The next morning, as the three checked out of the hotel, Claus managed to track down two bicycle drivers, one for him and Hawkeye and the other for Klinger and their meager luggage. That way, he knew that if one was caught, the other was not. However, getting the two drivers to meet at the same location, but go in different directions, was almost impossible, as the two drivers argued the practicality of the idea (all in rapid Japanese, which Claus had a very hard time understanding, even if he knew the language well). In the end, though, it was managed with enough American money.
As Klinger helped the other driver pack one carriage in the back, Claus met up with Hawkeye in the other one and sat down next to him in the seat. "We're meeting my contact at a secret location outside of the city, as we planned over the phone earlier this morning," he said to the captain, as if he were in charge of this investigation of their own. "He has information for us about this Major Floyd character."
"And he couldn't give to you over the phone?" Hawkeye asked jokingly, in the back of his mind still trying to understand the spying business.
Claus nodded and smiled. "It's too risky. Major Floyd has already arrested more people than expected, it's been said. With that in mind, he might also have control over the telephone lines and cables. He has men all over the city and more people might be watching us. So, we have to hurry. There's no time to waste this time."
Now, it was Hawkeye's turn to nod. "I see. Well, Jeeves, I think it's time to get the horses ready then."
Their driver behind them packing with Klinger (in a new dress, showing his hairy legs), hearing the exchange, shrugged his shoulders in indifference, but he knew that he had a job to do. While he was hired to keep an eye out for the characters that he was told to, he also had no liking for Major Floyd and his men. Knowing that he also had more money coming his way if he cooperated (and the amount was enough to feed his family for a few years) did not even brighten the deal.
Finishing up his work with the luggage as the two talked and his companion took off with the hairy man dressed as a woman, he walked to his bicycle. Sighing and not looking forward to driving the heavy load, he climbed on and began the ruthless pedaling. Surely, more money will sweeten the pot and he could easily tell Major Floyd and his men that he neither saw nor heard nothing.
~00~
Colonel Potter had been reading more reports from the front lines, just coming in as he sat in his office, brooding. So far, none of them looked good for anyone. The lines were moving once more, towards their direction, and it was possible that his dysfunctional unit might have to go mobile, despite Major Floyd trying to make prisoners out of all of his personnel and Hawkeye and Klinger missing in Tokyo. He had lives to consider, even those who were suspected of murdering others.
Rubbing his wrinkled forehead in frustration, Colonel Potter sighed. He gently put the reports down on his desk and leaned back in his chair, not knowing what to do for the first time since becoming an officer. He didn't see a clear solution to the situation at hand. He couldn't see a way out of a murder investigation that his unit was caught up in. He was not in control of his camp anymore and could not give orders without Major Floyd's okey-dokey. All of the personnel were innocent, no matter what Major Floyd might think (and it was possible that Sergeant Church had his hands dipped in blood, but the colonel was not sure).
That last statement Colonel Potter was sure of.
Worse of all, Colonel Potter had a feeling that his head nurse was locked up in her tent, with no nourishment and company, and it was possible that she could die before she could stand trial. And there was nothing the colonel could do about it, no matter if he was in charge of her or not.
It was no shocker to Colonel Potter, then, that Major Floyd gained immediate access to his office as he mused. When he cleared his throat for attention, the colonel looked up, feigning surprise, but noting the paperwork tucked carefully under his subordinate's left arm.
"What can I do for you now, Major Floyd?" Colonel Potter asked, sounding tired as he removed his glasses, showing his weary blue eyes.
"I have some arrest warrants, Colonel," Floyd answered as he took the paperwork out from under his arm and handed them to Colonel Potter. "As you can see, everything is in order, as everything always will be with me."
Colonel Potter waved a dismissal to him as he read the new arrest warrants, but the latter was determined to say more.
"Major, unless you have something else to say, I'd suggest you scurry away from this office," Colonel Potter suggested in a threatening manner, averting his eyes from the arrest warrants to the officer in front of him.
"Not without issuing a formal statement, with the colonel's permission," Floyd said, only asking because it was military courtesy, but knowing that he had more power than the older man sitting at the desk and one at a higher rank than he. "Of course, Sir, I can put it into writing and inform Seoul."
"Go ahead." Colonel Potter sat up in his chair and folded his hands, ignoring the dreaded words on the pages below his hands. "Seoul doesn't need more paperwork than it already does."
Major Floyd did not expect the response and was taken back, but recovered quickly. "As you know, Colonel, the investigation has been expanded because of certain circumstances. New evidence has come in, as you well know from what you've been shown, and more arrests have been authorized by Seoul."
Colonel Potter nodded mutely.
"Now," Major Floyd continued, "Major Houlihan has named Captain Pierce as an accomplice to the murder of Nurse Winifred Curtis. Colonel, you and I know that the woman was a spy, but there is possibility that the conspiracy behind this murder is part of a bigger organization that we've just discovered, underground from the Army for many years now."
"And what might that be?" Colonel Potter asked, remembering what Hawkeye and Klinger had told him before.
"That has yet to be determined," Major Floyd answered quickly…too quickly for Colonel Potter's standards, and too viciously, at that. "My men and have already found out that Major Houlihan is the ringleader and gave the orders. However, her influence has stretched far and wide. That she-devil –"
"Major," Colonel Potter warned, almost growling.
"Excuse me, Sir. Major Houlihan, I meant to say, has been found to be marking her minions and helping them in any way to come to Korea. She got the Army to recruit men, in guise, to join her here in Korea to kill our men and women and demoralize the Army in its efforts to rid the world of Communism."
Colonel Potter had heard the spew before, but this was going beyond Frank Burns' Communist lectures and his ridiculous beliefs. This man was trying to convince him that Major Houlihan organized it so that she could have the people of the so-called group she created controlled and gaining more under her thumb. In doing so, she took out spies of the US Army and was trying to help the Communists win the war.
Major Houlihan, a Communist? This is calling a black cat white!
"Furthermore," Major Floyd concluded finally (to Colonel Potter's relief), "I now have the arrest warrants of Major Winchester, Captain Hunnicutt and Nurse Kellye."
Unfolding his hands, Colonel Potter picked up the papers and handed them back, cleaning his hands of the matter entirely unless he had evidence of his own (suspicions be damned for the moment). "Execute your orders, Major," he only said, not knowing what else to say.
"With pleasure," Major Floyd only said, immediately walking out of the office, disappearing just as quickly as he came in.
~00~
Charles was relaxing in the Swamp as best as he could, especially after a day such as the one he had. Wine glass in one hand and Mozart just out of the other, he positioned the turntable needle as carefully as he could, gently letting it touch down on the invisible, forceful power that helped him forget the hell that was called Korea.
Closing his eyes slowly, Charles could hear the stomping coming towards the Swamp already. He wanted to ignore it, just as he did with the horrible situation he was stuck in, and almost did had not the door next to him slammed opened and shut. He heard the crackle of guns aimed in his direction, but only smiled, sipping the wine that only Boston (and his parents) could give him. It was the best that he could have…naturally.
Opening his eyes to the carnage above him, Charles put his glass down on the table next to him and wrapped his fingers around each other, tangling them into a gentle mess. He smiled grimly, about to drily joke about why these silly boy soldiers were there, but could find none to describe it. He had an idea of what it meant and that he was about to be arrested for a crime he did not commit, but there would always be time to complain later. There was a show to put on and Major Charles Emerson Winchester III was not one to disappoint anyone, especially those who did not know what they were doing, especially when plans were already in place.
As he straightened his back up, Charles only had to stare each man in the eye, each shaking to the record playing in the corner. "Please," Charles only had to say. "Mozart."
~00~
Nurse Kellye, assisting BJ in the OR, could only think about taking a break. After the surgery of the lone soldier that came in, she had some free time, all to herself, and was not willing to share it with that horrid Nurse Curtis. All the other nurses had a shift or were busy elsewhere, trying to con Radar into some supplies, like makeup or clothing most likely, so being alone in the tent was a welcome respite.
Shuddering as she remembered Nurse Curtis' death and the rumors surrounding it, Kellye could only think about the fudge she was planning on baking in her tent. Granted, Major Houlihan told them time and again that it wasn't allowed (especially since Radar joined them last time and almost took the tent down with a fire), but since Major Floyd locked her up, things have been more lax with the nurses. There seemed to be no overbearing presence over them, no shadow behind them to tell of more regulations and rules, and it seemed relaxing. Finally, they had someone off of their backs.
However, as Kellye licked her lips (anticipating her fudge, almost tasting it in her mouth), she knew that Major Houlihan was innocent. Despite all of the nurses' feelings for her (and most of them had no kind words for their head nurse), Major Houlihan was not one to deserve a fate as terrible as to be fingered for a murder and have her career in shambles. All of the camp knew that Major Houlihan was good for defense when it was needed (even if she was worried about being raped by the enemy sometimes), but she was not known to murder anyone, especially one nurse who drove everyone insane.
"Clamp," BJ said, as if he was far away. Kellye complied with the request, but was uneasy and it showed.
BJ immediately saw the consternation on Kellye's face and her shaking hands (surely thinking the same things as she), but as he used the clamp carefully as it was handed to him, he also saw something behind the doors of the OR. Kellye followed his glance and gasped audibly. She couldn't even hear the next instrument request, but only stared at the olive green uniforms crowding around the door outside of the OR.
Behind them, the other doors opened, slamming against the walls and tables. Some metal instruments on the tables even fell with them as the room became contaminated.