demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第50部分

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　work；　something　not　so　exciting。
　As　I　scribbled　out　a　remendation　for　release　from　confinement；　Major　Bowes　came　on　the　line。　〃Bowes　here。〃
　〃Good　morning；　Major。〃
　〃What　is　it；　Brenner？〃
　I'd　never　worked　with　or　met　this　guy；　and　I　didn't　know　anything　about　him　except　that　he　was　mander　of　the　Fort　Hadley　CID　detachment；　and　that　he　was　a　steamy　entry　in　Ann　Campbell's　diary。
　〃Brenner？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I　just　wanted　to　touch　base　with　you。〃
　〃This　is　not　a　baseball　game。　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃I　assume　you're　annoyed　because　I've　asked　that　you　be　kept　off　this　case。〃
　〃You　assume　right；　Mister。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Actually；　it　was　Colonel　Kent　who　decided　to　use　an　outside　investigator。〃　And　he　was　probably　sorry　he'd　asked。
　〃Colonel　Kent　does　not　make　those　kinds　of　decisions。　And　you　should　have　paid　a　courtesy　call　on　me。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I've　been　busy。　The　phone　works　both　ways。〃
　〃Watch　yourself；　Chief。〃
　〃How　is　Mrs。　Bowes？〃
　〃Are　you　married；　Major？〃
　Silence；　then；　〃What　kind　of　question　is　that？〃
　〃That　is　an　official　question；　pertaining　to　the　murder　investigation。　That's　what　kind　of　question　it　is。　Please　answer　it。〃
　Silence　again；　then；　〃Yes；　I'm　married。〃
　〃Does　Mrs。　Bowes　know　about　Captain　Campbell？〃
　〃What　the　hell…？〃
　Cynthia　looked　up　from　what　she　was　doing。
　I　said　to　Bowes；　〃Major；　I　have　proof　of　your　sexual　involvement　with　Ann　Campbell；　proof　that　you　visited　her　at　her　home　and　had　sexual　relations　with　her　of　an　illicit　nature　in　the　basement　bedroom　of　her　home；　and　that　you　engaged　in　and　performed　sexual　acts　that　are　a　violation　of　the　Uniform　Code　of　Military　Justice；　as　well　as　being　against　the　law　in　the　state　of　Georgia。〃　Actually；　I　didn't　know　what　was　against　the　law　in　Georgia；　and　I　didn't　know　yet　what　Bowes　and　Ann　Campbell　engaged　in；　but　who　cares？　Throw　enough　bullshit　and　some　of　it's　going　to　stick。
　Cynthia　picked　up　the　phone　and　listened；　but　Bowes　was　not　talking。
　I　waited　through　the　silence；　then　Bowes　said；　〃I　think　we　should　meet。〃
　〃I'm　kind　of　overbooked；　Major。　Someone　from　Falls　Church　will　be　calling　you　if　they　haven't　already。　Have　a　bag　packed。　Good　day。〃
　〃Wait！　We　should　talk　about　this。　Who　knows　about　this？　I　think　I　can　explain　this…〃
　〃Explain　the　photos　I　found　in　her　basement。〃
　〃I　。。。　I　can't　be　linked　to　those　photos　。。。〃
　〃The　mask　didn't　hide　your　dick　or　your　ass；　Major。　Maybe　I'll　have　your　wife　pick　you　out　of　the　photos。〃
　〃Don't　threaten　me。〃
　〃You're　a　cop；　for　Christ's　sake。　And　an　officer。　What　the　hell's　wrong　with　you？〃
　After　about　five　seconds；　he　replied；　〃I　fucked　up。〃
　〃You　sure　did。〃
　〃Can　you　cover　me？〃
　〃I　suggest　you　make　a　full　confession　and　throw　yourself　on　the　mercy　of　the　bosses　in　Falls　Church。　Bluff　a　little；　and　threaten　to　go　public。　Cut　a　deal；　take　half　pay；　and　get　out。〃
　〃Right。　Thanks　for　nothing。〃
　〃Hey；　I　didn't　fuck　the　general's　daughter。〃
　〃You　would　have。〃
　〃Major；　regarding　on…the…job　sex；　the　thing　to　remember　is　you　never　get　your　meat　where　you　get　your　bread。〃
　〃Depends　on　the　meat。〃
　〃Was　it　worth　it？〃
　He　laughed。　〃Hell；　yeah。　I'll　tell　you　about　it　someday。〃
　〃I'll　read　about　it　in　her　diary。　Have　a　good　day；　Major。〃　I　hung　up。
　Cynthia　put　down　the　phone　and　said；　〃Why　were　you　being　so　hard　on　him？　These　men　didn't　mit　a　real　crime；　Paul。〃
　〃No；　but　they're　stupid。　I'm　sick　of　stupid　men。〃
　〃I　think　you're　jealous。〃
　〃Keep　your　opinions　to　yourself。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　I　rubbed　my　temples。　〃Sorry。　Just　tired。〃
　〃Do　you　want　to　see　the　Yardley　boys　now？〃
　〃No。　Fuck　'em。　Let　them　cool　their　heels。〃　I　picked　up　the　telephone　and　called　the　staff　judge　advocate's　office　and　asked　to　speak　to　Colonel　Weems；　the　manding　officer。　I　got　his　clerk…typist；　a　man　who　wanted　to　know　my　business。　I　said；　〃Tell　Colonel　Weems　this　has　to　do　with　the　murder　case。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　Cynthia　picked　up　her　extension　and　said　to　me；　〃Be　nice。〃
　Colonel　Weems　got　on　the　line　and　inquired；　〃Are　you　the　investigating　officer　in　charge？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Good。　I've　been　instructed　to　draw　up　a　charge　sheet　against　Colonel　Charles　Moore；　and　I　need　some　information。〃
　〃Well；　here's　your　first　piece　of　information；　Colonel。　Colonel　Moore　is　not　to　be　charged　until　I　say　so。〃
　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Brenner；　but　I've　received　these　instructions　from　the　Pentagon。〃
　〃I　don't　care　if　you　received　them　from　Douglas　MacArthur's　ghost。〃　Army　lawyers；　even　colonels；　can　be　pushed　around　a　little　because；　like　Army　doctors；　psychologists；　and　such；　their　rank　is　basically　a　pay　grade；　and　they　know　they　shouldn't　take　it　too　seriously。　In　fact；　they　should　all　be　warrant　officers；　like　I　am；　and　they'd　be　much　happier；　and　so　would　everyone　else。　I　said　to　him；　〃Your　name　has　e　up　in　connection　with　that　of　the　victim。〃
　〃Excuse　me？〃
　〃You　married；　Colonel？〃
　〃Yes　。。。〃
　〃You　want　to　stay　married？〃
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃I　have　information　that　you　were　sexually　involved　with　the　victim；　that　you　mitted　offenses　under　the　Uniform　Code　of　Military　Justice；　to　wit：　Article　125；　unnatural　carnal　copulation；　plus　Article　133；　conduct　unbeing　an　officer　and　a　gentleman；　and　Article　134；　disorders　and　neglects　to　the　prejudice　of　good　order　and　discipline；　and　conduct　of　a　nature　to　bring　discredit　upon　the　armed　forces。〃　I　asked　him；　〃How's　that；　Counselor？〃
　〃That's　not　true。〃
　〃Do　you　know　how　you　can　tell　when　a　lawyer　is　lying？　No？　His　lips　move。〃
　He　didn't　appreciate　the　joke；　and　said；　〃You'd　better　have　damn　good　evidence　to　back　that　up。〃
　Spoken　like　a　true　lawyer。　I　said；　〃Do　you　know　what　three　hundred　lawyers　at　the　bottom　of　the　ocean　are　called？　No？　A　good　start。〃
　〃Mr。　Brenner…〃
　〃Have　you　lost　any　sleep　over　that　basement　playroom？　I　found　it；　and　you're　in　a　videotape。〃　Maybe。
　〃I　was　never　。。。　I　。。。〃
　〃Polaroid　photos。〃
　〃I　。。。〃
　〃And　in　her　diary。〃
　〃Oh　。。。〃
　〃Look；　Colonel；　I　don't　care；　but　you　really　can't　be　involved　with　this　case。　Don't　pound　your　problem。　Call　the　judge　advocate　general；　or　better　yet；　fly　to　Washington　and　ask　to　be　relieved　of　your　mand。　Draw　up　a　charge　sheet　on　yourself　or　something。　Meanwhile；　turn　this　over　to　someone　who　kept　his　dick　in　his　pants。　No；　better　yet；　who's　the　ranking　woman　on　your　staff？〃
　〃Uh　。。。　Major　Goodwin　。。。〃
　〃She's　in　charge　of　the　Campbell　case。〃
　〃You　can't　give　me　orders…〃
　〃Colonel；　if　they　could　bust　officers；　you'd　be　a　PFC　tomorrow。　In　any　case；　by　next　month　you'll　be　looking　for　a　job　in　a　small　firm；　or　you'll　be　the　attorney…in…resident　at　Leavenworth。　Don't　stonewall　this。　Cut　a　deal　while　you　can。　You　may　be　called　as　a　witness。〃
　〃To　what？〃
　〃I'll　think　about　it。　Have　a　good　day。〃　I　hung　up。
　Cynthia　put　down　the　phone　and　inquired；　〃Have　you　caused　enough　misery　for　one　day？〃
　〃I　told　them　to　have　a　good　day。〃
　〃Paul；　you're　going　a　little　overboard。　I　realize　you　hold　most　of　the　cards…〃
　〃I　have　this　post　by　its　collective　balls。〃
　〃Right。　But　you're　exceeding　your　authority。〃
　〃But　not　my　power。〃
　〃Take　it　easy。　It's　not　personal。〃
　〃Okay　。。。　I'm　just　angry。　I　mean；　what　the　hell　is　the　officer　code　about？　We've　sworn　to　do　our　duty；　to　uphold　high　standards　of　morality；　integrity；　and　ethics；　and　we've　agreed　that　our　word　is　our　bond。　So　now　we　find　out　that　about　thirty　guys　threw　it　all　away；　for　what？〃
　〃Pussy。〃
　I　couldn't　help　but　laugh。　〃Right。　Pussy。　But　it　was　pussy　from　hell。〃
　〃We're　not　so　pure；　either。〃
　〃We　never　promised　our　duty。〃
　〃This　is　a　murder　case；　not　an　ethics　inquiry。　One　thing　at　a　time。〃
　〃Right。　Send　in　the　clowns。〃
　Cynthia　called　Baker　on　the　inter　and　said；　〃Send　in　the　。。。　civilian　gentlemen。〃
　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃
　Cynthia　said　to　me；　〃Now　calm　down。〃
　〃I'm　not　angry　at　those　bozos。　They're　civilians。〃
　The　door　opened；　and　Specialist　Baker　announced；　〃Chief　Yardley　and　Officer　Yardley。〃
　Cynthia　and　I　stood　as　the　Yardleys；　dressed　in　tan　uniforms；　came　into　the　office。　Burt　Yardley　said；　〃Don't　appreciate　bein'　kept　waitin'。　But　we'll　let　that　slide。〃　He　looked　around　the　small　room　and　mented；　〃Hell；　I　got　holdin'　cells　bigger　an'　nicer　than　this。〃
　〃So　do　we；〃　I　informed　him。　〃I'll　show　you　one。〃
　He　laughed　and　said；　〃This　here's　my　son　Wes。　Wes；　meet　Miss　Sunhill　and　Mr。　Brenner。〃
　Wes　Yardley　was　a　tall；　extremely　lean　man　of　about　twenty…five；　with　long　swept…back　hair　that　would　have　gotten　him　in　trouble　on　most　police　forces；　except　the　one　he　was　on。　We　didn't　shake　hands；　but　he　did　touch　his　cowboy　hat　and　nod　to　Cynthia。
　The　southern　male　doesn't　usually　remove　his　hat　indoors　when　he's　calling　on　inferiors　or　peers；　because　to　arrive　with　his　hat　literally　in　his　hand　is　to　admit　he's　in　the　presence　of　social　superiors。　It　all　goes　back　to　plantation　houses；　gentlemen；　sharecroppers；　slaves；　white　trash；　good　families　and　bad　families；　and　so　on。　I　don't　quite　get　it；　but　the　Army　is　heavy　on　hat　rules；　too；　so　I　respect　the　local　customs。
　Lacking　enough　chairs；　we　all　remained　standing。　Burt　Yardley　said　to　me；　〃Hey；　I　got　all　your　stuff　packed　nice　and　neat　in　my　office。　You　e　on　down　and　pick　it　up　any　ol'　time。〃
　〃That's　very　good　of　you；〃
　Wes　sort　of　smirked；　and　I　wanted　to　bury　my　fist　in　his　bony　face。　The　guy　looked　hyperactive；　sort　of　jiggling　around；　like　he　was　born　with　two　thyroids。
　I　said　to　Burt；　〃Did　you　bring　the　government　property　with　you？〃
　〃Sure　did。　Don't　need　no　trouble　with　the　government。　I　gave　it　all　to　your　little　girl　out　there。　That's　sort　of　a　peace　offering；　Paul。　Can　I　call　you　Paul？〃
　〃Sure　thing；　Burt。〃
　〃Good。　And　I'm　thinkin'　about　lettin'　you　into　the　deceased's　house。〃
　〃I'm　real　pleased；　Burt。〃
　〃Now；　you　want　to　talk　to　my　son　about　this　business？〃　He　looked　at　Wes　and　said；　〃Tell　these　people　everything　you　know　about　that　girl。〃
　Cynthia　said；　〃She　was　a　woman；　an　officer　in　the　United　States　Army。　Specialist　Baker　is　also　a　woman；　a　soldier　in　the　United　States　Army。〃
　Burt　did　a　little　bow　and　touched　his　hat。　〃I'm　song；　ma'am。〃
　I　really　felt　like　pulling　my　Glock　on　these　two　yahoos；　and　I　would　have　painted　them　red　in　a　heartbeat；　ex