Chapter 50

It had been five days, and Hogan was close to losing his mind as he impatiently waited to hear word from both London and Fuchs. He had spent the time locked in his quarters determining several escape routes out of camp that the men could use to reach the hidden airfield. All that was left besides wiring the tunnels and the radio, was to contact London and arrange several large planes to pick up the men. Hogan also decided that later this evening he would meet with all the barracks chiefs in camp, and pass the word to prepare for a mass evacuation the following night. He just could not afford to wait any longer; it was too risky.

Wylie was right, Hogan thought, I'm going to lose my current command. And it's all my fault.

Hogan then left his quarters, grabbed his coffee cup, poured himself a cup of coffee, and sat down at the table with Newkirk, Carter and LeBeau. He knew Kinch was down below monitoring the radio. The men were watching their commanding officer closely for any signs of problems from the cracked ribs.

"Are you feeling all right, Colonel?" asked a worried LeBeau. "You have been awfully quiet the last few days."

"I've just got a lot on my mind of late," Hogan replied studying the back of his injured hand. The wrapping had been removed, and although his hand had healed, there was still a faint scar that was visible to anybody who looked closely.

Newkirk exchanged looks with Carter and LeBeau before turning his eyes on the Colonel. "Gov'nor, if you're worried about Bluebird, you said yourself he could handle ole Hochstetter."

"I remember, Newkirk," Hogan said softly. "But that's not what's on my mind."

"Then what is it, mon Colonel?" asked LeBeau. "You can talk to us about anything."

Hogan took a deep breath and exhaled through his mouth. Just as he opened his mouth to tell the men they were shutting down the operation and evacuating, the lower bunk in the corner rattled upward as the ladder dropped catching their undivided attention. Moments later, Kinch's head appeared from below.

"Colonel, General Butler's on the radio. He wants to speak with all of us. Says it's important."

"This is it," Hogan told himself. "The official word the operation is over." Hogan, Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk followed Kinch down into the tunnels. Kinch removed the headset and waited for the Colonel to sit down, and put the incoming message on the speaker. All the others were gathered closely around him.

"This is Papa Bear, Goldilocks. Go ahead."

"Papa Bear, I wanted you to hear the news directly from me instead of somebody else. Colonel Wembley went to Captain Wylie's cell this morning, and he was found hanging from the ceiling with a bed sheet. There was also a suicide note laying on his cot. He's quite dead and apparently has been for several hours."

Hogan and the men all looked at each other, stunned by the news. "Excuse me, Goldilocks, but did you say Captain Wylie is dead?" Hogan asked.

"Correct. The suicide note was addressed to you, Papa Bear. It reads as follows:

'Colonel Hogan, I have beaten you at last. By taking my own life, you will not get the satisfaction of seeing me die as you hoped.' Butler began.

"Exactly why did the Captain hang himself?" Newkirk interrupted.

Hogan glared at the Englander. "Let the General finish first," he growled. "Please continue, Goldilocks."

"Thank you. Colonel Wembley had been able to convince Wylie he was an underground operative and was able to get the names of at least two dozen Nazi spies in England, and we've been making arrests. When we got all we believed we were going to get from the Captain, Wembley then informed him yesterday that Aloisia had been arrested, tried, and executed three months ago. This morning we found him dead in his cell. But rest assured, Papa Bear, that Wylie spoke to nobody except Colonels Wembley and Sheppard. To answer your Corporal's question, I suppose Wylie couldn't handle knowing he betrayed those he was loyal to and that Aloisia had been executed. Regardless, your operation is safe, Papa Bear."

There was a collective sigh of relief from everybody, especially Hogan who at last was able to truly relax.

"So it's finally over," Hogan said with exhaustion on his face.

"It's finally over, old boy."

"What about the men who attacked the Colonel in the rec hall?" asked Kinch.

"They'll be charged with assault and attempted murder of a superior officer and court-martialed. And if found guilty, will serve time in Leavenworth."

"What do you mean if they're found guilty?" shouted LeBeau. "They tried to beat the Colonel to death!"

"Leavenworth's too good for 'em!" Carter interjected angrily. "They should be shot!"

"LeBeau! Carter!" Hogan hissed. "Let the General continue, please."

"Sorry, Colonel," Carter hung his head.

"Oui," LeBeau agreed sadly.

"Is there anything else, Goldilocks?" asked Hogan.

"We understand your men's feelings in the matter regarding these men and what they did. But a court-martial is the military's way of determining guilt and punishment. That's all, Papa Bear. We'll inform you of the outcome of the court-martial when it takes place which could be awhile. The war and all."

"Understood."

"By the way, Papa Bear. Congratulations on a job well done. Goldilocks out."

"Thanks," Hogan replied. "Papa Bear out." He nodded to Kinch who disconnected the call. Hogan sat back letting out a deep relieved breath. The men congratulated Hogan with pats on the back, but LeBeau still had a frown on his face.

"Something wrong, Louie?" asked Newkirk eying the little Frenchman believing he knew the reason.

"Non. Well, it's just that it isn't fair, Pierre."

"What's not fair?" asked Hogan looking at LeBeau suspecting he knew where this was going.

"Wylie's suicide, mon Colonel," LeBeau looked directly into Hogan's eyes. "Not only did he take the coward's way out in the end, but he deprived you of the justice you deserve."

Hogan's face was impassive. "Perhaps," he said gently. "But dead is dead, Louie, so it doesn't matter how it came about. The only thing I can say is it was a waste."

"A waste?" asked Carter, puzzled. "A waste of what? A good pilot maybe?"

"That's one thing," Hogan replied. "But I was thinking more along the lines of a waste of a human being."

The others remained silent as Hogan's words gave them something to think about.

For the remainder of the day, Hogan and his men could finally and truly relax in the barracks. Hogan found himself able to laugh at a joke told by Newkirk and have his laughter reach his eyes which hadn't happened since the entire mess began. But as dinner time rolled around, and LeBeau began preparing the meal, Hogan finally gave in and explained to the men about the mandatory evacuation he had planned for tomorrow if things had not gone according to plan in London. Also, he had made sure everybody knew that Carter's turning traitor was part of a ruse to get close to the phony, the damaged part of the antenna was replaced, and the radio was once again fully operational. Hogan had made sure to congratulate Kinch, Olsen, and Garlotti on the repair job they did.

Hogan suddenly sniffed the air. Something smelled extremely good and his mouth began to water. "What are you cooking, LeBeau? It smells delicious."

"It is boeuf bourguignon, Colonel," LeBeau said with a wide smile. "I thought it appropriate for us to celebrate this evening with something special. And wait until you see what I have prepared for dessert, mon Colonel. It is your favorite."

"Peanut butter and jelly?" teased Hogan.

LeBeau shook his head and made a noise. "Americans. You really know how to hurt a guy." He saw the corners of Hogan's mouth curl upward.

Just then, the door opened and a salivating Schultz hurried in with the look of a man in desperate need of a meal, and eyes wide. "I could spell what you're cooking across the compound, cockroach. What are you cooking that smells so good?" he asked. He approached the stove and raised the lid of the pan, waved the lid in his direction, and took a deep breath. "Wunderbar. Wun-der-bar. What is it?"

"It is boeuf bourguignon," LeBeau said slapping the large guard's hand causing him to drop the lid back over the pan. "And it is for the Colonel. And if you don't leave and let me continue cooking, you won't get any when it's done."

"Oh, I will leave right away then," Schultz said as he backed up towards the door. "How long before it is ready?"

"At least thirty to forty-five minutes, Schultzie," LeBeau told him. "I will save you a plate. I promise."

"Danke." Schultz quickly left the barracks at LeBeau's promise of food. LeBeau chuckled and shook his head, amused.

"He'd eat the whole ruddy pan if you'd let 'im," Newkirk remarked. "I just hope you get the ruddy plate back afterwards."

Nearly two hours later, the men had finished eating the delicious dinner, and the crème caramel custard LeBeau had made for dessert, and Schultz had been given a plate as well. Hogan, Carter, and LeBeau then sat at the table each enjoying a cup of coffee and relaxing. Kinch had gone below to check his equipment.

"Everything was delicious, LeBeau," Hogan commented. "Thank you."

"Yeah," Carter agreed with a smile. "I especially liked that beef bore…beef boring…"

"Boeuf bourguignon, Andre," the Frenchman corrected. "And merci to both of you."

"Where's Newkirk?" asked a curious Hogan. He hadn't seen the Englander since they finished dinner and dessert nearly an hour ago.

Carter shrugged his shoulders. "Search me, Colonel. He went below after dessert and didn't say where he was going. Want me to see if I can find him?"

Hogan really wasn't worried as he figured the men all deserved some relaxation time as long as they didn't cause or get into any trouble after what they'd all went through.

"Never mind," Hogan said. "I'm sure he's somewhere in the tunnels doing whatever."

Just then, the lower bunk in the corner rattled upward catching the attention of the men. Moments later, Kinch's head popped up from below.

"Colonel, Bluebird's below. Says it's important that he sees all of us right away."

Hogan got to his feet slowly. "Baker, watch the door," he said over his shoulder as he headed towards the tunnel opening followed by Carter and LeBeau. The three men climbed down the ladder and walked towards the radio room, each wondering why the Gestapo officer had shown up personally. They found Bluebird standing beside the radio. Hogan shook hands with his good friend who was wearing a smile on his face, and holding a box tied with string in the other. "Fritz, what's wrong? Are you all right? We thought we'd receive a radio call from you concerning how you made out with your end of the plan."

"I had to make this delivery in person, Rob," Fuchs said. "I have good news and bad news. Which would you like first?"

Hogan wrapped his arms around himself. "Give me the bad news first. At least this way I'll have something happy to think about at the end."

"It's really not that bad actually," Fuchs said. "The bad news is that Major Hochstetter came back to work yesterday."

Carter chuckled. "That is bad news." A look from Hogan silenced him.

"What happened when he found out about Gower and van Kueren?" Hogan asked.

"He wasn't happy to put it mildly. In fact, he was quite angry when I showed him the letter supposedly from Gower proving that he and Captain Wylie were planning to murder you instead of following his plan. He believes van Kueren was killed by Gower because he tried to stop Gower from diverting from the original plan. When he found out Captain Wylie disappeared from Stalag 13, he believes the Luftwaffe disposed of Wylie and the Luftwaffe blames the Gestapo. Hochstetter swears if he comes across Wylie, he is a dead man."

Hogan quickly told Fuchs what happened in London.

"Sounds like it's officially over, my friend," Fuchs said gripping Hogan's shoulder. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Hogan said. "After this, I need a vacation, and if Klink wouldn't notice I'm missing, I'd take that week on the French Riviera." He laughed along with the others remembering the offer LeBeau had made during one of their previous missions.

"What's in the box?" Carter asked curiously.

"I told Lilly about what was happening with you and your men, Rob, and she became quite upset. And when she gets upset, she bakes like a mad woman. And she baked these cookies for you and your men, and insisted I bring them to you." Fuchs handed the box to Hogan who accepted it with a smile.

"Tell Lilly I said thank you and that we're all fine now so she can stop worrying and calm down."

"I already have, but you know how fond she is of you and your men," Fuchs explained. "As am I."

"Did somebody say we had cookies?" a British voice said in the background.

Hogan turned and saw Newkirk approaching with both his hands behind his back. "Fritz's wife baked some for us. And exactly where have you been?"

With a devious smile, Newkirk pulled his hands out from behind his back and was holding a bottle of champagne.

"They should go very well with this bottle of champagne, Gov'nor," Newkirk announced.

Hogan rolled his eyes. "Newkirk, tell me you didn't steal a bottle of Klink's best champagne from his personal stock?"

Newkirk feigned hurt feelings. "Steal sound so criminal, Colonel. I prefer to look at it as confiscated if you will."

"Wow," Carter exclaimed. "Cookies and champagne. That'll be great together."

Newkirk looked at his best friend with a roll of his eyes. "Andrew, you really worry me sometimes."

Hogan shrugged. "I guess this one time I can overlook you 'confiscating' from Klink. Kinch, get the glasses. Fritz, will you join us?"

Fuchs smiled. "I'd be honored."

After Kinch sat six coffee cups on the table, Newkirk opened the bottle and poured champagne into each cup as Hogan untied the box; he then held the box open and let each man have a cookie before taking one himself. He then sat the box on the table and picked up a cup.

"What do we drink to, mon Colonel?" asked LeBeau eying his commanding officer.

"Hey, how about we drink to Colonel Hogan?" asked an excited Carter.

"I second that," added Newkirk.

Hogan looked at his young Sergeant. "No. I have a better idea, Carter."

"What's that, sir?" asked Kinch.

Hogan looked around at his team and at Fuchs and raised his cup. "I say, let's drink to good friends."

His words brought a smile to each of the others; they all raised their cups.

"To good friends," they all echoed as they clinked their cups together.

The End