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Again she nodded； a little more vigorously； I thought。
Cynthia continued； 〃We understand Colonel Fowler's position as General Campbell's adjutant and； I assume； his friend。 We appreciate your husband's honesty and his willingness to let us speak to you。 I'm sure he's told you to be as honest with us as he's been with us； and as we've been with you。
Tentative nod。
Cynthia went on； circling around any direct question； saying positive things； showing passion； empathy； and so on。 You have to do this with civilian witnesses who are not under subpoena； and Cynthia was doing a much better job than I could have done。
But the time had e； and Cynthia asked her； 〃You were home on the evening of the murder？〃
〃Yes； I was。〃
〃Your husband came home from the O Club at about ten P。M。〃
〃That's right。〃
〃You retired about eleven P。M。？〃
〃I believe so。〃
〃And sometime between 0245 and 0300 hours； three A。M。 or so； you were awakened by someone ringing your doorbell。〃
No reply。
〃Your husband went downstairs and answered the door。 He came back to the bedroom and told you it was the general； and that he had to go off on urgent business。 Your husband got dressed and asked you to do the same。 Correct？〃
No reply。
Cynthia said； 〃And you went with him。〃 Cynthia added； 〃You wear a size seven shoe； I believe。〃
Mrs。 Fowler replied； 〃Yes； we both got dressed and left。〃
No one spoke for a few seconds； then Cynthia said； 〃You both got dressed and left。 And did General Campbell remain in your house？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And was Mrs。 Campbell with him？〃
〃No； she was not。〃
〃So General Campbell stayed behind； and you acpanied your husband to rifle range six。 Correct？〃
〃Yes。 My husband said that the general told him Ann Campbell was naked； and he told me to bring a robe with me。 He said that Ann Campbell was tied up； so he took a knife for me to cut the rope。〃
〃All right。 You drove along Rifle Range Road； and for the last mile or so； you drove without headlights。〃
〃Yes。 My husband did not want to attract the attention of the guard。 He said there was a guard up the road。〃
〃Yes。 And you stopped at the parked humvee； as General Campbell instructed。 It was now what time？〃
〃It was 。。。 about three…thirty。〃
〃It was about three…thirty。 You got out of your car and 。。。〃
〃And I could see something out on the rifle range； and my husband told me to go out there and cut her loose and make her put the robe on。 He said to call him if I needed help。〃 Mrs。 Fowler paused； then added； 〃He said to slap her around if she didn't cooperate。 He was very angry。〃
〃Understandably so；〃 Cynthia agreed。 〃So you walked out on the range。〃
〃Yes。 My husband decided to follow about halfway。 I think he was concerned about how Ann would react。 He thought she might bee violent。〃
〃And you approached Ann Campbell。 Did you say anything？〃
〃Yes； I called her name； but she didn't 。。。 she didn't reply。 I got right up to her； and 。。。 I knelt beside her； and her eyes were open； but 。。。 I screamed 。。。 and my husband ran to me 。。。〃 Mrs。 Fowler put her hands over her face and began crying。 Cynthia seemed prepared for this and sprang out of her seat and sat beside Mrs。 Fowler on the couch； putting her arm around her and giving her a handkerchief。
After about a minute； Cynthia said； 〃Thank you。 You don't have to say any more。 We'll see ourselves out。〃 And we did。
We got into my Blazer and drove off。 I said； 〃Sometimes a shot in the dark hits its mark。〃
Cynthia replied； 〃But it wasn't a shot in the dark。 I mean； it all makes sense now； it's all logical； based on what we know of the facts； and what we know of the personalities。〃
〃Right。 You did a nice job。〃
〃Thank you。 But you set it up。〃
Which was true； so I said； 〃Yes； I did。〃
〃I suppose I don't like false modesty or humility in a man。〃
〃Good。 You're in the right car。〃 I said； 〃Do you think Colonel Fowler told her to tell the truth； or did she decide on her own？〃
Cynthia thought a moment； then replied； 〃I think Colonel Fowler knows that we know a； b； and c。 He told his wife that if we asked about x； then she should answer about x； and go on about y and z and get it off her chest； and get it finished with。〃
〃Right。 And Mrs。 Fowler is her husband's witness that Ann Campbell was dead when they got there； and that Colonel Fowler did not kill her。〃
〃Correct。 And I believe her； and I don't believe he killed Ann Campbell。〃
We drove in silence back toward the main post； both of us deep in thought。
We arrived at Beaumont House a little early； but decided that protocol had to take a backseat to reality for a change； and we went to the front door； where an MP checked our IDs； then rang the bell for us。
As luck would have it； young and handsome Lieutenant Elby opened the door。 He said； 〃You're ten minutes early。〃
Young Elby wore the crossed…rifles insignia of an infantry officer； and though there was no indication on this uniform that he'd seen bat anywhere； I deferred to his infantry status and his rank as a missioned officer。 I said to him； 〃We can leave and e back； or we can speak to you for a few minutes。〃
Lieutenant Elby seemed an amicable sort and showed us in。 We went into the waiting room where we'd been before； and； still standing； I said to Cynthia； 〃Didn't you want to use the facilities？〃
〃What？ Oh 。。。 yes。〃
Lieutenant Elby pointed and said； 〃There's a powder room to the left of the foyer。〃
〃Thank you。〃 She left。
I said to Elby； 〃Lieutenant； it has e to my attention that you and Captain Campbell dated。〃
Elby looked at me closely； then replied； 〃That's correct。〃
〃Did you know she was also dating Wes Yardley？〃
He nodded； and I could tell by his expression that this was still a painful memory for him。 I could certainly understand this…a clean…cut young officer having to share his boss's daughter with a less…than…clean…cut townie； a sort of bad…boy cop。 I said to Elby； 〃Did you love her？〃
〃I'm not answering that。〃
〃You already have。 And were your intentions honorable？〃
〃Why are you asking me these questions？ You're here to speak to Mrs。 Campbell。〃
〃We're early。 So you knew about Wes Yardley。 Did you hear other rumors that Ann Campbell dated married officers on post？〃
〃What the hell are you talking about？〃
I guess he didn't hear those rumors。 And I guess he didn't know about the room in the basement； either。 I said to him； 〃Did the general approve of your relationship with his daughter？〃
〃Yes； he did。 Do I have to answer these questions？〃
〃Well； three days ago you didn't； and you could have told me to go to hell。 And a few days from now； you could probably tell me the same thing。 But right now； yes； you have to answer these questions。 Next question…did Mrs。 Campbell approve？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Did you and Ann Campbell ever discuss marriage？〃
〃Yes； we did。〃
〃Talk to me； Lieutenant。〃
〃Well 。。。 I knew she was involved with this Yardley guy； and I was 。。。 annoyed 。。。 but it wasn't just that 。。。 I mean； she told me that 。。。 that she had to be sure her parents approved； and when the general gave his blessings； we would announce our engagement。〃
〃I see。 And you discussed this with the general； man…to…man？〃