This story happens shortly after See Some Evil, Do Some Evil , and What I Lost In The Dark

Cracking the Vault

by

Sierra Sutherwinds

Hogan and Newkirk entered the Bank with the last group of customers, two old ladies, one middle-aged couple, and a Kriegsmarine captain with his assistant, a young blonde. Newkirk noticed how well she looked in that uniform, and he was sure that Colonel Hogan had seen that too.

"Look at that, the uniformed bird just smiled at you."

"Unfortunately, there's no time for socializing today," Hogan pointed at the tellers. "I'll get in line for teller number three. Watch my back."

Hogan turned to see him before heading forward. Newkirk interpreted that as a warning look just in case he was not paying attention. Newkirk did not blame him. Hogan knew how hard it had been for him to come back from the mission in the mountains. Hogan kept asking questions and Newkirk was still evading the subject.

It was clear that Hogan had brought him on this mission to ensure that he was still trustworthy, something that even Newkirk had begun to doubt.

He focused on the immediate situation and pretended to read a brochure while keeping an eye on the main doors. Banks were not his favorite places; there were too many security devices and armed guards at the doors. He checked his wristwatch. The Bank was about to close. It should not take more than fifteen minutes to enter the vault where the safe deposit box was and get its contents. Still, Newkirk would be less anxious if the Captain on the other side of the room ended his business and left before they started theirs.

Hogan signed for Newkirk to follow him, and they entered the vault where they kept the safe deposit boxes. They watched the teller choose a box and put it on the table. After he left, Newkirk gasped. "Just look at it, isn't it a beauty?"

Hogan smiled, looking around at the big vault. "Breathe, Newkirk. We're not cracking vaults today." He tried the key he was carrying on a chain around his neck. "Got the bag?"

"It's all in there?" Newkirk took his eyes away from the vault to focus on their mission. "Good old Maurice was right, wasn't he?"

"You didn't doubt him, did you?" Hogan grinned.

"Okay, I think I did, but you've got to admit that finding a key in some dead bloke's shoe sounds like something out of a detective book... It's a relief that for once things are going as planned."

"You're not wrong, that was a very interesting mission. Ah, there it is…"

Newkirk's attention was on the vault in front of him. "Rosencraft 1012… classy but not unbeatable."

"Did you ever crack one of those?"

"Of course not," he chuckled. "Well, hypothetically speaking… I might have tried but in them days, I just couldn't… hypothetically speaking, that is."

"Hypothetically, of course." Hogan smiled, checking the papers he had just taken out of the deposit box.

"Of course," Newkirk raised a finger. "If I had known as much as I know now, I'm sure I could open a Rosencraft, like this one within seconds… Hypoth-"

"Hypothetically speaking, yes, you said that already. Now come here, the bag, Neewkirk, give me the bag."

Newkirk produced the black bag out of his jacket and put the papers away. "Is that it? We can leave now?"

"Yes, the job is done, we can send these out no later than tonight." He turned to see Newkirk caressing the box. "Newkirk, are you okay? You need to focus on the mission."

"I'm focused, I'm completely into our mission."

"I see that… we'll talk about that back in camp, okay?"

He had just finished saying that when an exchange of shots, followed by screams, made them whirl around.

"Bloody hell, what's that?"

Hogan and Newkirk peeped through the door and saw a guard and another man down. Two armed men were shouting at the terrified customers and tellers to move away from the doors and windows. The women were crying.

"Is that what I think it is?" Hogan whispered.

"Who would've known? They're robbing the Bank."

"What do we do now? They're coming in here, aren't they?"

"Sooner or later," Hogan nodded. "Give me the bag. We'll put it back in the box and go out."

Newkirk complied, staring at him. "Going out? They will take us hostage, the police will be here soon… there's a Kriegsmarine Captain out there. We can't stay."

"Oh yes, we can, and not a word. Do you hear me? We're just insurance sales agents, we'll be calm and easygoing. Follow me."

Newkirk followed Hogan in silence, holding his hands high and his face low. One of the armed men had just seized the Captain's pistol and urged the hostages to sit on the floor. They complied, among sobs and pleading, until they were told they would have their brains blown off if they did not shut up.

Things did not look good. The guard had been shot a few steps from the main door. Newkirk saw him moving but he was in no condition to do anything else.

One of the robbers knelt down by the other body and, as he took the pistol from the dead man's hand, his own were shaking. They could not quite see his face, shadowed by the brim of his hat.

"They're going to get desperate soon, this won't end well." Newkirk saw the man hesitate before tucking his partner's pistol under his belt. "What if I tackle him down and run for the door? What do you say? Would you follow me?"

"We can't get involved," Hogan spoke quickly. "Besides, we still have something to pick up from the deposit box. Keep that in mind."

"Quiet!" The robber near the hostages pointed at them. "Nobody talks." Then, he turned to the tellers and ordered them to open the vault. The oldest of the two explained that the mechanism was locked and they did not have the key.

"He's lying," Newkirk whispered.

"Quiet, what side are you?" growled Hogan.

"Sorry, I got carried away," Newkirk quickly turned to see the captain, who was staring suspiciously at them. "Still, that safe box has its own mechanism. I could open it blindfolded and with one hand behind me back."

Hogan nudged him. "I thought you said you couldn't open it."

"That was young and stupid," Newkirk said. "I didn't know anything back then,"

"No offense here, you might be older now, but still stupid if you're thinking what I'm thinking."

"Quiet!" One of the robbers came closer, pointing at them with his rifle.

The doorbell rang unexpectedly and two more customers came in.

"I told you to lock the damn door," the thief with the rifle ran and pushed the people inside.

"What is the meaning of this? Take your hands off me! Schultz! Do something!"

"Bloody Hell?"

"You took the words out of my mouth," Hogan sighed deeply as Klink argued loudly with the thieves. Schultz was behind him, hands up over his head. His jaw dropped when he locked stares with Newkirk and Hogan, sitting with the rest of the hostages.

"I'm sorry I said that this wouldn't end well…"

"It's okay, Newkirk, we're in disguise and Schultz won't say a word."

"If you say so," Newkirk smiled at the sergeant.

One of the thieves pushed Klink and Schultz to sit down next to Newkirk, who turned to hide his head behind Hogan. "Lothar!" the man tossed a roll of rope to his partner. The man he called Lothar began to tie the hostages' hands at their backs.

Klink protested the indignity in a shrill angry voice. "I am Kommandant Klink! I will have you locked up for life!"

"If you keep talking you'll get a bullet between your eyes," said the one who appeared to be the leader. He spoke between shut teeth and his forehead was damp with sweat. Klink closed his mouth.

Newkirk glanced at the robber and gave a sigh. "My Goodness! You're just a child." He turned to confirm that the other one could not be much older. Mere lads, both of them. "Colonel,-"

"Be quiet," Hogan whispered, nodding in Klink's direction. The Kommandant was dangerously close to them.

Half an hour was gone before several hostages, including Klink, asked for a bathroom break. The youngest robber escorted them. Schultz seized the opportunity to slide closer, "You are in big trouble, big, big trouble."

"It's okay, Schultz, everything is under control," Hogan smiled. "We were about to come back to camp when you entered the Bank."

"What are you doing here, anyway? Klink had a hot date, didn't he?" Newkirk kept his eyes on the thieves. "What happened?"

"Well, the Big Shot forgot his wallet on his desk."

"And of all the Banks in Hammelbourg, he had to choose this one?"

"We only have two Banks in town, Newkirk. What were the odds that he would choose this Bank at all?"

"Fifty-fifty," Newkirk shrugged. "Colonel, I think I could talk to those kids and-"

"If you move I'll have you shot," Hogan said in a soft voice. "Focus on the deposit box. We might have to come back tomorrow."

"What is that about a deposit box? … and what makes you think you're coming back tomorrow? Never mind." Schultz shut his eyes and turned his head the other way.

"We're here now and I have an idea."

"I'm listening," Hogan nodded.

"Don't encourage him, Klink is coming back." Schultz placed himself next to Newkirk, blocking both him and Hogan from Klink's view.

"I talked to the tellers. Apparently, the Captain has a hidden gun, he's just waiting for the right moment to shoot the thieves." Klink grinned, struggling to get comfortable with his hands tied at his back. "With good luck, this can end within minutes and I still have time to meet Grettel at the restaurant."

"Sehr gut, Herr Kommandant." Schultz turned his pleading eyes to Newkirk and Hogan.

"Colonel, I can do this," Newkirk's voice trembled with despair. "Please, nobody has to die."

Hogan shut his eyes. "I don't want to regret this… be careful."

Newkirk got up and walked towards one of the thieves. "Lothar? Your friend called you Lothar."

"Go back with the others." The boy waved his rifle at him.

"I will, but, I need to stretch me legs, see? I get restless… Would you be so kind as to untie me, I need to smoke so badly."

Lothar glanced around and loosed the ropes on Newkirk's wrists.

"Thank you, mate." He took his pack of cigarettes out of his coat pocket. "This is a big job for the two of you. Do you smoke?"

The thief shook his head. "My father didn't let me."

"How old are you, lad?"

"Fifteen… I'll be sixteen in three months," he corrected.

"Blimey," Newkirk shook his head. "How did they get you into this? One of your friends is dead now."

"That's my father."

"Lothar!" The other thief, perhaps a year or two older than Lothar, ran towards them. "What do you think you're doing? Go back to your place or I'll shoot you."

"Bernt, don't," said Lothar, standing between Newkirk and the rifle. "Father said that we wouldn't shoot anyone. Now he's dead."

"We're dead too if you don't let me find our way out." Bernt put his hand on his brother's thin shoulder. "We just need the money… we can't leave without the money, okay? Let me work Father's plan."

"What plan is that?"

Bernt and Lothar stared at him. "What are you doing here? Go back to sit with the rest of the hostages," said Bernt. "Tie him up, Lothar."

"Listen, I can help… You can't open the vault, can you?"

"That was Father's job," Lothar spoke before Bernt could stop him."He knew all about safe boxes, We have to get out of here. Bernt, please, let's get out of here."

Bernt pressed his lips, staring at his rifle. "You're right… we can't do this. We'll go home and find another way."

"Wait, you're giving up, just like that?" Newkirk stopped them. "Come on, lads.

"What is he doing?" Schultz whispered to Hogan while they looked at Newkirk having a lively conversation with the robbers.

"Oh, he's trying to convince the men to get out before anything else happens," Hogan said with a shrug. He honestly hoped that this was what Newkirk was doing.

"You can't do that. All the work… your father's dream…"

"But, Father is dead, we need to leave now before someone calls the police," Lothar said. "We can't open that safe, anyway."

"I can, all right? I can do it." He smiled. "Think about it, you deserve to have it all."

Schultz leaned slightly, mumbling out of the side of his mouth. "He's attracting the Captain's attention… the Kommandant is looking at him too."

"Give him time, he's a magician, remember? He must have a trick under his sleeve." This did not look good, Newkirk was smiling. Despite himself and how much he trusted his men, this was the perfect time for Hogan to get concerned. He coughed hard, trying to get Newkirk's attention. He coughed harder, at risk of getting Klink's attention too. Luckily, Newkirk's head turned first and he came to sit next to Hogan. "Are you having a good time? They allowed you to smoke and all."

"I'm working on it. It's tough but I think I persuaded Bernt to let me open the safe box for them. Lothar is coming with me but I can work around him-"

"Bernt and Lothar? Glad to know that you're making new friends, but you can't open that box."

"I told you that I might now that I know better-"

"Listen, you can not open that box. We're not here to rob the Bank or help to rob it for that matter. If you get in there, you'll bring the bag from the deposit box and that's it."

"You sound almost like a German officer… or me father, which feels basically the same."

"Newkirk, I could not be more fond of you if you were my brother, but this is important." Hogan turned his back on Schultz, who was doing his best to guard them against Klink and pay attention to their conversation at the same time. "I know that things have been rough, and I am responsible for much of it. Sometimes, being in charge is the worst part of valor. The decisions you make affect other people… as much as I would've wanted to be the one carrying those orders, I knew it had to be you and I will be sorry about that for the rest of my life."

"Guv'nor, please, this is not the time-"

"It is as good as any other time. You have been acting oddly and I just don't want things to get out of control. You have to promise that under no circumstances will you open that box."

Newkirk tossed the last of his cigarette. "I promise you that I won't touch that handle." He lowered his voice. "I'm gonna need some distraction after I take the bag from the deposit box, though."

"When do you need it?" Hogan began to work a plan in his head.

"Within thirty minutes, maybe?"

"I'll start counting now," Hogan nodded and Newkirk went back to the boys.

Newkirk had a plan.

He studied the safe box with curiosity. He had not been near a box this big in years. How many treasures could it keep?

"Well, are you going to open it?" Lothar stayed near the door. "I don't feel good leaving Bernt alone."

"First, you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone how I did it… You won't learn and you'll never try to do such a stupid thing again, Okay?"

"Okay," Lothar frowned.

Newkirk crouched in front of the dial and put his ear on the door. "Why do you need the money?"

"The Bank took our house. Father didn't want us to get in the Army so he planned to take us to our aunt's farm in Bavaria… It's easy to cross to Switzerland from there but we don't have the money for the train."

"So, he decided to rob a Bank? That's barmy!" He turned the dial to one side, then the other.

"He's my father," Lothar was offended.

"Well, you're up to your ears in trouble, he should've known better…" He stopped. "I'm sorry he's dead and won't have more time to make it up to you. Now come here. Put your hand on the handle and pull the door."

Newkirk walked away and lit a cigarette. "I still got it."

"It's still locked," Lothar shrugged-

"What? It can't be," he pushed Lothar to examine the door, "the mechanism hasn't changed, what am I missing here?"

Fifteen minutes before his deadline, Hogan checked the clock on the wall. He slid discreetly towards the Captain's assistant and whispered. "Why are you with a Captain when you could do so much better with a Colonel?"

Although she was surprised at first, she turned to glance at Klink and smiled.

"He has been looking at you for a while. Perhaps you could make his day and smile at him." Hogan went back to his place and nudged Schultz. "Hey, Klink looks a little down, why don't you tell the Kommandant the blonde over there is smiling at him?"

Schultz grinned and whispered to Klink.

The Captain had been paying attention to the movements between Newkirk and the two robbers. Just then he saw Klink shyly winking at his pretty assistant. He sprung up and began to yell. Klink got to his feet as best he could. Under cover of the exchange of insults that followed

Bernt came running and began shouting too. The blonde girl was trying to calm the Captain down. The rest of the hostages were too scared and distracted to notice what was happening in the vaults. That was Hogan's chance to sneak toward the vaults.

"Colonel Hogan," Schultz stopped him halfway. "What happened? I don't understand… and where's the Englander? Please, please, don't tell me that he is gone." He kept his eyes on Klink and the Captain. "How did this happen? They barely know each other."

"It's a good thing they have their hands tied behind their backs, isn't it?" Hogan resumed his way but Schultz was still there. "Schultz, I can't stay to chat, I'll see you later in camp."

"Colonel, I have a bad feeling about you and Newkirk. What are you up to?"

The fight heated up. The captain pushed Klink and Schultz had to run to see Klink falling on his seat. There was little he could do with his hands on his back.

Hogan entered the vault and found him, with his ear on the door and his hand on the dial. "Newkirk." His tone of reproach was intentional. "Untie me, please. I told you to stay away from that box."

"I'm almost done, you can scold me later," Newkirk went back to work on the dial.

Hogan turned to see Lothar, staring at him with fear. He came closer to seize the rifle. "Your brother is sweating bullets out there." He went to put the rifle next to Newkirk. "We need to get them out of here. There's no time for this."

Newkirk sprung up pointing at him. "Don't ask me to play the good soldier now, I'm sick and tired of following orders that only bring death and destruction. These two boys need the money to go to Bavaria. I'm going to open this bloody damn box now, and the hell with everything else!"

Hogan rubbed his face and breathed deeply. "How long will it take you to open it?"

Newkirk frowned and tilted his head. "Ten minutes tops."

"Use them wisely because, after ten minutes, I'll drag you out of here, whether or not you're done. Now give the boy your coat." Newkirk complied without asking questions. "Good, now come with me." He went outside with Lothar.

"Colonel," Schultz tried to whisper but the voices behind him kept getting louder. "Where's Newkirk?"

"In there, having a breakdown, thanks for asking." Hogan smiled, finding Bernt among the hostages. He also took that rifle and pulled Bernt to join Lothar in one corner. Then, he walked with Schultz. "Who's winning, Schultz?"

"Well, they're arguing who the Führer loves better, the Luftwaffe or the Kriegsmarine," he rolled his eyes.

"Ah yes, we also have that rivalry between the airforce and the Navy. I completely understand." He untied Schultz.

"Gut, but why are you still here?"

"I'm looking for a phone," he pointed at the counters. "Ah, there they are."

"Wait, who are you going to call? You can't make international calls from here." Schultz snatched the speaker from Hogan. "Prisoners can't make personal phone calls either."

"It's not personal. I need to call the police," Hogan claimed the speaker. "Someone tried to rob the Bank, remember? There's a dead man on the floor."

"It's not your place to call anybody." Schultz took the speaker. "I'll make the phone call."

"That's a good idea. Too bad that the robbers are gone, though."

"What do you mean, the robbers are still here…" Schultz glance at Bernt and Lothar while Hogan took off his coat to give it to them,

"I'm afraid you're confused. Those are your nephews, Lothar and Bernt." Hogan smiled at them. "Keep an eye on them, they have a train to catch later."

"This is not how I want to remember this day." Newkirk paced around, looking at the vault. "One day this bloody war will be over. One day, I will look back at everything I did." He hid his face in his hands. "Besides the blood, besides the fear I just want to remember this day as the day I, Peter Newkirk opened this blood vault!" He put his hand on the dial and listened, just listened.

Hogan stopped at the door, giving him space to work. They had descended into Hell for too long. War had taken its toll on them both and it was about time to appease the nightmares Please, please let him do this, for both of us. Hogan went back outside and waited.

OOOOO

One long minute passed. Outside, there was chaos, Klink and the Captain had to talk to the police. Their dispute had escalated enough to overshadow the failed robbery attempt. The witnesses could not remember how many robbers there were and Schultz was outside, watching the kids that did not look that fierce anymore.

The clock on the wall was telling Hogan that he was running out of time. Reluctantly, he turned to the vault, only to see Newkirk coming out. He did not look happy, or maybe he was just tired.

"Well? What happened?" Hogan dared to ask, even when he feared the answer.

Newkirk put a roll of bills in his hand. "That's enough money for the lads to pay the train tickets to Bavaria."

Hogan shook his head and smiled. "Someday, when this war is over, what will you remember?"

Newkirk thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Everything, every bloody moment of it," he grinned widely.

The End