Chapter 41---Two Different Plans in Motion

Hogan noticed the white light on the microphone light up. He stopped pacing and sat down at his desk.

"Yeah, Kinch?" he asked, speaking into the microphone.

"Colonel, Skyhawk's on the line wanting to talk with you," the radioman said uneasily.

"Okay, Kinch." He started to switch to the red light, but hesitated. "Kinch, are you still there?"

"I'm here, Colonel."

"Good. Kinch, I want you to listen in on my conversation but remain quiet. Afterwards, come to my quarters for a talk."

"Understood. Standby, Colonel."

Hogan switched to the red light. "Hogan here. What do you want, Skyhawk?"

"Now, now, Colonel," Skyhawk remarked in his quiet voice. "You must watch your temper. It wouldn't do to get me upset, would it? I mean, it wouldn't exactly be healthy for one of your men at all."

"Just leave my men out of this," Hogan insisted. "This is between you and me and nobody else. My men have nothing to do with this."

"I beg to differ, Colonel," Skyhawk reminded Hogan. "Your men are the primary reason you will do what you're told and make certain I am not disappointed."

"Let's just can the small talk and get on with it." Hogan sighed wearily, a hint of anger in his voice.

"Very well, Colonel. What do you have to tell me? And it better be good news."

"I think you'll be pleased," Hogan tried sounding innocent and keep the disgust he felt hidden. "The art collection arrived last night from Switzerland. We only have to make arrangements to store it somewhere inside the camp. We can't keep it here, though; would bring too much attention. What I suggest is that you contact me tomorrow at the same time and we can set up a meeting for tomorrow night and I'll take you to where it'll be hidden."

"I'm impressed, Colonel," Skyhawk admitted. "You've done much better than I thought you would. I thought I'd have to persuade you somehow."

"Also," Hogan added. "You'll need a truck to load it onto. So I suggest you bring one."

"I'll do that," Skyhawk replied. "How many boxes and crates are we talking about?"

"About twenty-five. They're all different sizes. I also suggest you bring about four men to help load the truck." Hogan was hoping Skyhawk would reject that suggestion and insist Hogan bring his own men instead. The American knew he would need them with him if he were going to pull this off, and he would feel better if he didn't have to sneak them to the meeting place.

"I have an even better suggestion, Colonel Hogan," Skyhawk responded. "You will bring your men with you and they will load the truck. I will hold one of them as a hostage while the truck is being loaded. Afterwards, I will release your man and be on my way to Argentina. You will never hear from me again."

"After you give me the photo and negative," Hogan reminded him.

"But of course, Colonel. I haven't forgotten."

"Also, two of my men are injured," Hogan continued. "One of my men has a broken hand, and the other is in the infirmary. Both courtesy of General Metzger. So I only have two men to help load the truck."

"Then I will hold you hostage while they load the truck, Colonel. That way I can keep an eye on you and your men. Besides, I don't believe your men would do anything to jeopardize their Colonel's life."

Hogan was glad Skyhawk couldn't see him smile at agreeing he bring his own men with him.

Hochstetter smirked at his second-in- command, Captain Fritz Fuchs, (1) known to Hogan and the underground as Bluebird. Fuchs walked a fine line between helping Hogan, the underground, and keeping Hochstetter from discovering he helped the Allies. He also tried keeping the American informed as to whatever Hochstetter might be up to.

"You know what you must do, Captain," Hochstetter advised him. "It's important that Colonel Hogan believe the message he is given, and come to the scheduled meeting. It will be at this supposed meeting that I will arrest him, drag him back to Berlin, and charge him with escape and for the murder of Luftwaffe General Metzger. And there will be nothing Burkhalter can do." He smirked at his last sentence.

"Jawohl, Herr Major," Fuchs replied. "You want me to get in touch with our operative and tell him to make contact with Colonel Hogan by informing him there is an underground operative who knows where the killer of General Metzger is hiding."

"Exactly. The code name the operative will give Hogan will be Silver Fox. Should Hogan ask about the underground operative, the underground operative's code name would be Blue Angel. After the day and time of the meeting are set with Hogan, you will come back here and report directly to me."

"Jawohl, Herr Major." Fuchs got to his feet. "I will leave at once." His face remained impassive. But inside, he knew he had to warn Hogan before reporting to Hochstetter.

Grabbing his coat and cap from the coat tree, Fuchs walked out his office door. He knew his boss was trying to bypass Burkhalter's orders that he leave Hogan alone by getting Hogan out of Stalag 13 where he could then arrest him. Well, he wouldn't let that happen if he could help it. He quickly left Gestapo headquarters, got into his car, and drove away. When he was a safe distance from Gestapo headquarters, Fuchs switched the frequency on his car radio, and picked up the microphone.

"Bluebird to Papa Bear. Bluebird to Papa Bear. Come in, Papa Bear."

"This is Papa Bear, Bluebird." Fuchs recognized the voice as belonging to Kinch. "What can we do for you?"

"I need to speak with Colonel Hogan," Fuchs explained. "It's urgent."

"Hold on one minute, Bluebird," Kinch replied. A minute or two later, Hogan's voice was heard.

"This is Papa Bear, Bluebird. Kinch said it was urgent that you speak with me. What is it?"

"Colonel, Major Hochstetter has ordered me to get in touch with one of our operatives, code name Silver Fox. He is to then make contact with you and inform you that an underground operative, code name Blue Angel, knows where the killer of General Metzger is hiding. A meeting is to be set up between you and Blue Angel. Once a day and time is set up, I am to report to the Major who will attend this meeting and arrest you for escaping and for the murder of Metzger."

"Thanks for the heads up, Bluebird," Hogan replied wearily. "I appreciate it. I suspected Hochstetter wouldn't let a little thing like Burkhalter barring him from Stalag 13 stop him from coming after me."

"I will try and keep you informed should the Major come up with something else. Is there anything you need me to do, Colonel?"

"Yeah, there is. I need you to do what you can to have my meeting with Blue Angel moved into town somewhere tomorrow night, like the Hofbrau for example. Try and get it scheduled for about 1900 hours."

"I'll take care of it, Colonel," Fuchs said.

"Thanks. Papa Bear over and out."

"Bluebird out."

Hogan sighed as he shut off the microphone and slowly got to his feet. He sat down on his lower bunk with his face in his hands, elbows resting on his knees. That was how Kinch found him minutes later when he knocked on the closed door and heard a muffled voice bid him enter.

"Something wrong, Colonel?" Kinch asked, worried. "Are you all right?"

Hogan slowly sat up. He held his throbbing side. "Bluebird just informed me we have a problem."

"Hochstetter, sir?"

"Hochstetter," Hogan replied looking up at Kinch from the corner of his eyes. "Seems the Major ordered Bluebird to get in touch with an operative named Silver Fox who is suppose to make contact with me, and let me know an underground agent named Blue Angel has information on whoever killed Metzger. A meeting is to be set up between me and Blue Angel; a meeting at which Hochstetter will be in attendance and arrest me."

Kinch folded his arms across his chest. "So if the Major can't arrest you in camp, he's gonna try and lure you outside the camp."

Hogan chuckled. "Too bad he's gonna have a long wait for nothing." He got to his feet. Kinch noticed his commanding officer wince. "Kinch, would you get me a glass of water, please?"

"Sure thing, Colonel. Be right back." Kinch left the room. While he was gone, Hogan removed the bottle of aspirin from his jacket pocket and, removing the top, shook two tablets into his hand. He replaced the top and stuffed the bottle back in his pocket. Just then, Kinch reentered holding a glass of water. Hogan put the pills in his mouth, took the glass, and emptied it.

"Thanks, Kinch," he said putting the empty glass on his footlocker.

"What are you gonna do, Colonel?" Kinch suspected Hogan had taken two aspirin for the pain.

"I asked Bluebird to make arrangements for my meeting with Blue Angel somewhere in town. We don't need Hochstetter and his goons interfering with our storing everything in the abandoned mine." Hogan pursed his lips. "How are you, LeBeau and Newkirk doing with gathering the crates and boxes anyway?"

"It's slow going, but we'll have them ready. Right now we have about fifteen of them."

"We'll need about ten more."

"It'll be done, sir," Kinch replied. "Carter says to tell you the explosives will be ready on time."

"Good. What about the truck?"

"It's waiting for us in the motor pool at twelve cents a mile."

Hogan chuckled and shook his head.

Kinch took a deep breath. "Colonel, I'm a bit confused as to what you told Skyhawk. I mean, I listened to your conversation as you asked me to. But I don't understand why you told Skyhawk he could bring four men to load the truck."

Hogan sighed. "I knew he would refuse my offer that he bring his own men. He wouldn't want to part with any of his million dollars and would rather have you fellas load the truck instead."

"So I gather Newkirk will be minding the store."

"Afraid so. With a broken hand, he won't be able to defend himself."

Kinch smirked. "He won't like that at all, Colonel."

"I know, but it can't be helped."

" And what does Baker have to do with any of this?" Kinch asked.

"Not a thing, Kinch. I told Skyhawk that because when we meet with him, I want you to stay hidden in case we need help. You'll be sort of my ace-in-the hole so to speak. I want Skyhawk to think I only have two of my men available."

Kinch looked at his watch. "Unless you need me for anything else, Colonel, I'd better get below and help Newkirk and LeBeau get the remainder of those boxes and crates ready."

"Go ahead," Hogan said. "Oh, Kinch, before I forget. Tell Carter not to put the explosives in the boxes until after we have them inside the mine. Can't take a chance on something happening before we get there. The boxes with the explosives will be on the top. After everything's in the mine we'll then set the timers."

"I'll tell him, sir." Kinch studied his commanding officer's face as he sat down at his desk. "Sir, are you all right? I saw you take two aspirin earlier. You should be resting right now. I can have someone wake you when Silver Fox contacts you."

"I'm okay, Kinch. Really. Just make sure everything's ready for tomorrow. After evening roll call tomorrow we'll take everything to the mine. Then at 2300 hours tomorrow night, I'll take Skyhawk to the mine."

"Suppose Skyhawk tries to pull a fast one on you?" Kinch asked with concern.

Hogan allowed a lopsided grin to appear. "Kinch, I'd be highly insulted if he didn't. That's why I want you to remain hidden when we get there." He wrapped his arms around himself. "We have to be careful, Kinch. Skyhawk's no fool. If he suspects a trick or a trap, we could all be in a lot of trouble or worse."

(1) I am using Gestapo Captain Fritz Fuchs aka Bluebird with the permission of his creator Jennaya.