demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第60部分

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　I　opened　his　door；　and　there　in　Kent's　office　…was　Colonel　Moore；　Kent；　and　another　man　in　uniform；　a　captain。　Kent　said　to　us；　〃Well；　I　guess　I'm　glad　you're　here。〃
　The　third　man　stood；　and　I　saw　by　his　branch　insignia　that　he　was　a　JAG　officer…a　lawyer。　The　man；　whose　name　tag　said　Collins；　asked　me；　〃Are　you　Warrant　Officer　Brenner？〃
　〃I'll　ask　the　questions；　Captain。〃
　〃I　guess　you　are；〃　he　said。　〃Colonel　Moore　has　requested　that　he　be　represented　by　counsel；　so　anything　you　have　to　say　to　him…〃
　〃I'll　say　to　him。〃
　Moore　was　still　sitting　in　front　of　Kent's　desk　and　was　pointedly　not　looking　up。　I　said　to　Moore；　〃I'm　placing　you　under　arrest。　e　with　me。〃
　Captain　Collins　motioned　for　his　client　to　remain　seated　and　said　to　me；　〃What　is　the　charge？〃
　〃Conduct　unbeing　an　officer　and　a　gentleman。〃
　〃Oh；　really；　Mr。　Brenner；　that's　a　silly；　catch…all…〃
　〃Plus；　Article　134；　disorders　and　neglects；　and　so　forth。　Plus；　accessory　after　the　fact；　conspiracy；　and　making　false　statements。　Plus；　Captain；　you　are　on　the　verge　of　Article　98；　nonpliance　with　procedural　rules。〃
　〃How　dare　you？〃
　I　asked　Kent；　〃Do　you　have　two　sets　of　cuffs　handy？〃　Colonel　Kent　looked　worried　now。　He　said；　〃Paul；　we　have　some　questions　of　law　and　fact　here。　You　can't　arrest…well；　you　can；　but　I'm　in　the　middle　of　a　conversation　with　a　suspect　and　his　lawyer…〃
　〃Colonel　Moore　is　not　a　suspect　in　the　murder；　so　there's　no　reason　for　a　conversation；　and　if　there　were　a　reason；　I'd　be　having　the　conversation；　not　you；　Colonel。〃
　〃Damn　it；　Brenner；　you've　gone　too　far…〃
　〃Colonel；　I'm　taking　my　prisoner　out　of　here。〃　I　said　to　Moore；　〃Stand　up。〃
　Without　a　glance　toward　his　lawyer；　he　stood。
　〃e　with　me。〃
　Cynthia　and　I　left　Kent's　office　with　poor　Colonel　Moore　in　tow。
　We　escorted　him　down　the　corridors　and　into　the　holding　cells。　Most　of　the　cells　were　empty；　and　I　found　an　open　door　right　next　to　Dalbert　Elkins。　I　gave　Moore　a　little　nudge　into　the　cell　and　slammed　the　door　shut。
　Dalbert　Elkins　looked　at　Moore；　then　at　me；　and　said　in　a　surprised　tone；　〃Hey；　Chief；　that's　a　full　colonel。〃
　I　ignored　Elkins　and　said　to　Moore；　〃You're　charged　with　what　I　said　before。　You　have　the　right　to　remain　silent；　you　have　the　right　to　counsel　of　your　choice。〃
　Moore　spoke　for　the　first　time；　reminding　me；　〃I　have　counsel。　You　just　threatened　to　arrest　him。〃
　〃Right。　And　anything　you　say　may　be　held　against　you　in　a　court…martial。〃
　〃I　don't　know　who　did　it。〃
　〃Did　I　say　you　did？〃
　〃No　。。。　but　。。。〃
　Dalbert　Elkins　was　following　all　this　closely。　He　said　to　Moore　through　the　bars；　〃Colonel；　you　shouldn't　get　a　lawyer。　It　makes　him　mad。〃
　Moore　glanced　at　Elkins；　then　turned　his　attention　back　to　me。　〃Colonel　Kent　informed　me　that　I　was　restricted　to　post；　so　I　had　no　choice　but　to　seek　counsel…〃
　〃Now　you're　worse　than　restricted。　You're　confined。〃
　Dalbert　said；　〃They're　letting　me　out。　Restricted　to　barracks。　Thanks；　Chief。〃
　I　ignored　Elkins　and　said　to　Moore；　〃I　have　hard　evidence　that　puts　you　at　the　scene　of　the　crime；　Colonel。　There　are　enough　charges　against　you　to　put　you　in　jail　for　ten　or　twenty　years。〃
　Moore　reeled　backward　as　if　I'd　hit　him；　and　he　sat　heavily　on　the　cot。　〃No　。。。　I　didn't　do　anything　wrong。　I　just　did　what　she　asked　me　to　do　。。。〃
　〃You　suggested　it。〃
　〃No！　She　suggested　it。　It　was　her　idea。〃
　〃You　knew　fucking　well　what　her　father　did　to　her　at　West　Point。〃
　〃I　only　knew　about　a　week　ago…when　he　gave　her　his　ultimatum。〃
　Elkins　looked　at　Cynthia　and　asked　her；　〃What　did　he　do　to　you？〃
　I　said　to　Elkins；　〃Pipe　down。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　I　said　to　Moore；　〃I　want　you　out　of　this　Army。　I　may　let　you　resign　for　the　good　of　the　service。　That　depends　on　how　cooperative　you　are。〃
　〃I'm　willing　to　cooperate…〃
　〃I　don't　care　if　you're　willing　or　not；　Colonel。　You　will　cooperate。　You　will　fire　your　attorney。〃
　Elkins　began　to　second　that；　but　thought　better　of　it　and　sat　down　on　his　cot。
　Moore　nodded。
　〃What　were　you　wearing　out　on　rifle　range　six？〃
　〃My　uniform。　We　thought　it　would　be　best；　in　case　I　ran　into　any　MPs…〃
　〃Those　shoes？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Take　them　off。〃
　He　hesitated；　then　took　them　off。
　〃Give　them　to　me。〃
　He　handed　them　through　the　bars。
　I　said　to　him；　〃I'll　see　you　later；　Colonel。〃　I　said　to　Elkins；　〃How's　my　buddy？〃
　He　stood。　〃Fine；　sir。　They're　letting　me　out　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃Good。　If　you　run；　you　die。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　I　walked　away　from　the　cells；　and　Cynthia　followed。　She　asked；　〃Who　was　that　other　guy？〃
　〃My　buddy。　The　reason　I'm　here　at　Hadley。〃　I　explained　briefly；　then　went　into　the　office　of　the　lockup　sergeant。　I　identified　myself　and　said　to　him；　〃I　have　a　Colonel　Moore　in　lockup。　Have　him　strip…searched　and　give　him　only　water　tonight。　No　reading　material　allowed。〃
　The　sergeant　looked　at　me　wide…eyed。　〃You　have　an　officer　in　lockup？　A　colonel？〃
　〃He　may　not　have　access　to　counsel　until　sometime　tomorrow。　I'll　let　you　know。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　I　put　Moore's　shoes　on　his　desk。　〃Have　these　tagged　and　delivered　to　hangar　three　at　Jordan　Field。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　We　left　and　headed　toward　our　office。　Cynthia　said；　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　going　to　lock　him　up。〃
　〃Neither　did　I　until　I　saw　the　lawyer。　Well；　everyone　wanted　me　to　arrest　him。〃
　〃Yes；　but　for　murder。　And　you　don't　put　a　missioned　officer　in　a　mon　lockup。〃
　〃Silly　custom。　If　he　goes　to　Leavenworth；　this　is　good　training。〃　I　added；　〃Besides；　people　talk　better　when　they've　tasted　jail。〃
　〃Right。　Not　to　mention　a　strip…search　and　no　rations。　The　regulations　say　he　has　to　have　at　least　bread　and　water。〃
　〃In　each　twenty…four…hour　period。　Meanwhile；　I　haven't　had　a　decent　meal　myself　in　forty…eight　hours。〃
　〃You're　going　to　be　officially　criticized　for　the　way　you've　handled　this。〃
　〃That's　the　least　of　my　problems　at　the　moment。〃
　We　entered　our　office；　and　I　flipped　through　the　phone　messages。　Aside　from　the　news　media；　there　weren't　many　calls。　No　one　wanted　to　speak　to　me　anymore。　There　was；　however；　a　message　from　the　worried　Major　Bowes　of　the　CID；　the　worried　Colonel　Weems　of　the　staff　judge　advocate's　office；　and　the　anxious　Colonel　Hellmann。　I　called　Hellmann　at　his　home　in　Falls　Church；　where　his　wife　assured　me　that　I　was　interrupting　his　dinner。　〃Hello；　Karl。〃
　〃Hello；　Paul；〃　he　said　in　his　jovial　manner。
　〃Thanks　for　the　fax；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　mention　it。　Don't　ever　mention　it。〃
　〃Right。　We've　spoken　to　General　and　Mrs。　Campbell；　as　well　as　to　Mrs。　Fowler。　Cynthia　and　I　can　reconstruct　nearly　everything　that　happened　that　evening　from　about　the　time　Captain　Campbell　had　chicken　for　dinner　at　the　O　Club；　to　the　time　she　reported　for　duty　officer；　to　the　time　she　took　the　humvee　out　ostensibly　to　check　the　guard　posts；　right　up　to　and　including　the　murder　and　beyond　the　murder；　to　dawn　and　to　me　being　involved　in　the　case。〃
　〃Very　good。　Who　killed　her？〃
　〃Well；　we　don't　actually　know。〃
　〃I　see。　Will　you　know　by　noon　tomorrow？〃
　〃That's　the　program。〃
　〃It　would　be　good　if　the　CID　could　solve　this　case。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I'm　looking　forward　to　a　promotion　and　a　raise。〃
　〃Well；　you'll　get　neither。　But　I　will　get　that　letter　of　reprimand　out　of　your　file　as　you　politely　requested。〃
　〃Terrific。　Really　good。　You　may　get　another　to　take　its　place。　I　arrested　Colonel　Moore；　had　him　thrown　in　the　lockup　here；　strip…searched；　and　put　on　water。〃
　〃Perhaps　you　could　have　just　restricted　him　to　post；　Mr。　Brenner。〃
　〃I　did；　but　then　he　ran　off　and　got　a　JAG　lawyer。〃
　〃That's　his　right。〃
　〃Absolutely。　In　fact；　I　arrested　him　in　front　of　his　lawyer；　and　almost　arrested　the　lawyer　for　interfering。〃
　〃I　see。　What　is　the　charge；　if　not　murder？〃
　〃Conspiracy　to　conceal　a　crime；　actions　unbeing；　being　an　asshole；　and　so　forth。　You　don't　want　to　discuss　this　on　the　phone；　do　you？〃
　〃No。　Why　don't　you　fax　me　a　report？〃
　〃No　reports。　Maybe　Warrant　Officer　Kiefer　can　fax　you　a　report。〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　I　hope　she's　being　helpful。〃
　〃We　didn't　know　we　had　a　third　partner。〃
　〃Now　you　know。　I　actually　called　you　because　the　CID　mander　there　called　Falls　Church；　and　he's　rather　upset。〃
　I　didn't　reply。
　〃Major　Bowes。　You　remember　him？〃
　〃We've　never　met。〃
　〃Nevertheless；　he's　making　all　sorts　of　threats。〃
　〃Karl；　there　are　about　thirty　officers　on　this　post；　almost　all　of　them　married；　who　were　sexually　involved　with　the　deceased。　They're　all　going　to　threaten；　beg；　plead；　cajole；　and…〃
　〃Thirty？〃
　〃At　least。　But　who's　counting？〃
　〃Thirty？　What　is　going　on　out　there？〃
　〃I　think　it's　something　in　the　water。　I'm　not　drinking　it。〃
　Cynthia　stifled　a　laugh；　but　too　late；　and　Karl　said；　〃Ms。　Sunhill？　Are　you　there？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Just　picked　up。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　that　thirty　married　officers　were　sexually　involved　with　the　deceased？〃
　Cynthia　answered；　〃We　found　a　diary；　sir。　Actually；　a　puter　file。　Grace　got　into　the　deceased's　puter。〃　She　added；　〃The　officers　include　most　of　the　general's　personal　staff。〃
　There　was　no　reply；　so　I　said；　〃I　think　we　can　control　this　if　that's　what　they　want　in　the　Pentagon。　I'd　suggest　transfers　to　thirty　different　duty　stations；　followed　by　individual　resignations　at　varying　intervals。　That　wouldn't　draw　any　attention。　But　it's　not　my　problem。〃
　Again；　no　response。
　Cynthia　said；　〃General　Campbell　intends　to　resign　tomorrow　after　his　daughter's　funeral。〃
　Karl　spoke。　〃I'm　flying　down　tonight。〃
　I　replied；　〃Why　don't　you　wait　until　tomorrow？　There's　an　electrical　storm　here；　tornado　warnings；　wind　shear…〃
　〃All　right；　tomorrow。　Anything　further？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃We'll　speak　tomorrow。〃
　〃Looking　forward　to　it。　Enjoy　your　dinner；　sir。〃
　He　hung　up　and　we　did　the　same。
　Cynthia　mented；　〃I　think　he　likes　you。〃
　〃That's　what　I'm　afraid　of。　Well；　how　about　a　drink？〃
　〃Not　yet。〃　She　pushed　the　inter　and　asked　Ms。　Kiefer　to　e　in。
　Kiefer　entered　with　her　own　chair；　now　that　we　were　all　equals；　and　sat　down。　She　inquired；　〃How's　it　going；　guys？〃
　〃Fine；〃　Cynthia　replied。　〃Thanks　for　sticking　around。〃
　〃This　is　where　the　action　is。〃
　〃Right。　I'd　like　you　to　go　through　all　your　MP　patrol　reports　for　the　night　of　the　murder。　Listen　to　the　tapes　of　the　radio　transmiss