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in his shadow。 It's a mon syndrome。〃
〃Yes 。。。 I don't have one piece of information that says that's so in this case； so why do I think it is so？〃
〃Because the lack of something said is as revealing as what is said。 More so。 Did anyone say the general and his daughter were inseparable； close； loving； or even good friends？〃
〃Well； the general did say his daughter would have liked me。〃
〃I don't care what the general said。 No one else said anything like that…not Kent； not Fowler； not Moore； not Yardley； and not even General Campbell himself； if you think about it。 So now we should find out what General and Captain Campbell thought of each other。〃
Again she nodded； and said； 〃I have this feeling that there's not much more left in the clue bag； and we'd better start putting it all together before we get booted or pushed aside by the FBI。〃
〃You got that right。 I give this case two or three more days。 After that we start running into well…entrenched defenses。 As it says in the tank mander's manual； our immediate advantage is shock； mobility； and firepower。 We've got to hit them hardest where they're softest； and fastest where they're slowest。〃
〃And get there firstest with the mostest。〃
〃Precisely。〃
'We pulled up to the MP booth at Jordan Field； showed our ID； and were waved through。
Cynthia parked her car among the vans and trucks of the forensic lab； and I took the plastic' bag of clothing out of the trunk； using a handkerchief； while Cynthia carried the hairbrush。 Cynthia said； 〃If she took her own clothes off； he held the bag； so there may not be any of the other person's prints on her holster； boots； belt buckle； or anywhere。 Except perhaps the bag itself。〃
〃We'll soon find out。〃
We walked toward the hangar； and she said； 〃You're pretty sharp； Brenner。 I'm starting to admire you。〃
〃But do you like me？〃
〃No。〃
〃Do you love me？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃You said you did in Brussels。〃
〃I did； in Brussels。 We'll talk about it next week； or maybe later tonight。〃
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Hangar three was bathed in bright overhead lighting and busy with the activities of Fort Gillem's transplanted forensic units。 Colonel Kent had not yet arrived； which was fine for the moment。
I presented the plastic trash bag and the hairbrush to Cal Seiver； who needed no explanation。 He gave the bag and the brush to a fingerprint technician and instructed him to pass it on to the trace evidence section after the prints had been lifted。
With that bag of clothing； hangar three now contained all the known artifacts of Captain Ann Campbell； excluding the mortal remains of the victim herself； but including her automobile； her office； and home。 In addition； I saw that we also had in the hangar the humvee she had used that night。 As we got toward the rear of the hangar； I saw the recently developed photos of the crime scene； all of which were pinned to rolling bulletin boards； plus sketch maps and diagrams of the crime scene； a rising stack of laboratory reports； the protocol plete with color photos of the cadaver； which I did not look at； plaster casts of footprints； cellophane bags of evidence； forensic laboratory equipment； and about thirty personnel； male and female。
In one corner of the hangar were about two dozen cots； and in another corner was a coffee bar。 The Army； of course； has almost unlimited resources and personnel； and there's no overtime pay to worry about； and probably no other major crime at the moment that would divert any resources。 Sometimes even I am in awe of the force that is assembled and set in motion with a few words； sort of like when Roosevelt said to Eisenhower； 〃Assemble a force for the invasion of Europe。〃 Simple； direct； and to the point。 This is the Army at its best。 It's at its worst when politicians try to play soldier and soldiers start to play politics。 That can happen in criminal investigations； as well as in war； which is why I knew my time to act freely could be counted in days and hours。
Cal Seiver showed me a copy of the Midland Dispatch； the local daily； whose headline announced； GENERAL'S DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD AT FORT。
Cynthia and I read the article； the thrust of which was that Captain Ann Campbell had been found naked； bound； strangled； and possibly raped； out on a rifle range。 The story was about half accurate； and the only direct quote from Fort Hadley came from a Captain Hillary Barnes； a public information officer； who stated that she had no official ment except that the apparent homicide was being investigated by the Army Criminal Investigation Division。
There was； however； a quote from the Midland chief of police； Burt Yardley； who said； 〃I've offered my assistance to Colonel Kent； provost marshal at Fort Hadley； and we are in close contact。〃
He failed to mention the problem of the purloined house or that he wanted my ass delivered to him on a silver platter； but after our next meeting； he might start whining to the press about me。
Cal asked Cynthia； 〃Are those the running shoes you wore at the scene？〃
〃Yes。 Do you want just the shoes or my feet in them？〃
〃Just the shoes； please。〃
Cynthia sat on a folding chair； pulled off her running shoes； and handed them to Cal。 He said to me； 〃Where are the boots you were wearing at the scene？〃
〃In my off…post quarters。 I forgot to bring them。〃
〃Can I have them one of these days？〃
〃Sure。 One of these days。 I'm sort of confined to the post for a while。〃
〃Again？ Jesus； Brenner； every time I work on a case with you that involves the civilian police； you piss them off。〃
〃Not every time。 Okay； Cal； I'd like you to send a team out to rifle range five to get casts of some tire marks。〃 I told him where they would be found； and he started to amble off to take care of it。 I said； 〃One more thing。 When they're finished there； have them go to Victory Gardens on Victory Drive and take casts of a set of tires on a Ford Fairlane； probably gray； 1985 or '86； with an officers' bumper sticker。 I don't have a license plate number for you； but look around unit thirty…nine。〃
He regarded me a moment and replied； 〃If the car belongs to a soldier； we can wait until the car shows up on post。〃
〃I want it tonight。〃
〃e on； Brenner； I can't collect evidence outside government property without permission from the locals； and you already blew that。〃
〃Right。 Don't use an Army vehicle。 Unit forty…five； the victim's residence； is probably being secured by the Midland police； but the cop on duty will most likely be inside。 Tell your guys to be careful and be quick。〃
〃It can wait until the car gets on post。〃
〃Okay。〃 I put my hand on his shoulder。 〃I understand。 I just hope those tires don't disappear from that car by morning。 Gosh； I hope the whole car doesn't disappear tonight。 But that's all right。 Wait until morning。〃
〃Okay； Victory Gardens。 You're pushing your luck； hotshot。〃 He walked off toward a group of people who were labeling plaster footprints and making notations on a sketch map of the crime scene。 Cal handed them Cynthia's running shoes and spoke to them； presumably about their midnight mission； because he kept jerking his thumb toward me； and the techs were glaring at me。
I