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〃I apologize。 It was a gut reaction。〃
〃Lot of that going around。〃
〃This is a mess； Brenner。 We've all made a mess of things。〃
〃Shit happens。〃
〃Not to me it doesn't。 Not until she got here two years ago。 But you know what？ It was our fault； not hers。〃
〃I tend to agree。〃 I added； 〃I may make an arrest this afternoon。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Can't say。 I'll see you at the service。〃
〃Fine。〃
I hung up。 Just when you think you've got your ration of shit…happens for the day； someone heaps on another helping。 In this case； an MP major named Doyle was the bearer of the shit。 He came into the office and glanced at Cynthia； then addressed me。 〃Mister Brenner； you signed a release order for a Staff Sergeant Dalbert Elkins。 Correct？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃We found him quarters at the MP pany barracks。〃
〃Fine。〃 Who gives a shit？
〃Under the terms of his restriction； he was to sign into the pany dayroom every three hours。〃
〃Sounds reasonable。〃
〃He missed his first sign…in at 0800 hours。〃
Jesus H。 Christ。 〃What？〃
〃And no one has seen him since。〃
Cynthia looked at me； then looked away。
Major Doyle informed me； 〃We've put out an all…points bulletin for his arrest； and notified the Midland police； the county police； and the Georgia state police。〃 He added； 〃The CID mander； Major Bowes； demands a full report from you on this matter。〃 Major Doyle smiled unpleasantly and said； 〃You blew it。〃 He turned and left。
I stared at nothing in particular for a while。 Cynthia finally spoke。 〃That happened to me once。〃
I didn't reply。
〃But it happened to me only once。 So you can't get cynical about human nature。〃
Wanna bet？ Timing being everything； this was the time to mention her husband's phone call； but Karl Hellmann's timing was not good； and he picked that moment to show up。
Cynthia and I stood as the big man walked into the little office。 He nodded perfunctorily； glanced around； then we all shook hands。 Cynthia； being the lowest…ranking person in the room； offered him her desk chair； which he took； while Cynthia took the spare chair； and I sat at my desk。
Karl was wearing his green dress uniform； as we were； and he threw his hat on the desk。
Like me； Karl was once an infantryman； and we both served in Vietnam at about the same time。 Our uniforms sported basically the same awards and decorations； including the Bronze Star for valor and the coveted bat Infantryman's Badge。 Being products of the same crucible； and both being middle…aged； we usually dispense with some of the formalities。 But I wasn't in a Karl mood that morning； so I intended to stick to courtesies and protocols。 I said； 〃Coffee； sir？〃
〃No； thank you。〃
Karl is a good…looking man with a full head of grayish…black hair； firm jaw； and blue eyes。 Women； however； don't find him sexy。 It may be his manner； which is stiff and formal。 In fact； he's rather tight…assed； and if you put a lump of coal up his butt； he'd produce a diamond within a week。 That aside； he's a pro。
We exchanged pleasantries for three seconds； then Karl said to me in his slight accent； 〃I understand our star witness in the arms sale case has bee a fugitive。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Can you recall your line of reasoning in releasing him？〃
〃Not at the moment； no； sir。〃
〃One wonders why a man who has been offered immunity would decide to mit yet another felony and flee。〃
〃One does wonder。〃
〃Did you explain to him that he had immunity？〃
〃Yes； sir； but apparently not very well。〃
〃It's a problem； you know； Paul； dealing with stupid people。 You project your own intelligence and rationality onto a person who is a plete idiot； and he lets you down。 He's ignorant and frightened； and he is a slave to his instincts。 The jail door opens； and he runs。 Quite understandable。〃
I cleared my throat。 〃I thought I had reassured him and won his trust and confidence。〃
〃Of course you did。 That's what he wanted you to think when he was on the other side of the bars。 They're cunning。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Perhaps you'll consult me the next time； before you release a prisoner in a major felony case。〃
〃He was actually a witness； sir。〃
Karl leaned toward me and said； 〃He had not one fucking iota of understanding regarding the difference。 You put him in jail； you let him out； he ran。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Article 96 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice deals with the improper releasing of a prisoner through neglect or design。 You're in trouble。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
He leaned back in his chair。 〃Now； tell me； what are the most recent developments here？〃
Well； to begin with； I never got the chance to sleep with Cynthia； she lied to me about her husband； I'm crushed and pissed； I still can't get Ann Campbell out of my mind； the provost marshal down the hall is probably a murderer； dopey Dalbert beat feet； and I'm not having a good day。
Hellmann turned to Cynthia。 〃Perhaps you'll speak to me。
〃Yes； sir。〃 Cynthia began by discussing forensic evidence； Grace Dixon's puter discoveries； the Yardley boys； and the unfortunate involvements of Major Bowes； Colonel Weems； and other staff officers。
Karl listened。
Cynthia then reported an edited version of our conversations with General Campbell； Mrs。 Campbell； Colonel Fowler； Mrs。 Fowler； and Colonel Moore。 I was barely listening； but I did note that she did not mention Colonel and Mrs。 Fowler's precise role in the case； or Ann Campbell's basement room； and neither did she mention Bill Kent at all。 This is exactly the way I would have handled it； and I was impressed with how much she'd learned in the last two days。 Cynthia said to Karl； 〃So you see； it all had to do with revenge； retribution； a perverted experiment in psychological operations； and what happened at West Point a decade ago。〃
Karl nodded。
As an afterthought； Cynthia did mention Friedrich Nietzsche； in the context of Ann Campbell's personal philosophy。 Karl seemed interested in that； and I realized that Cynthia was playing to her audience。
Karl sat back and pondered； his fingers pressed together like some great sage about to provide the answer to Life。 Cynthia concluded； 〃Paul has done an outstanding job； and it's been an education working with him。〃
Barf。
Karl sat motionless for a full minute； and it occurred to me that the great sage didn't have a fucking clue。 Cynthia was trying to catch my eye； but I refused to look at her。
Finally； Colonel Hellmann spoke。 〃Nietzsche。 Yes。 In revenge and in love； woman is more barbarous than man。〃
I asked； 〃Is that Nietzsche； sir； or your personal opinion？〃
He looked at me in a way that suggested the ice under me was getting thinner。 He said to Cynthia； 〃Very good。 You've exposed motives； massive corruption； and great secrets here。〃
〃Thank you。〃
He looked at me； then at his watch。 〃Should we be going to the chapel？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
He stood and we stood。 We took our hats and headed out。
We all got into my Blazer； with Karl in the honorary position in the rear。 As I drove toward the post chapel； Karl finally asked； 〃Do you know who did it？〃
I replied； 〃I think so。〃
〃Would you care to share that with me？〃
What's it worth to you？ I replied； 〃We have some circumstantial evidence； some