demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第48部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃Yes；　sir。〃　She　turned　and　left。
　Cynthia　and　I　sat　in　silence　a　moment；　then　she　said；　〃That　was　a　good　idea。〃
　〃Thanks；　but　I　can't　place　a　lot　of　confidence　in　office　scuttlebutt。〃
　〃But　this　is　MP　Headquarters。〃
　〃True。〃　I　said；　〃You　see　why　I'm　annoyed　at　Kent。　The　stupid　bastard　has　bee　a　laughingstock　in　his　own　mand。〃
　〃I　see　that。〃
　〃I　mean；　forget　morality　if　you　want。　You　never；　never　diddle　where　you　work。　People　laugh。〃
　〃I'll　bet　they　laughed　at　us　in　Brussels　and　Falls　Church。〃
　〃I'm　certain　they　did。〃
　〃How　embarrassing。〃
　〃Right。　I　hope　you　learned　your　lesson。〃
　She　smiled；　then　looked　at　me。　〃What　were　you　trying　to　establish　with　Baker？　That　Kent　is　the　butt　of　office　jokes？〃
　I　shrugged。
　She　said；　〃The　distance　from　Bethany　Hill　to　rifle　range　six　is　about　five　or　six　miles。　You　could　drive　there　in　under　ten　minutes；　even　if　you　did　the　last　few　miles　without　lights；　because　there　was　bright　moonlight　that　night。〃
　〃The　thought　had　occurred　to　me。　And　you　could　drive　from　Beaumont　House　to　range　six　in　a　little　over　ten　minutes；　if　you　pushed　it。〃
　She　nodded。　〃Facts　to　keep　in　mind。〃　She　looked　at　the　medical　file　in　front　of　her　and　said；　〃What　do　you　make　of　this　psychiatrist's　report？〃
　I　replied；　〃Ann　Campbell　had　suffered　some　sort　of　trauma　and　wasn't　sharing　it　with　anyone。　What　do　you　think？〃
　〃Same。　There's　not　much　to　go　on　in　this　report；　but　I'd　guess　that　the　problem　was　not　stress　or　fatigue；　but　a　single　event　that　traumatized　her　and　led　somehow　to　her　betrayal　by　her　father。　In　other　words；　Daddy　was　not　there　for　her　when　whatever　happened；　happened。　Does　that　all　fit？〃
　〃Seems　to。〃　I　thought　a　moment；　then　said；　〃I　keep　thinking　that　it's　sexual；　and　that　it's　something　to　do　with　a　guy　who　had　one　or　two　more　stars　than　Daddy；　and　that　Daddy　backed　off　and　convinced　his　daughter　to　do　the　same。〃
　〃Something　like　that。〃
　I　added；　〃We　have　to　get　her　service　academy　file；　but　I　would　not　be　at　all　surprised　if　we　found　it　contained　nothing　relevant　to　what　Moore　said。〃
　The　coffee　came　in　a　big　stainless…steel　galley　pitcher；　with　a　plastic　tray　of　donuts；　cold；　stale；　and　greasy。　Cynthia　and　I　dug　in　and　talked　awhile。
　The　phone　had　been　ringing　almost　constantly；　but　Specialist　Baker　or　someone　else　had　been　picking　up。　This　time；　however；　when　the　phone　rang；　the　inter　buzzed；　and　Specialist　Baker　said；　〃Colonel　Hellmann。〃
　〃I'll　take　it。〃　I　put　the　phone　on　two…way　speaker　so　Cynthia　could　hear　and　speak；　and　said　into　the　microphone；　〃Brenner　and　Sunhill；　sir。〃
　〃Ah；　we　speak　of　little　else　here。〃
　Karl　actually　sounded　light　this　morning；　which　throws　me　off　a　bit。　I　replied；　〃Is　that　so？〃
　〃It　is。　Are　you　both　well？〃
　Cynthia　replied；　〃Very　well；　Colonel。〃
　〃Good。　I've　received　some　plaints　about　your　behavior。〃
　I　replied；　〃Then　you　know　we're　doing　our　job。〃
　He　replied；　〃I　know　you're　starting　to　annoy　people；　which　is　sometimes　an　indication　that　you're　doing　a　good　job。　But　I　called　to　see　if　you　know　that　the　case　is　being　taken　out　of　your　hands。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　we　know。〃
　〃I　did　what　I　could　to　keep　it　a　CID　matter；　but　the　FBI　has　more　influence　than　I　do。〃
　〃We　may　have　this　case　pleted　soon；　anyway；〃　I　assured　him。
　〃Really？　Well；　I　hope　you　can　wrap　it　up　within　the　next　fifteen　minutes；　because　the　FBI　has　jumped　the　gun　and　the　task　force　has　already　arrived　at　Fort　Hadley。〃
　〃They　should　stay　out　of　our　way　until　1200　hours　tomorrow。〃
　〃They　should；　but　you'll　trip　over　a　few　of　them。〃
　I　said；　〃I　get　the　impression　you're　relieved　to　be　out　of　this。〃
　〃What　gives　you　that　impression；　Mr。　Brenner？〃
　〃Your　tone　of　voice；　sir。　You　sound　happy。〃
　There　was　a　pause；　then　he　said；　〃You　should　be　happy；　too。　Nothing　good　could　e　of　this　case　for　you　or　for　the　CID。〃
　〃That's　not　how　I　decide　what　cases　to　take。〃　Actually；　it　was；　sometimes。　But　sometimes　you　took　a　case　because　you　felt　it　was　your　duty　to　do　so；　or　because　you　felt　a　personal　attachment　to　it；　or　simply　because　you　wanted　to　be　the　person　to　catch　a　particularly　nasty　bad　guy。　I　informed　Karl；　〃I'm　going　to　solve　the　case　and　bring　credit　and　glory　on　all　of　us。〃
　〃Well；　I　respect　that；　Paul。　I　do。　On　the　other　hand；　the　potential　for　discredit　and　disaster　is　great。〃　He　added；　〃The　FBI　has　given　us　an　out。　The　idiots　want　the　case。〃
　〃So　do　the　two　idiots　here。〃
　Karl　changed　the　subject　and　said；　〃Forensic　tells　me　you　have　a　suspect。　A　Colonel　Moore。〃
　〃We　have　an　individual　who　was　at　the　scene　of　the　crime。　He　is　a　suspect；　yes。〃
　〃But　you　haven't　arrested　him。〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃They　want　you　to。〃
　〃Who　are　they？〃
　〃You　know。　Well；　do　what　you　think　best。　I　never　interfere。〃
　〃Hardly　ever。〃
　〃Any　more　suspects？〃
　〃No；　sir；　but　I　was　just　about　to　dial　1…800…SUSPECT　when　you　called。〃
　Silence；　then；　〃Ms。　Sunhill；　in　your　report　you　said　the　rape　may　have　in　fact　been　a　consensual　act。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃So　that　might　indicate　that　the　perpetrator　was　a　friend。　Wouldn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃But　not　her　superior　officer；　Colonel　Moore；　who　was　apparently　at　the　scene？〃
　Cynthia　glanced　at　me；　then　replied；　〃It's　bee　very　plex；　Colonel。〃　She　added；　〃Captain　Campbell　had　many　boyfriends。〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　hearing　that。〃　He　added；　in　a　rare　moment　of　prehension；　〃It's　a　mess　out　there；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　Hellmann　said；　〃Paul；　you　haven't　made　contact　with　Major　Bowes　yet。〃
　〃No；　Colonel。　Major　Bowes　may　be　part　of　the　problem　here。　That's　only　hearsay；　but　you　might　think　about　calling　him　back　to　Falls　Church　for　a　chat。〃
　〃I　see。〃　He　stayed　silent　a　moment；　then　said；　〃The　CID　doesn't　need　that。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Are　you　engaging　in　damage　control？〃
　〃No；〃　I　replied；　〃that's　not　my　job。〃　I　added　with　some　satisfaction；　〃I　think　I　mentioned　to　you　that　this　was　going　to　be　a　sensitive　case。〃
　Silence；　then；　〃I　only　care　about　the　reputation　of　my　officers。〃
　〃Then　get　Bowes　out　of　here。〃
　〃All　right。　Can　you　fax　me　a　report　before　1800　hours？〃
　〃No；　Colonel；　there　will　be　no　further　reports。　We're　extremely　busy　trying　to　find　a　murderer。　We'll　report　to　you　in　person　as　soon　as　they　boot　us　out　of　here。〃
　〃Understood。　Is　there　anything　here　we　can　do　for　you？〃
　Cynthia　replied；　〃Yes；　sir。　We　have　some　information　that　Captain　Campbell　and　her　father　had　a　serious　falling…out　while　she　was　in　her　second　year；　at　West　Point。　Whatever　happened　then　is　possibly　related　to　this　case。　It's　possible　that　what　happened　may　have　been　public；　or　at　least　well　known　at　the　academy；　or　perhaps　in　the　civilian　munity　around　West　Point。〃
　〃All　right；　I'll　put　some　people　on　it　immediately。　Academy　records；　local　newspapers；　people　who　were　there　at　the　time；　and　I'll　contact　the　Criminal　Investigation　Records　Depository　in　Baltimore。　Correct？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　And　speed　is　very　important；〃　Cynthia　reminded　him。
　I　said　to　him；　〃We're　sort　of　circling　around　some　sensitive　issues；　Karl；　but　eventually　we　have　to　go　right　to　the　heart　of　the　problem。　I'm　talking　about　the　general。〃
　〃Understood。　Do　what　you　have　to　do。　I'm　behind　you。〃
　〃Right。　Do　you　want　to　stand　in　front　of　me？〃
　Silence　again；　then；　〃I'll　fly　down　if　you　wish。〃
　Cynthia　and　I　glanced　at　each　other；　then　I　said；　〃We　appreciate　that；　Karl；　but　if　you　just　hang　tough　with　the　boys　in　the　Pentagon；　we'd　like　that。〃
　〃I'll　do　what　I　can。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　He　asked；　〃Are　you　two　working　well　together？〃
　Neither　Cynthia　nor　I　responded　immediately；　but　then　she　said；　〃Very　well。〃
　〃Good。　There's　nothing　like　intense　heat　to　forge　a　strong　working　team。〃
　I　said　to　Cynthia　so　that　Karl　could　hear；　〃Tell　him　you　apologized　to　me　for　Brussels；　and　that　it　was　all　your　fault。〃
　She　smiled；　then　said　into　the　speaker；　〃That's　correct；　Colonel。〃
　〃Noted。　I'll　get　back　to　you　ASAP　with　the　West　Point　information　if　I　have　any　luck。〃
　〃Fine。〃
　〃On　another　subject；　I'm　not　pleased　with　your　handling　of　the　arms　deal　case。〃
　〃Then　turn　it　over　to　the　FBI。〃
　Silence；　then；　〃I　have　your　personnel　file　in　front　of　me；　Paul。　You　have　over　twenty　years　in。〃
　〃I　can't　live　on　full　pay。　How　am　I　going　to　live　on　half　pay？〃
　〃I'm　concerned　for　you。　I　don't　like　to　lose　good　men；　but　I　can　sense　that　you're　tired。　Do　you　want　a　staff　job　here　in　Falls　Church？〃
　〃You　mean　in　the　same　building　with　you？〃
　〃Consider　your　options。〃　He　added；　〃I'm　here　if　you　just　want　to　talk。　Good　luck。〃　He　hung　up　and　I　shut　off　the　speaker　and　said　to　Cynthia；　〃He　sounded　almost　human。〃
　〃He's　worried；　Paul。〃
　〃Well；　he　should　be。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR
　
　We　spent　the　next　hour　going　through　the　paperwork　on　the　desk；　returning　and　making　phone　calls；　including　trying　to　pin　down　Colonel　Fowler　regarding　the　appointments　with　his　wife；　Mrs。　Campbell；　and　General　Campbell。
　I　called　Grace　Dixon；　our　puter　expert；　who　had　flown　in　from　Falls　Church　and　was　at　Jordan　Field　trying　to　get　Ann　Campbell's　PC　to　give　up　its　files。　〃How's　it　going；　Grace？〃
　〃Going　fine　now。　Some　of　the　puter　files　were　encrypted。　We　finally　found　a　list　of　passwords　in　her　home　study…Inside　a　cookbook…and　I'm　pulling　up　all　sorts　of　things。〃
　I　motioned　to　Cynthia　to　pick　up　the　other　receiver　and　said　to　Grace；　〃What　kinds　of　things？〃
　〃Some　personal　letters；　a　list　of　people　and　phone　numbers；　but　the　major　entry　is　a　diary。　Pretty　steamy　stuff；　Paul。　Names；　dates；　places；　sexual　practices　and　preferences。　I　guess　that's　what　you're　looking　for。〃
　〃I　guess　so。　Give　me　some　names；　Grace。〃
　〃Okay　。。。　hold　on　。。。　Lieutenant　Peter　Elby　。。。　Colonel　William　Kent　。。。　Major　Ted　Bowes　。。。〃　And　on　she　went；　reading　off　about　two　dozen　names；　some　of　which　I　knew；　such　as　Colonel　Michael　Weems；　the　staff　judge　advocate；　Captain　Frank　Swick；　the　medical　officer；　and　Major　Arnold　Eames；　the　head　chaplain；　of　all　people；　and　some　of　whom　I　didn't　know；　but　they　were　all　military　and　probably　all　in　some　way　in　the　general's　immediate　or　extended　retinue。　But　then　Grace　read；　〃Wes　Yardley；　Burt　Yardley…〃
　〃Burt？〃
　〃Yes。　I　guess　she　liked　the　family。〃
　Cynthia　and　I　glanced　at　each　other。　I　said　to　Grace；　〃Right　。。。　and　you　didn't　e　across　the　name