Chapter 33-Dealing With an Enemy, Part 2
Minutes after Werner, Newkirk, Carter, and Garlotti had disappeared below; Kinch climbed up into the barracks and approached his commanding officer who was sitting on the edge of the table in the common area with both feet on the floor.
"Did you reach Gustav?" asked Hogan looking at his second-in-command with arms folded.
"Yes, sir. I relayed your message. He said to tell you he will meet Aleit before she heads into work and bring her directly here. In fact, they should be here at about…" he checked his watch, "…0900 hours this morning. They'll wait at the edge of the woods."
Hogan wrapped his arms around himself. "Good." He looked at his own watch. "That gives us a little less than three hours before Carter and LeBeau make contact and escort her to camp. Kinch, I need you to do one more thing for me. Contact London. Inform them of the situation with Guthrie and about Rochet's death, and that we need a sub to pick up Aleit. Then get back up here."
"Yes, sir," Kinch replied hurrying back to the tunnel opening, stepped over the bed frame, and climbed back down. A minute after he disappeared, LeBeau appeared beside the Colonel and handed him a cup of hot coffee.
"Thanks, LeBeau," Hogan replied with a tired smile before taking a sip of the coffee. He sighed contentedly as he swallowed some. "That hits the spot." He smirked seeing LeBeau smile as he returned to preparing breakfast.
While Hogan sat drinking his coffee, Newkirk, followed by Carter, climbed up the ladder and stepped over the bed frame and into the barracks. Newkirk slapped the hidden mechanism and watched as the ladder rose and the lower bunk dropped down over the tunnel opening. "Everything okay below?" Hogan asked.
"Yes, sir," Carter replied with a grin. "Corporal Werner is tied up and gagged down below in one of the empty tunnels and Sergeant Garlotti is standing watch." His sad face didn't escape Hogan's eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Colonel, before we tied him up, we searched Werner's pockets in case he had a second weapon or a knife. But all we found was this." Carter dug into his pants pocket and dropped a small box into Hogan's outstretched hand. The Colonel, already suspecting what was in the box, opened it and inwardly gasped at seeing a diamond engagement ring.
"It's a beautiful ring," Hogan said in awe.
"That's what we thought too, sir," Carter said.
Newkirk shook his head as he grabbed his coffee cup and poured himself some coffee, then sat down at the table. He looked up at the Colonel. "I think he was plannin' on asking Aleit to marry him, Colonel," he said before taking a drink of coffee.
Hogan sighed. He had an idea that Werner and the underground were serious about each other but he had no idea they were this serious. He took another drink of coffee. "I'll explain things to Aleit when she get here," he said. "Newkirk, what we need next can wait until after breakfast. I want you to get a hold of Schultz's clipboard and add Werner's name to it as a guard who is patrolling the woods outside of camp. We can't afford to have Guthrie notice Werner's missing or he'll become suspicious. Then, I want you to write two letters to Kommandant Klink but don't sign them until I tell you. I'll dictate what they'll say. Haven't decided which one I'll use yet." Hogan shifted his eyes to Carter who was seated on his lower bunk. "Carter, Gustav and Aleit will meet you at the edge of the woods at 0900 hours. You and LeBeau will go after breakfast and meet them; then bring her back here and into the tunnel, and above all be careful."
"Sure thing, Colonel," said Carter.
Hogan's head turned in the direction of the barracks door. "Olsen, anything happening outside?"
Olsen glanced over his shoulder momentarily. "All's quiet, Colonel. No sign of Guthrie."
Just then, the lower bunk rattled upward and the ladder dropped causing Hogan, Carter and Newkirk to look around and see Kinch climbing up the ladder and stepping over the bed frame. After he was in the barracks, he slapped the hidden mechanism allowing the ladder to rise and the bunk to lower before approaching the table where he sat down. LeBeau placed a cup of coffee in front of him.
"Thanks," Kinch said. He faced his commanding office. "Sub can pick up Aleit in forty-eight hours, Colonel, at the usual rendezvous place. And London wasn't happy about having lost Rochet but you have their permission to deal with Guthrie using whatever means you think necessary."
Hogan shook his head and chuckled. "It's so nice to have their permission before disposing of someone who's a threat to the operation," he said glancing at his men, amused. "Thanks, Kinch." He let out a deep breath. "Nothing else to be done until after breakfast, so, I suggest everybody relax until then."
Gustav was parked outside the small apartment building keeping a sharp eye on the entrance of the bricked building. After speaking with Papa Bear's man, he hurriedly contacted one of his friends and borrowed a car in order to pick up Aleit and drive her near their destination before traveling the rest of their way on foot where he would turn the petite woman over to two more of Papa Bear's men who would escort her to the camp. Checking his watch, Gustav saw it was seven forty-five. He knew every morning that the underground operative left home at approximately ten minutes after eight to walk to work; thus, he still had twenty-five minutes to wait. Might as well try not to attract attention from anyone while he waited, so, he grabbed the newspaper he had brought and started reading to pass the time.
So distracted was he by a story he was reading that he jumped at the sound of somebody knocking on his car window. Putting down the paper expecting to see a Gestapo soldier staring at him, Gustav relaxed and smiled when he saw Aleit Banta smiling back at him. Quickly folding the newspaper, the man pushed open the door allowing the blond-haired, blue-eyed agent to climb inside beside him.
"Thank you for picking me up on such short notice, Gustav," she said with a smile which quickly changed to a frown. "Is Papa Bear certain I am in danger?"
"He is certain that the Gestapo will come looking for you after tonight and believes it would be safer for you if you were out of Germany." Gustav started the car.
"But…but…what about Christophe? He will be worried wondering what happened to me when I disappear."
As Gustav pulled away from the curb, he spoke without looking at the woman beside him. He had been advised about the actions of the young woman's boyfriend by Papa Bear's man and had been advised not to tell the woman and that Papa Bear would handle things. He sighed. "I am sure Papa Bear already has an idea as to how to handle that as well as the situation regarding your job. Let him deal with it. The primary thing right now is your safety."
"I guess," she said as Gustav pulled the car away from the curb.
Hogan pulled up a stool and sat down facing von Herwarth with arms resting on his thighs and hands clasped between his knees. He sighed wearily and not all from lack of sleep. Right after LeBeau and Carter had left to meet Gustav and Aleit, he decided now was the time for his own meeting.
"Are you all right, Colonel?" asked von Herwarth, genuinely concerned.
"No, but I'll get there," the American replied softly. "It'll just take time to deal with my country knowing and not doing anything to stop it. But that's not why I'm here. We need to talk. I have a plan to get rid of Guthrie." He saw the man's body stiffen just hearing the Major's name.
Von Herwarth knew his reaction was evident to Hogan. "I'm sorry. Just hearing that man's name scares me more than you know. What about him, Colonel?"
"Guthrie must die. There is no other option. But we need your help." Hogan paused to allow himself a few seconds before continuing. "I have a plan as to how to do it. But it requires you to meet with Guthrie and bring the journal with you." He waited.
"No, Colonel!" von Herwarth jumped to his feet looking at Hogan in shock. "I cannot do that! He will kill me! You can't ask me to meet with him alone plus to have the journal. He won't hesitate to kill me. I'm afraid I cannot do what you ask."
"You won't meet with him alone," Hogan answered keeping his voice calm. "My men and I will be with you the entire time. Believe me when I tell you he will not lay a hand on you. You're strictly the bait to lure the mouse into our trap."
"I can't…" von Herwarth said weakly hugging himself as if a chill permeated his body. "I just can't. Please don't ask me to."
Hogan let out a deep breath. "This plan won't work without you, and there isn't time to think of something else. Guthrie expects to 'meet' with you this evening after roll call and expects Newkirk and I to go with him. I want to lure him into a false sense of security before he's killed. All you have to do is meet with him and allow him to see you have the journal. He is so obsessed with you and Christina it won't occur to him that it's a trap until its too late."
"I can't…please…."
"COWARD!" a feminine voice shouted. Both men looked up and saw a blue-eyed, blond-haired woman staring at the German with anger.
"Aleit," Hogan said with a smile getting to his feet. Approaching the woman, he gently kissed her on the cheek as did she him. Then, her blazing eyes turned back to von Herwarth. Hogan looked at von Herwarth. "I'd like you to meet Aleit Banta. She is with the underground. Aleit, this is…."
"Papa Bear asks your help and you refuse?" she interrupted, her eyes fixated on von Herwarth. "Coward! Papa Bear and his men stay here willingly and fight the Nazis to help shorten the war and defeat the Germans. They only ask you to help with one thing and you refuse? You are no friend of the Allies."
Von Herwarth straightened and looked at the brazen woman glaring at him. "My uncle…"
"I know who your uncle is and who you are, Werner von Herwarth. Your uncle is a brave man who is not afraid, and I suspect he believed neither were you else he would not have entrusted you with whatever it was to bring to Papa Bear. He would be ashamed knowing what a coward you are."
"Aleit…" Hogan began, but the woman waved a hand cutting him off. In many ways she reminded the Colonel of Tiger with her feistiness.
"They want me to meet with Major Guthrie. He…"
" I know who Guthrie is," the blond spat. "I have been his guest at least two times. I know what he is capable of. But unlike you, I am not afraid of Major Guthrie; he is a pig."
Von Herwarth studied the woman standing in front of him. He inwardly cringed that this woman refused to be intimidated by Guthrie while he, a man, was in reality, afraid. How was this possible? Swallowing the growing lump in his throat, he faced Hogan.
"You and your men will be there the entire time, Colonel?" he asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
"We will," Hogan replied with a glimmer of renewed hope.
"Than I will do what you ask, Colonel."
Now alone in the tunnel an hour after dismissing LeBeau and Carter, and leaving von Herwarth alone to think about things, Hogan escorted Aleit to another portion of the tunnel where they could be alone. He motioned for her to have a seat on a bench, and he sat down on a stool facing her.
"How are you doing?" Hogan asked taking one of her hands in both of his.
She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm okay, I guess. Colonel, is it necessary for me to leave Germany? Gustav wouldn't say anything except that you feared the Gestapo would come after me. But I suspect something bigger is going on. Please tell me."
With a sigh, Hogan proceeded to explain everything to her knowing the most difficult was coming. "But don't worry. We will handle your employer."
"I'm not worried about them," she said sadly. "But I am about Christophe. What about him? I love him so much."
Hogan bowed his head and swallowed hard. "Aleit, there's something you should know." He then proceeded to explain Corporal Werner's involvement. As he spoke, Aleit removed her hand from Hogan's and stared at him, shocked, with tears rolling down her face. When he was done, he noticed the young woman get to her feet and with arms wrapped around herself, pressed her forehead against the dirt wall with sobs wracking her entire body.
"It can't be true," she murmured. "It can't be. Christophe is a good man." She felt hands gripping her shoulders; she turned around and pressed her palms against Hogan's chest.
"I'm sorry," the American said.
"No. I need to see him, Colonel," Aleit whispered. "I want to speak with Christophe. I must speak with him."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Hogan told her.
"Colonel, I'm not asking. I'm telling you I want to see him. Please."
Hogan exhaled through his nose. "All right. But before I do, I think you should see this." Reaching inside his leather jacket, he pulled out small box and handed it to her. "My men found this in his pocket.
Hesitating, Aleit slowly opened the box and put a hand over her mouth when she saw the ring. Her lower lip trembled and the tears threatened to fall again. Taking a deep breath, she closed the box and looked Hogan directly in the eye. "I want to see him," she repeated. "Please take me to him."
Letting out a deep breath, Hogan nodded and taking one of her arms in his hand, led her deep into the tunnels where Werner was being held. As they walked, an extension of his idea began forming in Hogan's tired mind.
Garlotti sat on a stool facing Werner with Hogan's weapon pointed at the guard. Werner's eyes were focused on the prisoner wondering what was going to become of him when the two men heard voices. Garlotti looked around and Werner looking up, the two men saw the beautiful blond woman at Hogan's side entering the tunnel. Werner's eyes brightened at the sight of the woman while Garlotti got to his feet.
"Colonel. Ma'am."
"Garlotti, remove the gag from Corporal Werner's mouth and wait outside. I'll take over for a few minutes," Hogan told him.
"Yes, sir." Garlotti quickly removed the gag and as he walked past Hogan handed him the weapon before leaving the tunnel.
Alone, Hogan looked at Aleit. "I'll leave both of you alone to talk. But I'll be right outside if you should need me. Don't untie him under any circumstances."
"I understand, Colonel," she replied. She remained silent watching Hogan turn and walk away. She then turned her attention to Werner. "Christophe, we have to talk."
An hour later Aleit emerged from the tunnel and faced Hogan who was leaning against the dirt wall with his arms around himself. He studied her face.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
She let out a deep breath. "Colonel, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What might that be?" already having a suspicion.
"When you send me to London, I want you to send Christophe with me."
Hogan didn't immediately reply, but a small smile appeared on his face as he looked at Aleit. "I somehow thought that's what you'd say. Like you, he can't stay in Germany either. I haven't quite made up my mind what to do with him. But before I decide, I need the answer to two questions and a favor from him. Come with me." Hogan, followed by Aleit, walked back into the room; and Hogan confronted the guard. "Corporal, your girlfriend made a convincing case for me to spare your life. But I have two questions I need to ask you and a favor, and believe me, I'll know if you're lying to me. And heaven help you if you do."
Werner swallowed the lump in his throat. "What are your questions, Colonel Hogan? I promise to answer truthfully."
"First is why didn't you tell Guthrie about us?"
Werner looked the American directly in his eyes. "I decided to withhold that information until I needed to use it. But if it had come down to choosing between saving you and your men or Aleit, I would have to choose Aleit. I didn't tell him because I needed a bargaining chip for later if things got to that point."
Hogan wrapped his arms around himself. "I see. My other question is are you willing to help me get rid of Guthrie if I agree to spare your life?"
Werner knew he had to keep his face unreadable so Hogan wouldn't suspect. "Ja, Colonel. I despise Guthrie. I only agreed to help him because I am a loyal German who loves his country, but Hitler is more of a threat than the Allies could ever be. Guthrie threatened to send me transferred to the Russian front if I didn't. I could not refuse him."
Aleit smiled. "Christophe, I have a confession to make. I am with the underground and have been for three years. I am working with Papa Bear."
Werner sighed wearily. "I know," he said quietly not looking at her directly but at a spot on the dirt floor past her.
Aleit and Hogan exchanged stunned looks. "You knew?" she asked. "How? I never told you."
"I know. I was traveling through the woods one day on my way to pick you up at your home as a surprise, and I heard voices so I hid. I then saw you meeting with someone and hand him some papers with instructions to give them to Papa Bear. I knew then you were with the underground. After both of you had gone, I returned to Stalag 13. I knew if Guthrie uncovered the underground there was a chance he would discover your involvement so I kept quiet. I loved you too much to see you arrested by the Gestapo and tortured."
Based on what he was told, Hogan still hadn't reached a decision of what to do with the German Corporal, so, he decided to play it by ear. A smile appeared. "Corporal, the favor I want from you is are you willing to help get rid of Guthrie permanently without asking questions no matter what you hear or see?"
"To be with Aleit and free from Guthrie I will do whatever you ask me to do. What do you need from me?"
Hogan explained to Werner what he wanted from him and that it would take place after evening roll call. "But until then I'll have to keep you tied up down here. But later this evening you and your girlfriend will be on your way to London. But let me say this…" Hogan's face became serious and the smile gone from his face. "Once everything begins, should you go back on your word, or try to betray me and my men, I will kill you. Understand?" He saw Werner nod in agreement, then, he faced the woman. "Let's go." They left the tunnel and Hogan sent Garlotti back inside to watch Werner while he and Aleit headed in the direction of the radio room. Reaching the destination, Hogan turned toward the woman.
"I needed to speak with you privately. I need you to do something for me and I assure you you'll be in no danger."
"What is it you want from me, Colonel?"
"I need you to impersonate somebody this evening." Hogan then went on to explain what he wanted her to do.
All Werner could do was wonder what was going to happen this evening as Hogan had told him nothing. Inwardly he smiled with delight. Hogan apparently believed him. And tonight he would get away from Guthrie once and for all and en-route to England where the Gestapo Major couldn't touch him.