demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第17部分

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　I　detoured　into　a　depressing　suburb　of　small　ranch　houses　called　Indian　Springs。　There　were　no　Indians　around；　but　there　were　plenty　of　cowboys；　judging　from　the　souped…up　vehicles　in　the　driveways。　I　pulled　into　the　driveway　of　a　modest　home　and　hit　the　horn　a　few　times。　This　is　in　lieu　of　getting　out　and　ringing　the　bell；　and　is　perfectly　acceptable　hereabouts。　A　wide　woman　came　to　the　door；　saw　me；　and　waved；　then　disappeared。　A　few　minutes　later；　Sergeant　Dalbert　Elkins　ambled　out　of　the　house。　One　of　the　good　things　about　pulling　night　duty　is　that　you　get　the　next　day　off；　and　Elkins　was　obviously　enjoying　the　day；　dressed　in　shorts；　T…shirt；　and　sandals；　a　beer　in　each　hand。　I　said　to　him；　〃Get　in。　We　got　to　see　a　guy　on　post。〃
　〃Aw；　sheet。〃
　〃e　on。　I'll　get　you　back　here；　ASAP。〃
　He　yelled　back　into　the　house；　〃Gotta　go！〃　Then　he　climbed　into　the　passenger　seat　and　handed　me　one　of　the　beers。
　I　took　it；　backed　out　of　the　driveway；　and　drove　off。　Sergeant　Elkins　had　four　questions　for　me：　Where'd　you　get　this　Blazer？　Where'd　you　get　that　suit？　How　was　the　pussy？　Who　we　gotta　see？
　I　replied　that　the　Blazer　was　borrowed；　the　suit　came　from　Hong　Kong；　the　other　thing　was　A…one；　and　we　had　to　see　a　guy　in　jail。
　〃In　jail？〃
　〃A　good　buddy。　They　got　him　locked　in　the　provost　office。　I　got　to　see　him　before　they　take　him　to　the　stockade。〃
　〃Why？　What　for？〃
　〃They　got　him　for　DWI。　I　got　to　drive　his　car　out　to　his　place。　His　old　lady's　nine　months　pregnant　and　she　needs　the　wheels。　They　live　out　by　you。　You　follow　me　back　in　the　Blazer。〃
　Sergeant　Elkins　nodded　as　if　he'd　done　this　before。　He　said；　〃Hey；　tell　me　about　the　pussy。〃
　So；　wanting　him　to　be　happy；　I　went　into　my　good　ol'　boy　rap。　〃Well；　I　got　me　a　little　slopehead　'bout　as　tall　as　a　pint　of　piss；　and　I　just　pick　her　up　by　the　ears　and　stick　her　on　my　dick；　then　slap　her　upside　the　head　and　spin　her　'round　my　cock　like　the　block　on　a　shithouse　door。〃
　Elkins　roared　with　laughter。　Actually；　that　wasn't　bad。　You'd　never　know　I　was　from　Boston。　God；　I'm　good。
　We　made　small　talk　and　sipped　beer。　As　we　drove　onto　the　post；　we　lowered　the　beer　cans　as　we　passed　the　MPs；　then　tucked　them　away　under　the　seats。　I　pulled　up　to　the　provost　marshal's　office　and　we　got　out　and　went　inside。
　The　duty　sergeant　stood　and　I　put　my　CID　badge　case　up　to　his　face　and　kept　walking。　Sergeant　Elkins　either　didn't　notice　or　it　happened　too　fast　for　him。　We　walked　down　a　corridor　to　the　holding　cells。　I　found　a　nice　empty　one　in　the　corner　with　an　open　door；　and　I　nudged　Sergeant　Elkins　inside。　He　seemed　confused　and　a　little　anxious。　He　asked；　〃Where's　your　buddy　。。。？〃
　〃You're　my　buddy。〃　I　closed　the　cell　door　and　it　locked。　I　spoke　to　my　buddy　through　the　bars。　〃You　are　under　arrest。〃　I　held　up　my　badge　case。　〃The　charge　is　conspiracy　to　sell　military　property　of　the　United　States　without　proper　authority；　and　frauds　against　the　United　States。〃　I　added；　〃Plus；　you　weren't　wearing　your　seat　belt。〃
　〃Oh；　Jesus　。。。　oh；　Lord　。。。〃
　The　expression　on　a　man's　face　when　you　announce　that　he's　under　arrest　is　very　interesting　and　revealing；　and　you　have　to　judge　your　next　statement　by　his　reaction。　Elkins　looked　like　he'd　just　seen　St。　Peter　giving　him　a　thumbs…down。　I　informed　him；　〃I'm　going　to　give　you　a　break；　Dalbert。　You're　going　to　handwrite　and　sign　a　full　confession；　then　you're　going　to　cooperate　with　the　government　in　nailing　the　guys　we've　been　talking　to。　You　do　that；　and　I'll　guarantee　you　no　jail　time。　You　get　a　dishonorable　discharge　and　forfeiture　of　all　rank；　pay；　allowances；　and　retirement　benefits。　Otherwise；　it's　life　in　Leavenworth；　good　buddy。　Deal？〃
　He　started　to　cry。　I　know　I'm　getting　soft　because　there　was　a　time　I　wouldn't　have　even　offered　such　a　great　deal；　and　if　a　suspect　started　to　cry；　I'd　slap　him　around　until　he　shut　up。　But　I'm　trying　to　bee　more　sensitive　to　the　needs　and　wants　of　criminals；　and　I　tried　not　to　think　of　what　those　two　hundred　M…16s　and　grenade　launchers　could　do　to　cops　and　innocent　people。　Not　to　mention　the　fact　that　Staff　Sergeant　Elkins　had　broken　a　sacred　trust。　I　said　to　Elkins；　〃Deal？〃
　He　nodded。
　〃Smart　move；　Dalbert。〃　I　fished　around　in　my　pocket　and　found　the　rights　card。　〃Here。　Read　this　and　sign　it。〃　I　handed　him　the　card　and　a　pen。　He　wiped　his　tears　as　he　read　his　rights　as　an　accused。　I　said；　〃Sign　the　damn　thing；　Dalbert。〃
　He　signed　and　handed　me　the　card　and　the　pen。　Karl　was　going　to　fly　into　a　monumental　fit　when　I　told　him　I'd　turned　Elkins　into　a　government　witness。　Karl's　philosophy　is　that　everyone　should　go　to　jail；　and　no　one　should　be　able　to　cut　a　deal。　Court…martial　boards　didn't　like　to　hear　about　deals。　Okay；　but　I　had　to　shortcut　this　case　to　get　on　to　the　case　that　had　the　potential　to　harm　me。　Karl　said　to　finish　it。　It　was　finished。
　An　MP　lieutenant　approached　and　asked　me　to　explain　and　identify　myself。　I　showed　him　my　CID　identification　and　said　to　him；　〃Get　this　man　some　paper　and　pen　for　a　confession；　then　take　him　to　the　post　CID　and　turn　him　over　to　them　for　further　interrogation。〃
　Staff　Sergeant　Elkins　was　sitting　on　the　cot　now；　looking　very　forlorn　in　his　shorts；　T…shirt；　and　sandals。　I've　seen　too　many　men　like　that　through　steel　bars。　I　wonder　how　I　look　to　them　from　the　other　side　of　the　bars。
　I　left　the　holding　cells　and　found　my　assigned　office。　I　flipped　through　Ann　Campbell's　address　book；　which　held　about　a　hundred　names；　mine　not　included。　She　used　no　stars　or　hearts　or　anything　like　that　to　denote　a　romantic　interest　or　a　rating　system；　but　as　I　said；　there　was　probably　another　list　of　names　and　phone　numbers　somewhere；　possibly　in　her　basement　rec　room；　or　perhaps　buried　in　her　personal　puter。
　I　scribbled　out　a　rather　perfunctory　and　annoyingly　terse　report　for　Karl…not　the　one　I'd　made　up　in　my　mind；　but　one　that　neither　the　judge　advocate　general　nor　the　attorney　for　the　defense　could　criticize　later。　There　wasn't　a　document　in　the　country　that　was　safe　anymore；　and　the　Confidential　classification　might　as　well　say；　〃Widest　Possible　Distribution。〃
　The　report　pleted；　I　hit　the　inter　button　on　the　telephone　and　said；　〃Have　a　clerk　report　to　me。〃
　Army　clerks　are　sort　of　like　civilian　secretaries；　except　that　many　of　them　are　men；　though　I'm　seeing　more　female　clerks　these　days。　In　either　case；　like　their　civilian　counterparts；　they　can　make　or　break　a　boss　or　an　office。　The　one　who　reported　to　me　was　a　female；　dressed　in　the　green　B　uniform；　which　is　basically　a　green　skirt　and　blouse；　suitable　for　hot　offices。　She　reported　well　enough；　with　a　crisp　salute　and　a　good　voice。　〃Specialist　Baker；　sir。〃
　I　stood；　though　this　is　not　required　of　me；　and　extended　my　hand。　〃I　am　Warrant　Officer　Brenner；　CID。　I　am　working　on　the　Campbell　case。　Do　you　know　all　of　that？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　I　regarded　Specialist　Baker　a　moment。　She　was　about　twenty…one；　looked　alert　enough；　not　beautiful；　but　sort　of　bright…eyed　and　perky。　Maybe　cute。　I　asked　her；　〃Do　you　want　to　be　detailed　to　this　case？〃
　〃I　work　for　Captain　Redding　in　Traffic　Enforcement。〃
　〃Yes　or　no？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Fine。　You　will　report　only　to　me　and　to　Ms。　Sunhill；　who　is　also　on　this　case；　and　you　will　speak　to　no　one　else。　Everything　you　see　and　hear　is　highly　confidential。〃
　〃I　understand。〃
　〃Good。　Type　this　report；　photocopy　this　address　book；　send　the　copies　to　this　fax　number　in　Falls　Church；　and　leave　the　originals　on　my　desk。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Put　a　sign　on　this　door　that　says；　'Private；　authorized　personnel　only。'　You；　me；　and　Ms。　Sunhill　are　the　only　authorized　personnel。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　In　the　military；　where　honesty；　honor；　and　obedience　are　still　held　in　high　regard；　you　theoretically　don't　need　locks　on　doors；　but　I'm　seeing　more　locks　these　days。　Nevertheless；　being　from　the　old　school；　I　didn't　order　one。　However；　I　did　tell　Specialist　Baker；　〃You　will　empty　the　wastebaskets　every　evening　and　put　the　contents　through　a　shredder。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Any　questions？〃
　〃Who　will　speak　to　Captain　Redding？〃
　〃I　will　speak　to　Colonel　Kent　about　that。　Any　further　questions？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃Dismissed。〃
　She　took　the　address　book　and　my　handwritten　report；　saluted；　turned；　and　left。
　It's　not　easy　being　a　traveling　pain…in…the…ass。　Anyone　can　be　a　pain…in…the…ass　on　the　home　court；　but　it　takes　a　unique　individual　to　e　into　an　environment　whose　pecking　order；　nuances；　and　personalities　have　already　been　shaped　and　fit　into　place。　Yet；　if　you　don't　get　the　upper　hand　on　the　first　day；　you'll　never　get　it；　and　they'll　mess　you　around　until　you　bee　worse　than　useless。
　Power；　I've　learned；　is　derived　in　many　legitimate　ways。　But　if　the　institution　has　not　fully　empowered　you；　but　has　given　you　a　job　that　is　very　important　and　really　sucks；　then　you　have　to　take　the　power　you　need　to　get　it　done。　I　think　the　Army　expects　that；　expects　you　to　demonstrate　initiative；　as　they　constantly　tell　you。　But　you　have　to　be　careful；　because　this　only　works　if　you're　getting　the　job　done。　If　you're　not　getting　the　job　done；　then　they　get　you。　Worse；　when　the　job　is　successfully　pleted；　they　pat　you　on　the　head　like　an　exhausted　sled　dog；　then　eat　you；　which　is　why　I　never　stay　around　for　cocktails　when　a　case　is　pleted。　Karl　says　I　hide　under　his　desk　for　a　week；　which　is　not　true；　but　I　have　been　known　to　take　a　few　weeks　in　Switzerland。
　It　was　1400　hours　and　Warrant　Officer　Sunhill　had　not　made　an　appearance　yet；　so　I　left　the　provost　building　to　get　my　vehicle　and　discovered　my　partner　parked　at　the　front　door；　sleeping　behind　the　wheel；　the　Grateful　Dead　on　the　CD　player；　which　may　have　been　appropriate。
　I　got　in　and　slammed　the　door；　waking　her　up。　〃Sleeping？〃　I　asked。
　〃No；　resting　my　eyes。〃
　She　always　used　to　say　that；　and　we　exchanged　quick　smiles　of　recognition。　I　said；　〃Rifle　range　six；　please。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TEN
　
　Cynthia　shifted　into　high　gear　as　we　cleared　the　main　post　and　broke　out　into　the　wooded　reservation。　She　said；　〃Nice　suit。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　The　Grateful　Dead　was　singing　〃A　Touch　of　Grey。〃　I　shut　off　the　CD　player。
　〃Did　you　have　lunch？〃　she　inquired。
　〃No。〃
　〃Did　you　do　anything　useful？〃　she　asked。
　〃Probably　not。〃
　〃Are　you　an