Chapter 9---Trailing a Colonel
With the men all gathered in his quarters, Hogan let the door slam behind them. He then turned angrily towards his men and wrapped his arms around himself.
"This is going to stop right now!" Hogan demanded in a somewhat loud voice. "I appreciate you fellas are concerned about me, but I'm saying this for the last time. There is nothing to be concerned about. I simply tripped and fell while on my way back here and cut my chin and apparently injured both wrists. There's no big mystery."
"What gave us away, Colonel?" asked Carter with both hands shoved inside his leather jacket.
"Having Wilson simply 'drop' by unexpectedly? Did you really think I would be fooled by that? You would have done better if you had asked Wilson simply to check the cut on my chin and my right wrist. But the minute he asked to see both my wrists, that's what gave it away." His voice and face had softened.
"But Colonel...." said LeBeau, "You can't blame us for being concerned. We thought there was the possibility of an infection with that cut on your chin and that the bruises on your wrists and the cut should at least be treated. You can't blame us for wanting to have your injuries at least treated."
"And I'm grateful to all of you for that. But that's the end of it. Now, I have a meeting to attend with Skyhawk later and I need to get some rest before I leave for the meeting." Hogan walked to the door, opened it and held it open. As his men started out the door, Hogan stopped them. "Fellas, thanks for being concerned enough to care." A slight smile formed. He closed the door after the men exited.
Back in the commom room, LeBeau, Carter and Newkirk all sat down at the table.
"So what do we do now?" asked Carter after awhile.
Newkirk lit a cigarette. He took a long drag on it. "What we're gonna do, mate, is that five minutes after the Gov'nor leaves for his meeting tonight, I'm gonna be following him and get a look at this Skyhawk."
"Well, you better not let the Colonel catch you following him," said Carter. "He'll have Klink put you in the cooler for life or at least until the war ends."
"Then I'll just have to make sure he doesn't catch me, won't I, Andrew?" Newkirk rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Blimey, Carter, I swear sometimes you say the most ridiculous things."
"What will you do if this Skyhawk attempts to injure the Colonel or worse?" asked LeBeau.
"Well, I figure to remain hidden. But should the Colonel have trouble from this Skyhawk, I will do what I have to in order to protect the Colonel and deal with the consequences later."
At ten p.m. that same night, Hogan, dressed in black pants and turtleneck with his face smeared with black grease and carrying a pistol, walked towards the double bunkbed with his men following. Newkirk was the only one wearing his nightgown while LeBeau and Carter were still in their uniforms. Hogan struck the hidden mechanism. Waiting for the lower bunk to rise and the ladder to drop, he turned and looked at his men.
"I shouldn't be too late if this meeting goes well," he said. "And there's gonna be hell to pay if I catch anybody following me. Understand?"
There was a chorus of 'yes sirs,' from the three men. Hearing the rattle of the lower bunk after it rose, Hogan stepped over the bedframe and onto the ladder. He paused before climbing down. "Where's Kinch?"
"He's relieving Baker on the radio," said Carter.
"Okay. Just make sure he gets some rest. He's been spending a lot of time today on the radio. I'll see you guys later." Hogan then disappeared down the ladder and out of sight.
Newkirk looked at his watch. "I'll give the Colonel five minutes before I take off after 'im." Newkirk pulled his nightgown over his head to reveal he was wearing an identical outfit to Hogan's. Reaching under his pillow he removed a loaded pistol and tucked it into the back of his waistband. He approached the tunnel opening with Carter and LeBeau behind him.
"Now remember...." LeBeau reminded the Englander. "If there's no trouble tonight, give the Colonel five minutes to get back into the barracks when he gets back before you come up. Did you leave your uniform below?"
"Yeah. I left me uniform down below so I can change back into it before I come back up. This way I can have the Colonel believe I just went below to relieve Kinch." He looked at his watch again. "I better get going." He stepped over the bedframe and onto the ladder. "Wish me luck," he replied climbing down the ladder. Once he was out-of-sight, LeBeau slapped the hidden mechanism and he and Carter both watched the ladder rise and the lower bunk drop. Now it was a waiting game.
Hogan silently made his way through the underbrush. His gut kept telling him he was being followed, but he wasn't sure if it was one of his own men or was it Metzger. If it was one of his own men, he'd deal with it later. If it was Metzger....
Hogan arrived at the meeting place with five minutes to spare. He remained hidden in the brush until he heard a sound from behind him. He turned, pistol in hand, but saw nobody. Was Metzger playing games with him again?
"Lovely night isn't it, Colonel Hogan?" a cold voice said from behind Hogan. He whirled around and found himself face-to-face with Metzger who had his own gun pointed at the Colonel's head. "Put you weapon away, Colonel. I could shoot you before you pull your trigger." Hogan, sighing, tucked his pistol in the back of his waistband.
Newkirk, with Hogan in his sight, positioned himself where he could hear whatever was being said by the Colonel and this Skyhawk. His weapon was in his hand.
"All right, Metzger. I'm here. What do you want?" Hogan asked coldly. He disliked Metzger more than before.
Metzger?! Newkirk said to himself. What the bloody hell is he doing here with the Colonel? Newkirk listened intently, his gut telling him something was very wrong.
"I want a status report, Colonel." Metzger gave Hogan that smug smile. "I told you I would be keeping tabs on you. Now, what do you have to tell me?"
"These things take time, Metzger. I'm working on it."
Newkirk wished he had a clear shot at Metzger. With him dead the Colonel's problems would be over. But Hogan was standing between Newkirk's line of fire and Metzger. Newkirk swore under his breath.
"In other words, Colonel, nothing has changed from when we last met. You realize, of course, your two weeks now has one less day. If you think I was joking as far as sending London the info to make you look like a traitor or turn you over to Major Hochstetter, I'm not. I will do it. And perhaps I will turn your men over to the Gestapo as well."
"You touch any of my men and I'll kill you, Metzger," Hogan threatened. "I swear I will!"
Metzger chuckled. Suddenly, one hand shot out and clutched Hogan around his throat. Metzger applied pressure causing Hogan to try to pry the hands from around his throat.
"You don't ever threaten me, Hogan," he snarled, his eyes burning into the Colonel face. "I can crush you and your men anytime I wish." He just as quickly released Hogan who coughed while he had both hands on his knees. Catching his breath, he slowly stood up.
You bloody Kraut, Newkirk told himself. He wished he had a clear shot. Just one clear shot. Blimey, Gov'nor. Just move out of the way and give me one bloody shot at 'im. That's all I need.
"I'm warning you, Hogan. The next time we meet, I want to hear progress has been made. If there isn't, I will have to prove to you that I am serious."
"By doing what, Metzger? Shooting me? You won't get your artwork back that way."
"Oh I won't shoot you, Colonel. But I could possibly have something happen to one of your men."
"I told you I won't allow you to touch any of them!" Hogan made a move towards Metzger, but the sound of Metzger's weapon being cocked stopped him.
Metzger smirked. "If I didn't need you to get back my stolen artwork I would kill you where you stand, Hogan." Metzger checked his watch. "I must leave now. But before I go, let me leave you with this warning. Don't play games with me. I would not hesitate to see one of your men pays for it." Metzger suddenly turned and walked away leaving Hogan standing alone. Sighing wearily, the Colonel turned and headed back in the direction of Stalag 13.
Newkirk watched the Colonel leave and figured he was heading back to camp.
So that's what's going on. That bloody Kraut is blackmailing the Colonel. He must have been the one that struck the Gov'nor and is responsible for those bruises on his wrists. Newkirk shook his head. Gov'nor, you can't handle this by yourself. I know you're trying to protect us, but not this time. This time it's up to us to protect you, at all cost. Newkirk then silently made his way back to camp making sure while he kept a safe distance from Hogan, he kept him in sight.