nobody would dare question me." He chuckled. "Poor Major Hochstetter will be so distressed to learn his Colonel Hogan had died. Now, will you do as I suggest?"
Alice smiled cunningly. "Jawohl, Major. What do we do first?"
Avery smirked. "First, I want you to get this Mara here as soon as possible. We will proceed from there."