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〃Sorry。〃 She patted my knee。 〃I love it when you get angry。〃
I didn't reply； and we rode in silence。
We entered the outskirts of the main post； and I saw the cluster of old concrete buildings with the sign that said； 〃U。S。 Army； Training School…Psy…Ops…Authorized Personnel Only。〃
Cynthia mented； 〃Can we hit that place after we see the general？〃
I looked at my watch。 〃We'll try。〃 Speed； speed。 Beyond the problems of cold trails； I had the feeling that the more time everyone in Washington and Fort Hadley had to think； the more likely they'd start screwing me up。 Within seventy…two hours； this base would be knee…deep in FBI guys and CID brass trying to score points； not to mention the media； who； even now； were probably in Atlanta trying to figure out how to get here from there。
Cynthia asked me； 〃What are we going to do about the stuff in her basement？〃
〃I don't know。 Maybe we won't need it。 That's what I'm counting on。 Let it sit for a few days。〃
〃What if Yardley finds that room？〃
〃Then it's his problem what to do with the information。 We saw enough to get the idea。〃
〃The clue to her killer may be in that room。〃
I stared out the side window and watched the post go by。 After a minute； I said； 〃Here's what's in that room…enough promising evidence to ruin careers and lives； including her parents' lives； not to mention the deceased's posthumous reputation。 I don't know that we need anything more from that room。〃
〃Is this Paul Brenner speaking？〃
〃It's Paul Brenner the career Army officer speaking。 Not Paul Brenner the cop。〃
〃Okay。 I understand that。 That's good。〃
〃Sure。〃 I added； 〃I'd do the same for you。〃
〃Thanks。 But I have nothing to hide。〃
〃Are you married？〃
〃None of your business。〃
〃Right。〃
We arrived at the general's official residence； called Beaumont； a huge brick plantation house plete with white columns。 The house was set in a few acres of treed grounds on the eastern edge of the main post； an oasis of magnolias； stately oaks； flower beds and such； surrounded by a desert of military simplicity。
Beaumont is an antebellum relic； the former home of the Beaumont clan； who still exist in the county。 Beaumont House escaped Sherman's March to the Sea； being not in the direct path of the march； but it had been looted and vandalized by Yankee stragglers。 The locals will tell you that all the women in the house had been raped； but； in fact； the local guidebook says the Beaumonts fled a few steps ahead of the Yankees。
The house was expropriated by the Union occupation forces for use as a headquarters； then at some point returned to the rightful owners； then； in 1916； sold along with the plantation acreage to the federal government； who designated it Camp Hadley。 So； ironically； it is again Army property； and the cotton fields around the house have bee the main post； while the remainder of the 100；000 wooded acres is the training area。
It's hard to gauge how much of history impacts on the local population； but in these parts； I suspect the impact is greater than a kid from South Boston or an Iowa farm girl can fully understand。 I deal with this as best I can and calculate。 it into my thinking。 But in the end； when someone like me meets someone like Yardley； there is very little meeting of minds and souls。
We got out of the car and Cynthia said； 〃My knees are shaking。〃
〃Walk around the gardens。 I'll take care of this。〃
〃I'll be all right。〃
We climbed the steps to the columned porch and I rang the bell。 A handsome young man in uniform answered。 He was a lieutenant； and his name tag said Elby。 I announced； 〃Warrant Officers Brenner and Sunhill to see General and Mrs。 Campbell at the general's request。〃
〃Oh； yes。〃 He looked over Cynthia's informal attire； then stepped aside； and we entered。 Elby said； 〃I'm the general's personal aide。 Colonel Fowler； the general's adjutant； wishes to speak to you。〃
〃I'm here at the general's request to see the general。〃
〃I know； Mr。 Brenner。 Please see Colonel Fowler first。〃
Cynthia and I followed him into the large foyer decorated in the style and period of the house； but I suspected that this wasn't original Beaumont stuff； but bits and pieces collected from the down…and…out minor gentry since the Army bought the place。 Lieutenant Elby showed us into a small front room； a sort of official waiting room for callers with lots of seating and little else。 The life of a plantation owner was； I'm certain； different from the life of a modern…day general； but what they had in mon was callers； and lots of them。 Tradesmen went around back； gentry were shown directly to the big sitting room； and callers on official business got as far as this room； until a decision could be made regarding their status。
Elby took his leave； and Cynthia and I remained standing。 She said； 〃That was the young man who Colonel Kent said dated Ann Campbell。 He's quite good…looking。〃
〃He looks like a wimp and a bed wetter。〃
Changing the subject； she asked me； 〃Did you ever want to be a general？〃
〃I'm just trying to hang on to my little warrant officer bar。〃
She tried to smile； but was clearly nervous。 I wasn't exactly at ease； either。 To break the tension； I fell back on an old Army expression。 〃Remember； a general puts his pants on one leg at a time； just like you do。〃
〃I usually sit on the bed and pull my pants on both legs at once。〃
〃Well； you know what I mean。〃
〃Maybe we can just speak to the adjutant and leave。〃
〃The general will be very courteous。 They all are。〃
〃I'm more nervous about meeting his wife。 Maybe I should have changed。〃
Why do I try to figure these people out？
Cynthia said； 〃This will hurt his career； won't it？〃
〃Depends on the oute。 If we never find the killer； and no one ever finds that room； and if there's not too much dirt dragged up； he'll be all right。 He gets the sympathy vote。 But if it gets very messy； he'll resign。〃
〃And that's the end of his political ambitions。〃
〃I'm not sure he has any political ambitions。〃
〃The papers say he does。〃
〃That's not my problem。〃 But； in fact； it could be。 General Joseph Ian Campbell had been mentioned as a possible vice…presidential choice； and was also mentioned as a potential candidate for senator from his native state of Michigan； or as a candidate for governor of that state。 Plus； his name had e up to succeed the present Army chief of staff； which meant a fourth star； or another possibility was an appointment as the president's top military advisor。
This embarrassment of riches was a direct result of General Campbell's service in the Persian Gulf War； prior to which no one had ever heard of him。 As the memory of the war faded； however； so was his name fading from public consciousness。 This was either a clever plan on the part of Joseph Campbell； or he honestly didn't want any part of the nonsense。
How and why Fighting Joe Campbell got assigned to this backwater that the Army called Fort Hades and the GIs called Fort Hardly； was one of those mysteries of the Pentagon that only the connivers and plotters there could explain。 But I had the sudden thought that the power brokers in the Pentagon knew that General Campbell had a loose canno