Chapter 11
Hilda was busy with filing some index cards in the top file cabinet when she felt a pair of lips touch the side of her neck. She smiled knowing who it was without looking.
"Hello, Colonel Hogan," she said without turning.
"How'd you know it was me?" Hogan asked kissing her neck again before he gently turned her around to face him.
"I figured as soon as the other Colonel Hogan returned to your barracks, you would come here." She gave him a quick kiss on the mouth before she walked away from him and returned to her desk with Hogan walking around to the front of her desk and leaning over her typewriter.
"I understand my namesake asked you out tonight."
She smiled coyly up at him. "He did. Are you jealous?"
"Well….I could be. Maybe. Perhaps. Where are you meeting him by-the-way?"
"At the motor pool after evening roll call. Why?"
"Are you going?"
"Maybe I will. Then again maybe I won't. Should I go?" She smiled up at Hogan seductively as she pulled her chair up close to her typewriter.
Hogan thought about it for a few minutes. He really didn't want her to be anywhere around the phony; but, there could be a good chance he just might let his guard down around her as Hilda was a stunning-looking woman. He leaned over further and kissed her forehead. "I trust you," he said finally. "Go ahead. Have a good time. All I ask is that you let me know what he tells you later."
Hilda smiled despite recalling the other Hogan's last words about giving information in exchange for a little romance.
"And what do I get out of this if I do?" she asked shyly already suspecting the answer.
Hogan stood up and wrapped his arms around himself. "I can see that you get several pairs of the best nylons the war can supply," he said with a wry smile.
"I'll think about it," Hilda replied sweetly.
Hogan kissed her on top of her head. "You do that," he replied with a grin before hurriedly leaving the office.
Moments after Hogan had left, Hilda fought back her tears as she started to realize that maybe, just maybe, the man she had kissed earlier might be right. And that the man who had just left the office wanted to know what happened on her date in exchange for nylons. She was starting to believe she meant nothing more to him than a means of obtaining information he wasn't entitled to. Well, after tonight, not only would she not tell him how her date went, but from this day forward, she would cease to divulge any more information to the man she had known all this time as Colonel Hogan. Let him find somebody else to toy with and get information from.
In addition, tonight after roll call, she would meet with the new Colonel Hogan and enjoy herself while reserving judgment on him until she could figure out whether or not he could be trusted as well.
Hogan felt a bit better as he walked towards the barracks after his talk with Hilda. He knew he could trust her not to disclose what little she knew about his operation, but he also knew his namesake could not be trusted not to try to get information out of her. But now he had another problem. The new prisoner seemed to have an interest in his explosives expert. And while Hogan trusted Carter explicitly, as he did all the men on his team, he couldn't help but worry; Carter was so young and naive, and this man was obviously very devious and cunning that his young Sergeant might not see what's happening until it's already happening. Reaching the barracks, Hogan walked inside.
"Is our friend still here?" he asked looking around warily.
"I checked about ten minutes ago, Colonel," Kinch replied. "He's sleeping like a baby."
"Coffee, Colonel?" asked LeBeau before his commanding officer could respond.
"Good and yes," Hogan replied with a sigh to both as he removed his crush cap and tossed it onto the table before sitting down at the table with Carter, Newkirk, and Kinch. LeBeau got up and poured a cup of lukewarm coffee.
"Did you speak with Hilda?" asked Newkirk with a grin.
"Yeah I did. Thanks, LeBeau," Hogan said accepting the coffee cup from the Frenchman. He took a drink and frowned at the taste. "She's going to meet our friend at the motor pool after evening roll call. Later on she'll update us on what took place." He sighed. "Hopefully he'll reveal something to her that we can use." After taking another drink of coffee, Hogan looked at Kinch. "Once we can use the radio again, have London send us several pairs of nylon stockings and some perfume for Hilda."
"Sure thing, Colonel," the radioman replied with an amused grin.
LeBeau smirked at Newkirk. "There's nothing like amour." He saw Newkirk roll his eyes and shake his head.
Hilda glanced at her watch as she stood outside the motor pool looking around; she had been waiting nearly fifteen minutes after evening role call and the new prisoner still hadn't shown up. She exhaled and started wondering if she was being stood up. Reaching into her purse, she removed her compact and checked out her make-up again figuring she would give the man fifteen more minutes and then leave and go home. Then with a sigh, she closed the compact, and as she put it back in her purse, a pair of lips nuzzled the back of her neck and a pair of hands gently gripped her shoulders. Hilda smiled coyly as she turned slightly and noticed the new Colonel Hogan standing behind her. She turned around to face him.
"I thought you weren't going to come?" she asked between kisses.
The American smirked and repeatedly kissed her mouth. "Don't be….silly….I could….never….stand you….up…." He then plundered her mouth and wrapped his arms around her pressing her close to him. She moaned against his mouth. When they pulled apart for air, she looked up at the man. "What now?" she asked.
The American stepped back, removed his crush cap and bowed before putting the cap back on his head. Standing beside Klink's staff car that was in for washing, he opened the rear passenger door and gestured for her to get in. Smiling, Hilda climbed in and the American climbed in beside her and closed the door behind him. He smiled at Hilda.
"Now where was I?" he said chuckling as he wrapped his arms around the blond, pulled her close and plundered her mouth again. He heard her moan against his mouth again. He then moved his mouth to the side of her neck and pressed kisses up and down. "Now tell me all about yourself," he murmured as she tilted her head to allow him easier access to her throat.
"What do you want to know?" she purred with closed eyes.
"Everything," the American told her as he nuzzled her neck.
Even though it was a couple of hours after evening roll call, Hogan and his men were still awake, unable to sleep, they were seated at the commons table drinking coffee and doing other things to try and stay busy until their guest returned to the barracks. Only the hanging lamp over the table was lit. Hogan had his crush cap in his hands and was busy blowing hot breath on the emblem on his cap and polishing it; Newkirk and LeBeau were playing gin; Carter was standing at the barracks door with it cracked slightly and keeping watch for any sign of their new hut mate, and Kinch was busy playing solitaire. Satisfied with how the emblem now looked, Hogan tossed his cap on the table and looked at his watch. He sighed wearily as he took a drink of coffee. The others glanced at their commanding officer and could tell he was worried.
"Hilda will be all right, Colonel," Kinch assured his commanding officer. "She can handle herself."
"I know she can," Hogan replied. "But I'm still worried my namesake might somehow trick her into disclosing something without her even realizing she's doing it."
Newkirk paused before tossing down a card to glance over at Hogan. "But Gov'nor, if you're so worried, why'd you let her keep her date with the ruddy bastard?"
Hogan shrugged his shoulders, then looked down into his coffee cup. "I guess I saw a way to get information on our friend seeing as he asked Hilda for a date, and decided to use her as bait. I just didn't think it would bother me as much as it does." He took a drink of coffee. "I just hope I don't regret using her."
Suddenly Carter closed the door. "He's coming," he stated hurrying onto his lower bunk with legs drawn up and pretended to resume writing a letter. The door opened two minutes later and the American officer casually walked in wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes fell on Hogan who was glaring at him.
"Hilda is some dish," the man said with a smirk. "Such soft skin she has. So passionate a woman." He could see Hogan grinding his jaw as his face turned a deep crimson.
"If you touched her…." Hogan hissed.
"Not to worry, Colonel. I was a perfect gentleman which isn't easy considering. But things could change tomorrow night."
Newkirk's eyes widened in surprise. He exhaled deeply and shook his head in disgust. "I knew I shoulda followed me first instinct and reported your ass for bein' out of the barracks after dark, so you could be locked up."
The man chuckled and tried to stifle a yawn. "But you didn't, now did you? Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I'm going to turn in. It's late and I'm tired." He then looked at Hogan and smirked. "Tomorrow, Colonel, you and I will see the Kommandant."
"About what may I ask?" asked Hogan. "I don't need you to see Klink."
"That's where you're wrong, Colonel," the other Hogan said with a grin. "Tomorrow after roll call we will see Klink and you will inform him you cannot continue with your masquerade any longer, and are turning over command of the prisoners to me and stepping down."
Hogan's jaw dropped and he and the others stared in shock at each other, speechless. After a few seconds, he stared at the other Hogan. "You're nuts!" he said, with a shake of his head. "Over my dead body," he added.
The other Hogan chuckled. "It can be done that way also if you prefer. Goodnight, gentlemen." He then abruptly turned and walked away, closing the door to the smaller room after entering.
Carter tossed aside his letter and joined the others at the table. Newkirk tossed down his cards.
"That tears it, Gov'nor. You ain't sleepin' in your quarters tonight. Not after that bloody threat."
"He's right, Colonel," Kinch added. "He might try and get rid of you during the night."
"Filthy animal!" spat LeBeau. "If anything happens to the Colonel during the night…."
"Hold it. Hold it," Hogan stated holding up a hand. "I appreciate your concern, but I doubt he'll try anything tonight."
"And how do you know that?" asked Kinch.
"Mainly because he threatened me in front of you guys. He knows if anything happens to me during the night there's no way he could get away with it." Hogan rubbed his chin. "No. I think he's going to want to undermine my authority in camp first and he needs me alive for that. I believe I'll be safe enough."
"You sure, Colonel?" asked Carter sheepishly. "I mean, if you're worried, you can use my bunk tonight instead of your own."
Hogan smiled at the young man. "I appreciate that, Carter, but I'll be fine. However, I'll keep your offer in mind just in case." He tried stifling a yawn and failed, then looked at his watch. "I think it's time we all got some sleep. Hopefully tomorrow we'll hear from Otto via Schnitzer and can resolve this entire matter and get rid of this guy." He slowly got to his feet. "So I'll say goodnight."
There was a chorus of 'goodnights' from his men as Hogan turned and walked towards his quarters feeling the eyes of his team on his back. He knew they were worried after hearing his namesake threaten him; hell, he was worried as well. But he truly believed what he had told them about his being safe tonight. But he didn't want them to worry about him tonight but be on their own guard if he was wrong in his assumption. It was important that his men be safe and protect each other; more so in this case than ever. He quietly opened the door and walked into the darkened room and just as quietly closed it. Use to maneuvering in the dark, Hogan found his way to his closet and removed his pajamas. Glancing over his shoulder as he unzipped his bomber jacket, he could see in the thin shaft of moonlight shining between the closed shutters, his namesake lying on his side facing him on the lower bunk seemingly asleep. He pulled off his jacket and draped it over the back of the chair behind his desk.
As he changed into his pajamas, Hogan kept an eye on the other man. Once finished, he made his way to the stepladder at the foot of his double bunk and climbed up onto the upper bunk before stretching out with hands behind his head. Closing his eyes, he found sleep soon overcame him.
In the bunk below, the other Hogan opened his eyes. The entire time the other man now in the upper bunk had been undressing, he had been watching him through barely open eyes while giving the appearance of being asleep. Being captured and sent to a POW camp wasn't as bad as he thought it would be because he knew things could have gone badly just as easily. And he couldn't believe his luck that his captors were from Stalag 13 which is exactly where he wanted to be. He knew what he had to do, and he was intent on carrying out his orders. So, he immediately surrendered when the Luftwaffe patrol found him in the woods.
He had to admit, however, that he was a bit surprised discovering there was a 'Colonel Robert Hogan' already in camp, but his orders were exact. And if he had to, he was to 'eliminate' any potential threats in order to carry out those orders. And to him, this other Hogan was presenting a problem; a problem which he would have to eliminate one way or the other if he was to succeed. Then his thoughts switched to the lovely blond secretary in Klink's office. He smiled. Spending time with her was definitely a fringe benefit. He thought about how, tomorrow night, he would step up his romancing of her to the next level if he could. After tomorrow night, Hilda will believe anything I say, he thought to himself. So what if I have to romance her in the process? It'll be worth it. One way or the other, things would work out. He would see to it.
All was quiet in the darkened common room as the prisoners slept; well, all except four men who found sleep difficult to come by. Each man was unaware of his three friends still being awake as well, and each believed that he himself was the only one unable to find a respite from the thoughts plaguing him.
Carter lay on his back on his bunk. He was trying to remain quiet as Newkirk's bunk was right above his, and he was somewhat sure the Englander was probably asleep but wasn't sure. Regardless, he didn't want to wake him in case he was. But right now, Carter wished his best friend was awake so he could talk about how scared he was. Scared that in the morning when they woke, they would discover Hogan was dead, murdered by the new prisoner.
In the bunk above, Newkirk's eyes were focused on a spot on the wall. He suspected Carter was awake, but really didn't want to become involved in a long-winded conversation with the younger man right now. But he suspected his best friend was just as worried about Hogan's safety as he was. Only difference being that unlike Carter, Newkirk knew what he would do about it if when morning came, the unthinkable had happened the night before. And killing their prisoner was all Newkirk could think of doing.
Kinch exhaled deeply as he lay on his side on the bunk covering the opening to the tunnel entrance. It was the one sure way nobody could get below. He found his eyes glued on the closed door to Hogan's quarters so that at the first sign of trouble, he would be the first one on the scene. And right now, Kinch had prepared himself and swore if Hogan wasn't alive come morning, neither would the new prisoner be either.
The little Frenchman was too angry to sleep. He was also worried; worried what might be happening, or could happen behind that closed door he could only see part of from where he lay. At that point LeBeau realized he wouldn't care what happened to himself if Hogan died. He himself would gladly surrender his life knowing the new prisoner would pay with his own.