Chapter 28---Murder!

The men of barracks two were just sitting down to dinner when the door opened, and Hogan walked in. He looked around the barracks as if trying to memorize each man's face. He noticed LeBeau, Kinch, Carter and Newkirk all seated at the table looking at him, worried.

"Would you like some dinner, Colonel?" LeBeau asked. "I made your favorite."

"I'm not hungry, LeBeau," Hogan replied grabbing his coffee cup off the table and filling it half-full of hot coffee. He sat down at the table and quietly sipped his coffee. He seemed preoccupied.

"How do you feel, Colonel?" asked Carter haltingly.

"I'm all right, Carter," Hogan replied softly.

The men exchanged looks, sensing their CO's mind was elsewhere. But there was a question they all wanted, no, needed, to know the answer to.

"How is Sergeant Baker, Colonel?" asked Kinch.

The pain was evident in Hogan's brown eyes. Sighing, he put down his coffee cup and ran his finger around its edge. "Baker's holding his own," he said quietly as if it pained him to talk about it. "He has several broken and cracked ribs, a broken left arm, his right eye is swollen shut and his left eye is blackened. He may also have internal injuries. And he's still unconscious."

"Will he make it, Colonel?" asked LeBeau.

Hogan stared into space as he thought before he answered. He finally sighed as he took a drink of coffee. "I really don't know, LeBeau." Hogan finished his coffee and slowly got to his feet. "I'm going into my quarters and take a nap. I have a scheduled appointment later tonight at 2330 hours and I don't intend to be late."

He immediately noticed his men opening their mouths to protest. But before a word could be uttered, Hogan held up his hand requesting silence.

"I don't want to hear anything. The subject is not open for discussion. I'll be in my quarters." With that, he turned and slowly walked into his quarters, slamming the door behind him. His men were left staring at the closed door.

"What are we going to do?" LeBeau whispered. "You saw him. The Colonel is not in any condition to deal with Metzger."

"Louie's right," Newkirk agreed. "The Gov'nor's been having problems with his breathing of late. If this bloody bastard does something to him and causes the Colonel to develop breathing trouble, he's liable to kill 'im and you know it. We can't let him keep that meeting tonight."

"How are we gonna stop him from going?" asked Carter. "You know how Colonel Hogan is. He'd have our hides if we tried stopping him from meeting with Metzger."

"We're not gonna stop him," Kinch suddenly announced. The others looked at him, stunned and all began protesting at once. Kinch held up his hands requesting silence. "You misunderstand me. We're gonna let the Colonel keep his meeting with Metzger. But he won't be alone." He looked around at the others. "I'll be following two minutes behind him and watching his back. If the Colonel has any problems, I'll take Metzger out myself."

Hogan lay on his lower bunk staring up at the bottom of the bunk above. He had the ice pack sitting on his throat. His mind was focused on only one thing, and that one thing was Metzger. Hogan was going over the planned scenario in his mind how he would do it. He wouldn't waste any time. The minute he had Metzger's attention, he would kill him. Despite how much Hogan wanted Metzger to suffer the agony Newkirk and Baker had endured, he would not stoop to the General's level. His death would be quick. Hogan looked at his watch. There was about four hours before he had to prepare for his meeting, so Hogan decided he better get some sleep. He turned on his side and, holding the ice pack to his throat, he closed his eyes as an uneasy sleep slowly came.

It was a little past ten-fifteen when Hogan awoke. Checking his watch, he swung his feet off the bed and sat on the edge, running his hands up and down his face, attempting to wipe the sleep from his eyes. His meeting was scheduled for eleven-thirty. He slowly got to his feet and methodically changed out of his uniform into black pants, turtleneck and smeared grease on his face. He again checked his watch. It was going on ten thirty-five. He had just enough time to instruct his men before he left just in case he didn't return. He seized his pistol from its hiding place and after checking the clip, stuck it back in with a click. He then exited the room.

It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the darkness in the common room, but he made out LeBeau and Newkirk seated at the table. They were looking at him with deep worry.

"Are you certain we can't either talk you out of this or at least let one of us go with you, sir?" asked Newkirk.

"Sorry, Newkirk," Hogan replied. "This is between me and Metzger. I won't risk any of you in this." He paused for a long moment as he looked at each man. He sighed. "Newkirk, LeBeau, in case I don't come back…"

"Don't go any further, sir," said Newkirk. "You'll be back. We know it."

Hogan smiled faintly. "I'm glad you have such faith. But this is important. If for some reason I don't come back, contact London, evacuate the camp, and get everybody out. And I mean everybody. I don't want Metzger to have free rein with the prisoners. Is that understood?"

"Right, Gov'nor," Newkirk replied softly.

"Oui, mon Colonel. But you will be back." LeBeau's face didn't hide his true feelings.

"I intend to. By the way, where's Carter and Kinch?"

Newkirk motioned with his head towards the hidden tunnel entrance. "They're down in the radio room I think, sir."

Hogan again checked his watch. It was going on ten forty-five. He stuck his pistol in the back of his waistband and walked over to the double-bunk. He slapped the hidden mechanism and waited for the bunk to rise and the ladder to drop. When they did, he stepped over the bed frame and quickly disappeared from sight. LeBeau slowly got up and approached the tunnel opening. He struck the mechanism again and watched the bunk drop over the entrance. But instead of then walking away, he stuck his hands in his pockets with his head hanging.

Carter was seated at the radio with Kinch stretched out on the bunk reading a magazine when they both noticed Hogan appear. They both got to their feet.

"Leaving now, Colonel?" Kinch asked softly. "I really wish you'd let one of us go with you to watch your back."

"He's right boy. I mean Colonel."

"I appreciate the offer, but not this time. Look, I have to make this quick. I'm going to tell both of you what I told Newkirk and LeBeau. If I don't come back, don't waste any time. Contact London and evacuate everybody. And I mean everybody."

"Yes, sir," Carter replied with a sad face.

"It'll be done, Colonel," said Kinch, trying to keep a tight rein on his emotions.

Hogan looked at both men affectionately. Then, he suddenly turned and briskly walked down the dirt corridor and climbed up the ladder leading to the tree stump. The minute Hogan was out of sight, Kinch hastily got out of his pea-green jacket and uniform pants and revealed a similar outfit to Hogan's underneath. Carter handed him a fully loaded pistol. Kinch adjusted the wool-cap on his head. He took the pistol.

"Bring the Colonel back safe along with yourself," Carter said softly.

"You can count on it," Kinch replied as he headed to the ladder. He didn't want Hogan getting too far ahead of him even though he knew where the meeting place was.

All Carter could do is sit down at the radio and wait which was not something he was very good at.

Metzger pulled his attaché case from it's hiding place and, placing it on the bed, opened it. Checking his watch, he saw he still had nearly thirty-five minutes before he had to meet with Hogan. Grabbing his weapon, he held it in his hand and grinned. After he and the American discussed the final arrangements for his collection, Hogan would never leave the meeting place alive. He'd see to it. He was about to put the gun in his pocket when there was a knock on his bedroom door. He replaced the weapon back in the attaché case and closed it. Walking to the door, he opened it, and was surprised at who was standing there. Anger appeared as he turned around and walked back towards the bed.

"What are you doing here?!" he demanded. "Get out! I don't have time to listen to you!!"

With his back turned, he didn't notice the visitor entering the room.

Hogan had reached the rendezvous place with ten minutes to spare. He had felt the hair on the back of his neck bristle, which told him he was being watched. Secretly, he hoped it was one of his men because he didn't want Metzger to get the drop on him. He checked his watch after some time had elapsed. Metzger was fifteen minutes late. Hogan didn't like being out in the open like this with no backup, but it couldn't be helped.

He started pacing back and forth, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. He checked his watch again after what seemed an eternity. Metzger was now forty-five minutes late. Hogan began to worry. Metzger made no secret that getting his collection back was more important than anything. And if he spoke the truth, then where was he? What could be keeping him? If Metzger was playing one of his games at this moment, Hogan wasn't going to bite. He figured he would give him just fifteen minutes more before returning to camp and then pay the General a visit to find out why he didn't show.

The next fifteen minutes seemed to drag on forever. Hogan started to feel anger building. What could have kept that bastard from showing up unless…

"Oh God, no!" Hogan suddenly yelled as he turned to head back to camp as quickly as possible. He paused, however, to look at a clump of bushes. "We're going back to camp, Kinch!" he said.

Kinch stood up, looking puzzled. "How did you…?" But Hogan waved him off.

"Metzger didn't show. I'm afraid he may have promised to show up knowing I'd leave camp so he could torture another of the men without me around. We have to get back there! Now!"

It was the longest twenty minutes of Hogan's life. By the time they reached the tree stump, Hogan's breathing was a bit labored. Kinch took his arm.

"Colonel…"

Hogan, hands on knees, looked over. "I'll be all right. Kinch, get to the barracks. I'll be right behind you. Check the men. Make sure they're all there. Please!" He slowly straightened up.

Kinch raised the lid of the tree stump and climbed down and as promised, Hogan was right behind him, closing the lid behind him. When they reached the ground, Hogan decided before checking on Metzger he'd better clean up and change. He couldn't afford to be caught in what he was wearing with grease on his face. He saw Kinch eyeing him, worried.

"Go on, Kinch. I've got to change first. I'll come in up a few minutes. Just check on the men."

Looking at Hogan, Kinch nodded and took off as fast as he could run.

The Colonel changed and cleaned up as quickly as he possible could. Pushing back his crush cap on his head, he hurried to the ladder leading to the barracks and began to climb. As his head appeared from the tunnel opening, he saw a calm Kinch waiting for him. He looked up at him with worried eyes.

"Relax, Colonel," he said. "Everybody who should be here is here. Nobody's missing."

Hogan pressed his forehead against his hands clinging to the ladder, and for a moment, Kinch thought he heard his commanding officer murmur 'Thank God.' He helped Hogan climb out of the tunnel and into the barracks.

The Colonel looked at him.

"Kinch, stay here." Hogan partially slid the gun he had with him from his bomber jacket inside pocket. "No matter what you may hear, stay here." That said, Hogan quietly slipped out the barracks door. He hugged the sides of the various buildings and stayed in the shadows until he came to Klink's guest quarters. He noticed all the lights were out inside. Hogan was puzzled. If Metzger was inside, why were all the lights out then? And if he wasn't there, where was he? While on his way to the guest quarters, Hogan had noticed the lights were out in the Kommandantur so Metzger wasn't with the Kommandant.

Hogan quietly opened a side window and climbed inside, closing the window behind him. After his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness despite the bit of moonlight shining through the glass, he took a step further into the room. That's when he suddenly froze in his tracks at what he saw.

There, lying on the floor, his head in a growing pool of blood with eyes open, was the body of General Metzger. Hogan noticed the General's head at an odd angle. That could only mean the neck had been broken. There was a jagged gash in the middle of his forehead from which blood was still dripping. Having to make certain the man was dead, Hogan slowly made his way forward and knelt down beside the body, careful not to let his shoes touch the blood. He couldn't afford to leave a trail. He pressed two fingers against Metzger's neck. There was no pulse and the body was cool to the touch. Hogan slowly stood up and backed away from the body, still unable to grasp what he was seeing.

Metzger was dead; that much was true. But his death had taken place in the camp. The one place Hogan didn't want it to take place. His mind started turning as to who could have done it. The only possible suspects who came to mind immediately were his men. Did one of them do this? Hogan's head was spinning. His breathing was becoming difficult as he felt his throat constrict. He bent over with hands on knees trying to catch his breath.

As incapacitated as he was at the moment, he suddenly turned his head towards the door.

He heard footsteps and voices. And they were approaching the bedroom where he was.