Chapter 45---A Gestapo Under Arrest
It was ten minutes after nine when Hochstetter hung up the phone in the Hofbrau and stormed out into the night. Bluebird, watching him go, waited about five minutes, got up, and went to use the phone. He looked at the bartender behind the bar and smiled.
"I must call my wife and let her know I will be late getting home," he said. The bartender, who Bluebird recognized as a member of the underground, smiled and walked away to give him some privacy. Bluebird dialed the phone number and waited.
The switchboard buzzed and Kinch plugged in. "Go ahead," he said. He had his pad and pencil ready.
"Lilli, it's Fritz," Bluebird said, speaking in code.
"Go ahead, Bluebird."
"I was with Major Hochstetter at the Hofbrau, but he just left. I called you ten minutes earlier, but your uncle Wilhelm said you weren't in and I said I'd call back. I wanted to leave at nine p.m. However, I should be home in a less than thirty minutes. Give the baby a hug and kiss for me. Auf wiedersehen, liebchen."
"Thanks, Bluebird," Kinch replied with a smile. He unplugged from the switchboard and hurried to the radio room. He passed Olsen on the way and asked him to monitor the switchboard in case a call came in. He plugged into the microphone in Hogan's quarters. He activated the white light.
"Go ahead, Kinch," Hogan responded.
"Just heard from Bluebird, Colonel. I've got Olsen monitoring the switchboard just in case. Here's the message. Major Hochstetter called Colonel Klink ten minutes ago. He just left Hofbrau. Should be here in less than half-an-hour."
"Thanks Kinch. You know what to do." Hogan said.
"Understood, Colonel."
Klink was annoyed as he drove through the main gate of Stalag 13 at such a late hour. He had been sleeping peacefully when his telephone rang. He recalled the obviously disguised voice on the other end.
"Colonel Klink?" the male voice said.
"Who is this?" Klink asked still half asleep.
"You don't know me, Colonel. But I have important information that I must give only to you."
"Call back in the morning," Klink mumbled falling asleep.
"Colonel, I know who killed General Metzger and why."
Klink sat upright in bed with eyes wide open now. "What did you just say?" he asked.
"I said I know who killed General Metzger and why."
"Tell me who it was."
"Not over the phone, Colonel. We must meet somewhere. I will give you the information in person."
"Tell me where. I'll be there right away." Klink imagined the rewards he would get if he captured the killer of General Metzger. That and it would show up Major Hochstetter.
"Meet me at the Hofbrau in one hour. If you don't show up, I will assume you are not coming."
Klink hastily got out of bed at that point and got dressed. He hurriedly got one of his guards to get his staff car from the motor pool and park it outside his quarters. Klink knew he had no time to waste.
Kinch plugged into the switchboard and dialed the phone number of checkpoint number three which was fifteen minutes away from the camp. He let the phone ring several times before somebody finally answered.
"Corporal Schneider, here," said the guard who answered the phone.
"Corporal Schneider, this is Sergeant Schultz, Stalag 13," Kinch said in his best German voice. "Has Colonel Klink come by there yet?"
"No, Sergeant."
"When he does, you are to stop him and tell him to come back to Stalag 13 immediately. There is an emergency at camp and he must return right away."
"Jawohl, Herr Sergeant. If Colonel Klink comes this way, I will stop him and insist he return to Stalag 13 right away due to an emergency."
"Danke, Corporal," Kinch replied. He unplugged the switchboard and hurried back upstairs to the barracks. When he climbed back into the common room, he saw the others seated at the table. Checking his watch he noticed it was almost nine-thirty. "Where's the Colonel?" he asked.
"He's gone where Hochstetter won't find him but can watch everything go down," said Newkirk putting on his nightgown. "Figures he's gotta keep the ruddy bastard in camp until old Klink gets back and catches him."
"You make contact with the checkpoint number three?" asked LeBeau.
"They've been notified and will turn Klink around and send him back to camp the minute he shows up," Kinch said with a smile.
"Hochstetter just pulled in," Carter announced from his post at the barracks door.
"Places everybody!" Kinch announced. The men scattered to different areas of the barracks immediately.
Moments later, the barracks door burst open and Major Hochstetter stormed inside, gun drawn. He looked around.
"Can we help you, Major Hochstetter?" asked Kinch innocently.
"Where is Colonel Hogan?" he demanded.
"We haven't seen him since earlier this evening," Carter replied.
"Bah! I will check for myself!" He stormed in the direction of Hogan's quarters. "Hogan! You will come out of there now!"
When Hochstetter received no answer he kicked in the door of the Colonel's quarters and looked around. He became angry when he found the room empty. Turning, he marched back into the common room and glared at Hogan's men. "Where is he? I demand you tell me and tell me now!"
Kinch suddenly got a smirk on his face. "Major, does General Burkhalter know you're here?"
"BAH!!!" the Major sneered and headed for the door. "I will find him myself!" he stormed out the door.
Klink slowed the car to a stop when he reached checkpoint number 3 when he saw the guard lower the wooden arm blocking the road.
"Halt!" the Corporal ordered. He walked around to the driver's side of the car. He saluted.
"Corporal, I am Colonel Klink of Stalag 13. I have an urgent meeting in town that I must attend."
"Colonel, I received a call just before you arrived from a Sergeant Schultz. He said you must return to Stalag 13 as there is an emergency in camp that requires your immediate attention."
Klink stared at the Corporal wide-eyed. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Jawohl, Colonel."
Klink looked longingly further down the road knowing what he might be passing up; but the thought of something happening at Stalag 13 that might jeopardize his perfect 'no-escape' record proved too strong a lure. He saluted the guard. "Danke, Corporal," he said as he backed up his car, turned around, and headed back to the camp.
Hochstetter stormed thought the camp searching barracks after barracks without finding Hogan. He was growing more frustrated and angry by the moment. He had figured he would get into camp, arrest Hogan in barracks two, and then leave. Little did he know Hogan was watching the Major with a smirk on his face.
Hogan peered through the frosted window of Kommandant Klink's office holding a glass of Schnapps. He sipped the drink. He was secretly glad Newkirk had taught him how to pick the lock on Klink's door which allowed him to enter the Kommandant's office without being seen. The Colonel knew if he was caught inside Klink's office, he would have no explanation as to how he got in there, as well as he would be arrested by the Gestapo for breaking into the Kommandant's office. So, every step of his plan had to be timed perfectly. Taking another sip of Schnapps, he resumed watching Hochstetter storm around the compound. He checked his watch and noticed it was approaching ten p.m. It didn't take long for what Hogan had planned to happen.
Hochstetter stood in the middle of the compound, totally frustrated and angry.
"Hogaaaaaaaaan, where are you!!!!" Hochstetter bellowed aloud. He never noticed the staff car coming through the front gate until it was too late. So stunned was the Major he stood his ground and stared; caught off guard at Klink returning before the hour was over. Pulling up behind Hochstetter's car, Klink slowly got out of his car and with a smug grin on his face, approached the Gestapo Major.
"Major Hochstetter, you were advised that you were to stay out of Stalag 13 and away from Colonel Hogan by General Burkhalter."
"Hogan is a murderer and I intend to prove it. However, he seems to be missing. Where is he Klink?"
"Missing? How can he be missing. He's in his barracks where he should be."
"No he's not! I checked barracks two and every barracks in this camp. He is nowhere to be found!" Hochstetter got up in Klink's face waving his gun menacingly. "I'm willing to bet he has escaped! And I am going to hold you responsible, Klink."
"I'm sure there is a simple explanation as to where Colonel Hogan is. Let's just check his barracks again, shall we?"
"What good will that do? I already told you he is not there!"
"Still, perhaps you overlooked something." Klink headed towards barracks two and a growling Hochstetter behind him. Opening the door, Klink found the men still up.
"Where is Colonel Hogan?" asked Klink.
"He's not here, Kommandant," Newkirk said from his perch atop his bed. Klink and Hochstetter both looked up at him.
"Then where is he?" Klink asked, exasperated.
"He's in the infirmary, Colonel," Kinch said innocently.
"Liar!!!" Hochstetter shouted. "He has escaped, Klink! I now have him where I want him. He is a murderer and has fled!"
"We can settle this very easily, Major," Klink replied. "We will go to the infirmary."
"Bah! A total waste of time!"
Klink waved his hand. "Nevertheless, we will check the infirmary." He led the way out of the barracks with a fuming Hochstetter following. After they had left, Hogan's men could no longer contain their laughter, as they knew what awaited the Gestapo Major.
It didn't take long for Klink and Hochstetter to storm into the infirmary. Klink looked at the Major with a smug grin at the sight that greeted them.
Hogan, minus his jacket, cap and shirt, was seated on one of the beds with Sergeant Wilson wrapping his ribs tighter. Corporal Langenscheidt stood nearby, watching. All three men looked up at the intrusion.
"Something I can do for you, Kommandant?" Wilson asked, pausing in what he was doing.
"Sergeant Wilson, how long has Colonel Hogan been here?" asked Klink.
"Probably about an hour, maybe an hour-and-a-half. Why?"
"Liar! You are covering for Hogan but it will not work."
Klink sighed wearily. "Corporal Langenscheidt, how long has Colonel Hogan been here in the infirmary?"
Langenscheidt swallowed nervously. "It is as Sergeant Wilson said, Herr Kommandant. Colonel Hogan came outside barracks two and saw me. He asked me to help him to the infirmary as he was in considerable pain. So, I brought him here myself."
Hochstetter's face turned a deep shade of crimson as he realized what was happening. He growled menacingly.
"Corporal Langenscheidt, I order you to escort Major Hochstetter to the cooler and put him in solitary while I contact General Burkhalter."
Langenscheidt looked nervously from Klink-to-Hochstetter and back to Klink.
"Herr Kommandant?" he asked.
The Major glared at Klink. " Klink, you empty-headed nobody. You wouldn't dare arrest me!"
Klink smiled with a look of glee. "Major, under the authority given me by General Burkhalter, I am arresting you for violation of his orders. Now, if you will hand over your weapon. I'd like to do this peacefully, if possible."
Hogan smirked as Wilson continued wrapping his ribs. "Don't worry, Major," he said. "Sergeant Wilson will treat you if something goes wrong."
"Klink, I refuse to surrender my weapon to you or anybody else."
"Then you leave me no choice, Major. Corporal Langenscheidt, if Major Hochstetter doesn't hand over his weapon by the time I count to ten, shoot him."
"Shoot him, Herr Kommandant?"
"You heard me. One, two, three, four…"
Growling, Hochstetter handed Klink his weapon figuring he wouldn't take the chance of being shot because he sensed that General Burkhalter would back Klink if he did. Besides, he could deal with Klink and Burkhalter better if he was alive.
Pointing Hochstetter's weapon at the Major, Klink ordered Corporal Langenscheidt to accompany him with escorting the Major to the cooler.
Hogan and Wilson both fought hard to contain themselves until after the others had left.
"Colonel, you are an evil man," Wilson said with a grin.
"I know," Hogan replied chuckling. "I must've picked up some bad habits while locked up in here."
Klink had a Cheshire cat smile on his face as he locked the cell door behind Hochstetter who continued glaring at him.
"You should be comfortable in here tonight, Major." Klink glanced at Langenscheidt. "Corporal, see about getting the Major an extra blanket, will you? It gets a bit chilly in here at night."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," the Corporal took the cell door keys from Klink.
"What do you mean by tonight, Klink? I thought you were going to contact the General immediately." The Major replied gripping the cell bars.
Klink pretended to look shocked. "Major, you don't expect me to awaken the General at this time of the night, do you? I promise I'll do it first thing in the morning."
"Klink, if it's the last thing I do, you will pay for this humiliation. I promise you that!"
The Kommandant saluted with a smug grin on his face. "Have a good night, Major. Sleep well. I know I will." He turned and walked away leaving an enraged and humiliated Major sitting in a jail cell.