Chapter 8-Withholding of Truth
Hogan exhaled deeply and wrapped his arms around himself as he continued staring at his men.
"What are you fellas doing here anyway?" he asked in a tired but annoyed voice. All he wanted right now was some sleep, and not to play twenty questions.
"We were just wondering where you were all night, Colonel?" asked Kinch. "I mean, we were here the entire time waiting for you to return after we discovered you weren't in your quarters."
"I don't have to answer to any of you when I leave my quarters at night," Hogan stated.
"But you told us you were going right to sleep," Newkirk said. He knew he and the others were treading on shaky ground by interrogating their commanding officer.
"So?" asked Hogan, his command face in place.
"We don't mean to sound like we're ganging up on you, Colonel," Kinch stated. "But you can see how it looks when you tell us you're going to sleep, and then you're gone from your quarters all night. It just looks strange."
"Wait a minute," Hogan folded his arms across his chest. "Just how did you know I wasn't in my room to begin with?" His eyes narrowed. "Were all of you checking up on me even after both Wilson and I told you all I needed was some sleep?" He saw Kinch, Newkirk and LeBeau bow their heads, looking embarrassed; only Carter seemed puzzled.
"Well?" Hogan asked. "I'm waiting for an answer to my question."
"What was the question again?" asked Carter sheepishly.
"Were all of you checking up on me after being told there was nothing, and I repeat, nothing, wrong?"
Carter shuffled his feet nervously. "It was kinda my fault, Colonel. I was awake when you opened the door to your room and I saw you looking out. I thought maybe something was wrong so after you closed your door, I sorta went inside your room and discovered you were gone. That's when…"
"So that's when you decided to wake Newkirk, Kinch, and LeBeau and tell them I wasn't here."
"No, sir," Carter continued. "That's when I saw you when I looked out the window and decided to follow you."
Hogan's eyes widened; he was getting a bad feeling. "Oh?" was all he could ask.
"Yes, sir," Carter shifted again. "I saw you go into one of the guest cottages and went closer to see what was going on in case you needed help. I saw you kissing Frau Linkmeyer, Colonel." Carter winced at his last sentence.
Hogan saw all his men now looking at him waiting for an explanation. He exhaled deeply knowing he couldn't very well tell them the truth and they would see through a lie also. Hogan came to the conclusion that a half-truth was best considering the short time he had to come up with something.
Hogan chuckled. "Carter, I'm not going to lie to you. You did see me kissing Gertrude Linkmeyer. But it's not for the reason you think."
"Colonel, how could you?" LeBeau's face wrinkled in distaste at the mental image he had.
Hogan looked at his watch. "Small talk will have to wait. Roll call's in about fifteen minutes, so I suggest we get ready before Schultz comes busting in here."
"But Gov'nor…" Newkirk began.
"Not now, Newkirk," Hogan reiterated as he ushered the four men towards and quickly out the door.
Now in the room with the other men, the small group began to change into their uniforms except for Carter who had slept in his.
"Jeez," Carter murmured to Newkirk softly so nobody would hear him. "Just the thought of Colonel Hogan kissing Frau Linkmeyer is weird. Wonder why he's doing it?"
"Who knows," Newkirk replied. "Officers. Gave up long time ago tryin' to figure 'em out." He adjusted his cover on his head and shoved Carter ahead of him as the men fell out for roll call nearly bowling Schultz over in their haste.
After the men returned to the hut following roll call, LeBeau tied the apron around his waist and went about preparing breakfast. Hogan poured himself a steaming hot cup of coffee. Then, he glanced at his men.
"LeBeau, call me when breakfast is ready. I'll be in my quarters.'
"Oui, mon Colonel." LeBeau watched the Colonel walk into his quarters and close the door. The Frenchman then approached the other three and kept his voice low. "I thought the Colonel was going to explain himself." He suddenly gasped as a horrible thought occurred to him. "Sacre chats!" he exclaimed.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Newkirk asked.
"I just thought about what Andre said he saw Frau Linkmeyer do to the Colonel."
"We already know about the kissing part," Newkirk said.
"Non, not that, Pierre. It's the other part."
Newkirk rolled his eyes. "Louie, what in blazes are you natterin' on about?"
LeBeau made a clucking noise. "The part where Andre saw Frau Linkmeyer unbuttoning the Colonel's shirt. You don't think he…naaaa. Not the Colonel."
Newkirk studied the Frenchman's face as he finally understood what LeBeau was referring to. "You think the Gov'nor would…not the Colonel. How could you even think that."
"Think what?" asked a puzzled Carter.
Kinch glanced at the young Sergeant. "That Colonel Hogan may have…that is, he might have…gone to bed with her after you left.'
Carter's eyes bugged wide and his jaw dropped. "You think the Colonel had sex with Frau Linkmeyer?" he said a bit louder than he shoulder.
"Will you keep your bleedin' voice down," Newkirk demanded. "You want the whole bleedin' barracks to find out?"
"Sorry," said Carter. "But how did you jump to that conclusion?"
"Well, didn't you say she was unbuttoning his shirt after she unzipped his jacket?" asked LeBeau.
Carter shrugged. "Well, yeah. But I also said he stopped her while she was unbuttoning his shirt. So if he stopped her, how do we know he then had sex with her?"
"Wait a minute," Kinch suddenly said with a wave of his hands. "What are we talking about? This is Colonel Hogan. He would never cross that line, and especially not with Burkhalter's sister. And something just came to me that would answer everything."
"What is that, mon ami?"
"Remember one week ago when General Butler wanted to talk to Colonel Hogan alone without any of us present? I bet anything the General had a mission only for the Colonel that didn't involve us."
"You're right, Kinch," Newkirk said. "Of course. That has to be it. Because a week later Burkhalter shows up. I bet that Burkhalter has some information that he discussed with his sister and the Colonel was probably ordered to use whatever methods he had to in order to get the ruddy info. That's all."
"You are probably right, Pierre," added LeBeau.
"That makes sense," Carter agreed. "Just goes to show we shouldn't jump to conclusions like that."
"What jump to conclusions?" asked Newkirk sarcastically glaring at Carter. "You started this whole bloody mess to begin with coming to us with your ruddy suspicions about the Gov'nor in the first place."
"Get your facts right before you say something," LeBeau pushed Carter's hat forward over his eyes before returning to his cooking.
"Wait a minute," Carter pushed his hat back on his head. "What did I do?"
"Nothing, Andrew," Kinch said. "Just forget it. We just need to apologize to the Colonel."
"Apologize to me for what?" a voice asked. The men looked around to see Hogan having left his quarters, approach the potbelly stove, and after grabbing the coffeepot, pour himself a refill. After setting the coffeepot back on the stove, he took a drink and waited for his men to explain.
Kinch exhaled deeply then looked up into his commanding officer's face. "We just want to apologize for thinking what we were thinking, Colonel. About you and Frau Linkmeyer we mean."
"Oh? And just what were you thinking if I may ask?" asked Hogan with a neutral expression on his face. He was curious as to where his men were going with this apology.
"Well, sir, see, we thought you were having a fling with Burkhalter's sister," began Newkirk. "But now we know that's not the case."
Hogan drank more coffee and waited. "It isn't?"
"No, sir," Newkirk continued. "What we mean, Gov'nor, is that it was Kinch reminded us about that private conversation you had with General Butler a week before Burkhalter got here."
"What Pierre means, mon Colonel, is that we know about the mission to romance Frau Linkmeyer to get information from her."
Hogan arched his eyebrows caught completely off-guard. Then a small smile started. If his men believed he was romancing Gertrude to get classified information for the Allies, he wasn't about to correct them. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you fellas anything, but the General swore me to secrecy. Sorry."
"It's okay, Colonel," Kinch said with an amused grin. "So tell us, sir, how is it romancing Frau Linkmeyer?"
Hogan smirked. "Most of the time we only talk. Although I'm running out of things to talk about. Oh, before I forget, Newkirk, I need you and LeBeau to do me a favor."
"What is it, sir?"
"After Klink, Burkhalter and Frau Linkmeyer leave for the Ratszeller for dinner, I need you to raid Klink's stash and get me a bottle of his best champagne and some caviar. LeBeau, while Newkirk is busy doing that, I need you to get me a bouquet of flowers from Klink's garden. And be sure to get a nice assortment."
"Champagne and caviar, sir?" asked a puzzled Newkirk.
"Flowers, mon Colonel?"
"You heard me," Hogan said. "And bring them to my quarters."
"Forgive me for askin', Colonel, but what's the occasion?" asked the Englander.
"Simple," Hogan began. "Today is Frau Linkmeyer's thirty-second wedding anniversary, and she is depressed because the General keeps hinting that her husband is deceased instead of missing-in-action. I'd like to do something nice for her this evening when they return from the Ratszeller."
"You mean you're gonna go talk to her after they return from dinner tonight, sir?" asked Kinch. "Why don't you take the night off like us seeing as LeBeau doesn't have to cook tonight, and we don't have to serve."
"Can't do that, I'm afraid," Hogan explained. "I only have tonight and tomorrow to pump her for the information. Can't let any opportunity get by." Inwardly Hogan smiled as the true meaning of what he just said repeated itself in his mind.
"We understand, Colonel," Newkirk said. "Louie and I will see to everything."
"Good," Hogan said with a smile.
"Colonel, can I ask a question?" asked Kinch. He saw Hogan nod.
"You said most of the time you and Frau Linkmeyer talk. Begging the Colonel's pardon, but what do you do the rest of the time?"
Hogan let out a deep breath. "The rest of the time I have to listen to her talk about Otto and their life together. It's kind of sad in a romantic sort of way when one stops to think about it." He shook his head then looked at the Frenchman. "LeBeau, how long until breakfast is ready? I'm starved."
"Not at least for an hour, mon Colonel. I'm afraid I was a bit delayed starting to prepare it," LeBeau said embarrassingly.
"I understand," Hogan answered. He finished his coffee and sat the cup on the table. "I'll take a walk around the compound and be back in an hour."
Gertrude Linkmeyer stood in front of the window in her quarters drinking a cup of coffee while looking through the lace curtains since she finished breakfast. She really couldn't explain why she thought standing in front of the window would help keep her from thinking about what today was, and what she was missing, but it wasn't working. No sooner had she sat her cup down in the saucer she held in her other hand, then she spotted Robert Hogan strolling about the compound. She pulled aside one of the curtains so that her view of him was unobstructed. And though she couldn't be certain, she could have sworn she saw him glance over in her direction for a quick moment.
"Robert," she murmured softly as her eyes followed him. "I wish I didn't have to go to this ridiculous dinner this evening with Klink and my brother. I so need to speak with you on this day more than any other day. I know you would understand how I feel today of all days." She released the curtain when Hogan was out of sight, then took another drink of coffee. Turning away from the window, Gertrude headed in the direction of the sofa and sat down where she then allowed her mind to reminisce of happier times before the war took the life she knew and loved away from her.
She smiled sadly as she recalled that before the war, every year on their anniversary, Otto would awaken her with a 'good morning' kiss, and served breakfast in bed on a tray. He would then see to her every want and whim to make that day extra special for her. Of course once the war started, and Otto was ordered to report to duty, those little delights became obsolete. Oh, how she missed those simple little everyday things that Otto made so special as only he could.
"Otto," she said in a low voice as the tears rolled down her cheeks. "Please forgive me for letting another man share my bed during this time. He will never replace you, my love, nor did I ever intend for him to replace you. But he has made this difficult time a bit more bearable for me."
Finishing her coffee, Gertrude sat the cup and saucer down on the end table, then wiped the pads of her fingers across her cheeks. She missed Otto so much today. And it all began when she awoke this morning after Hogan had left to return to his barracks. It had felt so good to have a man's arms around her again when she awakened as it brought back memories of Otto. In fact, Hogan was so much like Otto it was like having him with her again. In fact, when Hogan's arms were around her, she imagined it was her husband's arms instead. When Hogan made love to her, she imagined it was her husband. After all, Hogan made her feel alive in a way she hadn't felt since Otto's last night with her before he left for the Russian front.
Gertrude inhaled and exhaled through her mouth. "Otto, tonight I will feel you and be with you again, even if it is not you in my arms."