demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第39部分

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　Silence；　followed　by；　〃You　can　talk　to　him　at　my　office。
　〃I'll　just　wait　to　see　him　at　the　funeral　service　here。　I　assume　he'll　attend。〃
　〃I　reckon　he　will。　But　we　don't　conduct　business　at　funerals　around　here。〃
　〃You　should。　That's　where　everybody　shows　up　after　a　murder。〃
　〃I'll　tell　you　what…I'll　let　you　talk　to　him　because　I　want　to　see　the　son…of…a…bitch　who　done　this　in　the　pokey。　But　I'm　lettin'　you　know　now；　my　boy　was　on　duty　when　it　happened；　and　his　partner　will　verify　that；　and　we　got　tapes　of　his　radio　calls　all　night。〃
　〃I'm　sure　of　that。　Meanwhile；　you　can　have　access　to　the　hangar　as　of　now。　I　want　to　send　my　lab　people　to　Captain　Campbell's　house。〃
　〃Yeah？　What　for？　Y'all　took　every　damn　thing。　My　boys　had　to　bring　their　own　damn　toilet　paper。〃
　〃I'll　see　you　and　Wes　at　noon。　Bring　my　stuff　and　the　government's　stuff。〃
　〃Don't　hold　your　breath；　son。〃
　He　hung　up；　and　I　stood；　wrapping　the　towel　around　me。　Cynthia　asked；　〃Burt　Yardley？〃
　〃Sure　'nuf。〃
　〃What　did　he　want？〃
　〃My　ass；　mostly。　The　SOB　cleaned　out　my　trailer。〃　I　laughed。　〃I　like　this　guy。　Too　many　wimps　around　these　days。　This　guy　is　a　genuine；　hard…ass　old　prick。〃
　〃That'll　be　you　next　year。〃
　〃I　hope　so。〃　I　looked　at　my　watch　on　the　nightstand。　〃It's　ten　after　six。　Do　we　have　time？〃
　She　stood。　〃I　have　to　dry　my　hair；　get　dressed；　do　my　face…〃
　〃All　right。　Rain　check？〃
　〃Sure。〃　She　walked　to　the　bathroom　door；　then　turned　and　asked　me；　〃Are　you　seeing　anyone？〃
　〃Yes。　Colonel　Fowler　at　seven；　then　Moore　about　eight…〃
　〃I　forgot；　you　don't　like　that　expression。　Are　you　romantically　involved　with　anyone？〃
　〃No；　I'm　kind　of　between　meaningful　relationships　at　the　moment。　Truth　is；　no　one　since　you。〃
　〃Good。　Keeps　it　simple。〃
　〃Right。　Except　for　Major　what's…his…name。　Your　husband？〃
　〃I'm　very　clear　about　that　now。〃
　〃That's　encouraging。　We　don't　want　a　repeat　of　Brussels；　do　we？〃
　She　laughed。　〃Sorry。　Why　do　I　find　that　funny？〃
　〃Because　you　weren't　looking　down　the　muzzle　of　the　gun。
　〃No；　but　you　didn't　have　to　listen　to　him　for　the　next　year。　But；　okay；　Paul；　I　owe　you　for　that。　I'll　pay　off　tonight；　then　we'll　see　where　it　goes。〃
　〃Looking　forward　to　it。〃
　〃Me；　too。〃　She　hesitated；　then　said；　〃You're　too　obsessed　with　。。。　this　case。　You　need　a　release。〃
　〃You're　a　sensitive　and　nurturing　partner。〃
　She　disappeared　into　the　bathroom；　and　I　found　yesterday's　shorts　and　yesterday's　socks。　I　got　dressed；　thinking；　as　I　went　through　the　motions；　that　life　is　a　series　of　plications；　some　small；　like　where　to　get　clean　underwear；　some　a　little　bigger；　like　the　one　who　just　left　the　room。　How　you　handle　life　depends　a　lot　on　how　you　handle　plan　B；　or　if　you　have　a　plan　B。
　Anyway；　as　I　checked　to　see　if　my　Glock　had　a　firing　pin　and　ammunition；　I　considered　that　the　time　had　e　for　me　to　settle　down　a　bit；　and　that　what　I　didn't　need　anymore　was　a　little　light　sport…fucking　now　and　then。
　Right。　Whatever　happened　tonight　with　Cynthia　would　be　the　real　thing。　Something　good　had　to　e　out　of　this　mess。
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE
　
　Bethany　Hill　is　Fort　Hadley's　Shaker　Heights；　though　considerably　smaller　and　not　as　well　manicured。　There　are　about　thirty　solid　brick　colonial…style　homes　set　in　an　area　of　some　sixty　acres　of　oaks；　beech；　maple；　and　other　high…ranking　trees；　while　the　lowly　southern　pine　is　specifically　absent。　All　of　the　houses　go　back　to　the　1920s　and　'30s；　when　officers　were　gentlemen；　were　expected　to　live　on　post；　and　there　weren't　so　many　of　them。
　Times　change；　and　the　officer　population　has　swelled　beyond　the　Army's　needs　and　its　ability　to　give　each　one　a　house；　a　horse；　and　a　manservant。　But　the　top　dogs　on　post　still　get　the　houses　on　the　hill　if　they　want　them；　and　Colonel　Fowler　probably　felt　that　living　on　post　was　good　politics。　Mrs。　Fowler　may　have　also　preferred　Fort　Hadley。　Not　that　Midland　is　a　bastion　of　Old　South　attitudes　toward　blacks；　it　is　not；　having　been　influenced　by　decades　of　close　proximity　to　the　fort。　But　Bethany　Hill；　sometimes　called　the　colonels'　ghetto；　was　probably　more　fortable　in　social　terms　than　a　similar　neighborhood　in　town。
　Bethany　Hill's　only　disadvantage　was　its　proximity　to　the　rifle　ranges；　range　number　one　being　about　five　miles　south　of　the　hill。　I　could　imagine　that　during　a　night　firing　exercise；　with　the　wind　from　the　south；　you　could　hear　the　gunfire。　But　for　some　of　the　old　infantry　types；　it　was　probably　as　soothing　as　a　lullaby。
　Cynthia　was　wearing　a　green　silk　blouse　and　a　tan　skirt；　and；　presumably；　clean　undergarments。　I　said　to　her；　〃You　look　very　nice　this　morning。〃
　〃Thank　you。　How　long　do　I　have　to　see　that　blue　suit？〃
　〃Think　of　it　as　the　duty　uniform　of　the　week。〃　I　added；　〃Your　makeup　didn't　cover　the　dark　circles　under　your　eyes；　which　are　also　bloodshot　and　puffy。〃
　〃I'll　look　fine　with　a　good　night's　sleep。　You　need　a　more　recent　birthday。〃
　〃Are　you　a　little　grumpy　this　morning？〃
　〃Yes。　Sorry。〃　She　put　her　hand　on　my　knee。　〃These　aren't　the　best　circumstances　for　us　to　renew　our　friendship。〃
　〃No。　But　we　got　real　close　there。〃
　We　found　the　house；　a　good…sized　brick　structure　with　standard　green　door；　green　trim；　and　green　shutters。　A　Ford　station　wagon　and　Jeep　Cherokee　were　parked　in　the　driveway。　American…made　vehicles　are　not　de　rigueur　for　high…ranking　officers；　but　it's　not　a　bad　idea；　either。
　We　parked　on　the　street；　got　out　of　Cynthia's　Mustang；　and　proceeded　up　the　front　walk。　It　was　still　cool　on　the　hill　at　0700　hours；　but　the　hot　sun　was　slanting　in　at　a　low　angle　under　the　trees；　and　it　felt　like　another　one　of　those　days　in　the　making。
　I　said　to　Cynthia；　〃Colonels　with　enough　time　in　grade　and　time　in　service　to　be　a　general；　such　as　Colonels　Fowler　and　Kent；　are　extremely　sensitive　to　career…limiting　problems。〃
　Cynthia　replied；　〃Every　problem　is　an　opportunity。〃
　I　said；　〃Sometimes　every　problem　is　a　problem。　Kent；　for　instance；　is　finished。〃　It　was　exactly　0700　hours　and　I　knocked　on　the　green　door。
　An　attractive　black　woman；　wearing　a　nice　aqua　summer　dress；　opened　the　door　and　forced　a　smile。　Before　I　could　announce　ourselves；　which　is　customary；　she　said；　〃Oh　。。。　Ms。　Sunhill　and　Mr。　Brenner。　Correct？〃
　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃　I　was　willing　to　forgive　her　for　recognizing　the　younger　and　obviously　lower…ranking　warrant　officer　first。　Civilians；　even　colonels'　wives；　sometimes　got　it　wrong；　and　to　be　honest；　rank　among　warrant　officers　is　like　virginity　among　prostitutes：　there　ain't　none。
　We　stood　there　awkwardly　a　moment；　then　she　showed　us　in　and　escorted　us　down　the　center　hall。
　Cynthia　said　to　her；　〃This　is　a　beautiful　home。〃
　She　replied；　〃Thank　you。〃
　Cynthia　asked　her；　〃Did　you　know　Captain　Campbell　well？〃
　〃Oh　。。。　no　。。。　not　well。〃
　Which　was　a　rather　odd　reply。　I　mean；　how　could　General　Campbell's　adjutant's　wife　not　know　General　Campbell's　daughter？　Clearly；　Mrs。　Fowler　was　distracted；　forgetting　all　sorts　of　little　social　courtesies　that　should　be　second　nature　to　a　colonel's　wife。　I　asked　her；　〃Have　you　seen　Mrs。　Campbell　since　the　tragedy？〃
　〃Mrs。　Campbell？　No　。。。　I've　been　。。。　too　upset　。。。〃
　Not　as　upset　as　the　victim's　mother；　however；　and　that　was　a　sympathy　call　that　should　have　been　made　by　now。
　I　was　about　to　ask　another　question；　but　we　reached　our　destination；　a　screened　porch　in　the　rear　of　the　house　where　Colonel　Fowler　was　speaking　on　the　telephone。　He　was　already　dressed　in　his　green　A　uniform；　his　shirt　buttoned　and　his　tie　snug；　though　his　jacket　was　draped　over　a　chair。　He　motioned　us　into　two　wicker　chairs　opposite　him　at　a　small　table；　and　we　sat。
　The　military　is　perhaps　the　last　American　bastion　of　fixed　and　clearly　defined　social　customs；　rank；　responsibilities；　and　required　courtesies；　and　in　case　you　needed　guidance；　there's　an　entire　six…hundred…page　book　for　officers；　explaining　what　your　life　is　and　should　be　about。　So　when　things　seem　a　little　askew；　you　start　wondering。
　Mrs。　Fowler　excused　herself　and　disappeared。　Colonel　Fowler　was　listening　on　the　phone；　then　said；　〃I　understand；　sir。　I'll　tell　them。〃　He　hung　up　and　looked　at　us。　〃Good　morning。〃
　〃Good　morning；　Colonel。〃
　〃Coffee？〃
　〃Please。〃
　He　poured　two　cups　of　coffee　and　indicated　the　sugar。　He　began　without　preamble；　〃I've　encountered　very　little　discrimination　in　the　Army；　and　I　can　speak　for　other　minorities　when　I　say　that　the　Army　is；　indeed；　a　place　where　race　and　religion　are　not　a　factor　in　advancement　or　in　any　other　area　of　Army　life。　There　may　be　racial　problems　among　the　enlisted　personnel；　but　there　is　no　systemic　racial　discrimination。〃
　I　wasn't　sure　where　this　was　going；　so　I　put　sugar　in　my　coffee。
　Colonel　Fowler　looked　at　Cynthia。　〃Have　you　experienced　any　discrimination　based　on　your　sex？〃
　Cynthia　hesitated；　then　replied；　〃Perhaps　。。。　yes；　on　a　few　occasions。〃
　〃Have　you　ever　been　harassed　because　of　your　gender？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Have　you　been　the　subject　of　rumors；　innuendos；　or　lies？〃
　〃Maybe　。。。　once　that　I　know　of。〃
　Colonel　Fowler　nodded。　〃So　you　see　that　I　as　a　black　man　have　had　fewer　problems　than　you　as　a　white　woman。〃
　Cynthia　replied；　〃I　know　that　the　Army　is　less　accepting　of　females　than　of　males。　But　so　is　the　rest　of　the　world。　What　is　the　point；　Colonel？〃
　〃The　point；　Ms。　Sunhill；　is　that　Captain　Ann　Campbell　had　a　very　difficult　time　here　at　Hadley。　If　she　had　been　the　general's　son；　for　instance；　and　had　fought　in　the　Gulf；　Panama；　or　Grenada；　she　would　have　been　idolized　by　the　troops　as　so　many　sons　of　great　warriors　have　been　throughout　history。　Instead；　the　rumor　going　around　is　that　she　fucked　for　everyone　on　post。　Excuse　my　language。〃
　I　offered；　〃And　if　Captain　Campbell　had　been　the　son　of　a　fighting　general　who　came　home　covered　with　glory　and　fucked　all　the　female　personnel　on　post；　he'd　never　have　to　buy　another　drink　in　the　O　Club。〃
　Colonel　Fowler　looked　at　me。　〃Precisely。　We　have　that　odd　double　standard　for　men　and　women　that　we　would　not　tolerate　if　it　were　racial。　So　if　you　have　some　hard　information　concerning　Captain　Campbell's　sexual　conduct；　I'd　like　to　hear　it；　though　I　don't　care　if　it's　true　or　not。〃
　I　replied；　〃I'm　not　at　liberty　to　reveal　my　sources　at　this　time