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brokers in the Pentagon knew that General Campbell had a loose cannon rolling around the ramparts； and the loose cannon was named Ann。 Was that possible？
A tall man entered； wearing the Army…green dress uniform； type A with colonel's eagles； the insignia of the Adjutant General Corps； and a name tag that said Fowler。 He introduced himself as General Campbell's adjutant。 In the service； when in uniform； it is redundant to introduce yourself by name and rank； but people appreciate a short job description so they can ascertain if they have to work with you or ever see you again。
We shook hands all around； and Colonel Fowler said； 〃Indeed； the general wishes to see you； but I want to speak to you first。 Won't you have a seat？〃
We all sat； and I regarded Colonel Fowler。 He was a black man； and I could imagine the generations of former slave…owners who lived here spinning in their graves。 Anyway； Fowler was extremely well groomed； well spoken； and carried himself with good military bearing。 He seemed like the perfect adjutant； a job which is sort of like a bination of a personnel officer； senior advisor； a receiver and municator of the general's orders； and so forth。 An adjutant is not like the deputy mander； who； like the vice…president of the United States； has no real job。
Fowler had long legs； which may seem irrelevant； but an adjutant has to do the adjutants' walk； which means long strides between the general and his subordinates to relay orders and bring back reports。 You're not supposed to run； so you have to develop the adjutants' walk； especially on a big parade ground where short stubby legs hold up the whole show。 Anyway； Fowler was every inch the officer and the gentleman。 Unlike some white officers who can get a little sloppy； like myself； the black officer； like the female officer； has something to prove。 Interestingly； blacks and women still use the standards of the white officer as their ideal； though； in fact； that ideal and those standards were and are myths。 But it keeps everybody on their toes； so it's fine。 The Army is fifty percent illusion； anyway。
Colonel Fowler said； 〃You may smoke if you wish。 A drink？〃
〃No； sir；〃 I said。
Fowler tapped the arms of his chair for a few beats； then began。 〃This is certainly a tragedy for the general and Mrs。 Campbell。 We don't want it to bee a tragedy for the Army。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 The less said； the better； of course。 He wanted to talk。
He continued； 〃Captain Campbell's death； occurring as it did on post…on this very post where her father is mander…and occurring in the manner it did； will certainly cause a sensation。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃I don't think I have to tell either of you not to speak to the press。〃
〃Of course not。〃
Fowler looked at Cynthia。 〃I understand you made an arrest in that other rape case。 Do you think there's a connection here？ Could there be two of them？ Or could you have gotten the wrong man in the other case？〃
〃No on all counts； Colonel。〃
〃But it is possible。 Will you look into that？〃
〃No； Colonel。 These are two different cases。〃
Clearly； the general's staff had met and some bright boy brought this up as a possibility； or as wishful thinking； or as the official story； i。e。； there was a gang of young trainees running around； laying the pipe to unsuspecting female officers。 I said to Colonel Fowler； 〃It doesn't wash。〃
He sort of shrugged and turned his attention back to me。 〃Well； do you have any suspects？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Any leads？〃
〃Not at the moment。〃
〃But you must have a theory or two； Mr。 Brenner。〃
〃I do； Colonel。 But they are only theories； and all of them would upset you。〃
He leaned forward in his chair； obviously not pleased。 〃I'm only upset that a female officer has been raped and murdered and that the culprit is at large。 Not much else about this case is going to upset me。〃
Wanna bet？ I said； 〃I've been told that the general wishes to relieve me and Ms。 Sunhill from this case。〃
〃I believe that was his early reaction。 But he's spoken to some people in Washington； and he's rethinking this。 That's why he wants to meet you and Ms。 Sunhill。〃
〃I see。 Sort of a job interview。〃
〃Perhaps。〃 He added； 〃Unless you don't want this case。 If you don't； it will not reflect negatively in your records。 In fact； a letter of mendation will be inserted into your files in recognition of your initial work on this case。 And you would both be offered thirty days of administrative leave； to begin immediately。〃 He looked from me to Cynthia； then back to me。 〃Then there will be no reason to see the general； and you may both leave now。〃
Not a bad deal if you thought about it。 The idea was not to think about it。 I replied； 〃My manding officer； Colonel Hellmann； has assigned me and Ms。 Sunhill to this case； and we have accepted the assignment。 This is a closed issue； Colonel。〃
He nodded。 I couldn't quite get a handle on Fowler。 Behind the stiff fa？ade of the adjutant was a very facile operator。 He had to be in order to survive this job； which by almost any military standards sucked。 But you'd never bee a general until you'd served on a general's staff； and clearly； Colonel Fowler was only a hop； skip； and a jump away from his first Silver Star。
Fowler seemed deep in thought； and there was a silence in the room。 I； having said my piece； now had to wait for his reply。 Higher…ranking officers had this unsettling habit of letting long silences pass； and the unwise junior officer would sometimes charge into the breach with an afterthought； then get clobbered with an icy stare or a reprimand。 It was sort of like a trap play in football； or in war； and； although I didn't know Colonel Fowler very well； I knew the type too well。 The man was testing me； testing my nerve and resolve； perhaps to see if he was dealing with an overly enthusiastic asshole or someone as shrewd as himself。 Cynthia； to her credit； let the silence drag on； too。
Finally； he said to me； 〃I know why Ms。 Sunhill is here at Fort Hadley。 But what brings a special unit CID investigator to our little outpost？〃
〃I was on undercover assignment。 One of your armory NCOs was about to go into business for himself。 You ought to tighten security at the armory； and you should know that I've saved you some embarrassment。〃 I added； 〃I'm sure the provost briefed you。〃
〃In fact； he did。 Some weeks ago when you got here。〃
〃So you knew I was here。〃
〃Yes； but not why you were here。〃
〃Why do you suppose Colonel Kent asked me to take this case in light of the fact that no one else here wants me to take it？〃
He thought a moment； then replied； 〃To be honest with you； Colonel Kent is not fond of the local CID mander； Major Bowes。 In any case； your people at Falls Church would have put you on it immediately。 Colonel Kent did what he thought was best for everyone。〃
〃Including Colonel Kent。 What is the problem between Colonel Kent and Major Bowes？〃
He shrugged。 〃Probably just jurisdictional。 Turf。〃
〃Not personal？〃
〃I don't know。 Ask them。〃
〃I will。〃 In the meantime； I asked Colonel Fowler； 〃Did you know Captain Campbell personally？〃
He looked at me a moment； then replied； 〃Yes。 In fact； the general has asked me to give the eulogy a