demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第7部分

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。〃
　〃Cut　the　posturing；　Paul。　You're　not　sending　me　anywhere；　and　I'm　not　going　anywhere。〃　She　added；　〃We've　got　a　case　to　solve；　and　a　personal　relationship　to　straighten　out。〃
　〃In　that　order。〃
　〃Yes；　in　that　order。〃
　
　CHAPTER　FOUR
　
　Victory　Drive；　formerly　Pine　Hollow　Road；　had　been　renamed　during　World　War　II　in　a　frenzy　of　Orwellian　name　changing。　It　was　once　a　two…lane　country　road　heading　south　out　of　Midland；　but　by　the　time　I　saw　it　first　in　1971；　it　was　being　a　mixture　of　garden　apartments　and　mercial　garishness。　Now；　almost　a　quarter　century　later；　there　wasn't　even　a　hint　of　Pine　Hollow　Road。
　There　is　something　uniquely　ugly　and　depressing　about　mercial　strips　in　the　old　South；　great　expanses　of　parking　lots；　motels；　fast…food　places；　discount　stores；　car　dealers；　and　what　passes　for　nightclubs　hereabouts。　The　old　South；　as　I　remember　it；　was　perhaps　not　so　prosperous；　but　it　was　picturesque　with　its　tiny　gas　stations　with　the　Coke　cooler　next　to　the　fish…bait　cooler；　the　sagging　pine　houses；　the　country　stores；　and　the　baled　cotton　bursting　from　sheds　along　the　railroad　sidings。　These　were　the　things　that　grew　organically　out　of　the　soil；　the　lumber　from　the　forests；　the　gravel　roads　from　nearby　quarries；　and　the　people　themselves　a　product　of　their　environment。　These　new　things　seem　artificial；　transplanted。　Convenience　stores　and　shopping　strips　with　mammoth　plastic　signs　and　no　relationship　to　the　land　or　the　people；　to　history；　or　to　local　custom。
　But；　of　course；　the　new　South　had　embraced　all　of　this；　not　quickly；　as　we　had　done　up　North；　but　embraced　it　nonetheless。　And　in　some　strange　way；　the　garish　mercial　strip　was　now　more　associated　with　the　South　than　with　anywhere　else　in　the　country。　The　carpetbaggers　have　finally　taken　over。
　Within　fifteen　minutes　of　leaving　the　post；　we　arrived　at　Victory　Gardens　and　parked　the　Mustang　near　unit　forty…five。
　Victory　Gardens　was　actually　a　pleasant　sort　of　place；　prised　of　about　fifty　attached　town　houses　around　a　central　courtyard；　with　landscaping　and　ample　parking。　There　were　no　signs　that　said；　〃Officers　Only；〃　but　the　place　had　that　air　about　it；　and　the　rents　probably　approximated　the　off…post　quarters'　allowance　for　lieutenants　and　captains。　Money　aside；　there　are　unwritten　rules　about　where　officers　may　live　off　post；　and　thus；　Ann　Campbell；　daughter　of　a　general　and　good　soldier　that　she　was；　had　not　gone　to　the　funky　side　of　town；　nor　had　she　opted　for　the　anonymity　of　a　newer　high…rise　building；　which；　in　this　town；　is　somewhat　synonymous　with　swinging　singles。　Yet；　neither　did　she　live　in　her　parents'　huge；　government…issue　house　on　post；　which　suggested　that　she　had　a　life　of　her　own；　and　I　was　about　to　discover　something　about　that　life。
　Cynthia　and　I　looked　around。　Though　the　Army　workday　starts　early；　there　were　still　a　few　cars　parked　in　front　of　the　units。　Most　of　them　had　the　blue　post　bumper　stickers　signifying　an　officer's　car；　and　some　had　the　green　bumper　sticker　of　a　civilian　post　employee。　But　mostly；　the　place　looked　as　deserted　as　a　barracks　after　morning　mess　call。
　I　was　still　wearing　the　battle　dress　uniform　I'd　had　on　in　the　armory；　and　Cynthia　was；　as　I　said；　in　jeans　and　windbreaker。　As　we　approached　the　front　door　of　unit　forty…five　along　the　row　of　red　brick　fa？ades；　I　said　to　her；　〃Are　you　armed？〃
　She　nodded。
　〃All　right。　You　wait　here。　I'll　go　in　through　the　back。　If　I　flush　somebody　out　the　front；　you　stop　them　right　here。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　I　made　my　way　around　the　row　of　units　and　came　to　the　back。　The　rear　yard　was　a　mon　stretch　of　grass；　but　each　unit　had　a　patio　separated　from　the　next　by　a　wooden　fence　for　privacy。　On　Ann　Campbell's　patio　was　the　standard　barbecue　grill　and　lawn　furniture；　including　a　lounge　chair　on　which　lay　suntan　oil　and　a　travel　magazine。
　There　were　sliding　glass　doors　facing　onto　the　patio；　and　I　was　able　to　see　through　the　vertical　blinds　into　the　dining　area　and　part　of　the　living　room。　There　didn't　appear　to　be　anyone　home。　Certainly；　Ann　Campbell　was　not　home；　and　I　couldn't　imagine　a　general's　daughter　having　a　live…in　male　lover；　or　even　a　female　roommate；　who　would　promise　her　privacy。　On　the　other　hand；　you　never　know　who's　inside　a　house；　and　when　the　subject　is　murder；　you　proceed　with　caution。
　Where　the　patio　met　the　back　wall　of　the　house　was　a　basement　window　well；　which　meant　these　units　had　basements；　which　also　meant　a　tricky　descent　down　an　exposed　staircase。　Maybe　I'd　send　Ms。　Gung　Ho　down　there　first。　In　any　case；　the　window　well　was　covered　with　a　Plexiglas　bubble　that　was　bolted　to　the　outside　wall；　so　that　no　one　could　get　out　that　way。
　To　the　right　of　the　sliding　doors　was　a　door　that　opened　into　the　kitchen。　There　was　a　buzzer　there；　and　I　pushed　it。　I　waited　and　rang　again；　then　tried　the　doorknob；　which　is　a　good　idea　before　breaking　and　entering。
　I　should　have　gone　straight　to　the　Midland　city　police；　of　course；　as　Colonel　Kent　suggested；　and　the　police　would　have　been　happy　to　get　a　search　warrant；　and　happier　still　to　be　included　in　the　search　of　the　victim's　house。　But　I　didn't　want　to　bother　them　with　this；　so　I　found　the　house　key　on　Ann　Campbell's　key　chain　and　unlocked　the　door。　I　entered　the　kitchen；　then　closed　the　door　behind　me　and　relocked　it。
　On　the　far　side　of　the　kitchen　was　a　solid…looking　door　that　probably　led　to　the　basement。　The　door　had　a　bolt；　which　I　slid　closed；　so　if　someone　was　down　there；　he　or　she　was　locked　in。
　Having　secured　my　rear；　or　perhaps　having　cut　off　my　line　of　retreat；　I　moved　unarmed　and　cautiously　went　through　the　house　to；　the　front　door　and　opened　it；　letting　Cynthia　in。　We　stood　there　in　the　cool；　air…conditioned　foyer　a　moment；　looked　around；　and　listened。　I　motioned　for　Cynthia　to　draw　her　pistol；　which　she　did；　a　。38　Smith　&　Wesson。　That　done；　I　shouted；　〃Police！　Stay　where　you　are　and　call　out！〃　But　there　was　no　reply。　I　said　to　Cynthia；　〃Stay　here　and　be　prepared　to　use　that。〃
　〃Why　do　you　think　I'm　carrying　the　fucking　thing？〃
　〃Good　point。〃　Bitch。　I　walked　first　to　the　coat　closet　and　pulled　the　door　open；　but　no　one　was　standing　there　with　a　tent　peg　in　his　hand。　I　moved　from　room　to　room　on　the　ground　floor；　feeling　a　little　silly；　ninety…nine　percent　sure　the　house　was　empty；　but　remembering　a　case　when　it　wasn't。　A　staircase　led　from　the　foyer　to　the　second　floor；　and　staircases；　as　I　indicated；　are　dangerous；　especially　if　they　squeak。　Cynthia　positioned　herself　at　the　base　of　the　stairs；　and　I　bounded　up　three　steps　at　a　time　and　flattened　myself　against　the　upstairs　hallway　wall。　There　were　three　doors　ing　off　the　upstairs　hallway；　one　open；　two　closed。　I　repeated　my　order　to　stay　put　and　call　out；　but　again　no　answer。
　Cynthia　called　up　to　me；　and　I　looked　down　the　stairs。　She　was　halfway　up　and　pitched　the　Smith　&　Wesson　underhand。　I　caught　it　and　motioned　her　to　stay　where　she　was。　I　flung　open　one　of　the　closed　doors；　dropped　into　a　firing　stance；　and　shouted；　〃Freeze！〃　But　my　aggressiveness　did　not　provoke　a　response。　I　peered　into　the　unlit　room　and　saw　what　appeared　to　be　a　spare　bedroom；　sparsely　furnished。　I　closed　the　door；　then　repeated　the　procedure　with　the　second　closed　door；　which　turned　out　to　be　a　large　linen　closet。　Despite　all　the　acrobatics；　I　knew　that　if　there　was　anyone　up　there　with　a　gun　who　wanted　to　use　it；　I'd　be　dead　by　now。　But　you　have　to　go　through　the　drill。　So　I　spun　back　against　the　hallway　wall　and　glanced　inside　the　door　that　had　been　open。　I　could　see　a　large　bedroom　and　another　door　that　led　to　a　bathroom。　I　motioned　Cynthia　to　e　up　the　stairs　and　handed　her　the　Smith　&　Wesson。　〃Cover　me；〃　I　said；　and　entered　the　large　master　bedroom；　keeping　an　eye　on　the　sliding　doors　of　the　closet；　and　the　open　bathroom。　I　picked　up　a　bottle　of　perfume　from　the　dressing　table　and　threw　it　in　the　bathroom；　where　it　shattered。　Recon　by　fire；　as　we　used　to　say　in　the　infantry；　but　again　I　did　not　provoke　a　response。
　I　gave　the　bedroom　and　bathroom　a　quick　look；　then　rejoined　Cynthia；　who　was　in　a　crouched　firing　stance　off　to　the　side　door；　covering　all　the　doors。　I　half　expected；　half　wanted　someone　to　be　in　this　house　so　I　could　arrest　him…or　her…wrap　the　case；　and　get　the　hell　back　to　Virginia。　But　that　was　not　to　be。
　Cynthia　looked　into　the　large　bedroom　and　mented；　〃She　made　her　bed。〃
　〃Well；　you　know　how　those　West　Pointers　are。〃
　〃I　think　it's　sad。　She　was　so　neat　and　orderly。　Now　she's　dead　and　everything　will　be　a　mess。〃
　I　glanced　at　Cynthia。　〃Well；　let's　begin　in　the　kitchen。〃
　
　CHAPTER　FIVE
　
　Indeed；　there　is　something　sad　and　eerie　about　intruding　into　a　dead　person's　house；　walking　through　rooms　they　will　never　see　again；　opening　their　cabinets；　closets；　and　drawers；　handling　their　possessions；　reading　their　mail；　and　even　listening　to　the　messages　on　their　answering　machine。　Clothes；　books；　videotapes；　food；　liquor；　cosmetics；　bills；　medicine　。。。　a　whole　life　suddenly　ended　away　from　home；　and　no　one　left　behind；　and　a　house　filled　with　the　things　that　sustain；　define；　and　hopefully　explain　a　life…room　by　room　with　no　living　guide　to　point　out　a　favorite　picture　on　the　wall；　to　take　you　through　a　photo　album；　to　offer　you　a　drink；　or　tell　you　why　the　plants　are　dry　and　dying。
　In　the　kitchen；　Cynthia　noticed　the　bolted　door；　and　I　informed　her；　〃It　leads　to　the　basement。　It's　secure；　so　we'll　check　it　out　last。〃
　She　nodded。
　The　kitchen　yielded　very　little　except　for　the　fact　that　Ann　Campbell　was　for　sure　a　neat…freak　and　ate　the　kind　of　healthful　foods…yogurt；　bean　sprouts；　bran　muffins；　and　such…that　make　my　stomach　heave。　The　refrigerator　and　pantry　also　held　many　bottles　of　good　wine　and　premium　beer。
　One　cupboard　was　crammed　with　hard　liquor　and　cordials；　again　all　high…priced；　even　at　post　exchange　prices。　In　fact；　by　the　price　tags　still　stuck　on　some　of　the　bottles；　the　liquor　did　not　e　from　the　PX。　I　asked；　〃Why　would　she　pay　civilian　prices　for　liquor？〃
　Cynthia；　who　is　sensitive；　replied；　〃Perhaps　she　didn't　want　to　be　seen　in　the　PX　liquor　store。　You　know…single　woman；　general's　daughter。　Men　don't　worry　about　that。〃
　I　said；　〃But　I　can　relate　to　that。　I　was　once　spotted　in　the　missary　with