Chapter 19
The next morning found the prisoners of barracks two, minus Newkirk, standing in formation outside the barracks. And although he still felt a bit nauseous, somewhat dizzy, and his head pounding, Hogan number two was standing in formation as well, hands clasped behind him. He watched as Schultz counted each prisoner, pausing momentarily when he got to him, and, for a minute, the two men stared at each other. Then, Schultz continued on with his counting. He had just finished when Klink was seen hurrying down the steps on the Kommandantur and striding towards them, one hand behind his back, riding crop tucked under his other arm.
"Repooooooorrrrrttttt!" the Kommandant's voice was heard booming throughout the compound.
Schultz turned around and exchanged salutes with Klink. "Herr Kommandant, all prisoners present and accounted for."
"Very good, Schultz. Have you checked the infirmary to see if Hogan number one is there?"
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant. I checked before awakening the prisoners for roll call. He was sleeping. And Sergeant Anderson told me it's possible Colonel Hogan could return to barracks two today."
"Excellent, Schultz. You can dismiss your men."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Schultz replied saluting. But before he could carry out the order, both he and Klink turned at the sound of a staff car pulling up outside the Kommandantur, its Gestapo flags flapping in the breeze. Klink froze in his place as he spotted Captain van Kueren climbing out of the back seat, and hurried forward to greet the officer.
"Captain van Kueren, I didn't expect you here so early," said Klink nervously. He was hoping General Burkhalter would have arrived before the Captain.
"I told you I would be here this morning, Klink," the Gestapo officer replied coolly, his eyes focused on the prisoners outside the barracks, before finally falling on Hogan number two. "Klink, you seem to be missing someone. The other Colonel Hogan perhaps?" He stared at Klink with arched eyebrows.
"He is not missing, Captain," Klink began. "He is in the infirmary. There was an accident yesterday and he was injured in the process. But he is here." Klink forced a shaky smile to appear. "Afterall, nobody escapes from…."
Van Kueren held up a hand causing the Kommandant to stop talking. "Spare me your no escape boast, Klink. I'm not interested. You say he is in the infirmary?"
"Yes, sir," Klink replied.
"Good," van Kueren replied as he took a few steps toward the prisoners.
"Filthy Bosche," LeBeau muttered under his breath as the Captain came closer. He continued watching as the Captain, followed by Klink, slowly walked up and down the two lines of prisoners before pausing in front of Hogan number two who merely arched an eyebrow in amusement.
"Can I help you, Captain?" he asked quizzically.
Van Kueren smirked and spoke to Klink without turning his head. "Klink, you will escort this man to your cooler where I wish to question him in private."
"Yes, Captain, at once. Schultz, escort Hogan number two to the cooler."
Schultz saluted. "Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." The obese guard took the Colonel's arm and led the man away in the direction of the cells.
"Hogan number two, Klink?" van Kueren asked looking at the Kommandant.
Klink chuckled nervously. "Just my way to identify which Hogan I wanted when I needed to talk to one of them." Seeing the Gestapo officer wasn't amused, Klink shut his mouth and swallowed the building lump in his throat. Where was the General?
That same question had occurred to Kinch and LeBeau especially as they let their eyes wander to the front gates, hoping at any minute to see the General's staff car coming through the gates, but no such luck.
"Klink, dismiss the prisoners," van Kueren ordered. "I will question your Hogan number two as you call him, before I go to the infirmary and question the other Colonel Hogan."
Klink swallowed hard. "Yes, Captain van Kueren," he stammered. "Prisoners, dismissed." He then turned and followed van Kueren in the direction of the cells. Meanwhile, LeBeau, Baker, and Olsen gathered around Kinch; Carter kept himself apart from the small group and stood, alone, off to the side.
"What do you think, Kinch?" asked Olsen, worried.
"I don't know," was the radioman's reply. "I was hoping Burkhalter would be here by now."
"Just goes to show you can never depend on a Bosche when you need one," muttered LeBeau.
Klink stood outside the cell with Schultz and Captain van Kueren staring at Hogan number two. "I don't need you, Klink," van Kueren remarked while continuing to stare at the American. "I assure you I will not lay a hand on your Hogan number two."
"But….but….Captain van Kueren. A Luftwaffe officer must be present at all times when…." Klink paused when he saw the look he received from the Captain. "Yes, sir. It's not necessary for me to be here. Schultz, unlock the cell door for the Captain."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Schultz replied grimly as he unlocked the cell door and held the door open allowing the Captain to enter. Pausing in the doorway, van Kueren glanced back over his shoulder at the duo.
"You can go," he said with authority. "Sergeant, I will yell when I need you. Colonel Hogan and I are going to have a nice talk, just the two of us." He then waited until both Schultz and Klink had departed before he entered the cell, closing the door with a clang. Then, with a smirk, van Kueren approached the prisoner who sat with both feet on the floor, his arms folded, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Now alone, van Kueren grabbed hold of a chair, and placed it directly in front of the prisoner. He leaned forward with arms on his thighs and hands clasped between his knees.
"You look somewhat pale, Captain," he said keeping his voice low. "Are you ill?"
Hogan number two gingerly touched the back of his head, felt the lump, and winced. "That damned Englander sucker punched me and I hit the back of my head. It still hurts but I'll live." He noticed the Gestapo officer's concern, and chuckled. "Don't worry. He's been tossed in the cooler for thirty days. I saw to that. I also managed to turn one of Hogan's men against him. That simple-minded Sergeant Carter."
Van Kueren raised both eyebrows. "Good work." He then paused for a few seconds. "Klink told me the other Hogan had an accident and was injured. Do you know what happened?"
Hogan number two smiled before explaining about the incident in the recreation hall. He watched an amused grin appear on the Gestapo Captain's face. "I don't know who was more shocked by what happened, Hogan or that idiot Klink." He smirked. "Hogan is slowly losing control here. I've even turned Klink's secretary against the good Colonel. The new prisoners are already against him. A few more days and Hogan won't know what hit him."
"You have been busy," van Kueren said. Then he became serious. "Have you discovered anything connecting Hogan to the underground and the sabotage in the area yet?"
"Not yet," Hogan number two said with a sigh. "He's been very clever. But I know there is something in that barracks that will tell us what we want to know. But there is something strange though."
"What is it?"
"The other day, Hogan had a diversion created so he could talk to the vet who changes the guard dogs here, but I have no idea why. He did it twice."
"Do you know the vet's name by chance?" van Kueren asked as he dug a small notebook and pen from inside his inner jacket pocket.
"Schnitzer. Oskar Schnitzer." He watched the Gestapo Captain write down the name.
"Anything or anybody else I should check on?" van Kueren asked. Seeing Hogan number two shake his head slowly, and wince again from the motion, he then tucked the pen and notebook away. "Does Hogan suspect anything?"
"As to what?"
"As to who you really are?"
Hogan number two smirked. "To the best of my knowledge, he hasn't a clue. And by the time he finds or figures it out, it'll be too late." He then chuckled. "Did you bring it?"
Van Kueren reached inside his pocket and removed a small bottle and held it up. "Yes. It was a good idea of yours to have one of our men assigned as a guard here to pass on information to us from you. Corporal Ritter managed to send me a radio message telling me what you needed. Just remember I had trouble obtaining this. Why do you need it if I may ask?" He handed the bottle to Hogan number two. "Your orders are not to kill Hogan, just to get the goods on him."
"I have no intention of killing him, unless it can't be helped," the man replied studying the bottle before tucking it inside his inner jacket pocket. "I just plan on making him very sick to get him out of the way. He's been watching me like a hawk since I arrived here. If I can incapacitate him for a few days, it'll give me a chance to look around more and see what I can find. I suspect he might have some interesting things hidden in his quarters."
Van Kueren rubbed his hands together. "I can't remain here much longer before somebody becomes suspicious. Should you find anything or need anything, pass word to Corporal Ritter and he will contact me." He looked at his watch. "But now I must leave. I have to head to the infirmary to question the other Colonel Hogan." He started to his feet.
"You're not really going to remove him from camp, are you?" asked Hogan number two.
"Of course not," van Kueren said with a grin. "I'm sure that fool, Klink, has already contacted General Burkhalter about my visit, and he will show up and try to stop me. I will just simply allow him stop me from removing Hogan from camp." Getting to his feet, van Kueren put on his cold expression, and walked to the cell door. "Sergeant!" he shouted.
Puffing, Schultz came into view. "Ye…ye….yes, Captain?" he stammered.
"I am through questioning this prisoner. Now open the cell. I wish to go to the infirmary and question your other Colonel Hogan."
"Ja….Jawohl, Captain." Schultz quickly unlocked the cell door and held it open to allow the Gestapo officer to pass by him before closing the door and locking it.
Hogan number one was gingerly getting dressed in the infirmary. Because of his hand, things went somewhat slower than he would have preferred, but he was managing. Wilson had offered to help the Colonel with getting dressed, but one glare from Hogan made him back off. He knew how stubborn Hogan could be, and that the man hated needing personal help with things much less to admit it. Finally, Hogan was done. After donning his cap and pushing it back, he began slowly putting on his jacket when he and Wilson spotted Captain van Kueren with an unhappy-looking Schultz behind him, walking inside the infirmary; Hogan frowned seeing the Gestapo officer.
"I can stay if you need me to, Colonel," Wilson said in a low voice.
"No. I'll be all right," Hogan replied zipping up his jacket mid-way. "Thanks anyway. Just another visit from our friendly neighborhood men in black." He watched the medic walk to the other side of the infirmary so Hogan had privacy, yet was within proximity if the Colonel needed assistance. The entire time Hogan's eyes never strayed from the Gestapo officer. Hogan didn't know what it was about the Gestapo, but every time he came face-to-face with one, any injury he had began to hurt more; and true to form, his hand began to throb.
Finally, van Kueren stood directly in front of the American. He turned his head sideways towards Schultz. "That will be all, Sergeant. I will shout if I need you. You may leave us."
"Jawohl, Captain." Schultz saluted nervously then glanced sympathetically at Hogan before turning and leaving the infirmary.
Hogan, arms wrapped around himself, stood, waiting, an unfriendly expression on his face. "What can I do for you, Captain? Visiting hours ended yesterday, and I'm being discharged today." He saw van Kueren smirk.
"Colonel Hogan. You and I are going to have a little talk."
"About what?"
"About whether or not you are really who you've been claiming to be all this time."
Hogan exhaled deeply. "Captain, let me say this as kindly as I possibly can all things considered. You are beginning to bore me with this. So why don't you crawl back under the rock you slithered out from under and leave me the hell alone."
Van Kueren chuckled momentarily, then, his eyes hardened and his face darkened making Hogan wonder if he may have gone too far. "Still arrogant, I see," he said coldly. He looked at Hogan's injured hand, and the bruises on his face. "I heard you had an accident yesterday, Colonel. You really should be more careful. You might have been killed. And we couldn't have that happen, now could we?"
"Luckily I wasn't, and well, accidents do happen," Hogan quipped. "Now if you'll excuse me, I am heading back to my barracks." He started to walk away but van Kueren placed a hand on his chest, stopping him. Hogan looked down at the hand on his chest and then at the Captain.
"Not so fast, Colonel," van Kueren said. "I am not finished with you yet. You are coming with me to Berlin for some intensive questioning regarding this matter along with other things."
"I don't think so," Hogan replied with a smile that belied the nervousness he felt. "Y'see, Major Hochstetter doesn't like it when I see other Gestapo behind his back. He's so jealous. Besides, you aren't my type."
"So insolent. We will knock some of that insolence out of you by the time we are through." van Kueren removed a pair of handcuffs and held them up for Hogan to see. He then reached for Hogan's injured arm. Looking over the Captain's shoulder, Hogan saw Wilson starting to come to his assistance and shook his head causing the medic to stop.
"Are you planning on putting those on yourself, Captain?" a voice said from behind the two men. Both men looked to see the rotund figure of General Burkhalter who's large frame was all but overshadowing that of the thin Klink who was behind him, standing inside the infirmary.
Releasing Hogan's arm, van Kueren turned and saluted Burkhalter who lazily returned the salute. "Herr General, this man is to come to Berlin for questioning. To the Gestapo, this farce has gone on long enough. We will get the truth out of this man one way or the other, and you can't stop me from taking him."
Burkhalter smiled like a cat who had cornered a mouse and was moving in for the kill. "You think not?" he said with raised eyebrows. "Then I suggest you phone my dear friend, the Reichsfuhrer, and explain your troubles." He saw the Gestapo Captain's body stiffen at hearing Himmler's title. His face darkened as he ground his lower jaw.
"You think you're a big man, don't you, General?" he hissed.
"He is," Hogan quipped behind van Kueren. "And in more ways than one."
Burkhalter glared at Hogan. "I suggest you watch your mouth, Hogan, before I change my mind."
Hogan feigned his best apologetic and cowed expression. "Sorry, sir," he murmured, looking away.
Burkhalter then turned back to van Kueren. "I suggest you leave this camp, Captain, and tell your superiors this is a Luftwaffe matter and will be resolved by the Luftwaffe. Is that clear?"
"Jawohl." Van Kueren returned his handcuffs to his belt, and with a cold glance over his shoulder at Hogan, marched angrily past Burkhalter and Klink and out the door. Once he was gone, Burkhalter faced Hogan and looked the man over from head to toe.
"You should be more careful, Hogan," Burkhalter said with a slight smirk. "We can't afford to have you suffer another accident."
"I'll do my best, General," Hogan replied sarcastically.
With a roll of his eyes, Burkhalter turned and looked at Klink who laughed nervously returning the General's stare.
"Klink, stop laughing like a hyena, and let us continue this discussion in your office. I'm sure Colonel Hogan is most anxious to return to his barracks." Both men looked at Hogan; Burkhalter with a smirk, and Klink with a smug grin on his face.
"True," Hogan replied, smiling sweetly. "You know what they say, General. It's good to get away, but there's no place like home."
Burkhalter gazed at the Kommandant who chuckled nervously and smiled. "Come, Klink." The Kommandant quickly opened the door and held it open for the General before following him out and closing the door. Now alone with Wilson, Hogan's eyes narrowed and he appeared lost in thought.
"Lucky for you Burkhalter showed up when he did, sir," Wilson said. "I was afraid that Captain was gonna to arrest you." He noticed Hogan didn't seem to be listening.
"Colonel? Did you hear what I just said?"
"I heard you," Hogan replied rubbing his chin.
"Then what's troubling you, Colonel?"
"I'm not sure," Hogan said. "Yet…." he didn't finish. Instead, he looked at Wilson with a faint smile, thanked him, then turned and slowly and somewhat stiffly, walked out of the infirmary in the direction of the barracks. He needed to think about van Kueren's visit and what about it was troubling him.