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！
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