Free Murder at the Pentagon by Margaret Truman

you’ve met with our client. Our next meeting is the end of September, I believe. Where?”
    Raoul Cinsere, the Brazilian, answered. “London.”
    “Good. The financial report will be first on our agenda. Good sleep to all. Are we gathering for lunch tomorrow?”
    Walter Munch said, “At one. At Glacisbeisl. I left directions in your mailboxes.”
    “Splendid,” said Potamos.
    As he left the private dining room with Keller, he asked, “A redhead this time, Hans?”
    Keller blushed and forced a laugh. “Tea. A cousin. Brunette. I haven’t seen her in a long time.”
    “How nice seeing family again. Enjoy your reunion.”
    Two waiters started to clean the room in which Consulnet had met. “Important men,” one said.
    The other grunted. “Yes, important men. Expensive rooms and meals, small gratuities. I did better in the coffeehouses.”

8
    The press conference Tuesday morning in the Pentagon’s main briefing room had been hastily called. Originally, the appointment of Margit as defense counsel to Captain Cobol was to have been announced on Thursday.
    But on Monday, two hours after Margit’s 8 A.M . meeting with Colonel Bellis, the Armed Forces News Division, an office reporting to the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, received a call from a
Washington Post
Pentagon reporter. The journalist wanted to confirm whether a Major Falk had, in fact, been assigned to defend Captain Robert Cobol, and wanted permission to speak with her. The duty officer promised to get back to him and immediately contacted Bellis.
    “How the hell did they get this?” Bellis bellowed at three members of his staff who had the misfortune to be within a hundred yards, which included Margit. His hard stare at her made her wonder whether he was assuming that her conversation with Mac Smith had resulted in the leak. She knew it hadn’t. She hadn’t had to impress upon Smith the need tokeep it under wraps until the official announcement was made, and she had faith in his discretion.
    Bellis called the officer who’d reported the press inquiry. “Tell that reporter there’ll be a press conference tomorrow morning at ten. Set up that conference. Get the word out to the rest of the vultures, so we get credit for announcing it.”
    He hung up, sat back, and shook his head. “If a leak came out of this office, the person who did it will be a former member of this office.” And of this planet, Margit thought. He dismissed everyone except Margit. When they were alone and his door was closed, he sat on the edge of his desk. “Did you have your discussion with Smith?” he asked.
    “Yes, sir, I did.”
    “Did you tell him the need for secrecy?”
    “Whatever we talked about never left his house. Among other things, he’s a master of discretion.”
    Bellis nodded. “I would tend to have that same confidence, although I know Smith only by reputation. Any ideas who leaked it?”
    Margit shook her head.
    “I meant what I said. If it came out of this office, I’m going to lop off that individual’s head and roll it down the hall like a bowling ball.”
    Margit couldn’t help but smile, and Bellis seemed pleased that she’d found humor in it. He sat behind the desk. “Plans for lunch, Major?”
    “No. I assume any eating today will be done at my desk.”
    “Wrong, Major. Any eating you do today will be done at
my
desk. We have a lot to go over before tomorrow morning. I suggest you go back to your office and take care of whatever matters are pressing. When you’re free, call Helen and tell her you’re ready to meet with me. I have appointments this afternoon that I’ll cancel, at least those that don’t bear upon this case.” Margit stood. “Ready for a long, tough haul, Major?”
    “Do I have a choice?”
    “None whatsoever. See you in a couple of hours.”
    Margit canceled appointments for that afternoon. Her finalcall was to Foxboro at Senator Wishengrad’s office. They’d made a tentative date for a drink