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〃I don't know；〃 Cynthia replied。 〃That may be insignificant。〃
〃It may be。 Let's walk。〃 We retraced our steps along the tarpaulin path and came back to the road where Ann Campbell's humvee had been parked。 〃All right；〃 I said； 〃he es back here to the vehicle。 He takes her BDUs； her helmet； dog tags； socks； boots； and so forth； but leaves her handbag on the passenger seat of the vehicle。〃
〃He may have forgotten the handbag。 Men often do。 I've seen that before。〃
I turned toward the latrines。 〃Carrying those items； he crosses the grassy area； passes the bleachers； passes the latrines； and finds the corduroy trail。 He would not walk on the road。〃
〃No。〃
〃Okay； if they'd started at about 0115 hours； it is now about 0215 hours； give or take a few minutes。 It can't be later because PFC Robbins saw headlights at 0217 hours。〃
〃And you're sure they were not Ann Campbell's headlights？〃
〃I'm making the strong assumption she got here earlier； and she drove up without headlights。 So this vehicle es by； sees her parked humvee； stops； turns off the lights； and gets out of his or her vehicle。 That is what Robbins saw at 0217 hours。〃
〃And he or she can see Ann Campbell from the road。 Right？〃
〃Sergeant St。 John did。 The moon was nearly full。 Anyone who saw the parked humvee would look around。 Fifty meters away； this person sees something on the rifle range。 It's almost a human instinct to recognize another human form； especially a naked one。 We've both heard similar stories…someone walking in the woods sees something lying on the ground； and so on。〃
〃All right。 So what does that person do？〃
〃That person goes up to her and sees that she's dead； goes back to his or her vehicle； makes a U…turn； and gets the hell out of there。〃
〃Without turning his or her headlights back on。〃
〃Apparently。 PFC Robbins was transfixed by the headlights and kept watching； but never saw them go on again。 The next lights she saw were Sergeant St。 John's at 0425 hours。〃
〃Why would this person not turn their headlights back on when they were leaving？ Why turn them off to begin with？ It's damned spooky out here； Paul。 I'd leave my lights on if I got out of my car。 And who is this new person you've introduced； and why didn't this person make a report？〃
〃The only answer I can e up with is that Ann Campbell had not gone through all this trouble for one tryst。 Her fantasy may have been multiple rapes。 She may have had several appointments。〃
〃That's very weird。〃 She added； 〃But possible。〃
I said； 〃Let's follow the path that Ann Campbell's assistant or assailant took back。〃 We retraced our steps and intersected the corduroy path in the bush behind the rifle ranges； then turned left onto it and headed back to rifle range five。 I said； 〃Here； in these bushes； will probably be a plastic bag containing her clothes。〃
Cynthia looked at me。 〃Are you psychic； too？〃
〃The area search turned up nothing； and neither did the dogs； so the clothes will be in a plastic； odor…proof bag； probably a trash bag； and they will be farther away than the search。 When we get closer to rifle range five； you'll turn that flashlight into the bush。 We may have to e back tomorrow…〃
Cynthia stopped。 〃Wait。〃
〃What？〃
〃The latrine sheds。〃
〃Damn it！ You're right。〃
So back we went to the latrine sheds。 A line of steel…mesh trash pails sat between the two sheds； and I turned one of them over and jumped onto the roof of the shed for male personnel。 There was nothing on the flat； pitched roof； but as I scrambled to my feet； I saw on the next latrine roof a brown plastic trash bag shining in the moonlight。 I took a running start； jumped onto the adjoining shed； and kicked the bag off； following it to the ground。 Somewhere in midair； I remembered my paratrooper training； flexed my knees into a shoulder roll； and bounded up on my feet。
Cynthia asked； 〃Are you all right？〃
〃I'm fine。 Get a handkerchief。〃
She took a handkerchief from her pocket； knelt； and untwisted the wire tie； then carefully pulled open the mouth of the bag and shined her flashlight into it。 Inside； we could see a jumble of clothing； a pair of boots； and a white sock。 Carefully； with her hand wrapped in the handkerchief； Cynthia moved the things around； uncovering the pistol belt and holster with the automatic still in it； then finally the dog tags； which she held up and read in the beam of her flashlight。 〃Campbell； Ann Louise。〃 She let the dog tags drop back into the bag and stood。 She looked up at the top of the latrine shed。 〃One of the older tricks in the book。 But why did this guy care about hiding her clothes？〃
I thought a moment。 〃It seems that the clothes were supposed to be recovered later。〃
〃By whom？ The perpetrator？ A third party？〃
〃Don't know。 But I like the idea of a third party。〃
A pair of headlights lit up the road； then I heard the engine of a vehicle； then saw it； an olive…drab staff car that stopped。 The engine remained running； and the headlights stayed on。 I felt for my pistol and so did Cynthia。
The driver's door opened； and the interior lights revealed the figure of Bill Kent as he got out drawing his pistol and looking toward our flashlight。 He slammed his door and issued a challenge。 〃Identify yourselves。〃
I called back； 〃Brenner and Sunhill； Colonel。〃 A little formal； but you don't fool around when being challenged by an armed man。
We stayed motionless until he said； 〃I'm ing to you。〃
〃Understand。〃 We both stood until he got closer； then saw him holster his pistol； and heard him say； 〃Recognize。〃
All a little silly； too； except that every once in a while； a guy gets plugged messing around with challenges and such。 Kent asked us； 〃What are you doing here？〃
I replied； 〃This is the scene of the crime； Bill； and detectives and criminals always return to it。 What are you doing here？〃
〃I resent the implication； wise guy。 I'm here for the same reason you are…to try to get a feeling for the scene at night。〃
〃Let me be the detective； Colonel。 I expected to see MPs posted here。〃
〃I suppose I should have posted a few。 But I have patrols going by。〃
〃I haven't seen any。 Can you get a couple of people here？〃
〃All right。〃 He asked Cynthia； 〃Why is your car way back there？〃
She replied； 〃We wanted to walk in the moonlight。〃
He looked like he was going to ask why； but then noticed the bag。 〃What is that？〃
〃That is；〃 Cynthia replied； 〃the missing items。〃
〃What items？〃
〃Her clothing。〃
I watched Kent as he took this in。 He seemed almost indifferent； I thought。 He asked； 〃Where'd you find them？〃
〃On top of the female latrine shed。 Your guys missed it。〃
〃I guess they did。〃 He asked； 〃Why do you think her clothes were up there？〃
〃Who knows？〃
〃Are you through here？〃
〃For now。〃
〃What's next？〃
I replied； 〃We'll meet you at Jordan Field in about an hour。〃
〃Okay。〃 He added； 〃Colonel Moore is very upset with you。〃
〃Then he should file formal charges instead of crying on your shoulder。 Do you know the guy？〃
〃Only through Ann。〃 He looked at his watch。 〃One hour。〃
〃Right。〃
We parted； he backed toward his car on the road； we along the corduroy trail； me carrying the plastic trash bag。
Cy