The group gathered in Hogan's quarters quickly returned to the common area and sat down at the table. Not long afterwards, Schultz entered the room.

"Something smells delicious," Schultz declared, glancing longingly at the pot of quickly cooling food that sat on the stove.

"Sorry, Schultzy, but there's scarcely enough for us," LeBeau told him.

"That is not why I am here," Schultz stated, the disappointment obvious in his voice. "Major Hochstetter wants me to escort Newkirk to the Kommandant's office for questioning."

"What about?" Hogan asked.

"I do not know," Schultz answered.

"All right, Newkirk, let's go find out what's ruffled Hochstetter's feathers this time," quipped Hogan, standing up and heading towards the door.

As Newkirk started to follow, Schultz protested, "But Colonel Hogan, you can't go."

Hogan removed his hand from the doorknob and glanced back. "Why not?" he snapped. "As the senior POW officer, I am concerned with the welfare of the other prisoners. I would like to be there."

"I'm sorry, Colonel Hogan," Schultz apologized. "If it were up to me, I'd let you go but I was given specific instructions that you are to remain here. Kommandant Klink will sit in on the interrogation."

Hogan gave Schultz an icy glare. "You can tell them I'm staying behind under protest," he growled.

"I will," Schultz promised. "But I am only doing my job."

Hogan's tone and expression softened a bit. "We know. You are only obeying the orders you were given. I just don't like being excluded from the interrogation."

"I'm sure everything will be fine," Schultz tried to reassure him.

"It better be," Hogan said, as Newkirk and Schultz left the room.

A few minutes later, Schultz and Newkirk entered Klink's office. Schultz quickly relayed Hogan's messages, then left.

Hochstetter stepped closer to Newkirk and gestured towards the chair in front of Klink's desk. "Sit down, Newkirk," he invited, trying to sound as pleasant as he could.

Newkirk gave Hochstetter a dubious look as he complied. "Thank you, Major," he acknowledged.

"Now, Newkirk, I suppose you are curious as to why you were brought here," Hochstetter began.

"I was wondering about that," Newkirk responded.

Giving Newkirk a smile as congenial as he could manage, Hochstetter walked over to stand beside the chair. "Your record indicates that you have co-operated in the past."

Newkirk pretended to be puzzled. "I have?"

Klink quickly explained, "You made that statement on Berlin Betty's program."

"Right," agreed Newkirk.

Hochstetter's eyes seemed to shoot invisible daggers in Klink's direction. "Klink, shut up. I'm handling this." Then, resuming a more pleasant tone, Hochstetter continued, "Now, Newkirk, we're hoping you might prove just as helpful this time. You've been a prisoner here for some time, haven't you?"

"That's right," Newkirk answered.

"And I'm sure that during that time you've heard all sorts of information from your fellow prisoners. Have you heard any mention of a Papa Bear?"

Newkirk appeared thoughtful. "Hmmm. I guess I have heard a mite. What would you like to know?"

Hochstetter grinned with anticipation. "His name, of course."

"Afraid I can't help you there, sir," Newkirk stated.

"Then, what about a description?" Hochstetter wondered. "Any idea how tall he is?"

Newkirk shrugged. "From what I hear, I'd say his height was average and he has dark hair."

"And his weight?"

"I'd guess it was average too," Newkirk responded.

"In kilos," Hochstetter prodded.

"Hard to say, Major. I'm not very good when it comes to weights."

"Any idea where he can be found?"

"He's supposed to have a house in the woods," replied Newkirk. "Him…and Mama Bear and Baby Bear."

Newkirk was surprised that Hochstetter failed to notice he was being duped. Instead, Hochstetter became quite excited and pulled a small notebook and pen from his pocket. After making a few notations, Hochstetter asked, "Can you provide any information about Mama Bear?"

"Well…she's obviously not as big as Papa Bear in height or weight," Newkirk answered, successfully hiding his amusement. "And I believe her hair is a tad lighter."

Hochstetter scribbled a few more notes. "And Baby Bear?"

"The smallest of the lot."

Thinking his search for Papa Bear had led him to a ring of spies, Hochstetter asked, "Anyone else?"

"Well, there was Goldilocks, but they weren't very happy to see her."

"One of ours, eh?" guessed Hochstetter, making yet another note in his book.

"I couldn't say, sir," Newkirk replied. "But they caught her sleeping in Baby Bear's bed."

"Any idea if she obtained any vital information?" Hochstetter wondered, as Burkhalter quietly entered the room.

Newkirk shook his head. "Not likely. She was alone. Baby Bear was out with the others."

"Then, why was she sleeping in Baby Bear's bed?"

"Tired, I guess," was Newkirk's response.

"All right, you said they caught her. What happened after that?"

Before Newkirk had a chance to answer, Burkhalter said, "She was so frightened she ran all the way home. It's a fairy tale."

"A fairy tale!" Hochstetter echoed, quite perturbed. Then, he glanced at Newkirk. "Is that what you've been telling me? A fairy tale?"

Undaunted, Newkirk calmly looked Hochstetter in the eye and said, "You wanted me to tell you everything I knew about Papa Bear, Major. I told you everything I could."

Now that Burkhalter was present, Klink wasn't quite so intimidated. "He's right, Major Hochstetter," Klink declared. "You asked if he'd heard any mention of a Papa Bear."

"Klink, I told you to shut up!" Hochstetter practically shouted, releasing some of his fury on Klink. "I wasn't referring to fairy tales." Hochstetter paused a moment, then seemed to reach a conclusion. "Wait a minute, Klink. Did you know he was describing a fairy tale?"

"Ja, I thought he was," Klink admitted.

"Then, why didn't you say something?" Hochstetter snarled.

A little more timid than before, Klink replied, "You told me to shut up so I did."

Burkhalter stared at Hochstetter in contemplation. "Hochstetter, you've never heard the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears?' " he wondered.

"Vater(1) always said fairy tales were nonsense and banned them from our home. When I grew older, I fully agreed." Then, Hochstetter turned his attention back to Newkirk. "Now, Newkirk, let me rephrase my earlier question. Have you heard anyone mention the Allied operative known as Papa Bear?"

Of course, Newkirk wasn't about to expose their operation so he relied on half-truths and distractions. "Only a few rumors from the guards that you think it's Colonel Hogan," Newkirk answered. "If you don't mind me asking, sir, just how can he accomplish it? I mean, he's stuck here with the rest of us in the toughest POW camp in all of Germany. You know, there hasn't been a successful escape from here-not one."

"I was wondering the same thing," Burkhalter agreed. "Especially since I myself can verify his presence in camp and not at the factory last night."

A frustrated Hochstetter shoved the notebook and pen back into his pocket. "Bah. Think what you will, but I still say Hogan is not the harmless prisoner he'd like us to believe. One of these days I will prove it." With that, Hochstetter stormed from the room.

"Does this mean the interrogation is over?" Newkirk asked.

"Looks like it," Burkhalter answered. "You're free to go."

"Thank you, sir," acknowledged Newkirk, as he stood to leave. He hurried out the door and past Hilda's desk.

When Newkirk stepped outside, he noticed that Hochstetter was nowhere in sight. It was only then he allowed his true feelings to show. As he headed towards Barracks 2, a huge grin spread across his face. He figured Hochstetter would not be asking for any more of his 'help' in the near future.

(1) Father