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Cynthia said； 〃Are you serious？ You've been spying on us for Colonel Hellmann？〃
〃Not spying； just helping。 It's done all the time。〃
I replied； 〃It is； but I'm still pissed…off。〃
Specialist Baker； a。k。a。 Warrant Officer Kiefer； said； 〃I don't blame you； but this case is explosive； and Colonel Hellmann was concerned。〃
I said； 〃Colonel Hellmann just took a dive on us。〃
She didn't respond to that； but said； 〃In the two months I've been here； I've heard those rumors about Colonel Kent and Captain Campbell that I told you about。 That's all true； but I never wrote him up because I don't like doing that to people。 I couldn't see one incident where he promised his duties； and all I had was office gossip anyway。 But now I suppose that's all relevant。〃
Cynthia replied； 〃Relevant； but maybe not evidence of anything except stupidity。〃
Ms。 Kiefer shrugged。 She handed me a sheet of paper and said； 〃I got a call from Falls Church a few minutes ago telling me to identify myself to you； and instructing me to stand by the fax machine。 That's what came across。〃
I looked at the fax sheet； which was addressed to me and Sunhill； via Kiefer； eyes only。 I read aloud； 〃 'Regarding the West Point inquiry； as indicated on the phone； all files sealed or nonexistent； all verbal inquiries met with silence。 However； I phoned a retired CID person who was stationed at the Point during the period in question。 That person spoke on condition of anonymity； and briefed me as follows： During the summer between Cadet Campbell's first and second year at West Point； she was hospitalized in a private clinic for a few weeks。 Officially； she'd had a training accident at Camp Buckner Military Reservation during night exercises。 My source says that General Campbell flew in from Germany the day after the 'accident。' Here is the story as my source pieced it together from rumors： In August； during recondo training； the cadets were engaged in night patrols in the woods； and by accident or design； Cadet Campbell was separated from a larger group and found herself with five or six males…either cadets or men from the Eighty…second Airborne Division who were assisting with the training。 They wore camouflage paint； and it was dark and so forth。 These male personnel grabbed Cadet Campbell； stripped her； and staked her out with pegs from their pup tents； then took turns raping her。 What happened next is unclear； but presumably the men threatened her if she reported the rape； then untied her and ran off。 She was reported missing until dawn； when she appeared at the bivouac area； disheveled and hysterical。 She was taken first to Keller Army Hospital and treated for minor cuts and bruises； exhaustion； and so forth。 Medical records do not indicate sexual assault。 General Campbell arrived； and she was removed to a private clinic。 No one was charged； no action taken； incident hushed for the good of the academy； and Cadet Campbell reported for classes in September。 Rumor was that the general put pressure on his daughter not to pursue the matter…the general was probably pressured himself from higher…ups。 So that's it。 Shred this message and destroy fax activity report。 Good luck。 （Signed） Hellmann。' 〃
I passed the fax to Cynthia； and she said； 〃It all makes sense now； doesn't it？〃
I nodded。
Kiefer asked us； 〃You know who killed her？〃
I replied； 〃No； but I think we know now why she was out there on the range。〃
Cynthia put Karl's message through the shredder and said to Kiefer； 〃So you wanted to be a detective？〃
Kiefer looked a little embarrassed but replied； 〃Specialist Baker wanted to be a detective。〃
Cynthia said； 〃Specialist Baker can stay a clerk…typist for a while。 We don't need another detective。〃
〃Yes； ma'am；〃 replied Kiefer； slipping back into her assumed rank and role。 〃But I'll keep my eyes and ears open。〃
〃You do that。〃
I said to Baker； 〃Tell Colonel Kent that Mr。 Brenner wants Colonel Moore restricted to post and available until further notice。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
Cynthia and I left the office； went out the back way； and made it to the parking lot without getting waylaid by reporters。 I said； 〃My turn to drive。〃 I found my keys and we got into my Blazer。
As I drove toward Bethany Hill； I said； 〃Karl is okay for a bastard。〃
She smiled。 〃Even if he did pull a fast one on us。 Do you believe that？〃
〃It es with the territory； Cynthia。〃 I added； 〃I thought she looked familiar。 There was something not right about her。〃
〃Oh； cut the crap； Paul。 You were as fooled as I was。 God； I have to get out of this job。〃
〃What about Panama？〃 I glanced at her； and our eyes met。
Cynthia said； 〃I put in for a permanent duty station out of the continental United States because I wanted to get away from my about…to…be ex。〃
〃Good thinking。〃 I changed the subject。 〃So this West Point thing is high explosives。〃
〃Yes。 I can't believe a father would participate in a cover…up 。。。 well； if you think about it 。。。 I mean； there's so much tension at West Point since it went co…ed。 It's unbelievable what's happening there。 Plus； the general had his own career to think about； and maybe he was thinking of his daughter's career and reputation as well。 But he wasn't doing her any favors。〃
〃No； he was not。〃
〃Women who suppress a sexual assault； or who are made to suppress it； usually pay for it later。〃
〃Or make other people pay for it；〃 I pointed out。
〃That's right。 Sometimes both。〃 She added； 〃What happened on rifle range six was a reenactment of the rape at West Point； wasn't it？〃
〃I'm afraid it was。〃
〃Except this time someone killed her。〃
〃Right。〃
〃Her father？〃
〃Let's get the last piece of information we need to reenact the entire crime； from beginning to end。〃
She stayed silent a moment； then asked me； 〃Do you know who killed her？〃
〃I know who didn't kill her。〃
〃Don't be enigmatic； Paul。〃
〃Do you have a suspect？〃
〃I have a few。〃
〃Build a case against them and we'll put them on trial tonight in the VOQ。〃
〃Sounds good。 I hope we can hang someone in the morning。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY…SIX
We arrived at the Fowler residence on Bethany Hill and rang the bell。
Mrs。 Fowler greeted us； looking only slightly less distressed than she'd looked that morning。 She showed us into the living room and offered us coffee or whatever； but we declined。 She sat on a couch； and we sat in club chairs。
Cynthia and I had discussed a line of questioning； and we decided that Cynthia would lead off。 She chatted with Mrs。 Fowler about life； the Army； Fort Hadley； and so forth； then； when Mrs。 Fowler was relaxed； Cynthia said to her； 〃Please be assured that we only want to see justice done。 We are not here to ruin reputations。 We are here to find a murderer； but we are also here to make certain that innocent men and women are not falsely accused。〃
Mrs。 Fowler nodded。
Cynthia continued； 〃You know that Ann Campbell was sexually involved with many men on this post。 I want first to assure you that in all the evidence that we've gathered； your husband's name has not been linked with Ann Campbell。〃
Again she nodded； a little more vigorously； I thought。
Cynthia continued； 〃We understand Colonel Fowler's positi