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ies。〃
〃That's how Grant took Richmond； Colonel。〃
〃And they are still pissed…off at Grant in Richmond。〃
〃Right。 Colonel； I knew from the beginning that this case would be pulled away from me； from the CID。 The Pentagon and the White House did the politically correct thing； and God bless civilian control of the military。 But if I have about twenty hours left； I'll use it my way。〃
〃As you wish。〃
〃Trust me to conclude this case in a way that will not bring discredit on the Army。 Don't trust the FBI or the Attorney General's Office to do that。〃
〃I won't ment on that。〃
〃Best that you don't。〃
〃On another topic； Mr。 Brenner； your request to seize the contents of Colonel Moore's office has gone all the way to the Pentagon； and they turned it down for national security reasons。〃
〃That's the very best of reasons； sir。 But it's odd that the people in Washington want me to arrest Colonel Moore for murder； but I can't get permission to examine his files。〃
〃That's what happens when you ask。 You know that。〃
〃Indeed I do。 That's the last time I go through channels。〃
〃That's your call。 But the Pentagon did say that if you arrest Colonel Moore at this time； they will fly someone down here with the necessary clearance and authority to assist you in going through the files on a selective basis。 But it can't be a fishing expedition。 You must know what you're looking for。〃
〃Right。 I've been that route before。 If I knew what the hell I was looking for； I probably wouldn't need it。〃
〃Well； that's the best I could do。 What clearance do you have？〃
〃Oh； about five foot eleven。〃 He didn't laugh； so I said； 〃Secret clearance。〃
〃All right； I'll pass that on。 Meantime； the Psy…Ops School is sending people down to Jordan Field to collect the contents of Captain Campbell's office and return everything to the school。 You and Colonel Kent will not be charged with a crime for removing the contents； but letters of reprimand have been put in your files。〃 He added； 〃You must obey the law like the rest of us。〃
〃Well； I usually do when I know what it is。〃
〃You don't confiscate classified material without proper authorization。〃
〃Someone's trying to sandbag me； Colonel。〃
〃Not only that； someone's trying to screw you。 Why？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃You've made inquiries about Captain Campbell's time at West Point。 Correct？〃
〃That's correct。 Did I ask the wrong question？〃
〃Apparently。〃
I glanced at Cynthia and inquired of Colonel Fowler； 〃Can you tell me anything about that； Colonel？〃
〃I know nothing about it； except that they're asking me why you're asking。〃
〃Who are they？〃
〃I can't say。 But you hit a nerve； Mr。 Brenner。〃
〃It sounds like you're trying to help me； Colonel。〃
〃Upon consideration； you and Ms。 Sunhill may be the best people for this job。 But you won't conclude this case in time； so I'm advising you to protect yourselves。〃 He added； 〃Lay low。〃
〃Ms。 Sunhill and I are not criminals。 We are criminal investigators。〃
〃The letter of reprimand was a warning shot。 The next shot is aimed for the heart。〃
〃Right； but I'm firing it。〃
〃You're a damned fool。 We need more people like you。〃 He added； 〃Be sure your partner understands what she's getting into。〃
〃I'm not sure I understand。〃
〃Neither do I； but you definitely asked the wrong question about West Point。 Good day。〃 He hung up。
I looked at Cynthia。 〃My goodness。〃
She said； 〃We definitely asked the right question about West Point。〃
〃Apparently。〃 I called Jordan Field and got Grace Dixon on the line。 〃Grace； I just got a tip that there are people en route to your location from the Psy…Ops School to reclaim Captain Campbell's files； and I'm sure that includes her puter。〃
〃I know。 They're already here。〃
〃Damn it！〃
〃No problem。 After I spoke to you； I copied everything onto a floppy disk。〃 She added； 〃They're taking the puter now； but I don't think anyone could e up with the passwords to access those files。〃
〃Nice going； Grace。〃 I asked； 〃What are the passwords？〃
〃There are three： one for the personal letters； one for the list of boyfriends' names； addresses； and telephone numbers； and one for the diary。〃 She continued； 〃The password for the letters is 'Naughty Notes；' for the boyfriends' names； addresses； and telephone numbers； she used the words 'Daddy's Friends；' and the password for the diary is 'Trojan Horse。' 〃
〃Okay 。。。 hold on to that disk。〃
〃It's close to my heart。〃
〃Good。 Sleep with it tonight。 Talk to you later。〃 I hung up； called Falls Church； and got through to Karl。 I said to him； 〃I'm hearing that my inquiry about West Point got some people angry； upset； or scared。〃
〃Who told you that？〃
〃The question is； What did you find？〃
〃Nothing。〃
I said to him； 〃This is important。〃
〃I'm doing my best。〃
〃Tell me what you've done。〃
〃Mister Brenner； I don't report to you。〃
〃Right。 But I've asked you to use your resources to get me a piece of information。〃
〃I'll call you when I have something。〃
Cynthia pushed a note toward me that read： Tapped？ I nodded。 Karl definitely sounded weird。 I asked him； 〃Did they get to you； Karl？〃
After a few seconds； he said； 〃All the doors slammed in my face。 Proceed with the case without this information。 I've been assured you don't need it。〃
〃All right。 Thanks very much for trying。〃
〃I'll see you here tomorrow or the next day。〃
〃Fine。 Since you're not busy with my request； perhaps you can arrange a thirty…day administrative leave for me and Ms。 Sunhill； and a confirmed MAC flight to a place of my choice。〃
〃The Pentagon would like nothing better。〃
〃And get that fucking letter of reprimand out of my file。〃 I hung up。
Cynthia said； 〃What the hell is going on here？〃
〃I think we opened a Pandora's box； took out a can of worms； and threw it at a hornet's nest。〃
〃You can say that again。〃
But I didn't。 I said； 〃We've been cut loose。〃 I thought a moment； then added； 〃But I think we can go it alone。〃
〃I guess we have no choice。 But I still want to know about West Point。〃
〃Karl has assured us it's not important to the case。〃
Cynthia stayed silent a moment； then said； 〃Karl disappoints me。 I never thought he'd back off from a criminal investigation like that。〃
〃Me neither。〃
We spoke for a few minutes trying to figure out where to go regarding the West Point inquiry。 I looked at my watch。 〃Well； let's get to Bethany Hill。〃 We got up to leave； but there was a knock on the door； and Specialist Baker came in with a sheet of paper in her hand。 She sat at my desk and glanced at the paper。
I said to her； sarcastically； 〃Have a seat； Baker。〃
She looked up at us and said in an assured tone of voice； 〃Actually； I'm Warrant Officer Kiefer from the CID。 I've been here about two months on undercover assignment for Colonel Hellmann。 I've been investigating charges of improper conduct in the traffic enforcement section…petty stuff； nothing to do with Colonel Kent or any of that。 Colonel Hellmann told me to get myself assigned as your clerk…typist。〃 She looked at us。 〃So I did。〃
Cynthia said； 〃Are you serious？ You've been spying on us for Colonel Hellmann？〃
〃Not spying； just helping。 It's done all the time。