Chapter 33---A New Suspect
Hogan promptly hid his stunned surprise at seeing the scratches on Wilson's arms and watched him continue changing the bandages on Baker. Once the medic was finished, he sighed and leaned back in his chair. It was then he noticed the Colonel staring at him.
"Something troubling you, Colonel?" Wilson asked.
"Sergeant, I want you to tell me where you got those scratches on your forearms from." It was more of a statement than a question.
Wilson raised his eyebrows in surprise at the question. He looked at the scratches on his arms. "These?" he asked Hogan innocently. "It's no big deal, Colonel. When Baker was first brought into the infirmary, he came too for a moment and was thrashing about as if he were fighting with Metzger. I tried to restrain him and he scratched me before passing out again, that's all. Why?"
Hogan watched Wilson's eyes carefully as he listened to his explanation. Part of him believed the camp medic. But, there was part of him that still had some doubt.
"Sergeant, I recently learned from Major Hochstetter that General Metzger had blood under three of his fingernails on both hands and he obviously scratched whoever killed him. And now I find you have fresh scratches."
"Colonel, believe me when I tell you I did not kill Metzger. Not that I didn't want to after I saw what he did to you, Newkirk and Baker. But I did not do it. I swear."
Hogan pinched the bridge of his nose and hung his head. He had a headache forming. He looked up at his friend. "Joe, I suggest you keep those scratches covered. If Hochstetter or anybody else should see them, I don't know how much help I can be to you."
Wilson slowly rolled down his shirtsleeves and re-buttoned the cuffs. "I will." He studied Hogan's face, and thought he noticed a hint of sadness in the Colonel's eyes. He suspected he had become a suspect in Hogan's mind; not that he was angry. He supposed he'd feel the same way if he was in Hogan's position. But Wilson knew he hadn't done anything so he wasn't worried. But he would do what Hogan requested and keep his forearms covered.
"All right, Colonel," Wilson said getting up. "Now it's your turn. I want to examine your throat and see how you're doing."
Hochstetter was back in Metzger's guest quarters alone, looking around. The General's body had long since been removed. The only indication something had happened in the room was the wide circle of drying blood on the rug near the corner of the dresser. Hochstetter had previously discovered some blood on the corner of the dresser, and figured that was what Metzger's head had struck before he was killed. Hochstetter figured that whoever killed Metzger had struggled with the General and possibly pushed him causing him to strike his head on the corner of the dresser, then, while the General lay stunned on the floor, moved behind him and twisted his head, breaking his neck.
The Gestapo Major was positive Hogan was responsible. And even though he currently didn't know how the American did it, he intended to find proof. Therefore, he was back in the guest quarters going over it a second time. Having looked around the room again, he finally turned his attention to the contents of Metzger's attaché case, which were scattered on top of the bed. He had previously examined Metzger's pistol and found it was still fully loaded. He thoroughly examined everything that remained in the attaché case and was strewn about the bed. He suddenly found an envelope that was on the floor between the dresser and the bed that he had apparently missed initially. Picking it up, he looked inside and found it empty. Hochstetter, wondering what had been in it, figured if he could find out what it was; it would lead him directly to Hogan.
With a sigh, Hochstetter leaned forward with hands, palms downward on the bed. He felt he was missing something; something that would prove without a doubt that Hogan was responsible for Metzger's death. He suddenly got down on his knees and looked under the bed. There was nothing there. Getting to his feet, Hochstetter approached the closet in the corner near the door and opened it. He checked everything, including moving hangers aside hoping to find some indication someone had been hiding in the closet. He was about to close it when something on the floor caught his eye. Kneeling down, he looked closer at it. It appeared to be a partial print, possibly from a shoe.
An evil smile appeared on the Major's face. At last I have you, Hogan, Hochstetter told himself. I have you and nobody can help you this time!
Getting to his feet, the Major quickly left the guest quarters and motioning for the three guards to accompany him, headed in the direction of barracks two.
Hogan and his men were just sitting down at the table when the door to their barracks burst open and Hochstetter stormed in followed by the guards. He marched right up to Hogan and stood glaring at the American with a smug grin on his face.
"Colonel Hogan, you are under arrest for the murder of Luftwaffe General Wolfgang Metzger. It will be better for you if you admit what you did. Now, I suggest you get to your feet."
Hogan glanced at the Gestapo officer with raised eyebrows. "Major, you really need to get out more. You are developing a fixation."
The Colonel never saw what came next. With a growl, Hochstetter backhanded Hogan so hard that he fell off the bench he was seated on. Slowly sitting up, he wiped the smear of blood from the corner of his mouth. He glared at the Major. Hogan's men stood and started towards Hochstetter, but the sound of a rifle being cocked stopped them along with a look from their commanding officer.
Hochstetter looked at his guards. "Take him!" he ordered.
Two of the guards advanced on Hogan, roughly seizing him by his arms and jerking him to his feet. Hogan was then spun around and slammed, face forward, on the table and his arms jerked behind him and handcuffs tightly clamped on his wrists, biting into his flesh. He was again turned so he was facing Hochstetter. The Major got right up in Hogan's face and grinned cunningly.
"I have you now, Hogan," he sneered. "And this time there will be no reprieve. You belong to me. And by the time I finish with you, you will beg for death." He looked at the guards. "Take him to solitary confinement until I am ready to question him. I also want one of you to stand guard outside his cell, and nobody is allowed inside without my permission."
"Jawohl, Herr Major," one of the guards replied as Hogan was violently shoved forward so hard he stumbled and fell to the floor. Getting to his feet without the use of his hands was difficult. Struggling to get to his feet, one of the guards laughed and kicked Hogan in his side. The Colonel bit his lower lip to keep from crying out from the pain.
"Get up, swine!" the guard ordered. When Hogan didn't move fast enough, the guard drew back his foot again and delivered another swift kick this time to the Colonel's ribcage. Hogan squeezed his eyes shut against the pain. He suspected one of his ribs had been broken; the pain was that bad. As the guard again drew back his foot again, Hogan struggled to his knees and finally to his feet. The guards then shoved him out the barracks door.
"You bloody bastard!" Newkirk spat at Hochstetter, eyes blazing. "I ought to…" He took a step forward, but was grabbed and held back by Kinch who saw the remaining guard aim his weapon at the Englander.
Hochstetter smirked at Hogan's men. "Shoot any of them should they move," he ordered the guard as he marched towards Hogan's quarters and kicked open the door. He went inside. Looking around the small room he soon found what he was looking for in Hogan's locker. Bending down he picked up a pair of Hogan's brown shoes and looked at them closely. A smile appeared when he saw what looked like dried blood on them. Taking them with him, he left Hogan's quarters and ordered the guard to come with him, leaving the men alone.
Newkirk glared at Kinch. He jerked his arm free. "What'd you stop me for, Kinch?" he demanded. "That bloody Kraut needed to have me teach him a ruddy lesson."
"Yeah, and you getting shot in the process," Kinch reminded him. "The Colonel would've loved that."
"What do we do, mon ami?" asked LeBeau anxiously. "We cannot leave the Colonel in the hands of the Gestapo. They'll kill him!"
"And we won't, LeBeau," the radioman replied. "Carter, go find Wilson. Tell him what's happening and that we might need his services. I'm going to Klink's office and alert him and Burkhalter."
Hogan was tied to a chair in a cell with his hands still cuffed behind him. His side throbbed and any intake of breath was painful. He found his throat constricting and breathing more difficult due to a possible broken rib. He tried to loosen the ropes tying him to the chair but he was tied too tightly. That didn't help his breathing either. He looked up when the cell door opened and Hochstetter strode in with a smirk on his face. Hogan noticed he was carrying Hogan's other pair of brown shoes in one hand. The ones he had worn the day Baker had been beaten so badly. Hochstetter sat the shoes on a nearby table.
"Well, Hogan," he began, his thumbs tucked into his belt. "What have you to say now?"
"We have…to stop meet…ing like…this," Hogan replied, gasping for breath. "Can't…breathe…"
"That trick won't work with me, Hogan," Hochstetter sneered. "I found dried blood on a pair of your shoes in your locker. I want you to explain to me how it got there."
"Baker's....blood," Hogan struggled to take a deep breath. "Beating…Metzger…"
"I know all about the beating of your Sergeant, Hogan. And the breaking of Corporal Newkirk's hand. You have a motive for murder, Hogan. Now…" He removed his pistol from it's holster. "…you will admit you murdered General Metzger and you will do it now."
"Didn't…do it…didn't…"
Hochstetter backhanded Hogan across the face with the butt of his weapon drawing blood. "Don't lie to me, Hogan! I have been waiting a long time for this moment! Now, you will tell me what I want to know." He got right up in Hogan's face.
"Didn't…"
Hochstetter backhanded him again, drawing blood. "Hogan, I am quickly losing my patience! You will tell me what I want to know or…"
"Or you'll what, Major?!" said an angry voice from behind Hochstetter. The Major turned and saw a red-faced General Burkhalter standing in the doorway with hands clasped behind his back. Behind him were Kinch, Carter, Wilson, and Kommandant Klink.
Hochstetter stared at the General. "I have the proof I need to prove Hogan killed General Metzger, Herr General." The Major picked up the shoes from the table as Wilson shoved past everybody and immediately was at the Colonel's side. Hogan's chin was on his chest. Struggling for breath, he struggled to raise his head and weakly looked at the medic. No words needed to be said between them.
The Gestapo Major held up Hogan's brown shoes so Burkhalter could see the dried blood himself. "Here is the proof, Herr General. I am positive the blood on Hogan's shoes is that of General Metzger. I also found a partial bloody shoe print in the closet of the General's bedroom of the guest quarters. I'm sure they will match."
Burkhalter looked at the Major with a smug grin of his own. "Major, if you could see anything except your fixation on Hogan, you would know that the blood on Colonel Hogan's shoes belongs to Sergeant Baker. When Klink and I were in Hogan's barracks that night he had those same shoes on, and there was blood on them. Also, I believe Klink when he told me he saw blood on Hogan's shoes in the cooler. He was there after Sergeant Baker was beaten. There was blood everywhere. Now I suggest you release Colonel Hogan and do your job as you are suppose to or else."
"Herr General, Hogan is guilty. I know he is guilty." Hochstetter said.
"You know nothing of the kind, Major," Burkhalter replied, his eyes narrowing. "Now, I'm ordering you to release Colonel Hogan. I will not tell you again!"
"But Herr General…" Hochstetter protested.
"Perhaps Major, you would prefer to explain yourself to Reichsfuhrer Himmler instead?" Burkhalter said sweetly with a smile. He noticed Hochstetter stiffen at hearing Himmler's name.
"Jawohl, Herr General," Hochstetter replied softly, setting the shoes down on the table. Removing a knife from his pocket, he sliced the ropes binding Hogan to the chair. Removing the keys from his pocket, he unlocked the handcuffs. Then, his face red with anger, he stormed past everybody and out of the cell. Hogan slid sideways in the chair, barely conscious and gasping for breath.
Burkhalter watched with the others looking over his shoulders. "How is he, Sergeant Wilson?" he asked.
"He's having trouble breathing. He's been kicked twice according to Sergeant Carter. He may have a cracked or fractured rib as well and cuts on his face from where he's been struck. I need to get him back to the barracks where I can do a complete exam. Colonel, can you stand up?"
"I think so," Hogan struggled to sit up; his breathing easing a bit. Gripping the arms of the chair, he forced himself to his feet, took two steps, and promptly collapsed into Wilson's arms. The medic looked up.
"Kinch," he called out.
The radioman was already pushing his way into the cell before Wilson had finished saying his name. He knelt down beside his commanding officer. Both men saw that Hogan had passed out.
"We need to get him back to the barracks. Can you carry him?"
"No sweat," Kinch replied. He gently scooped up the Colonel, grateful Hogan was unconscious, and carefully cradled him in his arms. Then, he followed Wilson out of the cell with Burkhalter and Klink behind them. Carter lingered behind long enough to grab Hogan's shoes off the table before rejoining the others.
Wilson opened the door to barracks two and held it open to allow Kinch to enter, gingerly trying not to cause Hogan any unnecessary jostling as he might have a cracked or broken rib which could puncture a lung. The men in the common room were stunned by the sight. Newkirk quickly moved to Hogan's quarters and held open the door to allow Kinch to pass by with Wilson following. He, Carter and LeBeau all stood in the doorway of the CO's quarters as Kinch carefully laid Hogan down on the lower bunk, then backed away to give Wilson room to work. The medic, placing his medical bag on the footlocker, looked at the men in the doorway.
"I want all of you out of here and close the door. I only want Kinch in here. I know you're all worried about Colonel Hogan. I promise I'll let you know how he's doing when I'm finished."
Carter entered the room quietly and after replacing Hogan's shoes in his locker, left the room reluctantly with Newkirk and LeBeau. LeBeau closed the door. Then, the three of them sat down at the table to wait.
Newkirk lit a cigarette with his good hand. He and LeBeau studied Carter.
'You were there with Kinch, Andrew," Newkirk said. "What happened in the cooler with the Gov'nor? What did Hochstetter do to him?"
"It looks like he hit the Colonel at least twice. I heard Wilson say he might have a cracked or broken rib. And he was having trouble breathing. When Wilson tried to get Colonel Hogan to his feet and back to the barracks, the Colonel passed out cold. Wilson then had Kinch carry him back here to the barracks."
Newkirk took a long drag on his cigarette. "That bloody Gestapo bastard!" he muttered. "I should've killed him when I had the chance and risked being shot."
"We saw the Major taking Colonel Hogan's shoes from his quarters," said LeBeau. "What did he want them for?"
"I heard Hochstetter tell Burkhalter that the Colonel had dried blood on his shoes and he was positive the blood was that of General Metzger," Carter explained. "But Burkhalter really gave it to Hochstetter about him trying to pin Metzger's death on the Colonel. Boy, you shoulda seen it. Burkhalter even threatened to report Hochstetter to Himmler if he didn't release the Colonel. I thought Hochstetter was gonna faint."
"Thank our lucky stars Burkhalter was still here," Newkirk said.
"Oui," LeBeau added. "Now let's just hope those same lucky stars will be with the Colonel while Wilson's examining him."