demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第71部分

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　〃Right。　This　will　remove　some　of　our　doubts。　But　it　still　leaves　reasonable　doubt；　and　we　need　beyond　a　reasonable　doubt。〃
　She　said；　〃There　might　be　brush　or　pine　needles　stuck　on　his　vehicle　that　can　be　matched　to　the　vegetation　that　was　broken。〃
　〃There　might　be　if　the　guy　was　an　idiot；　but　he's　not。　That　Jeep　is　as　clean　as　a　humvee　waiting　for　an　IG　inspection。〃
　〃Damn　it。〃
　〃We　have　to　confront　him；　and　we　have　to　do　it　at　the　right　psychological　moment　。。。　tomorrow；　after　the　funeral　service。　That's　our　first；　last；　and　only　chance　to　get　a　confession。〃
　Cynthia　nodded。　〃If　he's　going　to　talk；　he'll　do　it　then。　If　he　wants　to　get　it　off　his　chest；　he'll　do　it　with　us；　not　the　FBI。〃
　〃Correct。〃
　〃Time　for　bed。〃　She　picked　up　the　phone　and　asked　the　CQ　to　ring　us　at　0400　hours；　which　would　give　me　three　hours　sleep　if　I　passed　out　in　the　next　ten　seconds。　But　I　had　another　idea。　I　said；　〃Let's　shower　now　and　save　time。〃
　〃Well　。。。〃
　Bad　response。　As　my　father　once　said；　〃Women　control　seventy　percent　of　the　wealth　in　this　country；　and　a　hundred　percent　of　the　pussy。〃　Cynthia　and　I　were　a　little　shy；　I　think；　the　way　ex…lovers　are　when　they　try　it　again。　And　all　the　rape　talk　didn't　help　set　the　mood。　I　mean；　there　was　no　music　here；　no　candles；　no　champagne。　The　only　thing　here　was　the　ghost　of　Ann　Campbell；　the　thought　of　her　murderer　sleeping　in　his　bed　on　Bethany　Hill；　and　two　exhausted　people　far　from　home。　I　said；　〃Maybe　it　wouldn't　be　appropriate。〃
　〃No；　it　wouldn't　be。　Let's　wait　until　we　can　make　it　special。　This　weekend　at　your　place。　We'll　be　glad　we　waited。〃
　Right；　I'm　absolutely　fucking　thrilled　to　wait。　But　I　wasn't　in　the　mood　to　argue；　and　not　clever　enough　to　seduce。　So　I　yawned　and　threw　back　the　covers　of　my　bed。　〃Bon　soir；　as　we　say　in　Brussels。〃
　〃Good　night　。。。〃　She　moved　toward　the　bathroom　door；　then；　as　she　did　last　time；　she　turned　back。　She　said；　〃Something　to　look　forward　to。〃
　〃Right。〃　I　turned　off　the　lamp；　shucked　my　robe；　and　crawled；　naked；　into　bed。
　I　heard　the　shower　running　in　the　bathroom；　heard　the　rain　outside；　heard　a　couple　giggling　in　the　hallway。
　I　never　heard　the　phone　ring　at　0400。
　
　CHAPTER　THIRTY…FOUR
　
　Cynthia　was　dressed；　the　sun　was　ing　in　the　window；　and　I　smelled　coffee。　She　sat　on　the　side　of　my　bed；　I　sat　up；　and　she　handed　me　a　plastic　mug。　〃They　have　a　coffee　bar　downstairs。〃
　I　asked；　〃What　time　is　it？〃
　〃A　little　after　seven。〃
　〃Seven？〃　I　started　to　get　out　of　bed；　but　remembered　I　was　buck　naked。　〃Why　didn't　you　wake　me？〃
　〃How　many　people　does　it　take　to　look　at　broken　bush？〃
　〃You　were　out　there？　Did　you　find　anything？〃
　〃Yes。　A　vehicle　definitely　went　off　Jordan　Field　Road；　fifty　meters　from　Rifle　Range　Road。　Left　ruts；　though　the　tread　marks　are　washed　out；　but　there's　broken　bush；　including　a　freshly　skinned　pine　tree。〃
　I　sipped　on　the　coffee　as　I　tried　to　clear　my　head。　Cynthia　was　dressed　in　blue　jeans　and　a　white　tennis　shirt；　and　looked　good。　I　asked；　〃Skinned　a　tree？〃
　〃Yes。　So　I　went　over　to　Jordan　Field　and　woke　up　poor　Cal。　He　and　another　guy　went　back　with　me　to　the　place；　and　cut　off　the　damaged　section　of　the　tree。〃
　〃And？〃
　〃Well；　we　went　back　to　the　hangar；　and　under　magnification　we　could　see　flecks　of　paint。　Cal　is　sending　the　wood　sample　to　Fort　Gillem。　I　told　him　we　suspected　a　black　Jeep　Cherokee；　and　he　says　that　they　can　confirm　that　with　the　manufacturer；　or　through　their　on…file　samples　of　car　paint。〃
　〃Right。　And　we'll　find　the　scrape　on　Mrs。　Kent's　Jeep。〃
　〃I　hope　so。　Then　we'll　have　the　evidence　we　need　to　support　your　reconstruction　of　Kent's　movements。〃
　〃Right。〃　I　yawned　and　cleared　my　throat。　〃Unfortunately；　if　the　paint　is　from　a　black　Jeep　Cherokee；　it　only　proves　that　a　black　Jeep　Cherokee　scraped　that　tree。　Still；　it　settles　it　in　my　mind。〃
　〃Me；　too。〃
　I　finished　the　coffee　and　put　the　mug　on　the　nightstand。　〃I　wanted　to　be　woken。　Did　you　try　to　wake　me？〃
　〃No。　You　looked　dead。〃
　〃Well　。。。　okay。　Good　job。〃
　〃Thanks。　I　also　took　your　boots　to　Cal　Seiver；　and　he　matched　your　prints　to　unidentified　plaster　casts　and　was　able　to　post　your　prints　on　his　chart。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Am　I　a　suspect？〃
　〃Not　yet。　But　Cal　did　need　to　disqualify　your　prints。〃
　〃Did　you　polish　my　boots？〃
　She　ignored　this　and　said；　〃Cal's　got　a　puter　program　from　Fort　Gillem；　and　he's　programming　the　puter　in　the　hangar　to　show　the　footsteps　of　each　identified　and　unidentified　person。　I　gave　Cal　a　plete　briefing　on　what　we　think　happened　that　night。〃　She　stood　and　went　to　the　window。　〃Rain　stopped。　Sun's　out。　Good　for　the　crops。　Good　for　the　funeral。〃
　I　noticed　a　sheet　of　paper　on　the　bed　and　picked　it　up。　It　was　the　puter　printout　of　Ann　Campbell's　letter　to　Mrs。　Kent。　It　began：　〃My　dear　Mrs。　Kent；　I'm　writing　you　regarding　a　situation　that　has　developed　between　your　husband　and　me。〃　The　letter　ended：　While　I　respect　your　husband　professionally；　I　have　no　personal　interest　in　him。　I　would　suggest　that　he　seek　counseling；　alone　or　with　you；　and　that　perhaps　he　should　seek　a　transfer；　or　ask　for　a　leave　of　absence。　My　concern　is　for　his　career；　his　reputation；　my　reputation；　and　the　avoidance　of　any　appearance　of　impropriety　within　my　father's　mand。　Yours　very　truly；　Ann　Campbell。　I　said　aloud；　〃Impropriety　within　my　father's　mand。〃　I　almost　laughed；　and　Cynthia　turned　around　and　mented；　〃She　had　balls。　I'll　give　her　that。〃
　I　threw　the　letter　on　the　nightstand。　〃I'm　sure　Kent　saw　the　original　of　this；　and　it　freaked　him　out。　Anyway；　did　Cal　hear　from　the　footprint　guy　in　Oakland？〃
　〃Not　yet。〃
　〃Okay；　I'm　going　to　rise　and　shine；　and　I'm　naked。〃
　Cynthia　threw　me　my　robe　and　turned　back　to　the　window。　I　got　out　of　bed　and　into　the　robe　and　went　into　the　bathroom。　I　washed　my　face　and　lathered　up。
　The　phone　rang　in　my　room；　and　Cynthia　took　it。　I　couldn't　hear　much　over　the　running　water；　but　a　minute　later；　Cynthia　stuck　her　head　in　the　door　while　I　was　shaving　and　said；　〃That　was　Karl。〃
　〃What　did　he　want？〃
　〃He　wanted　to　know　if　he'd　rung　the　wrong　room。〃
　〃Oh　。。。〃
　〃He's　in　Atlanta。　He'll　be　here　by　1000　hours。〃
　〃Call　him　back　and　tell　him　we're　having　tornados。〃
　〃He's　on　his　way。〃
　〃Great。〃　I　finished　shaving　and　began　brushing　my　teeth。　Cynthia　went　back　to　my　room。　As　I　turned　on　the　shower；　I　heard　the　phone　ringing　in　her　room。　I　didn't　think　she　could　hear　it；　so　I　looked　into　my　room；　but　she　was　on　my　phone。　So；　thinking　it　was　official　and　important；　I　went　into　her　room　and　picked　it　up。　〃Hello？〃
　A　male　voice　inquired；　〃Who's　this？〃
　I　replied；　〃Who　are　you？〃
　〃This　is　Major　Sholte。　What　are　you　doing　in　my　wife's　room？〃
　Good　question。　I　could　have　said　the　clerk　rang　the　wrong　room；　I　could　have　said　a　lot　of　things；　but　I　said；　〃Basically；　I'm　doing　what　I　did　in　Brussels。〃
　〃What？　Who　the　hell　。。。　Brenner？　Is　this　Brenner？〃
　〃At　your　service；　Major。〃
　〃You　bastard。　You're　dead　meat。　You　know　that；　Brenner？　You're　dead　meat。〃
　〃You　had　your　chance　in　Brussels。　You　only　get　one　chance。〃
　〃You　son…of…a…bitch…〃
　〃Ms。　Sunhill　is　not　here。　May　I　take　a　message？〃
　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃In　the　shower。〃
　〃You　bastard。〃
　Why　was　this　guy　getting　so　bent　up　if　they　were　getting　a　divorce　and　he　had　a　girlfriend？　Well；　men　are　funny；　and　they　still　feel　proprietary　toward　their　wives；　even　when　they're　finalizing　a　divorce。　Right？　No；　something　was　not　right；　and　I　had　the　distinct　feeling　I'd　made　a　big　boo…boo。
　Major　Sholte　said　to　me；　〃Your　ass　is　grass；　Brenner；　and　I'm　the　fucking　Grim　Reaper。〃
　Interesting　metaphor。　I　asked　him；　〃Are　you　and　Cynthia　in　the　process　of　a　divorce？〃
　〃Divorce？　Who　the　fuck　told　you　that？　You　put　that　bitch　on　the　phone。〃
　〃Trial　separation？〃
　〃Put　her　on　the　goddamned　phone。　Now！〃
　〃Hold　on。〃　I　laid　the　phone　on　the　bed　and　thought　about　things。　Life　really　sucks　sometimes；　then　it　gets　better　and　you　get　optimistic　again；　and　your　heart　lightens　up　a　little　and　you　get　a　little　spring　back　in　your　step；　then　somebody　pulls　the　rug　out　and　you're　on　your　ass　once　more。　I　picked　up　the　phone　and　said；　〃I'll　have　her　call　you　back。〃
　〃You　fucking　well　better；　you　rat…fucking；　mother…fucking…〃
　I　hung　up　and　went　back　into　the　mon　bathroom。　I　slipped　off　my　robe　and　got　into　the　shower。
　Cynthia　stood　in　the　doorway　and　called　out　over　the　water；　〃I　phoned　the　Psy…Ops　School　and　confirmed　that　Colonel　Moore　spent　the　night　there。　I　left　a　message　for　him　to　meet　us　at　the　provost　office　in　an　hour。　Okay？〃
　〃Okay。〃
　〃I　laid　out　your　uniform。　We　should　wear　our　uniforms　to　the　service。〃
　〃Thanks。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　change　into　uniform。〃
　〃Okay。〃
　I　could　see　her　through　the　glass；　walking　across　the　bathroom　into　her　own　room。　Her　door　closed；　and　I　shut　off　the　shower　and　got　out。
　　
　By　0800　hours；　we　were　dressed　in　the　A　uniform；　and　we　were　in　my　Chevy　Blazer；　pulling　up　to　the　provost　building。　Cynthia　asked；　〃Is　something　bothering　you？〃
　〃No。〃
　I　had　another　cup　of　coffee　in　our　office　and　went　through　phone　messages　and　memos。　Colonel　Moore　showed　up　looking　a　bit　ragged；　but　dressed　in　his　A　uniform　for　the　funeral。　He　had　acquired　a　pair　of　dress　shoes　somewhere。　Cynthia　offered　him　a　seat。　Without　preliminaries；　I　said　to　him；　〃Colonel；　we　have　reason　to　suspect　that　Colonel　Kent　murdered　Ann　Campbell。〃
　He　seemed　surprised；　almost　stunned；　and　didn't　reply。
　I　asked　him；　〃Does　it　fit？〃
　He　thought　about　that　for　a　long　moment；　then　replied；　〃He　was　being　a　problem；　but　。。。〃
　〃What　did　Ann　say　to　you　about　him？〃
　〃Well　。。。　that　he　was　calling　her　at　all　hours；　that　he　wrote　her　letters；　dropped　in　on　her　unexpectedly　at　home　and　in　the　office。〃
　And　so　on。　I　asked　him；　〃On　the　night　she　was　murdered；　when　you　called　her　at　Post　Headquarters；　did　she　say　he'd　been　around　to　see　her　or　that　he'd　called　her？〃
　He　thought　a　moment；　then　answered；　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　she　did　tell　me　that　she　wouldn't　be　using　her　BMW　that　night；　which　was　the　original　plan。　She　told　me　to　look　for　a　humvee　instead。　She　said　that　Bill　Kent　was　annoying　her　again　and　that　she'd　be　less　conspicuous　in　a　humvee；　and　that　she　wanted　him　to　see　her　car　in　the　headqua