Karl, my good buddy, agreed. "Everything is relevant, and the most inconsequential things, when put together, give a picture and establish the motives and the personalities of the victim and the suspect."

I said, "Very good, Karl. In fact, from what I could glean from the effects of the deceased, William Hines was a Boy Scout, and Edward Blake was a bad boy. No, that doesn't make him a murderer. But we have some facts that point to him as a suspect. We have the MACV roster, which shows that both men were in the same small advisory group at the same time, and there was only one captain in the group. Army records will back this up-if they haven't been destroyed in that famous and convenient storage fire. We have the testimony of the witness, who saw and identified an American army captain of the First Cavalry Division shoot and kill a lieutenant, now identified as William Hines, who wore the same shoulder patch as the captain, and whose personal effects this witness took."

I milked this thin evidence for all it was worth, but if this group was a jury, and I was a prosecutor, I'd be worried. So, when you're losing your case, you make s.h.i.t up. I said, "As Susan may have told you, Tran Van Vinh identified the photos of Edward Blake as the killer."

I glanced at Susan, who said, "Positive identification."

Bill, John, and Marc seemed upset; Karl seemed skeptical, as he should be.

I finished my presentation with, "And then there's the loot from the treasury. Someone will need to investigate Edward Blake's financial past, specifically after he returned from Vietnam. There was jewelry in the treasury vault, and that may be traceable, or still in the possession of Mr. Blake or his former lady friends or his present wife."

There was silence in the room, then Bill spoke. "It sounds to me that this evidence is not only circ.u.mstantial, but also weak and inconclusive, not to mention three decades old. I certainly wouldn't make an accusation based on what I've heard."

John Eagan agreed and said, "An accusation this serious against Edward Blake wouldn't stand up in court, but it would result in a field day for his political enemies and the media."

Marc Goodman seemed deep in unhappy thoughts, then asked me, "And in your opinion, this witness is reliable?"

"I think he is. But I understand that an American jury may not."

John asked me casually, "Where is this witness?"

I said, "Probably sleeping. He's a peasant."

Bill, who had observed my wit earlier, asked in an annoyed tone, " Sleeping where? where? In his village?" In his village?"

"I guess so. It wasn't practical for us to bring him here." I looked at Bill and John and said, "And it wasn't practical for Susan to blow his head off."

No one, including Karl, feigned any shock or surprise, which was a treat. But neither did anyone comment.

Colonel Goodman looked at Susan and asked, "And you and Paul have hidden this physical evidence?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

Susan replied, "If I told you, it wouldn't be hidden."

Colonel Goodman smiled good-naturedly and said, "It doesn't need to be hidden any longer."

Susan didn't reply.

Colonel Goodman asked, "Is it nearby?"

Susan replied, "No. We antic.i.p.ated having a police problem when we got off the Lao Cai train."

"So, you hid these items back in Lao Cai or near Ban Hin?"

"Around there."

Bill was embarra.s.sed by his ex-girlfriend's lack of cooperation, and if Eagan was his boss, which he probably was, then Bill's next a.s.signment would be watching Russian ships off the coast of Iceland. Bill said sharply, "Susan, tell us where you hid the evidence."

She fixed Bill with a look that Bill had probably seen before. "I don't like your tone."

He changed his tone. "Susan, can you describe for us the hiding place of Lieutenant Hines's personal effects?"

"Later."

"Susan-"

John Eagan b.u.t.ted in and addressed a question to me. "Are you withholding evidence in a criminal case?"

"No. I just hid it."

"Why?"

"We're in a hostile country, John. I secured the evidence in a safe location."

"Which you will now reveal to us."

"Why? You don't think much of it. Don't worry about it."

He ignored that and repeated, "You will tell us now where you hid it."

"Why? Who are you?"

Eagan looked at Karl, who said to me, "I'm making that a direct order, Paul."

"All right. I'll tell you later. In private."

Karl was happy to be the only one who could control me, and happier to be the sole recipient of some important information. He said, "Fine. We'll speak later."

Everyone had to be satisfied with that, and Colonel Goodman moved on and said to Karl, "You, Colonel, are an experienced and professional investigator. What is your opinion of this evidence? Would you recommend further investigation? The bringing of charges? Or a dismissal of the case?"

Karl played with his lower lip for a moment, then answered, "You must factor in the pa.s.sage of time, and the nature of the witness. He may seem reliable and believable, but I wouldn't want him as my witness unless I had some other evidence to back up his testimony... and the single piece of relevant physical evidence described, an army roster, is simply not enough. If this was my case at this point, I'd drop it."

I said, "Karl, that's not true and you know it. It is at this point that you do the only thing you can can do. Question the suspect." do. Question the suspect."

John Eagan jumped right in and said, "That will not happen, here or anywhere." He looked at everyone and reminded us, "We're losing sight of the most important issue. This... this matter could ruin the life and political career of an honorable man, a decorated veteran, a husband, father, and dedicated public servant. The American people do not need any more scandal or witch hunts. And there are are international considerations. I dismiss this whole thing as unworthy of further discussion." international considerations. I dismiss this whole thing as unworthy of further discussion."

Colonel Goodman thought a moment, then said, "I'd like to know how each of us who have this information would proceed. John?"

"Drop it and this meeting never took place."

"Bill?"

"Drop it. And forget it."

"Colonel h.e.l.lmann? This is an actual case for you, is it not?"

Karl h.e.l.lmann replied, "It never was official, and it never will be. Consider the file destroyed."

I thought I heard a sigh of relief.

Colonel Goodman looked at me. "Paul?"

"I want time with the suspect."

Goodman started to say something, then thought better of it and turned to Susan. "Ms. Weber?"

"I have absolutely no experience with the law or criminal matters, and I wouldn't know what const.i.tutes good evidence or circ.u.mstantial evidence, or a reliable or unreliable witness. But I know that four murders and a robbery were committed by an army captain, and the only captain we have who might have done it is in the guest room upstairs. Common sense says to talk to him. He may be able to tell you where he was that day. I mean, he could have been on leave, or in a hospital, or with ten other guys. You need to dig a little deeper, and maybe you'll be happy with what you find, or maybe you'll find you need to dig even deeper."

Again, a long silence, then I said, "Look, I'm not convinced myself that Edward Blake is a murderer. I might even want to be convinced otherwise. Susan is right. There's nothing lost by talking to the man."

Eagan said to me, "So, you want me to go upstairs and roust the Vice President of the United States out of bed so he can come down here and answer questions about his possible involvement in a murder?"

"Why not?"

"Because, if I was him, I'd tell you to go f.u.c.k yourself."

"I've been told that many times, John. That's when I get a subpoena."

"Are you crazy?"

"Karl can answer that."

Eagan didn't bother to ask Karl. Eagan said to me, "Look, if you want to get legal, you have no power and no authority to question anyone here, and certainly not the Vice President."

"Voluntary questionings are done all the time, John. You first ask the person if he wants to voluntarily answer some questions. If he doesn't, then you get a little suspicious, then you get a little subpoena."

"Bulls.h.i.t."

Army officers rarely swear, and Goodman said, "Language, please."

Eagan said, "Jesus Christ... I can't believe this."

John Eagan was obviously the hatchet man here, and probably had the most to lose, except for Edward Blake. Eagan, if he was the CIA bureau chief, had planned most of this mission along with Bill, and if it came off okay, John and Bill would be at Edward Blake's inauguration ball, and in private they'd call him Eddie.

Washington has a different system of rewards and punishments, and it goes like this: If I know you did something wrong and I don't punish you, then I want a reward. That, however, is not how I or the law works.

I said to Karl, "You and I, Karl, are sworn officers of the law. We are on United States property. The alleged crime was committed while the suspect was in the military. Do we have the right to ask Edward Blake to voluntarily answer some questions?"

Karl wanted to shake his head, but his training called for a nod. The result looked like a neck spasm. Finally, he said, "There may be a jurisdic-tional question."

I said to Eagan, "Are you FBI?"

"No."

"Who's the FBI guy in the emba.s.sy?"

Eagan replied, "Who gives a s.h.i.t? You're p.i.s.sing me off, Paul."

Bill asked me, "Are you showing off for Susan?"

Before I could say "f.u.c.k you," Susan said, "No, he's been a pain in the a.s.s about this since he discovered the truth. He really means it."

I slid off the desk and said, "I'm going upstairs to find Edward Blake."

Eagan stood. "You take one step up those stairs, and you're history, pal."

"John, don't make me hurt you."

Everyone was standing now, and Colonel Goodman, our discussion leader, said, "That's quite enough from both of you." He looked at me and asked, "Paul, if I can arrange for the Vice President to join us, do I have your word that you'll be satisfied that this investigation is concluded?"

I can see why Military Intelligence has a bad reputation. But I'm I'm not stupid and I answered, "Of course." not stupid and I answered, "Of course."

"And I have your word that you understand that anything that has been said tonight is for all time cla.s.sified information?"

"Absolutely."

"And your two weeks in Vietnam were tourism and nothing else."

"Correct." I noticed Bill and John looking at each other. They weren't protesting, so that meant I'd won. Actually, it meant I was dead.

Colonel Goodman walked to the door and said, "I'll get a Secret Service man to speak to the Vice President." He left.

Karl said to me, "Paul, you may want to reconsider."

I replied, "I just want to meet the VP. And get an autograph for my nephew."

Susan stood and came over to me. She said, softly, "If you had one day left in Vietnam before you went home, would you volunteer for a dangerous mission?"

"No. But I'd follow orders. My last orders were to find a murderer."

"I think Karl would like you to stop looking."

"f.u.c.k Karl. How about you?"

"I'm on your side. Do what you need to do."

Goodman returned and said, "The Vice President will be joining us shortly." He said to me, "You have ten minutes. You will will be polite and respectful." be polite and respectful."

"Yes, sir."

"You will not not make any accusations. You will present the facts, and if the Vice President wants to make a statement, he will. If not, it's his right to remain silent." make any accusations. You will present the facts, and if the Vice President wants to make a statement, he will. If not, it's his right to remain silent."

"Yes, sir. I do this all the time."

"Good."