demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第40部分

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　I　replied；　〃I'm　not　at　liberty　to　reveal　my　sources　at　this　time。　My　only　interest　in　Captain　Campbell's　sexual　conduct　is　how　or　if　it　relates　to　her　murder。　I　have　no　prurient　interest　in　her　sex　life　as　an　entertaining　sidelight　to　her　rape　and　strangulation　out　there　on　the　rifle　range。〃　Actually；　of　course；　she　wasn't　raped；　but　I　wasn't　giving　out　free　copies　of　the　autopsy。
　Colonel　Fowler　said；　〃I'm　sure　that's　true；　Mr。　Brenner；　and　I　didn't　mean　to　question　your　professional　ethics。　But　you'd　damned　well　better　keep　that　connection　in　mind　and　not　let　your　investigation　bee　a　witch…hunt。〃
　〃Look；　Colonel；　I　appreciate　your　distress；　and　the　distress　of　the　deceased's　family。　But　we're　not　talking　about　rumor　and　innuendo；　as　you　suggested。　We're　talking　about　hard　facts　that　I　have。　Ann　Campbell　had　not　only　an　active　sex　life；　which　in　her　position　in　this　man's　Army　is　not　solely　her　business；　but　she　led　a　potentially　dangerous　sex　life。　We　can　argue　about　double　standards　all　morning；　but　when　I　hear　that　a　general's　daughter　slept　with　half　the　senior　married　officers　on　post；　I　think　of　suspects；　not　tabloid　headlines。　The　words　'slut'　and　'whore'　don't　pop　into　my　detective's　mind。　But　the　words　'blackmail'　and　'motive'　do。　Do　I　make　myself　clear；　sir？〃
　Colonel　Fowler　must　have　thought　so；　because　he　was　nodding；　or　perhaps　he　was　agreeing　with　some　thought　in　his　head。　He　said　to　me；　〃If　you　make　an　arrest；　do　I　have　your　assurances　that　only　the　minimal　amount　of　this　information　appears　in　your　report？〃
　I　had　half　a　mind　to　tell　him　about　Ann　Campbell's　hidden　store　of　sexual　delights　and　how　I　had　already　promised　myself　to　minimize　the　damage。　I　said；　〃The　evidence　in　Captain　Campbell's　house　could　have　and　should　have　been　shared　with　Chief　Yardley。　But　Ms。　Sunhill　and　I　took　a　precautionary　move　to　ensure　that　anything　in　the　house　of　an　unmarried；　attractive　female　officer　that　would　be　embarrassing　to　her　family　or　the　Army　did　not　wind　up　as　a　public　amusement。　Actions　speak　louder　than　words；　and　that's　the　only　assurance　I　can　give　you。〃
　Again；　he　nodded；　then　said　quite　unexpectedly；　〃I'm　very　pleased　with　both　of　you。　I've　checked　you　both　out；　and　you　e　to　us　with　the　highest　remendations。　It's　our　privilege　to　have　you　assigned　to　this　case。〃
　I　lifted　my　feet　because　the　bullshit　was　getting　higher；　but　I　replied；　〃That's　very　good　of　you　to　say　that。〃
　He　poured　us　more　coffee　and　said；　〃So　you　have　a　prime　suspect。　Colonel　Moore。〃
　〃That's　correct。〃
　〃Why　is　he　a　suspect？〃
　〃Because；〃　I　replied；　〃there　is　forensic　evidence　that　he　was　at　the　scene　of　the　crime。〃
　〃I　see　。。。　but　no　evidence　that　he　actually　murdered　her？〃
　〃No。　It's　possible　that　he　was　there　earlier　or　later　than　the　time　of　the　crime。〃
　〃But　you　have　no　evidence　that　anyone　else　was　there。〃
　〃No　conclusive　evidence。〃
　〃Then　doesn't　that　leave　him　as　the　most　likely　suspect？〃
　〃As　of　now。〃
　〃If　he　doesn't　confess；　will　you　charge　him？〃
　〃I　can　only　remend　in　a　case　like　this。　The　final　decision　as　to　charges　will　undoubtedly　be　made　in　Washington。〃
　〃It　seems　to　me　that　your　report　and　remendation　will　be　the　deciding　factor。〃
　〃It　should　be　the　only　factor；　considering　that　no　one　else　has　a　clue　to　what　happened。〃　I　added；　〃I　must　tell　you；　sir；　that　these　rumors　linking　Ann　Campbell　to　certain　officers　on　post　may　or　may　not　include　people　such　as　the　staff　judge　advocate；　and　others　who　may　not　be　as　objective　or　impartial　as　they　should　be　in　this　matter。　I　hate　to　be　the　one　to　sow　seeds　of　mistrust；　but　I'm　only　advising　you　of　what　I've　heard。〃
　〃Heard　from　whom？〃
　〃I　can't　say。　But　it　came　from　a　good　source；　and　I　suspect　you　know　how　widespread　this　problem　is。　I　don't　think　you　can　clean　your　own　house　here；　Colonel。　Your　broom　is　dirty。　But　perhaps　Ms。　Sunhill　and　I　can。〃
　He　nodded。　〃Well；　on　that　subject；　I　was　speaking　to　General　Campbell　when　you　arrived。　There's　been　a　new　development。〃
　Uh…oh。　I　don't　like　new　developments。　〃Yes？〃
　〃The　Justice　Department；　in　a　meeting　with　your　superior；　Colonel　Hellmann；　and　the　Army　judge　advocate　general　and　other　interested　parties；　has　decided　to　assign　the　FBI　to　this　case。〃
　Oh；　shit。　I　said　to　Colonel　Fowler；　〃Well；　then；　the　damage　control　is　out　of　my　hands。　You　and　everyone　else　who　wears　a　green　uniform　should　know　that。〃
　〃Yes。　Some　people　are　upset。　Not　everyone　in　the　Pentagon　knows　how　much　damage　control　is　necessary；　so　they　caved　in　to　these　demands　without　a　good　fight。　But　they　did　get　a　promise。〃
　Neither　Cynthia　nor　I　bothered　to　ask　what　it　was；　but　Colonel　Fowler　informed　us；　〃You　two　are　to　remain　on　the　case　until　noon　tomorrow。　If；　after　that　time；　you　haven't　made　an　arrest　and　remended　charges；　you　will　be　relieved　of　your　investigative　duties。　Though　you　will　remain　available　to　the　FBI　for　consultation。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　〃A　task　force　is　assembling　right　now　in　Atlanta　consisting　of　FBI　personnel；　a　team　from　the　Judge　Advocate　General's　Office；　the　Attorney　General's　Office；　and　senior　officers　from　your　own　CID　in　Falls　Church。〃
　〃Well；　I　hope　the　SOBs　all　have　to　stay　in　the　VOQ。〃　Colonel　Fowler　forced　a　smile。　〃We　don't　want　this；　of　course；　and　I　suspect　you　don't；　either。　But　if　you　think　about　it；　it　was　inevitable。〃
　Cynthia　said；　〃Colonel；　Army　captains　are　not　murdered　every　day；　but　this　sounds　like　overkill；　and　sounds　more　like　PR　than　good　police　science。〃
　〃That　point　was　raised。　The　reality；　however；　is　that　it　was　a　female；　she　was　raped；　and　it　was　General　Campbell's　daughter。〃　He　added；　〃There　is　equal　justice　for　all；　but　some　people　get　more　of　it。〃
　I　said；　〃I　realize　you　have　nothing　to　do　with　this　decision；　Colonel；　but　you　ought　to　discuss　this　with　General　Campbell　and　see　if　he　can　get　this　decision　reversed　or　at　least　modified。〃
　〃I　did。　That's　how　we　got　the　promise。　As　of　about　2300　hours　last　night；　you　and　Ms。　Sunhill　were　relieved。　General　Campbell　and　Colonel　Hellmann　bought　you　some　time。　They　thought　you　were　very　close　to　an　arrest。　So　perhaps　if　you　have　good　evidence　and　strong　suspicions　regarding　Colonel　Moore；　you'll　make　that　arrest。　You　have　our　permission　to　do　so　if　you　feel　you　need　that。〃
　I　thought　a　moment。　Colonel　Moore　seemed　to　be　the　most　popular　candidate　for　scapegoat。　And　why　not？　Evidence　aside；　he　was　a　loony　who　did　weird　work　in　secret；　and　his　uniform　was　sloppy；　and　General　Campbell　disliked　his　relationship　with　Ann　Campbell　according　to　Kent；　and　he　had　no　significant　awards　or　medals；　and　he　was　not　a　popular　officer。　Even　an　MP　corporal　couldn't　wait　to　rat　him　out。　This　guy　was　walking　into　a　noose　with　his　face　buried　in　a　book　of　Nietzsche　nuttiness。　I　said　to　Colonel　Fowler；　〃Well；　if　I　have　about　thirty　hours；　I'll　take　it。〃
　Fowler　seemed　a　little　disappointed。　He　inquired；　〃What's　keeping　you　from　acting　on　the　evidence　you　have？〃
　〃There's　not　enough　of　it；　Colonel。〃
　〃There　seems　to　be。〃
　〃Did　Colonel　Kent　tell　you　that？〃
　〃Yes　。。。　and　you　indicated　that　the　forensic　evidence　put　Colonel　Moore　at　the　scene　of　the　crime。〃
　〃Right。　But　it's　a　matter　of　times；　motive；　and　ultimately　the　nature　of　the　act　itself。　I　have　probable　cause　to　believe　Colonel　Moore　was　somehow　involved　with　what　happened　out　there；　but　I　can't　say　he　acted　alone；　or　even　with　malice；　or　indeed　that　he　can　be　charged　with　murder　in　the　first　degree。　I　feel　that　I　have　to　perfect　a　case　against　him；　rather　than　just　arrest　him　and　throw　the　case　onto　the　court。〃
　〃I　see。　Do　you　think　he　would　confess？〃
　〃You　never　know　until　you　ask。〃
　〃When　will　you　ask？〃
　〃I　usually　ask　when　the　suspect　and　I　are　both　ready　for　that　kind　of　conversation。　In　this　case；　I　may　wait　until　the　clock　runs　out。〃
　〃All　right。　Do　you　need　the　assistance　of　the　post　CID？〃
　〃I've　been　informed　that　Major　Bowes　was　also　a　lover　of　the　deceased。〃
　〃That's　hearsay。〃
　〃That's　right。　But　if　I…no；　Colonel；　if　you　ask　him　on　his　honor　as　an　officer；　he　will　probably　tell　you　the　truth。　In　any　case；　since　we　may　never　know　for　sure；　and　since　it's　e　up；　he　has　to　disqualify　himself　from　this　case。　And　I　don't　want　to　deal　with　the　people　under　his　mand；　either。〃
　〃I'm　sensitive　to　that；　Mr。　Brenner；　but　a　vague　accusation…even　a　confession　of　sexual　involvement　with　the　victim…does　not　automatically　disqualify　Major　Bowes　from　the　investigation。〃
　〃I　think　it　does。　And　I　think　it　puts　him　on　the　B　or　C　list　of　suspects　until　I　hear　his　alibi　or　lack　of　same。　And　on　that　subject；　Colonel；　if　you're　finished；　may　I　begin　my　interview　with　you？〃
　Colonel　Fowler　poured　himself　another　cup　of　coffee　with　a　rock…steady　hand。　The　sun　was　higher　now　and　the　screened　porch　was　a　little　darker。　My　stomach　was　gurgling　with　coffee　and　not　much　else；　and　my　mind　was　not　as　alert　as　it　should　have　been。　I　glanced　at　Cynthia　and　thought　she　looked　better　than　I　felt；　but　this　high…noon　deadline　meant　having　to　choose　between　sleep；　sex；　food；　and　work。　Plan　B。
　Colonel　Fowler　asked；　〃Can　I　offer　you　breakfast？〃
　〃No；　thank　you；　Colonel。〃
　He　looked　at　me　and　said；　〃Fire　away。〃
　I　opened　fire。　〃Were　you　sexually　involved　with　Ann　Campbell？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Do　you　know　anyone　who　was？〃
　〃Colonel　Kent　has　told　you　he　was。　I　won't　mention　any　other　names　since　to　do　so　seems　to　put　them　on　your　suspect　list。〃
　〃Okay；　let's　go　right　to　the　list…do　you　know　of　anyone　who　might　have　had　a　motive　for　killing　her？〃
　〃No；　I　don't。〃
　〃Did　you　know　that　General　Campbell's　junior　aide；　Lieutenant　Elby；　was　infatuated　with　her？〃
　〃Yes；　I　did。　That's　not　unmon；　nor　was　it　unwise　of　him　to　pay　attention　to　his　manding　officer's　daughter。　They　were　both　single；　attractive；　and　officers。　Marriages　actually　evolve　from　these　situations。〃　Colonel　Fowler　added；　〃I　give　the　young　man　credit　for　balls。〃
　〃Amen。　But　did　she　return　his　attentions？〃
　Colonel　Fowler　thought　a　moment；　then　replied；　〃She　never　returned　any　man's　attentions。　She　initiated　all　the　attention；　and　ended　it　when　it　pleased　her。〃
　〃That's　a　rather　startling　statement　from　you；　Colonel。〃
　〃Oh；　please；　Mr。　Brenner；　you　know　all　of　this　by　now。　I'm　not　trying　to　protect　her　reputatio