demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第56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；　we've　met　him。〃　It　occurred　to　me　that　if　Lieutenant　Elby　was　a　pawn　in　the　game　between　father　and　daughter；　then　Captain　Bollinger　was　certainly　not；　she　was　not　seducible　by　Ann；　and　she　was　also　homely　enough　for　Mrs。　Campbell's　requirements。　It　really　sucks　at　the　top。
　Captain　Bollinger　escorted　us　into　an　empty　outer　office　and　said；　〃The　general　has　allocated　all　the　time　you　want。　But　please　understand　that　he's　。。。　well；　he's　just　plain　grief…stricken。〃
　Cynthia　replied；　〃We　understand。〃
　I　also　understood　that　this　interview　was　scheduled　for　after…duty　hours　so　that　if　it　got　messy；　the　troops　wouldn't　be　around　to　see　or　hear　it。
　Captain　Bollinger　knocked　on　a　nice　oak　door；　opened　it；　and　announced　us　as　Warrant　Officers　Brenner　and　Sunhill。　She　stepped　aside　and　we　entered。
　The　general　was　standing　and　came　forward　to　greet　us。　We　exchanged　quick　salutes；　then　shook　hands。
　General　Campbell　indicated　a　grouping　of　upholstered　chairs；　and　we　all　sat。　Generals；　like　CEOs；　have　varying　degrees　of　seating　in　the　office；　but　generals　also　have　the　option　of　letting　you　stand　at　attention　or；　if　they're　being　nice；　at　parade　rest　or　at　ease。　But　Cynthia　and　I　were　being　shown　far　more　courtesy　than　our　rank　required。　It　must　have　had　something　to　do　with　the　fact　that　we'd　just　heard　two　confessions　of　criminal　conduct　from　two　wives；　to　wit：　accessory　after　the　fact；　and　conspiracy。　But　perhaps　he　just　liked　us。
　He　asked；　〃Would　either　of　you　like　a　drink？〃
　〃No；　thank　you；　sir。〃　But　in　truth；　the　cannon　had　sounded　and　the　flag　was　down；　and　in　the　Army　that　is　the　equivalent　of　Pavlov's　starving　dogs　hearing　the　dinner　bell。
　No　one　spoke　for　a　minute　or　so；　and　I　looked　around　the　office。　The　walls　were　white　plaster；　and　the　trim　and　moldings　were　natural　oak；　as　were　the　desks；　tables；　and　so　forth。　The　area　rug　over　the　oak　floor　was　a　red　Oriental；　probably　picked　up　overseas。　There　was　not　much　in　the　way　of　war　trophies；　souvenirs；　framed　certificates；　or　any　of　that；　but　on　a　small　round　table　in　the　corner　was　a　blue　cape　laid　out　like　a　tablecloth　on　which　lay　a　sheathed　saber；　an　old　long…barreled　pistol；　a　blue　dress　hat；　and　other　odds　and　ends。
　The　general　saw　me　looking　and　said；　〃Those　are　my　father's　things。　He　was　a　colonel　in　the　old　horse　cavalry　back　in　the　1920s。〃
　I　replied；　〃I　was　in　the　First　Battalion　of　the　Eighth　Cavalry　in　Vietnam；　minus　horses。〃
　〃Really？　That　was　my　father's　regiment。　Old　Indian　fighters；　though　that　was　before　his　time。〃
　So；　we　had　something　in　mon　after　all。　Almost。　Cynthia　was　probably　immediately　bored　by　the　old　boola…boola　routine；　but　a　little　male　bonding　is　a　good　thing　before　you　go　for　the　balls。
　General　Campbell　asked　me；　〃So　you　weren't　always　a　detective？〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　used　to　do　honest　work。〃
　He　smiled。　〃Awards？　Decorations？〃
　I　told　him　and　he　nodded。　I　think　he　was　better　able　to　accept　what　I　had　to　do　to　him　if　I　was　a　bat　vet。　Even　if　I　hadn't　been；　I'd　have　told　him　I　was。　I'm　allowed　to　lie　in　the　pursuit　of　truth；　and　an　unsworn　witness　may　also　lie；　while　a　sworn　witness　better　not；　and　a　suspect　can　exercise　his　or　her　right　against　self…incrimination　anytime。　Often；　however；　the　problem　is　deciding　who's　who。
　The　general　looked　at　Cynthia；　not　wanting　to　exclude　her；　and　asked　her　about　her　military　background；　civilian　roots；　and　so　forth。　She　told　him；　and　I　learned　a　few　things　myself；　though　she　may　have　been　lying。　Generals；　and　sometimes　colonels；　I've　noticed；　always　ask　enlisted　personnel　and　lower…ranking　officers　about　their　hometowns；　civilian　schools；　military　training；　and　all　that。　I　don't　know　if　they　care；　or　if　it's　some　kind　of　imported　Japanese　management　tool　they　learned　at　the　War　College；　or　what　the　hell　this　is　all　about；　but　you　have　to　play　the　game；　even　if　you're　about　to　broach　the　subject　of　criminal　activity。
　So；　with　all　the　time　allotted　that　we　needed；　we　chewed　the　fat　for　about　fifteen　minutes；　then　finally　the　general　said；　〃I　understand　that　you've　spoken　to　Mrs。　Fowler　and　Mrs。　Campbell；　so　you　know　something　of　what　went　on　that　evening。〃
　I　replied；　〃Yes；　sir；　but　to　be　perfectly　frank；　we　had　figured　out　a　lot　of　what　went　on　prior　to　our　speaking　to　Mrs。　Fowler　and　Mrs。　Campbell。〃
　〃Had　you？　That's　very　impressive。　We　do　a　good　job　training　our　CID　people。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　and　we've　had　a　lot　of　on…the…job　experience；　though　this　case　presented　unique　problems。〃
　〃I'm　sure　it　did。　Do　you　know　who　killed　my　daughter？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　He　looked　at　me　closely　and　asked；　〃It　wasn't　Colonel　Moore？〃
　〃It　may　have　been。〃
　〃I　see　you're　not　here　to　answer　questions。〃
　〃No；　sir；　we're　not。〃
　〃Then　how　would　you　like　to　conduct　this　interview？〃
　〃I　think　it　may　be　easier　on　everyone；　sir；　if　you　just　start　by　telling　us　what　happened　on　the　evening　in　question。　Beginning　with　the　phone　call　at　0145　hours。　I　may　interrupt　when　I　need　a　point　clarified。〃
　He　nodded。　〃Yes；　all　right。　I　was　sleeping；　and　the　red　phone　rang　on　my　nightstand。　I　answered　it；　but　there　was　no　reply　to　my　saying；　'Campbell　here。'　Then　there　was　a　sort　of　click；　then　。。。　then　my　daughter's　voice　came　on　the　line；　and　I　could　tell　it　was　recorded。〃
　I　nodded。　There　were　telephones　in　the　fire　control　towers　on　the　ranges；　but　they　were　secured　at　night。　Ann　Campbell　and　Charles　Moore　obviously　had　a　mobile　phone　with　them　and　a　tape　player。
　He　continued；　〃The　message…the　recorded　message　said；　'Dad；　this　is　Ann。　I　want　to　discuss　something　extremely　urgent　with　you。　You　must　meet　me　at　rifle　range　six　no　later　than　0215　hours。'　〃　The　general　added；　〃She　said　if　I　didn't　e；　she'd　kill　herself。〃
　Again　I　nodded。　I　said　to　him；　〃Did　she　tell　you　to　bring　Mrs。　Campbell　with　you？〃
　He　glanced　at　me　and　Cynthia；　wondering　how　much　we　actually　knew；　thinking　perhaps　we'd　somehow　found　that　tape。　He　replied；　〃Yes；　she　did　say　that；　but　I　had　no　intention　of　doing　that。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Did　you　have　any　idea　of　what　she　wanted　to　speak　to　you　about　that　was　so　urgent　that　she　wanted　you　to　get　out　of　bed　and　drive　out　to　the　rifle　range？〃
　〃No　。。。　I　。。。　Ann；　as　you　may　have　learned；　was　emotionally　distressed。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I　think；　though；　that　someone　mentioned　to　me　that　you　had　given　her　an　ultimatum　and　a　deadline。　She　was　to　give　you　her　answer　at　breakfast　that　morning。〃
　〃That's　correct。　Her　behavior　had　bee　unacceptable；　and　I　told　her　to　shape　up　or　ship　out。〃
　〃So　when　you　heard　her　voice　at　that　hour；　you　realized　that　this　was　not　just　a　random　emotional　outburst；　but　was　in　fact　connected　to　your　ultimatum　and　her　response。〃
　〃Well；　yes；　I　suppose　I　did　realize　that。〃
　〃Why　do　you　think　she　municated　with　you　by　recorded　message？〃
　〃I　suppose　so　there　would　be　no　argument。　I　was　very　firm　with　her；　but　since　I　couldn't　reason　or　argue　with　a　recorded　voice；　I　did　what　any　father　would　do　and　went　to　the　designated　meeting。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　And　as　it　turned　out；　your　daughter　was　already　out　on　the　rifle　range；　and　she　called　you　from　there　with　a　mobile　phone。　She'd　actually　left　Post　Headquarters　at　about　0　100　hours。　Did　you　wonder　why　she　picked　a　remote　training　area　for　this　meeting？　Why　didn't　she　just　show　up　at　breakfast　and　give　you　her　answer　to　your　ultimatum？〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know。〃
　Well；　perhaps　he　didn't　know　at　first；　but　when　he　saw　her；　he　knew。　I　could　see　that　he　was　genuinely　grieved　and　was　barely　holding　it　together。　But　he　would　hold　it　together　no　matter　how　hard　I　pushed；　and　he'd　tell　the　obvious　truths　relating　to　fact　and　hard　evidence。　But　he　would　not　voluntarily　reveal　the　central　truth　of　why　his　daughter　presented　herself　to　him　staked　out　and　naked。
　I　said　to　him；　〃She　mentioned　killing　herself　if　you　didn't　e。　Did　you　think　that　she　might　be　contemplating　killing　you　if　you　did　e？〃
　He　didn't　reply。
　I　asked　him；　〃Did　you　take　a　weapon　with　you？〃
　He　nodded；　then　said；　〃I　had　no　idea　what　I　was　going　to　find　out　there　at　night。〃
　No；　I'll　bet　you　didn't。　And　that's　why　you　didn't　take　Mrs。　Campbell　along。　I　said；　〃So　you　dressed　in　civilian　clothes；　took　a　weapon；　took　your　wife's　car；　and　drove　out　to　rifle　range　six　with　your　headlights　on。　What　time　did　you　reach　your　destination？〃
　〃Well　。。。　about　0215　hours。　At　the　time　she　designated。〃
　〃Yes。　And　you　put　your　lights　out；　and　。。。〃
　There　was　a　long　silence　while　General　Campbell　considered　my　hanging　conjunction。　Finally；　he　said；　〃I　got　out　of　the　car　and　went　to　the　humvee；　but　she　wasn't　there。　I　became　concerned　and　called　her　name；　but　there　was　no　reply。　I　called　again；　then　heard　her　call　to　me；　and　I　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　rifle　range　and　saw　。。。　I　saw　her　on　the　ground；　or　I　saw　this　figure　on　the　ground；　and　I　thought　it　was　her　and　that　she　was　hurt。　I　moved　quickly　toward　the　figure　。。。　she　was　naked；　and　I　was　。。。　I　suppose　I　was　shocked；　confused　。。。　I　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　this；　but　she　was　alive；　and　that's　all　I　cared　about。　I　called　out　and　asked　if　she　was　all　right；　and　she　replied　that　she　was　。。。　I　got　up　to　her　。。。　you　know；　it's　difficult　to　talk　about　this。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　It's　difficult　for　us；　too。　That's　not　to　try　to　pare　your　loss　with　our　feelings；　but　I　think　I　speak　for　Ms。　Sunhill；　too；　when　I　say　that　during　the　course　of　this　investigation；　we've　e　to　。。。　well；　to　like　your　daughter。〃　Well；　maybe　I　wasn't　speaking　for　Ms。　Sunhill。　I　continued；　〃Homicide　detectives　often　have　feelings　for　the　deceased　even　though　they've　never　met　them。　This　is　an　unusual　case　in　that　we've　viewed　hours　of　videotapes　of　your　daughter's　lectures；　and　I　felt　that　your　daughter　was　someone　I'd　like　to　have　known　。。。　but　I　should　let　you　tell　us　what　happened　next。〃
　General　Campbell　was　starting　to　lose　it　again；　and　we　all　sat　there　awkwardly　for　a　minute　or　so　while　he　took　a　lot　of　deep　breaths；　then　he　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　〃Well；　then　I　tried　to　untie　her　。。。　it　was　very　embarrassing；　I　mean　to　her　and　to　me　。。。　but　I　couldn't　get　the　rope　untied；　and　I　couldn't　get　the　stakes　out　of　the　ground　。。。　I　tried　。。。　I　mean；　whoever　did　it　drove　those　stakes　very　deep；　and　tied　those　knots　。。。　so　I　sa