"Down in the tunnel with Baker and Reynolds, sir," Kinch said watching Hogan closely.
"Newkirk, get that film developed. Olsen," Hogan hesitated studying the man. "Olsen, take a nap."
"I'm fine, sir, I don't need…," he snapped, angrily.
"That's an order, Sergeant," Hogan's tone and face made Olsen back down. "LeBeau, stay up here with Olsen and Carter. Kinch, let's go see Barrett." Hogan went to the bunk bed entrance and slammed his hand against board making the entrance open. He and Kinch went below followed by Newkirk.
"Brian, I have something that will help you rest," LeBeau said mixing coffee and alcohol in the same cup.
"I don't need anything," he started until LeBeau added a bit more alcohol to the mix. "Well, you do make interesting coffee," he grinned taking a long drink of the beverage.
"Perhaps you should lie down and finish your coffee," LeBeau suggested. Olsen started to refuse. "You don't want the Colonel to come back up and not find you in your bunk."
"Maybe you're right," he said sitting down on his bunk finishing off the drink in another long drink. Within a couple of minutes, he was fast asleep. Reaching down, LeBeau took the cup, then covered the sleeping man up knowing Olsen would definitely sleep due to the third ingredient that he had snuck into the cup suggested by Wilson; one small sleeping pill. Olsen hadn't slept a wink since killing the Gestapo agent several days ago, and everyone could tell how much he needed rest. Perhaps some sleep would help him put things in perspective when he awoke.
Kinch and Hogan made their way through the tunnels to the guest sleeping quarters where François was being held. The scientist was pacing the small area with Baker and Reynolds still standing guard over him.
"Colonel Hogan, that man hit me unprovoked and I want him brought up on charges," François said, angrily pointing at Kinch.
"You may not know this, but Kinch is a professional fighter. You're lucky that I don't walk away," Hogan's voice was dangerously low.
"Feel free to walk away, sir," Kinch said making a fist and hitting his other hand.
"I'm responsible for all Allied personnel in this camp including everyone in the tunnels. I don't allow violence, especially with key members of the underground. Why did you attack Tiger?" Hogan demanded, angrily.
"I don't know what this man told you, but Marie and I were having a conversation before he barged in," François's voice was equally dangerous.
"The bruise on her face says differently," Hogan countered.
François took a deep breath before responding, "It wasn't what it looked like. She fell and I was just trying to catch her. Talk to Marie, she'll tell you the same thing."
"I have spoken with her, and that's not the story she tells," Hogan crossed his arms getting very tired of the spin the scientist was trying.
"Allow me to talk to Marie and we'll resolve any perceived indiscretion between ourselves privately," François demanded.
"Any further communication between the two of you will be with an escort. I will not have anyone hitting a woman in my domain. Is that understood?" Hogan ordered his command face firmly in place.
"You have no right to dictate how a husband and wife communicate," François retorted.
"You lost all rights to be alone with her once you hit her."
"I see," François turned away attempting to get his anger under control, but fury could still be seen in his face. "Colonel, what do you plan to do about this man hitting me?" he pointed at Kinch again.
"Kinch, did you hit the professor?" Hogan asked never taking his eyes off François.
"No, sir. He tripped and fell into my fist as I was helping him up," Kinch answered.
"Obviously you were mistaken," Hogan replied to François.
"We'll see what London has to say about it. These two were witnesses," François gestured in the direction of Baker and Reynolds.
"Gentlemen, did you see Kinch hit anyone today?" Hogan asked not looking in their direction. "No, sir," both answered. "Just what I thought. A misunderstanding. Until further notice, François is to be guarded at all times." Hogan put his finger in François's face. "Get out of line one more time, and we have a cell you'll find yourself locked in until you leave. London wants you there, they didn't say how. If you prefer shackles that is definitely an option. Do I make myself clear?" Hogan demanded.
"Colonel, obviously there is a difference of opinion on what is acceptable behavior. Please tell Marie, I would like to speak with her," François replied, his tone condescending.
"The message will be relayed." Hogan turned towards Baker and Reynolds ordering, "He's not to be left alone. Both of you will need to be present for roll call so make the necessary arrangements."
"We'll take care of it, sir," Reynolds replied.
Hogan left with Kinch alongside of him. Out of range of their guest, Hogan stopped and punched the wall. "You have no idea how badly I wanted to knock that arrogant bastard on his ass!"
"I can imagine, sir," Kinch said standing behind his commanding officer. "I think you controlled yourself admirably."
"Hitting a woman, especially someone you profess caring about, can a man get any lower?" It was a rhetorical question that Kinch didn't answer. "If he thinks he can do anything else, I'll lock him up in a heartbeat."
"It might not be a bad idea. Sir, there are some things I need to tend to, unless you need me for something?" Kinch knew Hogan needed time alone right now to regain his composure. Hogan dismissed him with a wave of his hand and Kinch disappeared down the tunnel.
Hogan paced the length of the tunnel trying to reign in his anger. A wife beater was the lowest form of scum in the free world in his eyes, and François had crossed a line he could never retreat from. Despite what Tiger said, Hogan felt as if he'd failed in his promise to keep her safe from that scumbag, and that was not a failure he'd repeat. He walked until it was near time for roll call, then headed upstairs.
Schultz came in just as the tunnel entrance was closing. He shielded his eyes as the bunk bed shut into place. "Colonel Hogan, please don't do that when I'm here!"
"Then you're going to have to give us more privacy, knock and wait to be admitted," Hogan said looking around to make sure everyone had come up already. Kinch, Baker, and Reynolds were sitting at the common table.
"What if it had been the Kommandant and he saw that?" Schultz asked slightly alarmed.
"Klink wouldn't have made it through the door, if the entrance was open," Newkirk said with a smirk.
"How?" Schultz asked confused.
"Do you really want to know," Hogan asked hooking his thumbs into his jacket pocket.
"Nein! I know nothing, but please don't do it in front of me," Schultz pleaded.
"All right, we'll do our best so that you don't see anything you shouldn't," Hogan promised.
"Danke. It's time for roll-call everyone outside," Schultz bellowed.
"Olsen won't be coming out with us tonight," LeBeau said standing near the stove.
"Why? Is he gone again?" he looked over relived Olsen was sleeping in his bunk. "Is he sick?"
"He's finally getting some sleep, and we're not waking him up," LeBeau said, determinately. "He's here and you can count him, but he's not going to be in the lineup."
"But the Kommandant insists. Any man in camp unless he's on the sick list has to attend roll call," Schultz protested. His eyes lit up as LeBeau produced a biscuit.
"What the Kommandant doesn't know won't hurt him. You can honestly report everyone is present and accounted for. Unless you want Tiger to stand in line," LeBeau handed him the biscuit.
"Nein! The Kommandant can't know she's here. How long will she be here?" Schultz looked back at Hogan while taking a bite of the biscuit.
Hogan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know yet, a few more days."
"I don't want to interfere with your personal life, just make sure the Kommandant doesn't discover she's here again," Schultz shoved another bite into his mouth, then turned to Carter. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. Tomorrow Wilson will let me sit-up for the first time," Carter answered with a big smile.
"Good. Then you can come out to roll-call soon. Everyone outside before the Kommandant comes looking for us!" Schultz ordered and the men started filing out the door into their respective spots. "If the Kommandant every discovered what goes on inside this barracks it would be worth all our lives!"
"Don't you mean your life," Hogan asked.
"Nein. You don't think I'd go down alone, do you?" Schultz shoved the last of the biscuit in his mouth.
Hogan shook his head no thinking that maybe they'd been to causal around Schultz too. He'd talk to the men about it. Coming in from roll call, Hogan closed the door. "LeBeau, why didn't Olsen make it outside tonight?"
"He couldn't sir. Wilson's orders and a sleeping pill. He'll sleep all night," LeBeau answered.
"Ahh, that's probably a good thing. I'll be in my room if anyone needs me. Goodnight gentlemen," Hogan said. He heard goodnights from the men as he closed his door. Sitting down next to Tiger, he watched her for a moment noticing her having a nightmare, so he caressed the side of her face. She quieted down quickly. "Don't worry; I'll take care of François. He won't cause any more trouble." He bent down kissing her on the forehead then climbed to the top bunk falling into a fitful sleep himself.
He snuck into Klink's office in the middle of the night without turning on a light picking up the phone calling for backup. "I need your help sir," he said when the phone was answered.
"What do you need?" Hochstetter asked, listening to the request. "Do you have anything else to report?"
"I believe Sergeants Carter and Olsen were somehow involved in the events. Carter has a mysterious injury from that night that can be exploited. Olsen has been acting like a man with a guilty conscious, so it won't take much to push him over the edge. He's already starting to slip. Once I get inside Barracks Two, they'll both give up Papa Bear before the week is over."
"You've done good work. If that's all it'll take to take down Papa Bear, then I'll buy an entire cake. Meet me at the rendezvous site tomorrow and I'll bring the best piece of chocolate cake in Germany."
"Dank sir," he said disconnecting the phone. Sitting on the edge of Klink's desk, he smiled calculatingly. This would be one of the last nails in Hogan's coffin. Chocolate was Schultz's weakness and the bribe would get him assigned to the Barracks. Hogan's coffin, he snorted. Once they were finished with him, Hogan wouldn't get a coffin. He'd be dumped in a hole with the rest of the vermin, and Schultz could be tossed in next to the American Colonel. If Olsen and Carter were involved in killing his brother as he suspected, then the Sergeants wouldn't be as lucky as their commanding officer.