demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第31部分

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I've　had　cases　where　an　audiotape　was　made；　and　one　where　a　videotape　was　made　。。。〃　She　paused　a　moment；　then　continued；　〃All　right　。。。　she's　done；　he's　done；　she　wants　to　be　untied。　At　this　point；　he　snaps　for　some　reason　and　strangles　her　to　death；　or　he'd　planned　to　do　that　all　along；　or　he　may　have　honestly　strangled　her　by　accident　during　the　act。〃　She　looked　at　me。　〃That's　it；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes。　I　think　so。〃
　〃But　there's　more　to　it；〃　Cynthia　reminded　me。　〃Her　clothes；　dog　tags；　her　West　Point　ring；　and　her　pistol　are　missing。〃
　〃I　know。　That's　a　problem。〃　I　said；　〃We're　back　to　souvenirs。〃
　〃Yes；　they　do　take　souvenirs。　But　you　know；　if　I　had　just　killed　a　general's　daughter　out　on　the　rifle　range；　on　purpose　or　by　accident；　I　don't　think　I'd　put　her　clothes　in　my　car　and　drive　around　with　the　evidence　that　would　put　me　in　front　of　a　firing　squad。〃
　〃Not　likely；　is　it？　And　remember；　she　had　her　watch　on。　Why？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Cynthia　replied。　〃That　may　be　insignificant。〃
　〃It　may　be。　Let's　walk。〃　We　retraced　our　steps　along　the　tarpaulin　path　and　came　back　to　the　road　where　Ann　Campbell's　humvee　had　been　parked。　〃All　right；〃　I　said；　〃he　es　back　here　to　the　vehicle。　He　takes　her　BDUs；　her　helmet；　dog　tags；　socks；　boots；　and　so　forth；　but　leaves　her　handbag　on　the　passenger　seat　of　the　vehicle。〃
　〃He　may　have　forgotten　the　handbag。　Men　often　do。　I've　seen　that　before。〃
　I　turned　toward　the　latrines。　〃Carrying　those　items；　he　crosses　the　grassy　area；　passes　the　bleachers；　passes　the　latrines；　and　finds　the　corduroy　trail。　He　would　not　walk　on　the　road。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Okay；　if　they'd　started　at　about　0115　hours；　it　is　now　about　0215　hours；　give　or　take　a　few　minutes。　It　can't　be　later　because　PFC　Robbins　saw　headlights　at　0217　hours。〃
　〃And　you're　sure　they　were　not　Ann　Campbell's　headlights？〃
　〃I'm　making　the　strong　assumption　she　got　here　earlier；　and　she　drove　up　without　headlights。　So　this　vehicle　es　by；　sees　her　parked　humvee；　stops；　turns　off　the　lights；　and　gets　out　of　his　or　her　vehicle。　That　is　what　Robbins　saw　at　0217　hours。〃
　〃And　he　or　she　can　see　Ann　Campbell　from　the　road。　Right？〃
　〃Sergeant　St。　John　did。　The　moon　was　nearly　full。　Anyone　who　saw　the　parked　humvee　would　look　around。　Fifty　meters　away；　this　person　sees　something　on　the　rifle　range。　It's　almost　a　human　instinct　to　recognize　another　human　form；　especially　a　naked　one。　We've　both　heard　similar　stories…someone　walking　in　the　woods　sees　something　lying　on　the　ground；　and　so　on。〃
　〃All　right。　So　what　does　that　person　do？〃
　〃That　person　goes　up　to　her　and　sees　that　she's　dead；　goes　back　to　his　or　her　vehicle；　makes　a　U…turn；　and　gets　the　hell　out　of　there。〃
　〃Without　turning　his　or　her　headlights　back　on。〃
　〃Apparently。　PFC　Robbins　was　transfixed　by　the　headlights　and　kept　watching；　but　never　saw　them　go　on　again。　The　next　lights　she　saw　were　Sergeant　St。　John's　at　0425　hours。〃
　〃Why　would　this　person　not　turn　their　headlights　back　on　when　they　were　leaving？　Why　turn　them　off　to　begin　with？　It's　damned　spooky　out　here；　Paul。　I'd　leave　my　lights　on　if　I　got　out　of　my　car。　And　who　is　this　new　person　you've　introduced；　and　why　didn't　this　person　make　a　report？〃
　〃The　only　answer　I　can　e　up　with　is　that　Ann　Campbell　had　not　gone　through　all　this　trouble　for　one　tryst。　Her　fantasy　may　have　been　multiple　rapes。　She　may　have　had　several　appointments。〃
　〃That's　very　weird。〃　She　added；　〃But　possible。〃
　I　said；　〃Let's　follow　the　path　that　Ann　Campbell's　assistant　or　assailant　took　back。〃　We　retraced　our　steps　and　intersected　the　corduroy　path　in　the　bush　behind　the　rifle　ranges；　then　turned　left　onto　it　and　headed　back　to　rifle　range　five。　I　said；　〃Here；　in　these　bushes；　will　probably　be　a　plastic　bag　containing　her　clothes。〃
　Cynthia　looked　at　me。　〃Are　you　psychic；　too？〃
　〃The　area　search　turned　up　nothing；　and　neither　did　the　dogs；　so　the　clothes　will　be　in　a　plastic；　odor…proof　bag；　probably　a　trash　bag；　and　they　will　be　farther　away　than　the　search。　When　we　get　closer　to　rifle　range　five；　you'll　turn　that　flashlight　into　the　bush。　We　may　have　to　e　back　tomorrow…〃
　Cynthia　stopped。　〃Wait。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃The　latrine　sheds。〃
　〃Damn　it！　You're　right。〃
　So　back　we　went　to　the　latrine　sheds。　A　line　of　steel…mesh　trash　pails　sat　between　the　two　sheds；　and　I　turned　one　of　them　over　and　jumped　onto　the　roof　of　the　shed　for　male　personnel。　There　was　nothing　on　the　flat；　pitched　roof；　but　as　I　scrambled　to　my　feet；　I　saw　on　the　next　latrine　roof　a　brown　plastic　trash　bag　shining　in　the　moonlight。　I　took　a　running　start；　jumped　onto　the　adjoining　shed；　and　kicked　the　bag　off；　following　it　to　the　ground。　Somewhere　in　midair；　I　remembered　my　paratrooper　training；　flexed　my　knees　into　a　shoulder　roll；　and　bounded　up　on　my　feet。
　Cynthia　asked；　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　〃I'm　fine。　Get　a　handkerchief。〃
　She　took　a　handkerchief　from　her　pocket；　knelt；　and　untwisted　the　wire　tie；　then　carefully　pulled　open　the　mouth　of　the　bag　and　shined　her　flashlight　into　it。　Inside；　we　could　see　a　jumble　of　clothing；　a　pair　of　boots；　and　a　white　sock。　Carefully；　with　her　hand　wrapped　in　the　handkerchief；　Cynthia　moved　the　things　around；　uncovering　the　pistol　belt　and　holster　with　the　automatic　still　in　it；　then　finally　the　dog　tags；　which　she　held　up　and　read　in　the　beam　of　her　flashlight。　〃Campbell；　Ann　Louise。〃　She　let　the　dog　tags　drop　back　into　the　bag　and　stood。　She　looked　up　at　the　top　of　the　latrine　shed。　〃One　of　the　older　tricks　in　the　book。　But　why　did　this　guy　care　about　hiding　her　clothes？〃
　I　thought　a　moment。　〃It　seems　that　the　clothes　were　supposed　to　be　recovered　later。〃
　〃By　whom？　The　perpetrator？　A　third　party？〃
　〃Don't　know。　But　I　like　the　idea　of　a　third　party。〃
　A　pair　of　headlights　lit　up　the　road；　then　I　heard　the　engine　of　a　vehicle；　then　saw　it；　an　olive…drab　staff　car　that　stopped。　The　engine　remained　running；　and　the　headlights　stayed　on。　I　felt　for　my　pistol　and　so　did　Cynthia。
　The　driver's　door　opened；　and　the　interior　lights　revealed　the　figure　of　Bill　Kent　as　he　got　out　drawing　his　pistol　and　looking　toward　our　flashlight。　He　slammed　his　door　and　issued　a　challenge。　〃Identify　yourselves。〃
　I　called　back；　〃Brenner　and　Sunhill；　Colonel。〃　A　little　formal；　but　you　don't　fool　around　when　being　challenged　by　an　armed　man。
　We　stayed　motionless　until　he　said；　〃I'm　ing　to　you。〃
　〃Understand。〃　We　both　stood　until　he　got　closer；　then　saw　him　holster　his　pistol；　and　heard　him　say；　〃Recognize。〃
　All　a　little　silly；　too；　except　that　every　once　in　a　while；　a　guy　gets　plugged　messing　around　with　challenges　and　such。　Kent　asked　us；　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　I　replied；　〃This　is　the　scene　of　the　crime；　Bill；　and　detectives　and　criminals　always　return　to　it。　What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃I　resent　the　implication；　wise　guy。　I'm　here　for　the　same　reason　you　are…to　try　to　get　a　feeling　for　the　scene　at　night。〃
　〃Let　me　be　the　detective；　Colonel。　I　expected　to　see　MPs　posted　here。〃
　〃I　suppose　I　should　have　posted　a　few。　But　I　have　patrols　going　by。〃
　〃I　haven't　seen　any。　Can　you　get　a　couple　of　people　here？〃
　〃All　right。〃　He　asked　Cynthia；　〃Why　is　your　car　way　back　there？〃
　She　replied；　〃We　wanted　to　walk　in　the　moonlight。〃
　He　looked　like　he　was　going　to　ask　why；　but　then　noticed　the　bag。　〃What　is　that？〃
　〃That　is；〃　Cynthia　replied；　〃the　missing　items。〃
　〃What　items？〃
　〃Her　clothing。〃
　I　watched　Kent　as　he　took　this　in。　He　seemed　almost　indifferent；　I　thought。　He　asked；　〃Where'd　you　find　them？〃
　〃On　top　of　the　female　latrine　shed。　Your　guys　missed　it。〃
　〃I　guess　they　did。〃　He　asked；　〃Why　do　you　think　her　clothes　were　up　there？〃
　〃Who　knows？〃
　〃Are　you　through　here？〃
　〃For　now。〃
　〃What's　next？〃
　I　replied；　〃We'll　meet　you　at　Jordan　Field　in　about　an　hour。〃
　〃Okay。〃　He　added；　〃Colonel　Moore　is　very　upset　with　you。〃
　〃Then　he　should　file　formal　charges　instead　of　crying　on　your　shoulder。　Do　you　know　the　guy？〃
　〃Only　through　Ann。〃　He　looked　at　his　watch。　〃One　hour。〃
　〃Right。〃
　We　parted；　he　backed　toward　his　car　on　the　road；　we　along　the　corduroy　trail；　me　carrying　the　plastic　trash　bag。
　Cynthia　said　to　me；　〃You　don't　trust　him；　do　you？〃
　〃I　did　。。。　I've　known　Bill　Kent　for　over　ten　years。　But　now　。。。　I　don't　know。　I　don't　think　he's　a　suspect；　but　there's　no　doubt　in　my　mind　that　he；　like　just　about　everybody　here；　is　hiding　something。〃
　〃I　know。　I　get　that　feeling；　too。　It's　like　we've　arrived　in　a　small　town　and　everybody　knows　everybody's　dirty　secrets；　and　we　know　there　are　skeletons　in　the　closet；　but　we　can't　find　the　closets。〃
　〃That's　about　it。〃
　We　reached　the　car；　and　I　put　the　bag　in　the　trunk。
　Cynthia　and　I　got　in；　and　she　started　the　engine；　then　brushed　something　from　my　shoulder。　〃Anything　broken；　soldier？　Can　I　take　you　to　the　hospital？〃
　〃No；　but　I　need　my　head　examined。　Psychological　Operations　School。〃
　
CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
　
　We　arrived　at　the　Psy…Ops　School　at　about　2300　hours；　and　Cynthia　parked　near　the　school　headquarters。　The　school　was　made　up　of　a　cluster　of　about　thirty　concrete　buildings；　all　of　which　were　a　uniquely　depressing　slate　gray；　the　color　of　suicide；　of　Seattle。
　There　was　not　much　grass；　few　trees；　and　the　inadequate　exterior　lighting　would　be　unacceptable　in　a　civilian　setting；　but　in　the　Army；　muggings　and　lawsuits　were　not　yet　a　problem。
　Most　of　the　buildings　were　dark；　except　for　two　that　looked　like　living　quarters；　and　in　the　nearby　headquarters　building；　a　single　ground　floor　window　was　lit。
　As　we　walked　toward　the　headquarters；　Cynthia　asked　me；　〃What　exactly　goes　on　here？〃　　　　　　　　
　〃This　is　a　submand　of　the　JFK　Special　Warfare　School
　at　Bragg。　In　reality；　it's　not　a　school　at　all；　but　that's　the　cover。〃
　〃Cover　for　what？〃
　〃It's　a　research　facility。　They　don't　teach；　they　learn。〃
　〃What　do　they　learn？〃
　〃I　think　they　learn　what　makes　people　tick；　then　they　find　out　how　to　make　them　stop　ticking　without　putting　a　bullet　in　them。〃　I　added；　〃Most　of　it　is　experimental。〃
　〃Sounds　spooky。〃
　〃I'm　with　you。　Bullets　and　high　explosives　work　every　time。　Screw　panic　and　free…floating　anxiety。〃
　A　humvee　turned　the　corner　up　ahead　and　came　toward　us。　It　stopped　and　an　MP　dismounted　from　the　passe