Author's Note: disclaimer, I don't own Hogan's Heroes. This story is complete fiction.

Hochstetter had a smug look on his face, "Go ahead, tell your story, again."

The woman started her story, "We, the General and I, were traveling to Hammelburg via Dusseldorf. We left after supper and had crossed the bridge shortly before midnight , and had driven about three or four miles past the bridge, when the tire blew out."

She looked over at General Lutzen, he nodded gesturing for her to continue,

"The General said he could fix it. He started to fix it but, I got bored and went for a walk. I saw this man, this Hogan, crouching beside a tree. I didn't know what he was doing until he pushed down the plunger and the bridge exploded."

Hogan stared at her, She couldn't have seen me, it was raining so heavily, she couldn't have seen my face. And Carter pushed the plunger, not me. Why hasn't she mentioned LeBeau or Carter?

General Lutzen smiled, "She has positively identified, this man as the saboteur. Colonel Hogan, you're under arrest."

Hogan, interrupted from his thoughts, recovered quickly, "This woman is lying. You probably have her so frightened, she'll say anything."

Lutzen clenched his jaw in anger, "This woman is my niece, Lisbeth, a loyal German. How dare you impune her character." His eyes were stormy, he started to take a step towards Hogan.

NIECE? Hogan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Please, Uncle, don't hurt him." Lisbeth spoke up, laying a hand on her uncle's arm. General Lutzen stared at her as if she had loster her mind. She glanced over at Hogan, then back to her uncle, "I mean, won't you get more information if you take him to headquarters in Hammelburg?"

Lutzen was silent a moment and then he smiled at her, with a look that was almost full of pride. "Ja, he will be taken for questioning, after which he will be shot at the end of the week."

Hogan was staring at the woman, Why did she stop him? How can she set me up for the firing squad one minute, then beg her uncle to spare me the next? He looked over at Klink,

I need to get control of the situation.

"Kommandant, I am a prisoner of war, with all the guaranteed protections under the Geneva Convention." Hogan stated, drawing up every bit of confidence he had in him, "If I blew up the bridge, and that's a big if, how did Miss Lisbeth happen to see me clearly? It was cloudy and raining all night. No moonlight."

General Lutzen simply stared, he opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out.

Hogan seizing the opportunity, continued, "There is no way for me to escape from camp, the Major's men have been over every inch of the barracks, several times." Hogan felt himself calming as he had completely regained control, "Finally, Kommandant, you ordered bed checks at eleven o'clock and two o'clock. Sargent Schultz and Corporal Langenscheidt were on guard all night and the executed the bed checks. Ask them, they will confirm that neither I, nor any of my men, left the barracks last night."

Klink looked from Hogan to Lutzen to Hochstetter. He didn't know what to do, on one hand Hogan had a point, it was his duty to protect his prisoners from abuse; however, did he really want to cross the Gestapo? After a minute Klink looked over to Hochstetter drew himself up with every ounce of importance he could muster,

"Colonel Hogan is my prisoner. My guards watched him all night. It is impossible that he was in bed at eleven for bed check and was able to make it to Dusseldorf just after midnight. However, you may look over his barracks and interview Schultz and Langenscheidt, If you wish."

Hochstetter was practically purple, "BAH! Klink, you are an idiot." He stormed out of the room.

Lutzen was still staring at his niece, only instead of a look of pride, it was a look of pure white hot, anger. Lisbeth wilted under his glare. When Hogan was young he had seen a kitten being cornered by a pack of dogs, Lisbeth reminded him of the kitten. Hogan almost felt sorry for her.

"My apologies, Klink. This will be dealt with most severely, believe me." Lutzen stated in a low, gravely voice, "There is no need to mention this in your reports...That is unless, you have become fond of Russia?" His gaze traveled to Klink, daring him to make a move.

"Of course not, Herr General, this incident never happened. It's just more of Major Hochstetter's silly obsession with Hogan." Klink quickly returned to his usual, self-preserving nature, and smiled amicably.

While Lutzen and Klink were talking, Hogan was still observing Lisbeth, What is her game? Whatever could she have hoped to accomplish?

As if in answer to his thoughts, Lisbeth stood up, "I guess I was mistaken," She attempted a small smile, " I apologize, Kommandant." She stepped closer to Hogan, reaching out and taking his hand, "I cannot express how sorry I am."

"Lady, you almost got me killed." Hogan said, simply.

He felt something being slipped into his hand, looking down, he noticed a slip of paper.

Hogan smiled, "It's a good thing I don't hold a grudge. He winked, then turned his attention to Klink, "May I go, Kommandant?"

Klink looked over at Lutzen, "I don't think your presence is needed any longer, Hogan. Dismissed." Klink threw Hogan a salute. Hogan returned it in a sloppy manner, he turned and walked out of Klink's office. He gave Helga a triumphant smile as he continued out the door.

1*****************************************************1

Hogan opened the door to barracks two and was greeted by Hochstetter.

"HOGAN! I know you were behind the sabotage of the Dusseldorf bridge. You may have won this round, but I will prove it."

The S.S. guards from the staff car, were tearing the barracks apart. However, so far they uncovered nothing. One of the guards, who was digging through Carter's footlocker, cried out triumphantly, "Herr, Major! Komm und sieh, ein Geheimfach"

Hochstetter walked over and reached his hand into the compartment.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Carter called out. Hogan put his hand against Carter's chest to prevent him from stepping forward.

The Major pulled out a rolled up piece of paper, "Ha! what do we have here, Hogan?"

He unrolled it while it was still turned towards Hogan.

Hogan leaned in and studied the paper, "Well, Major, it looks like Betty Grable." He said, with a smirk.

Carter grinned, "You betchya, boy...uhh, sir."

Hochstetter was apoplectic, "BAH! Hogan, I will see you again, mark my words." With that, Hochstetter and the S.S. guard left the barracks.

"Was it something I said?" Hogan said with a grin. Returning to business, he reached into his pocket and pulled the slip of paper. "I guess I should tell you what happened."

"No need, Gov'ner, Kinch got the speaker working not more than three minutes after you left." Newkirk said.

"Well, Miss Lisbeth Lutzen, passed this to me when she was leaving." Hogan held up the note.

"What does it say, mon Colonel?" LeBeau asked.

"Let's find out." Hogan opened the not and started to read out loud, "I wish to defect and I know you can help me get to London. Please, help me, Papa Bear."

"Blimey, she knows about you, Gov'ner." Newkirk said with concern.

"What are we gonna do, Colonel?" Kinch asked, the concern he felt was not only for Hogan but for the rest of the men involved with the operation.

Hogan pondered the note before saying slowly, "Well, her Uncle's Gestapo, so it could be a trap. She probably doesn't know for sure that I'm Papa Bear. This is all a ruse to try and smoke me out."

"That seems logical." Kinck responded, "So, we ignore it and cool off on the missions for a while."

LeBeau, Carter, and Newkirk agreed. "We shouldn't tip our 'and any more then we 'ave." Newkirk put in.

"Kinch, radio London find out what the know about the General and Miss Lutzen. Then contact the Underground, see if they can contact Miss Lutzen and set up a meeting at the farmhouse. Have them set it for day after tomorrow." Hogan calmly gave his orders.

"But, Gov'ner, it's a trap!" Newkirk spoke with surprise. He was fairly certain Hogan was barmy.

"Perhaps, but she could be the real deal." Hogan said, " Can you imagine what information she could have?"

"Gov, you can't take that risk!" Newkirk replied

Hogan smiled, "I'm so glad you feel that way, thanks for volunteering."

Newkirk sighed, he'd just been out maneuvered, again, "Yes, sir."

I 'ope you know what you're doin', Gov'ner

TRANSLATION:

Komm und sieh, ein Geheimfach - Come and see, a secret compartment.