Chapter 13---Hogan Plans a Murder
Hogan and his men entered their barracks after their talk with Schultz. Hogan put one foot on the bench and balanced on his other leg. He rested both arms on his bent knee. LeBeau, Carter, Newkirk and Kinch sat around the table, waiting. The mood was somber. Like their commanding officer, nobody was excited about this particular assignment, despite its necessity.
Finally, the silence became too much. Kinch let out a deep breath. He folded his arms and looked up at Hogan.
"Are you sure you really want to do this, Colonel?" he asked. "I mean, what you're suggesting is so out of the norm for us."
"I know, Kinch, I know. As I already said, I wish there was another way, but I don't see it. Besides, we aren't going to kill anybody. I am going to be the one to do it. I can't ask any of you to do this. It's up to me to take the hit for my men."
There were loud protests from his men. Hogan grabbed his coffee cup off the table, turned, and poured himself a cup of coffee. He kept his back turned as he sipped the hot brew.
"Gov'nor, you can't do it. Don't you remember what happened with that clown Freitag when you were prepared to shoot him. You almost died instead(1). We can't allow that to happen again."
"Newkirk's right, mon Colonel," LeBeau added quietly. "You were in a coma for days. We were lucky to get you back. We will not risk losing you again."
"I agree with LeBeau and Newkirk, sir," added Carter. "You can't do it. We won't let you."
Hogan turned around and looked at Carter. The anger could be seen in his face. "You won't let me? Carter, need I remind you I am in charge here and as such, it is my decision to handle this assignment myself. I will not ask any of my men to endanger themselves."
"You're not asking, Colonel," Kinch explained. "We're volunteering. One of us will take care of Metzger for you. There's no need for you...."
"Sorry, Kinch," Hogan replied. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't recall asking for volunteers. Besides, my mind's made up."
The men knew better than to argue with their commanding officer when his mind was made up about something.
"Have you decided when it'll be done, Colonel?" asked Kinch.
Hogan finished his coffee before he answered. "I'll wait a few days after he arrives. During that time I want him to be lulled into a false sense of security by thinking I am actually trying to get his art collection back for him. Then, I'll ask him for a meeting in Klink's guest quarters. That's when I'll let him have it."
"But Colonel, somebody will hear the shots and come. You'll be arrested on the spot," protested LeBeau. "You might even be shot before you can get away."
"I'm prepared for that eventuality, LeBeau," Hogan replied sadly. "Whatever happens, I don't want any heroic efforts made to help me. I expect that the Gestapo might even get involved once Metzger is dead. If that happens, I'll do my best to divert attention away from you men."
Carter's eyes narrowed. He worshipped Hogan and like the others, felt extremely protective of the officer. "Colonel, why can't we just send Metzger to London?"
Hogan's face softened. "I thought of that, Carter," he said. "But in the end I dismissed it. We could send Metzger to London. But he has knowledge of our operation and is too dangerous to let live. Remember what happened when we sent Jack Williams to London (2)?"
The men all exchanged looks. They remembered Williams being sent to London only to have him escape and return to Stalag 13 and try to murder Hogan and had nearly succeeded(3). That could not be allowed to happen with Metzger.
"But Colonel...." Kinch began but was cut off by Hogan.
"My mind is made up, Kinch," he said. "The subject's closed." He poured himself another half cup of coffee. "I'll be in my quarters. Somebody let me know when Metzger arrives." He turned and walked towards his quarters. The men watched as Hogan entered his quarters, closing the door behind him.
Newkirk looked at the others. "So what do you make of that?" he asked nobody in particular.
"Well I know one thing," LeBeau replied. "I, for one, will not allow the Colonel to sacrifice himself over that filthy Bosche! I'll kill him myself if I have to."
"Yeah, well you better take a number, mate," Newkirk informed him. "Because I'll kill him meself before I allow the Gov'nor to take the blame."
"You and me both, Newkirk," Kinch added. "We almost lost the Colonel twice when he was shot by Williams and then by Freitag. And I don't intend to see him go through that kind of suffering again. He doesn't deserve it."
"Boy, this General Metzger makes me so mad," Carter chimed in. "I could just....just...."
"You could just what, Andrew?" asked Newkirk, exasperated.
Carter shrugged. "I don't know. But when I figure it out what I'd do, I'll let you know."
(1) Gruppenfuhrer Freitag was a character in the episode TWO NAZIS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. His shooting of Hogan took place in my alternate ending story entitled WHAT IF...?
(2) Jack Williams is a character from the Hogan's Heroes episode entitled ONE IN EVERY CROWD.
(3) Williams escaping from London and returning to Stalag 13 to take revenge against Hogan is from my story JUST ANOTHER BUSY DAY.