Chapter 10---Confrontation....Of Sorts

Kinch waited impatiently in the radio room for Hogan to reappear. Things had been quiet since the Colonel and Newkirk had left, although separately. As he was leaving, Newkirk had passed on Hogan's message that Kinch get some rest as he'd spent a lot of time on the radio. But Kinch ignored the message. He needed something to do to take his mind off of what Hogan was keeping from them. So, he was sitting at the radio with his headset on and reading a magazine when the message started coming in. But, unlike their other messages, this one was coming in on their emergency frequency.

Adjusting his headset, Kinch picked up his pen ready to copy down the message. It was General Butler.

"I'm sorry, General, but Colonel Hogan isn't here right now, but should be back soon. Can I do something for you?"

"Do you know exactly when he'll be back? It's important."

"I'm sorry, General," Kinch replied, mystified. "He left about an hour ago for a meeting. All he said was he'd be back soon. But I can't guarantee how soon that will be."

"I can't wait. I have an important meeting to attend, so I will pass the information to you. Please make sure he gets it."

"Will do, General. Go ahead."

After the call was completed, Kinch removed his headset and tossed it aside as he read the message General Butler had given him. So that's what the Colonel is hiding, Kinch told himself. Sighing, he folded the paper in half.

Carter and LeBeau soon appeared from around the corner.

"Colonel Hogan's not back yet?" asked LeBeau.

"Not yet," Kinch replied. "But I just received some information which might shed some light on what the Colonel's been hiding from us."

"What's that?" LeBeau inquired.

"I just received a message from General Butler."

"So what?" said Carter. "We get calls from generals all the time."

"But this message came over our emergency frequency. And General Butler asked for the Colonel specifically.

"Bon cieux! (1)" declared LeBeau. "What did he have to say?"

"He wanted me to inform the Colonel that he has informed the high command in London to keep their eyes open for any information and or photos that are received identifying the Colonel as a traitor."

"Que!!! (2)" cried LeBeau. "Colonel Hogan is not a traitor!!! I would stake my life on it!"

"Not the Colonel," said Carter, his eyes narrowing. "Where would London get that idea from?"

"Apparently the Colonel contacted this General Butler informing him that it was possible someone might be sending doctored information claiming he is a traitor."

LeBeau and Carter both exchanged horrified looks before turning back to Kinch.

"Filthy Bosche!!!" muttered LeBeau angrily.

Just then, they heard the slight tinkle of the bell alarm which had been installed months ago to alert them when anybody entered the emergency tunnel. A few minutes later, Hogan came into view. He paused momentarily when he saw three of his men waiting and looking at him.

"What's going on?" he asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, mon Colonel. We were just waiting for you to return."

"Where's Newkirk?" Hogan asked.

"He couldn't sleep," Kinch told him innocently. "So he decided to make some repairs on a few of the uniforms." Kinch studied Hogan's face. "Something wrong, Colonel?"

"No. Just tired. I need to get some sleep before roll call. Now that I'm back, I suggest all of you do the same."

Kinch looked at his watch. He knew Newkirk would be coming down the ladder in two minutes, and he had to get Hogan out of the tunnels. "Colonel, can I talk to you?"

"Can it wait, Kinch? I'm really beat."

" 'Fraid not, Colonel. But not here. Can we talk upstairs in the barracks?"

Hogan looked at Kinch for a long moment and noticed the serious look on his face. He sighed. "Sure. Follow me." He and Kinch left the radio room and made their way to the ladder which led to the barracks above. Hogan climbed up first followed by Kinch. Listening carefully, Carter and LeBeau both heard the lower bunk drop over the tunnel opening.

Less than a minute later, they both heard the alarm again and spotted Newkirk climbing down the ladder. As his feet touched the ground, he was met by Carter and LeBeau.

"Is the Colonel back?" he asked them.

"Oui," LeBeau replied. "Kinch got him to follow him upstairs. We told the Colonel you were making repairs to the uniforms when he asked about you."

"Then it's bloody well that I already made the repairs to those uniforms, isn't it?" Newkirk replied as he, Carter and LeBeau walked out of the radio room and into the room where their German uniforms were hanging. As Newkirk quickly changed into his uniform, LeBeau and Carter filled him in on the message Kinch had received on the emergency frequency. Newkirk's face turned white as a sheet.

"That bloody bastard!" Newkirk snarled.

"Who are you talking about?" asked Carter.

"General Metzger, that's who. I saw him meet with the General at the rendezvous place. Metzger is blackmailing the Gov'nor to get his art collection back for him that we took from him a year ago. He gave the Colonel two weeks to get it or he would either turn him over to Hochstetter, or send information to London proving he's a traitor. Then Metzger threatened us if the Gov'nor didn't come through for him and I saw the Colonel threaten him. But Metzger had a gun on 'im the entire time. Then he grabbed the Colonel by the throat."

"Why didn't you shoot the filthy Bosche?" asked LeBeau angrily.

"Because Colonel Hogan was standing between me and getting a clear shot at that bloody Kraut, that's why." Newkirk adjusted his cover on his head. "Okay, let's get upstairs. I think it's time we confront the Colonel about what's going on." They followed Newkirk towards the ladder.

"Colonel Hogan's gonna be awful mad with us," said Carter.

"Yeah, well....that's just too ruddy bad," Newkirk replied climbing up the ladder.

Hogan closed the door to his quarters after he and Kinch had entered. Hogan then turned to his radioman and wrapped his arms around himself. "Okay, Kinch. What's so important that you couldn't tell me down in the tunnels?"

"This message came for you while you were out. It came over our emergency frequency. It's from a General Butler."

Hogan, struggling to keep his face impassive, took the paper and unfolded it. He read the message and sighed wearily. He looked at Kinch. "Who else has seen this?"

"Well, LeBeau and Carter were with me when the message came in. I can't guarantee they didn't see it as I was writing it." Kinch's eyes narrowed. "Colonel, what's wrong?"

Hogan pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "Kinch...." he began. A knock on his door stopped him. Hogan looked around. "Come in," he said.

The door opened and Newkirk, Carter and LeBeau entered and closed the door behind them. They all looked at their commanding officer.

"Colonel Hogan...." Newkirk began, "we want to talk with you about what's been going on that you're not telling us about."

Hogan's eyes narrowed. "What's going on?" He shook his head sadly. They just were not going to let this go, were they?

"And don't lie to us, Colonel," said Kinch with arms folded.

Hogan's eyebrows shot up in shocked surprise. "Kinch, I don't appreciate you talking to me like that." Hogan pulled his black turtleneck over his head and was in the process of putting on his pajama top when he noticed all his men staring at him with shocked expressions. "What's wrong now?"

Newkirk slowly approached his commanding officer and gently placed his hand on Hogan's chin. He then turned his head to the side. "Sir, how did you get those fingerprints on your throat? Care to explain that?"

Hogan pulled away from Newkirk and continued buttoning his pajama top. "What bruises are you talking about, Newkirk?"

"Colonel Hogan, I'm talking about the bruises General Metzger left when he grabbed you by the throat."

Unable to reply, Hogan could only stare at Newkirk in shock.

(1) Bons cieux! means 'good heavens!'

(2) Que! means 'what!'