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〃Marrying Ann Campbell is not what I'd call settling down。〃
〃True。〃 I briefed Cynthia on my short conversation with Elby； and added； 〃Now the poor bastard is being shipped to Guam。 That's what happens…like in those old Greek plays when a mortal has carnal knowledge of a goddess。 They wind up insane； turned into an animal or some inanimate object； or get banished to Guam or its Aegean equivalent。〃
〃Sexist nonsense。〃
〃Right。 Anyway； I get the feeling that the family dynamics among the Campbells was so pathological that love and happiness could never flourish； and God help anyone who got caught in their misery and pain。〃
She nodded。 〃Do you think they were all right before she was raped at West Point？〃
〃Well 。。。 according to Colonel Moore； yes。 I think that's an accurate picture。 And speaking of pictures； I'm thinking back to that photo album we found in Ann's house 。。。 If you think about the pictures as before and after…before and after the rape in the summer between her first and second year at West Point…you can see a difference。〃
〃Yes。 You can almost pinpoint any family tragedy that way if you know what you're looking for。〃 She added； 〃Those men who gang…raped her had a little fun and went on with their lives； and they never thought about the human wreckage they left behind。〃
〃I know。 We both see that if we stay around long enough after an act of violence。 But usually we can get some justice。 In this case； nobody called the cops。〃
〃No； not then。 But we're here now。〃 She asked me； 〃How do you want to handle General Campbell？〃
〃I'd like to rough him up。 But I think he's already paid the supreme price for his great mistake。 I don't know 。。。 tough call。 Play it by ear。 He's a general。〃
〃Right。〃
The Post Headquarters parking lot was nearly empty； but there were a few cars left； including the general's olive…drab staff car。 There was also a humvee； a few of which are usually authorized for Post Headquarters； and I assumed that the one sitting in the hangar at Jordan Field had been replaced。
Cynthia and I stood in the parking lot to the right of the headquarters building； and I said； 〃She walked out that side door at about 0100 hours； got into one of the humvees； and drove off to confront the ghosts of the past。〃
〃And the ghosts won。〃
We walked around to the front of the headquarters building。 The two…story； dark brick structure vaguely resembled a public school built in the 1930s； except that the walk was lined with spent 105mm howitzer shell casings； each one sprouting flowers； which was unintentionally ironic。 Also on the lawn were old field artillery pieces from different eras； a graphic display of the progression of the boom factor。
We entered the front doors； and a young PFC at the information desk stood。 I told him we had an appointment with General Campbell。 He checked his appointment sheet and directed us down a long corridor toward the rear of the building。
Cynthia and I walked down the deserted； echoing corridor with the spit…shined linoleum floor。 I said to her； 〃I've never arrested a general before。 I'm probably more nervous than he is。
She glanced at me and replied； 〃He didn't do it； Paul。〃
〃How do you know？〃
〃I can't picture it； and if I can't picture it； it didn't happen。
〃I don't remember that in the manual。〃
〃Well； in any case； I don't think you're allowed to arrest a general officer。 Check the manual。〃
We came to a sort of second lobby； which was deserted； and straight ahead was a closed door with a brass plate that said； 〃Lt。 General Joseph I。 Campbell。〃
I knocked on the door； and it was opened by a female captain whose nametag read Bollinger。 She said； 〃Good evening。 I'm General Campbell's senior aide。〃
We shook hands all around； and she showed us into a small secretarial area。 Captain Bollinger was about thirty…five； chunky； but friendly…looking and animated。 I said to her； 〃I don't think I've ever heard of a female aide to a male general since Ike's lady friend。〃
She smiled and replied； 〃There are a few。 The general's other aide is a male； Lieutenant Elby。〃
〃Yes； we've met him。〃 It occurred to me that if Lieutenant Elby was a pawn in the game between father and daughter； then Captain Bollinger was certainly not； she was not seducible by Ann； and she was also homely enough for Mrs。 Campbell's requirements。 It really sucks at the top。
Captain Bollinger escorted us into an empty outer office and said； 〃The general has allocated all the time you want。 But please understand that he's 。。。 well； he's just plain grief…stricken。〃
Cynthia replied； 〃We understand。〃
I also understood that this interview was scheduled for after…duty hours so that if it got messy； the troops wouldn't be around to see or hear it。
Captain Bollinger knocked on a nice oak door； opened it； and announced us as Warrant Officers Brenner and Sunhill。 She stepped aside and we entered。
The general was standing and came forward to greet us。 We exchanged quick salutes； then shook hands。
General Campbell indicated a grouping of upholstered chairs； and we all sat。 Generals； like CEOs； have varying degrees of seating in the office； but generals also have the option of letting you stand at attention or； if they're being nice； at parade rest or at ease。 But Cynthia and I were being shown far more courtesy than our rank required。 It must have had something to do with the fact that we'd just heard two confessions of criminal conduct from two wives； to wit： accessory after the fact； and conspiracy。 But perhaps he just liked us。
He asked； 〃Would either of you like a drink？〃
〃No； thank you； sir。〃 But in truth； the cannon had sounded and the flag was down； and in the Army that is the equivalent of Pavlov's starving dogs hearing the dinner bell。
No one spoke for a minute or so； and I looked around the office。 The walls were white plaster； and the trim and moldings were natural oak； as were the desks； tables； and so forth。 The area rug over the oak floor was a red Oriental； probably picked up overseas。 There was not much in the way of war trophies； souvenirs； framed certificates； or any of that； but on a small round table in the corner was a blue cape laid out like a tablecloth on which lay a sheathed saber； an old long…barreled pistol； a blue dress hat； and other odds and ends。
The general saw me looking and said； 〃Those are my father's things。 He was a colonel in the old horse cavalry back in the 1920s。〃
I replied； 〃I was in the First Battalion of the Eighth Cavalry in Vietnam； minus horses。〃
〃Really？ That was my father's regiment。 Old Indian fighters； though that was before his time。〃
So； we had something in mon after all。 Almost。 Cynthia was probably immediately bored by the old boola…boola routine； but a little male bonding is a good thing before you go for the balls。
General Campbell asked me； 〃So you weren't always a detective？〃
〃No； sir。 I used to do honest work。〃
He smiled。 〃Awards？ Decorations？〃
I told him and he nodded。 I think he was better able to accept what I had to do to him if I was a bat vet。 Even if I hadn't been； I'd have told him I was。 I'm allowed to lie in the pursuit of truth； and an unsworn witness may also lie； whil