Chapter 54 Chapter Fifty-Four

"What the hell are you doing here?" Instead of a military uniform, Julie Carson wore jeans and a military-green sleeveless T-shirt issued by the troops.Her feet were bare and her strong arms were tanned.She probably goes to the gym every day.In order to enjoy the sun and keep in shape, I have to go for a run at noon, Puller guessed. She looked up at Puller.He was standing outside her apartment door.Wearing the leather shoes that match the military uniform according to the regulations, he is about 1.95 meters tall.His broad shoulders barred the door barely a crack. "Want to ask some new questions."

"How do you know I live here?" "No offense to your intelligence secrecy. But I'm an Army criminal investigator and you're in the Army. No more trouble than looking in a phone book." "I don't like it when you do that." "Your opinion is valued. Can we come in and talk?" "I've already talked to you." "Yes, you did, but, as I said, I have some new problems." "I am very busy." "And I'm investigating a murder case. Or, the deceased is one of your subordinates." A door in the corridor opened, and two young men came out to watch them.

"It's better to go inside, General," Pooler pointed out. Carson glanced at the two young men, stepped back to let Puller into the room, and closed the door behind him.She led Puller through the hall.He noticed the interior's high-end furniture, paintings, and tasteful decor.Her apartment is facing the Pentagon Mall, only one subway stop away from the Pentagon. "It's convenient for you to go to work." "Yes, very close." She replied curtly. They are standing in the living room.She pointed him to an upholstered chair and sat herself on the small sofa opposite.

On the wall are photos of Carson with many senior military officials and politicians.Everyone in the photo, mostly men, presumably contributed to Carson's career.He remembered a wall in her office in the Pentagon with roughly the same photo. "The house is nice." "I like." "The place I'm currently living in is still like a college dormitory." "I'm sorry," she said curtly. "Maybe it's time for you to grow up." "Probably so." "I don't see what new questions you have." "It's based on new information."

"What new information?" she asked mockingly. "It's about Colonel Reynolds." He stopped talking and stared at her. "Okay, I'll wait for you to tell. Or do I have to guess first?" Puller unhurriedly took out his notebook and uncapped his pen.While doing this, his eyes were fixed on her.He saw Carson scrutinizing his seniority badge.The camouflage uniform he wore in the afternoon was not allowed to wear the medal.But the uniforms of the evening proudly display them in all their glory.Carson couldn't help being drawn to his rows of seniority badges.As Puller's officer Don White pointed out, Puller was born to fight.The colorful stripes and shiny medals never meant much to him, what was really engraved in his mind were the scenes of bloody battles behind these medals.However, if the display of the illustrious military exploits can attract the attention of the investigators, then it is worthwhile to hang this bunch of things on the chest.

"You've had a lot of success in your career, Puller," she complimented reluctantly. "The only success I'm pursuing now is to find out who the killer is." "Speaking like that, you're just wasting your time sitting here listening to me." "I don't think so." "Speak quickly. I have more important things to do. As I told you, I have to prepare tomorrow's report." "Yes, I'm still a little surprised. You haven't revised the report yet. You should make the admiral very satisfied." "This has nothing to do with you at all. And don't forget who we are with the stars on our shoulders. I'm losing my patience. I just want you to know that my relationship with you CID is still Not bad."

"I'm sure that's the case." Puller looked up at the picture on the wall, where the current minister of the CID was looking back at him, "and I'm sure they're important people." "Just say something." "Please tell me what Colonel Reynolds has reported to you about what happened in West Virginia, especially as to what worries him." She showed a little panic. "As I told you, Reynolds never talked to me about West Virginia." "I know, I have already recorded it in my investigation book. I want to give you a chance to change these records before it is too late."

The two looked at each other coldly. "I don't like the implications of your hints," she said. "I don't like being lied to either." "You're out of line." "Providing me with false information to lead my investigation into the Reynolds murder astray is truly out of line." "Who told you I knew about this?" "I'm an investigator. My job is to get the truth." "If someone is lying about me, I have every right to find out who it is." "If they're telling lies, of course they are. But if they're telling the truth, it's different."

Carson crossed his arms and leaned back. Puller watched her sit.Just now she was aggressive, with her hands on her knees, her upper body leaning forward towards him, urging him to answer, eager to deal with the matter.Now it's starting to change. Carson must have noticed Puller estimating her, because she said, "I am the one who revises the textbook on interrogation techniques, Puller. So don't try to read anything from my expressions and gestures, that's just You'll embarrass yourself." "Is your teaching material helpful to the improvement of interrogation skills, General?"

"You know as well as I do that the U.S. military places great emphasis on abiding by the Geneva Convention." "Yes, ma'am." She still sat far back, unwilling to make direct eye contact with him. Puller decided to expand his advantage. "Is Reynolds a good soldier?" "Yes, he's excellent. I've told you so." "A good soldier must consciously obey his superiors, right?" "Of course." "So, if Reynolds has spoken about his concerns to someone else who isn't his superior, it looks like he'll report it to his own direct supervisor as well, am I wrong? His direct supervisor is you ?He's a colonel, and you, as you clearly pointed out to me, are a brigadier general."

She crossed her legs and her face fell. "I don't know what I have to tell you." "Of course you do. Just don't hide the truth." "Based on what you say, I can definitely put you in jail." "But you wouldn't do that." "Why? Because of your father? He's been out of the game for years, Puller. Don't try to rely on him to influence me, 'God of War' or not." "That's not what I was thinking of." "No wonder. That poker face of yours hides a lot of whimsy." Puller didn't seem to hear her, and continued: "To be precise, I'm thinking of the star on your epaulette." Her expression became more serious.She looked like she wanted to jump up and hit him.Yet in the eyes of experienced investigators like Puller, there is growing fear growing beneath this woman's tough exterior. "Why?" she said, "going to tear this star off? Don't even think about it. I worked hard for it. I fought for it." "Actually, I was thinking, ma'am, that your shoulders look wide enough to carry this star, or at least one more." This move was obviously beyond her expectations.Carson lowered his arms, uncrossed his legs, and leaned toward Pooler.Her eyes were fixed on Puller's notebook. Puller understood the nuance and said, "Everything you say below will be archived as part of our first meeting at the Pentagon today." "Frankly, I don't want to hear your nonsense, Puller." "A lot of people probably don't want to listen to me." She lowered her head and rubbed her hands nervously.Then she looked up and said, "Would you like to go get a coffee? I want some fresh air." Puller stood up. "I treat you." "No," she replied quickly, "I think I'll pay the bill, Warrant Officer."