demille.thegeneralsdaughter-第62部分
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time to time。 You make sure their families are okay； they have some money for sundries； have writing materials and stamps； and you give them a friendly ear。 I asked Elkins about all these things； and he assured me he was not being mistreated； and he had everything he needed。 I asked him； 〃You want to stay here； or do you want to go to the stockade？〃
〃Here。〃
〃You can play baseball in the stockade。〃
〃Here。〃
〃Are you being cooperative with the CID guys？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Do you want a lawyer？〃
〃Well 。。。〃
〃You have a right to be represented by counsel。 You may have a JAG lawyer at no expense to you； or you may hire a civilian attorney。〃
〃Well 。。。 what do you think？〃
〃I think if you get a lawyer； you'll make me very angry。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Do you feel like the dumbest； sorriest son…of…a…bitch who ever lived？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃You're going to make it right。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃My name is Warrant Officer Brenner； by the way。 I was just kidding about that Sergeant White stuff。 If you need anything； or your family wants to contact anyone； you ask for Brenner。 If anyone messes you around； you tell them you're being watched over by Brenner。 Okay？〃
〃Yes； sir 。。。 thanks。〃
〃I won't be around too much longer； but I'll get you another CID guy to watch after you。 I'll try to get you out of jail and confined to barracks； but I'm going to tell you； Dalbert； if you run away； I'll e and find you； and kill you。 Understood？〃
〃Yes； sir。 If you get me out of here； I'll stay put。 Promise。〃
〃And if you don't； I'll kill you。 Promise。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
I went back to my office； where Cynthia was reading Ann Campbell's personnel file。 I called the local CID and got hold of a Captain Anders。 We discussed Dalbert Elkins awhile； and I remended confinement to barracks。 Anders seemed hesitant； but agreed if I would sign a remendation for release。 I said I would and asked to speak to Major Bowes。 While I waited； I wondered； Why do I stick my neck out for people I put in jail？ I have to find a new line of 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
