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He looked at me a moment； then replied； 〃Yes。 In fact； the general has asked me to give the eulogy at her funeral。〃
〃I see。 Were you with General Campbell prior to this assignment？〃
〃Yes； I've been with General Campbell since he was an armored division mander in Germany。 We served together in the Gulf； then here。〃
〃Did he request this assignment？〃
〃I don't think that's relevant。〃
〃I assume you knew Ann Campbell before Fort Hadley？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Could you give me an idea of the nature of your relationship？〃 How was that for smooth？
Fowler leaned forward in his chair and looked me in the eyes。 〃Excuse me； Mr。 Brenner。 Is this an interrogation？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Well； I'll be damned。〃
〃I hope not； Colonel。〃
He laughed； then stood。 〃Well； you both e； to my office tomorrow and you can fire away。 Call for an appointment。 Follow me； please。〃
We followed Colonel Fowler back into the central foyer； then toward the rear of the mansion； where we came to a closed door。 Colonel Fowler said to us； 〃No need to salute； quick condolences； you'll be asked to take a seat。 Mrs。 Campbell will not be present。 She's under sedation。 Please keep this short。 Five minutes。〃 He knocked on the door； opened it； and stepped inside； announcing us as Warrant Officers Brenner and Sunhill of the CID。 Sounded like a TV series。
Cynthia and I followed and found ourselves in a sort of den of highly polished wood； leather； and brass。 The room was dark； the drapes drawn； and the only light came from a green…shaded desk lamp。 Behind the desk stood Lieutenant General Joseph Campbell； in a dress…green uniform with a chest full of medals。 The first thing you noticed about him was that he was huge； not only tall but big…boned； like the Scottish clan chiefs from which he must have descended； and on this occasion I also noticed the unmistakable smell of Scotch whisky in the room。
General Campbell extended his hand to Cynthia； who took it and said to him； 〃My deepest condolences； sir。〃
〃Thank you。〃
I took his hand； which was huge； passed on my condolences； and added； 〃I'm very sorry to have to bother you at a time like this；〃 as though this meeting had been my idea。
〃Not at all。〃 He sat and said； 〃Please be seated。〃
We sat in leather chairs facing his desk。 I regarded his face in the shaded light。 He had a full head of blondish…gray hair； bright blue eyes； craggy features； and a good jaw with a cleft chin。 A handsome man； but aside from the eyes； Ann Campbell's beauty must have e from her mother。
With a general； one never speaks until spoken to； but the general wasn't speaking。 He stared off； between Cynthia and me； at some point behind us。 He nodded； I suppose to Fowler； and I heard the door close behind us； as Colonel Fowler departed。
General Campbell now looked at Cynthia； then at me； and addressed us both in a quiet voice； which I knew； from radio and television； was not his normal speaking voice。 He said； 〃I take it that you two wish to remain on this assignment。〃
We both nodded and said； 〃Yes； sir。〃
He looked at me。 〃Can I convince you that everyone would be better served if you turn this matter over to Major Bowes here at Fort Hadley？〃
〃I'm sorry； General；〃 I responded。 〃This matter transcends Fort Hadley and transcends your personal grief。 None of us can change that。〃
General Campbell nodded。 〃Then I will give you my full cooperation and promise you the cooperation of everyone here。〃
〃Thank you； sir。〃
〃Do you have any idea who could have done this？〃
〃No； sir。〃 Do you？
〃Do I have both your assurances that you will work quickly and that you will work with us to minimize the sensational aspects of this incident and that you will do more good than harm here？〃
I replied； 〃I assure you that our only objective is to make an arrest as soon as possible。〃
Cynthia added； 〃We have taken steps； General； from the very beginning to minimize outside involvement。 We have transported the entire contents of Captain Campbell's home to this post。 Chief of Police Yardley seems upset about that； and I suspect he will contact you in that regard。 If you would be so kind as to tell him you authorized this before it happened； we would be very appreciative。 Regarding minimizing sensationalism and harm to the post and the Army； a word from you to Chief Yardley would go a long way in achieving that goal。〃
General Campbell looked at Cynthia for a few long seconds。 Undoubtedly； he could not look at a young； attractive woman of that age without thinking of his daughter。 What he was thinking of his daughter is what I didn't know。 He said to Cynthia； 〃Consider it done。〃
〃Thank you； General。〃
I said； 〃It is my understanding； General； that you were supposed to see your daughter this morning after she got off duty。〃
He replied； 〃Yes 。。。 we were to have breakfast。 When she didn't arrive； I called Colonel Fowler at headquarters； but he said she wasn't there。 I believe he called her home。〃
〃About what time was that； sir？〃
〃I'm not certain。 She was due at my house at 0700。 I probably called headquarters at about 0730。〃
I didn't pursue this but said to him； 〃General； we appreciate your offer of full cooperation and will take you up on it。 At your first available opportunity； I'd like to conduct a more detailed interview with you； and with Mrs。 Campbell。 Perhaps tomorrow。〃
〃I'm afraid we have to make funeral arrangements tomorrow and attend to other personal business。 The day after the funeral may be convenient。〃
〃Thank you。〃 I added； 〃The family often has information that； without realizing it； can be critical in resolving a case。〃
〃I understand。〃 He thought a moment； then asked； 〃Do you think 。。。 was this someone she may have known？〃
〃It's quite possible；〃 I replied； and our eyes met。
He kept good eye contact and said to me； 〃I have that feeling； too。〃
I asked him； 〃Has anyone； aside from Colonel Kent； spoken to you about the circumstances of your daughter's death？〃
〃No。 Well； Colonel Fowler did。 He briefed me。〃
〃About the possible rape； and how she was found？〃
〃That's correct。〃
There was a long silence； and I knew from past experience with general officers that he was not waiting for me to speak； but that the interview was over。 I said； 〃Is there anything we can do for you at this time？〃
〃No 。。。 just find the son…of…a…bitch。〃 He stood and pressed a button on his desk； then said； 〃Thank you for your time。〃
Cynthia and I stood； and I said； 〃Thank you； General。〃 I shook his hand。 〃And； again； my deepest sympathy to you and your family。〃
He took Cynthia's hand； and perhaps it was my imagination； but he seemed to hold it a long time and he looked into her eyes。 Then he said； 〃I know you'll do your very best。 My daughter would have liked you。 She liked self…assured women。〃
〃Thank you； General；〃 Cynthia replied。 〃You have my promise I'll do my best； and again； my deepest condolences。〃
The door behind us opened； and Colonel Fowler escorted us out； through the central hallway and toward the front door。 He said to me； 〃I understand that you have special arrest powers。 But I'm going to ask that before you arrest anyone； you notify me。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because；〃 he replied a