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rance I can give you。〃
Again； he nodded； then said quite unexpectedly； 〃I'm very pleased with both of you。 I've checked you both out； and you e to us with the highest remendations。 It's our privilege to have you assigned to this case。〃
I lifted my feet because the bullshit was getting higher； but I replied； 〃That's very good of you to say that。〃
He poured us more coffee and said； 〃So you have a prime suspect。 Colonel Moore。〃
〃That's correct。〃
〃Why is he a suspect？〃
〃Because；〃 I replied； 〃there is forensic evidence that he was at the scene of the crime。〃
〃I see 。。。 but no evidence that he actually murdered her？〃
〃No。 It's possible that he was there earlier or later than the time of the crime。〃
〃But you have no evidence that anyone else was there。〃
〃No conclusive evidence。〃
〃Then doesn't that leave him as the most likely suspect？〃
〃As of now。〃
〃If he doesn't confess； will you charge him？〃
〃I can only remend in a case like this。 The final decision as to charges will undoubtedly be made in Washington。〃
〃It seems to me that your report and remendation will be the deciding factor。〃
〃It should be the only factor； considering that no one else has a clue to what happened。〃 I added； 〃I must tell you； sir； that these rumors linking Ann Campbell to certain officers on post may or may not include people such as the staff judge advocate； and others who may not be as objective or impartial as they should be in this matter。 I hate to be the one to sow seeds of mistrust； but I'm only advising you of what I've heard。〃
〃Heard from whom？〃
〃I can't say。 But it came from a good source； and I suspect you know how widespread this problem is。 I don't think you can clean your own house here； Colonel。 Your broom is dirty。 But perhaps Ms。 Sunhill and I can。〃
He nodded。 〃Well； on that subject； I was speaking to General Campbell when you arrived。 There's been a new development。〃
Uh…oh。 I don't like new developments。 〃Yes？〃
〃The Justice Department； in a meeting with your superior； Colonel Hellmann； and the Army judge advocate general and other interested parties； has decided to assign the FBI to this case。〃
Oh； shit。 I said to Colonel Fowler； 〃Well； then； the damage control is out of my hands。 You and everyone else who wears a green uniform should know that。〃
〃Yes。 Some people are upset。 Not everyone in the Pentagon knows how much damage control is necessary； so they caved in to these demands without a good fight。 But they did get a promise。〃
Neither Cynthia nor I bothered to ask what it was； but Colonel Fowler informed us； 〃You two are to remain on the case until noon tomorrow。 If； after that time； you haven't made an arrest and remended charges； you will be relieved of your investigative duties。 Though you will remain available to the FBI for consultation。〃
〃I see。〃
〃A task force is assembling right now in Atlanta consisting of FBI personnel； a team from the Judge Advocate General's Office； the Attorney General's Office； and senior officers from your own CID in Falls Church。〃
〃Well； I hope the SOBs all have to stay in the VOQ。〃 Colonel Fowler forced a smile。 〃We don't want this； of course； and I suspect you don't； either。 But if you think about it； it was inevitable。〃
Cynthia said； 〃Colonel； Army captains are not murdered every day； but this sounds like overkill； and sounds more like PR than good police science。〃
〃That point was raised。 The reality； however； is that it was a female； she was raped； and it was General Campbell's daughter。〃 He added； 〃There is equal justice for all； but some people get more of it。〃
I said； 〃I realize you have nothing to do with this decision； Colonel； but you ought to discuss this with General Campbell and see if he can get this decision reversed or at least modified。〃
〃I did。 That's how we got the promise。 As of about 2300 hours last night； you and Ms。 Sunhill were relieved。 General Campbell and Colonel Hellmann bought you some time。 They thought you were very close to an arrest。 So perhaps if you have good evidence and strong suspicions regarding Colonel Moore； you'll make that arrest。 You have our permission to do so if you feel you need that。〃
I thought a moment。 Colonel Moore seemed to be the most popular candidate for scapegoat。 And why not？ Evidence aside； he was a loony who did weird work in secret； and his uniform was sloppy； and General Campbell disliked his relationship with Ann Campbell according to Kent； and he had no significant awards or medals； and he was not a popular officer。 Even an MP corporal couldn't wait to rat him out。 This guy was walking into a noose with his face buried in a book of Nietzsche nuttiness。 I said to Colonel Fowler； 〃Well； if I have about thirty hours； I'll take it。〃
Fowler seemed a little disappointed。 He inquired； 〃What's keeping you from acting on the evidence you have？〃
〃There's not enough of it； Colonel。〃
〃There seems to be。〃
〃Did Colonel Kent tell you that？〃
〃Yes 。。。 and you indicated that the forensic evidence put Colonel Moore at the scene of the crime。〃
〃Right。 But it's a matter of times； motive； and ultimately the nature of the act itself。 I have probable cause to believe Colonel Moore was somehow involved with what happened out there； but I can't say he acted alone； or even with malice； or indeed that he can be charged with murder in the first degree。 I feel that I have to perfect a case against him； rather than just arrest him and throw the case onto the court。〃
〃I see。 Do you think he would confess？〃
〃You never know until you ask。〃
〃When will you ask？〃
〃I usually ask when the suspect and I are both ready for that kind of conversation。 In this case； I may wait until the clock runs out。〃
〃All right。 Do you need the assistance of the post CID？〃
〃I've been informed that Major Bowes was also a lover of the deceased。〃
〃That's hearsay。〃
〃That's right。 But if I…no； Colonel； if you ask him on his honor as an officer； he will probably tell you the truth。 In any case； since we may never know for sure； and since it's e up； he has to disqualify himself from this case。 And I don't want to deal with the people under his mand； either。〃
〃I'm sensitive to that； Mr。 Brenner； but a vague accusation…even a confession of sexual involvement with the victim…does not automatically disqualify Major Bowes from the investigation。〃
〃I think it does。 And I think it puts him on the B or C list of suspects until I hear his alibi or lack of same。 And on that subject； Colonel； if you're finished； may I begin my interview with you？〃
Colonel Fowler poured himself another cup of coffee with a rock…steady hand。 The sun was higher now and the screened porch was a little darker。 My stomach was gurgling with coffee and not much else； and my mind was not as alert as it should have been。 I glanced at Cynthia and thought she looked better than I felt； but this high…noon deadline meant having to choose between sleep； sex； food； and work。 Plan B。
Colonel Fowler asked； 〃Can I offer you breakfast？〃
〃No； thank you； Colonel。〃
He looked at me and said； 〃Fire away。〃
I opened fire。 〃Were you sexually involved with Ann Campbell？〃
〃No。〃
〃Do you know anyone who was？〃
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