Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, Vol. 44, No. 4, April 1980

After discussing the SMITTEN project with the officer in charge of S-2 at Bamberg, Lansing drove to the housing district where Lieutenant Benton had resided. Getting a passkey from the landlord, Lansing mounted a flight of stairs and found a door with 512 on its top panel, Lieutenant Benton’s quarters. Unlocking the door, the CID investigator entered the room.

Benton, like most people, was neither a “neatnik” nor a “slob,” but somewhere in between. The room appeared well-lived-in without being sloppy. The furniture was standard USAEUR issued sofa and chairs of vinyl and metal. An assortment of popular magazines lay on an end table between the couch and an arm chair. Lansing leafed through them briefly, noting the publications included Time, Playboy and Look. A television set and a stereo were also located in the sitting room. Checking a record rack, Lansing discovered Benton had favored rock music and folk ballads.

Moving to the bedroom, Lansing switched on a light. The bed was still unmade. Numerous uniforms and civilian clothing hung in a wall closet. Lansing smiled as he noticed Lieutenant Benton’s garments were hung in USAEUR regulation manner, all facing the same direction with the left sleeve revealed. Even without the constant inspections that the lower ranking soldiers must endure, military conditioning influenced a man’s habits.

Opening a dresser drawer, Lansing searched through Benton’s shaving gear. Inspecting another drawer, Lansing found three books concealed under some socks and underwear. He read the titles with interest; KGB: Past and Present, Soviet Clandestine Operations, and A History of Russian Intelligence Organizations. Opening each book, Lansing discovered all three were from the Army library oh Montgomery Barracks.

Lansing moved back to the sitting room and dialed his office number on the late Lieutenant’s telephone. Holding the receiver to his ear, the Major leafed through the books as he waited for Wendy to answer the phone at the other end of the line. He didn’t have to wait long.

“CID headquarters, Major Lansing’s office. Specialist Davis speaking, sir,” she announced.

“Hello, Wendy,” Lansing said into the mouthpiece. “I had my little pow-wow with S-2 in Bamberg. They told me the project we were talking about earlier today, was canceled by an order from a certain department in Washington, although they didn’t care to tell me which department it was.”

“So Captain Cross was telling the truth.”

“Apparently,” Lansing mused, as he continued to turn pages, glancing down at the books occasionally as he spoke. “I’m calling from Benton’s apartment. The only thing out of the ordinary I’ve discovered are a trio of books that don’t fit in with the rest of Benton’s reading material. I’ll check this place a little more thoroughly before I leave, but...” Lansing stared down at an open book and read silently. “That’s interesting.”

“What, sir?” Wendy inquired.

“A word underlined on a page in one of the books. Maybe its nothing. Did you hear from Fort Jackson?”

“Yes, sir. They found out what happened to Spec. Four Lundy’s body.”

Lansing listened as Wendy told him what the CID section from Fort Jackson had reported to her. When she was finished, Lansing said, “I think I know who the killer is.”

“From what I just told you?” Wendy asked with surprise. “I don’t see how it helps.”

“It helps because the killed doesn’t know about it,” the CID investigator replied. “Thanks for your help, Wendy. I’ll keep in touch.”

SFC Edgar Smith emerged from the S-2 section in the basement of the Headquarters Building of Montgomery Barracks. Major Lansing and Captain Garret Cross waited for him in the corridor.

“You wanted to see me, sir?” Smith asked as he closed the steel barred door.

“Yes, Sergeant.” Lansing strolled calmly across the hallway. “I want to talk to both of you.”

“If this is about what happened to Smothers last night, we already know,” Cross remarked.

“No, this doesn’t concern Smothers.” Lansing unzipped his field jacket. The other men noticed the butt of a Government Issue 1911 .45 jutting from his waistband.

“Then why do you want us?” Smith asked, his eyes expanding with surprise as Lansing drew the pistol and worked the slide to jack a round into the chamber.

“What do you think you’re doing, Major?” Cross asked, his mouth a hard line, one eyebrow arched high on his brow.

“I’m arresting you for murder, Captain,” Lansing replied, aiming the .45 at Cross’ chest.

“I assume you have some reason for this accusation,” Cross remarked stiffly.

“Sure. You’re guilty and I have proof.”

“Let’s hear it,” the Captain demanded.