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t the door of the room had been glued shut； and they suspected that it had to be me who did that。 The contents of the room appeared to be intact when Yardley came upon the room； but neither he nor Kent could be sure of what I had found there or taken away。
Burt Yardley； cunning bastard that he was； had feigned surprise that I knew about the room； but he knew that Ann Campbell wouldn't have glued it shut…therefore； he suspected that Brenner did。 Burt Yardley took that information to Kent； and Kent decided to confess to sexual misconduct； but hedged his bet and never mentioned the room。 Now the contents of the room were in Yardley's possession； and I didn't know who had whom by the balls； and what the relationship was of those two men； but if either of them killed her； the other didn't know about it。
I recalled how Kent resisted my decision to go directly to the victim's off…post house。 That was understandable on the face of it…it was an irregular procedure…but I thought now that Kent had intended to call Yardley early that morning； or may have tried to call him before or after he called me； and intended to say something like； 〃Chief； Ann Campbell has been murdered on post。 You should probably get a court order and go through her house； ASAP。 Collect evidence。〃 And Yardley would know what evidence had to be collected and disposed of； ASAP。 But Yardley； according to his own statement； had been inconveniently or conveniently in Atlanta； and Kent found himself in a bind。
Right。 So I got there first； and Kent had to make a different kind of call to Yardley in Atlanta； explaining what had happened。 Then Kent and Yardley crossed their fingers； hoping that the hidden room would stay that way。 Just as Cynthia and I had hoped for the same thing； not knowing that the Midland police chief and the Fort Hadley provost marshal had both been guests in that room。
Kent； too； had dragged his feet about notifying General and Mrs。 Campbell。 That could be an understandable human reaction； a natural aversion to being the bearer of bad news； though it was uncharacteristically unprofessional of Kent。 But if Kent had killed the general's daughter； then I could see why he couldn't get up the courage to do his duty。
And Kent would not call Major Bowes； because Kent knew that Bowes knew about the room； the major having been entertained there as well。 And Kent did not want Bowes to go there and collect evidence on Kent。 And Kent could not get to that room in Ann Campbell's house himself； because； if he was the one who killed her； the place where he had to be was at home； and damned quick； to wait for the call from the MPs when she was found。
I could almost picture it 。。。 almost。 Kent； for some reason that I still didn't know； was out there on or near rifle range six。 I didn't know how or if he knew what was going to go on there； but I could sort of picture him after General Campbell left： big； tall Bill Kent； probably in his uniform； walking that fifty meters from the road； toward the naked and bound Ann Campbell。 He stops and they look at each other； and he realizes that fate has dropped this in his lap。 His problem was Ann Campbell and her willingness to take everyone down with her。 The answer to his problem was the rope that was already around her neck。
He may or may not have known what this scenario was all about； he may or may not have heard the exchange with her father。 If he hadn't； then perhaps he mistook what he saw for a sexual rendezvous with another man； and he was jealous； enraged。 In any event； they certainly spoke； and it was very possible that Ann Campbell said the wrong thing at the wrong time。
Or perhaps it didn't matter what she said…Kent had had enough。 He knew that there was trace evidence from other people at the scene； and he knew he'd be back in an official capacity within hours； and any evidence of his presence was explainable and expected。 He's a cop； and he putes all of it very quickly。 Not only would this be the perfect crime； but it was the necessary crime。 All he has to do is kneel down and tighten the rope。 But did he have the will to act？ Didn't she plead with him？ Could he have been that cold and callous？ Or was it heat and rage that drove him？
What did I know about this man whom I'd seen maybe a dozen times in the last ten years？ I searched my memory； but all I could say for sure about him was that he was always more concerned about the appearance of propriety than with propriety itself。 He was very aware of his reputation as Mr。 Clean Cop。 He never made sexual ments or jokes； and he was tough on the men in his mand who did not live up to his high standards of conduct and appearance。 But then he was seduced by the general's daughter。 He knew he was the butt of jokes； according to Ms。 Kiefer； he knew he was losing respect； and he knew you don't get to be a general by fucking one of their daughters。
And was it possible； somewhere in the dark recesses of his mind； that he knew that certain people on post； certainly people under his mand； would wonder in awe if it was Colonel Kent who had done it； if the top cop at Hadley had solved not only his problem but the problems of thirty； senior officers and their wives？ The average person might feel revulsion against a killer； but a killer can also mand fear and respect； especially if there's a sense that the killer was doing something not quite all bad。
But given all that； given the fact that these speculations and deductions made sense and fit the facts； did that make Colonel William Kent； provost marshal of Fort Hadley； a suspect in the murder of Captain Ann Campbell？ With all the other possible men； and perhaps women； on post who had a motive…revenge； jealousy； concealment of a crime； to avoid humiliation or disgrace； or even homicidal mania…why Kent？ And； if Kent； how would I go about proving it？ In the rare cases when a cop at the scene of a crime may be the perpetrator of the crime； the investigating officer has a real problem。
I stood in front of Kent's door a moment； then knocked。
CHAPTER THIRTY
I pointed the Blazer toward the Officers' Club； and we drove in silence； then I asked Cynthia； 〃Why do you think it was Kent？〃
〃Instinct。〃
〃Instinct is what put Kent between Ann Campbell's thighs。 Why do you think he murdered her？〃
〃I don't know that he did； Paul。 But we've eliminated other suspects。 The Yardley boys have tight alibis； we know what Colonel Moore did； and the Fowlers are each other's witnesses； and the general； and； for that matter； Mrs。 Campbell； are clean as far as I'm concerned。 Sergeant St。 John and MP Casey； who found the body； are not likely suspects； and neither is anyone else we've spoken to or heard about。〃
〃But there's Major Bowes； Colonel Weems； Lieutenant Elby； the head chaplain； the medical officer； and about thirty other officers who had a motive。 Plus； there are the wives of those officers； if you think about that。 That's a possibility。〃
〃True。 And there could very well be someone else out there whom we haven't even heard of。 But you have to consider opportunity and the will to mit murder。〃
〃Right。 Unfortunately； we don't have the time to interview all the men in her diary。 And I'd hate to t