I enjoyed reading this...interesting plot and interesting characters. It was also good to see Newkirk thinking on his feet while captive, thus making a difference to the conclusion, rather than simply being rescued.
Nice writing:-)

I’m kind of shocked that I never left a review on this — it’s a very good caper. I read it last night and finished up this morning and wanted to let you know that one of your “golden oldies” is still being read and admired!

A nicely told tale.

Uh-oh. (Nice twist!)

Wow...

That was amazing. I loved how you displayed Wagner throughout. I felt sympathy for him at all the right places. And the ending was just spot on. Brilliant!

Oh, what a great ending! You had me grinning through the last scene with Hogan and Newkirk in the cooler. You wrote the dialogue in that scene really well. It sounded a lot like them in my opinion. Especially the bit about Argentina! HA! Okay, a few favorite parts...

He was still new to all of this, but he could instantly tell that Colonel Hogan knew what he was doing.

PSHH! Yeah, like Hogan has had a lot of experience murdering people! lol! That struck me as funny the way you put that.

I can imagine that it might have been a bit strange for Hogan to hear, first of all, that the Gestapo Captain played the cello, and then to hear his Corporal start bragging so much on the German's "skills"! lol! I can just see his face as he tried his best to make sense of all that. Then just shake his head as if to dismiss it for later. I loved that!

I guess this was before DNA testing for crime scenes, right? So it actually could have been that simple to cover up a killing back then. I was thinking, "Newkirk spit out blood onto that carpet! And his prints are all over that safe! Not to mention the prints of BOTH men that can be found on the lethal weapon!” I was having serious doubts about their ability to explain all that stuff to the authorities. And then I was like, “Oh wait, this is the forties…” and then I was okay with it all. Lol!

He’d even managed to produce some real tears

…A skill which I have NEVER, for the life of me, been able to master! When trying to fake a tear, I can only get as far as to scrunch up my face and bow my head, but yeah…nothing comes out. I’m a terrible actor. But kudos to Wagner for nailing it!

A bit of what could perhaps be called “criticism” though would be whenever Hochstetter first comes out to join the others as Wagner’s bringing Newkirk back into camp. He calls Klink “Colonel Klink” and I’m not sure that he really would have done that. He seems to only call Klink “Colonel” when he’s being sardonic. Usually he refuses to admit that the “buffoon” could even hold such a rank, he clearly doesn’t consider him to be a ranking officer over himself. So would have found it more believable to hear him just say “KLINK! Why are you conducting this business outside?” Or whatever.

I have to admit though, I was a little disappointed that Newkirk’s last moment with Wagner was so formal. Except for that brief exchange regarding the handcuffs, they never got a chance to speak to each other as friends. So they didn’t get a chance to say goodbye properly or anything. I guess I’m just sentimental. But I can’t imagine that they’ll be able to actually SEE much of each other anymore since I’d think most of their communications now would be handled through the underground. Oh well, I guess they’ll both live. I’ll just pretend that they bid each other a decent fair well on the drive to Stalag 13.

All in all, I enjoyed this little story of yours immensely and will be interested to follow your writing career more closely in the future. I think you have an outstanding talent for spying a good concept and pulling it off in a believable and personal way. Your characters were spot on through the whole thing and you carried the plot with velvet gloves it was so smooth! Well done, and as you’ve probably guessed, you will be able to find this story listed among my favorites from now on!

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story with us! You did a wonderful job!

-Monker

P.S. I’d also like to add that you’ve been a very pleasant author to converse with. Your amiable attitude made me feel comfortable in sharing critiques with you and you accepted them graciously and took them to heart I feel. So thanks just for that! It makes reading and reviewing something a whole lot more fun when you aren’t worried about the author losing sleep over a brush to the ego. You weren’t like that at all, and I appreciate it.

Greeting from the-face-of-the-earth! I apologies for dropping off it earlier, but thankfully I'm back and can FINALLY review this chapter!

So first of all, let me say that this was an outstanding chapter. It was the greatest climax for this story in my opinion. I hated and loved at the same time the interaction between the two Wagners. It was excellent how you showed Friedrich being so passive and frightened at the beginning and slowly gaining courage and the chapter progressed. A few favorite parts...

When he was satisfied with the level of fear he saw in Friedrich’s eyes, he spoke.

This guy’s twisted. He deliberately takes his time just so that he can scare the life out of his SON. He’s cold.

Friedrich glanced back at Newkirk. He just lied…to my father! He thought in amazement. Why would he do that? Is it possible? Is he…trying to protect me?

I loved that. First of all, it was refreshing to see someone be alarmed by dishonesty. Usually it's just accepted and not really challenged in real life, telling the truth seems to be not as highly regarded today as it has in years past. So I liked it that Friedrich was so shocked by it (though I realize that that probably had more to do with the one to whom Newkirk was lying than it did the lie itself. Still, I found it refreshing and liked it.) His whole reaction was great. Like how he was still so amazed at the prospect of someone going out on a limb to protect someone else. Once again, you showed us the movement of those little wheels turning in Friedrich’s head and we could tell he was really starting to get it.

Okay, another great part…

“…In fact, we can start your first lesson right now; how to conduct an interrogation.”

Okay, you sent shivers down my spine at that line. I can hear his voice, deep and menacing. **shivers** he’s not a pleasant guy. I can’t imagine he got invited to many birthday parties growing up.

Friedrich wilted under his glare, as usual, and swallowed hard. “Nothing, sir,” He muttered meekly.

I can picture this. Friedrich steps up, then father-dearest snaps his head towards him, shooting a look as sharp as daggers at the captain and the son shrinks away. He gulps and his neck somehow grows shorter as he steps back and says “Nothing, sir.” Once again, I love how you show that long building power that his dad has over him. The way Friedrich conducts himself in the room speaks volumes about his opinion of his father and his abilities. Really, really great.

When the General made that comment about how he was surprised the RAF would recruit criminals, I was supper mad. I got offended FOR Newkirk! He’s not some lousy criminal, the guy’s a hero! Sure, he’s maybe had experience in that sort of thing; but it’s not like he’s just some no good thief! You did an excellent job at making me hate this guy on multiple levels.

Alright, I won’t quote it, but I think you wrote the interrogation well also. I love how Newkirk didn’t really fight back (knowing he could probably be overcome), but instead just spat back like the smart aleck bloke he is. That was totally a Newkirk way of handling the situation. He just ticked the guy off some more so as to draw the attention on himself and spare Friedrich some of the rage. But I loved it how he seriously got defensive when the Colonel was mentioned. He is pretty protective that way, isn’t he? Very realistic to his character, I think.

And I like the empathy Friedrich had for Newkirk, having his own memories about such beating and knowing how each blow felt. It made us hate the father just a bit more and love the son ten fold.

Okay, I lied; I will quote some of it…

Heinrich could see the angry red welt that was already forming on Newkirk’s cheek, and smiled.

He’s sick. I’m ashamed to note that we as human beings are the only form of life on this planet that deliberately do harm to each other for personal pleasure. I won’t go any further into that for fear of ranting but it is a disgraceful thing to consider.

And then suddenly it happened; an epiphany, a light turning on in his brain, and Friedrich understood at last; the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. He’s doing it to protect his Colonel, and his friends; isn’t he? He cares about them that much…

And at this point, readers all across the world leapt from their computer desks in shouts of glee and with the clapping of hands. BY JOVE, I THINK HE’S GOT IT! I can just hear the light switched snapping on! YAY!

And then he fought back! WAY TO GO WAGNER! …FRIEDRICH…NOT THE OTHER ONE!

“Playtime is over, I’m afraid,” he said, “It’s time for your little friend to leave.”

That’s cruel. I’d bet money that Friedrich never got “playtime” like normal girls and boys did growing up. And Heinrich just rubs salt in the wound by bringing it up again here in that context. Man that guy’s cold!

And then you played the classic game of, “Gun shot? What? Who? Where’d it come from? Was it the good guys or bad guys? Huh!”

Newkirk stood up and walked over to him, then slowly reached for the gun. “Easy there, mate,” he said as he gently slid it out of Friedrich’s hand. He stuffed it into his own coat pocket, then grabbed Friedrich’s upper arms and looked intensely into his eyes. He could see how completely distressed Friedrich was, so he decided to speak calmly, yet firmly. “It’s time to go, Captain...”

This was possibly my favorite character moment on the chapter. I can picture it SO well (and I’m sure you’ve noticed I like it when I can picture things that perfectly)! One hand grabs Wagner’s wrist lightly while the other removes the handgun. And I can hear Richard Dawson deliver the lines you wrote for Newkirk in that cockney accent of his. I can see the cautious but austere look he gives his friend as he explains what needs to happen next; the simple calmness of his voice helping the other pull himself together enough to think rationally. Excellent, excellent scene!

And then the heroes come in a bit too late to understand any of the proceedings that took place in that room until the Brit explained them all. By the way, I loved how as soon as Newkirk realized what Hogan and the others must have been thinking, he stepped in front of Wagner, placing himself in between the captain and his possibly unstable friends.

Newkirk watched the whole exchange taking place and smiled. Wagner’s got some real friends, now.

Okay, all together now children! “AW!” The Nazi Gestapo man has friends and is loved!

Seriously though, fantastic chapter. You did very well at making it exciting and high-level emotion through the whole thing. I don’t remember catching any typos or obvious misuse of a word or anything like that. So here’s a virtual pat on the back from me for that one. **pat, pat**

Altogether, excellent chapter and very well written. Now, I move on!

-Monker

Loved the story! I hope Wagner keeps his self-confidence up; if he'd've gotten it a long time ago, he might've gotten out from under his dad's thumb! Very good with the details on the plan to relocate the blame of the General's death, and I liked Newkirk's line about Argentina.

Keep writing!

I love the Wagner character. You can incorporate him into your own little HH universe. Great story!

Good work! I like the way you tied things up. Especially that line from Newkirk, that he could have been on a beach in Argentina right now LOL

Funny, too: I saw Hochstetters catchphrase coming miles away!

I wonder: are we going to learn how Wagner handles being a spy?

No matter what, this is a great story, with the acutest sense of suspense in every chapter. Well done!

I'm catching up on a couple of chapters, this has been a great story. Can't wait to see if Wagner shows up in your future fics.

It's a bittersweet ending for me. I wish it would go on, but I love the ending! Great job! :D

Great ending to what has been a great story. I'm glad things worked out for Wagner in the end. And Wagner's made friends he now knows he can rely on. I loved the way Wagner fooled Hochstetter who is a tough nut to fool as Hogan will attest, but it can still be done. I also loved Wagner's line as he watched and listened to Hogan 'if I'm going to be a spy, I couldn't have picked a better man to learn from.' Loved it! I hope you decide to do a follow-up story showing how Wagner handles being a spy for the Allies. If not, this has been a great story.

Hahaha, yeay! I like that they all shook Wagner's hand at the end. It's kind of a sign of acceptance and I think it's good for him (especially since he just shot his father!).

Yay! Love this chapter; its probably the best one!