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“Just the nonclassified parts then,” said Decker. “Kelly here said you watch the sky for nukes?”
“In part. Have you ever heard of PARCS?”
“As in like parks people visit?” said Jamison.
Sumter smiled. “No. It’s an acronym, just like everything else in the military. It stands for Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System.”
“Long name.”
“And it’s justified. Along with watching for nuclear weapons, we also track earth-orbiting objects.”
“Why’s that?” asked Decker.
“We’re sort of like air traffic control for outer space. We analyze and track about twenty thousand objects per day, from giant satellites to small space debris. We can spot something the size of a soccer ball at a distance of two thousand miles.”
“Expensive pair of binoculars,” commented Decker, drawing a sharp and somewhat unfriendly glance from Sumter.
Jamison said in a more casual tone, “I understand you have a bar and even a bowling alley on-site.”
Sumter smiled. “Yes. Drinking and bowling, not the best of combinations, but still, it allows people to wind down.”
“How long has Vector been running this place?” asked Decker.
“The United States Air Forcerunsthis place,” said Sumter firmly. “But Vector’s involvement is fairly recent. I can’t give you the exact date because that’s classified.”
“So getting back to Irene Cramer. Has she ever been here?” asked Decker.
“No. And she wouldn’t have the clearance to get on the installation.”
“Would she know any of the people who worked here?”
“I don’t see why.”
“Well, she worked right next door,” said Jamison.
“Yes, but no one from the Brothers can just stroll over here.”
“Cramer had a second occupation,” said Decker.
“What was that?”
“An old-fashioned way of terming it would be a ‘lady of the night.’ ”
“She was a hooker?” said Sumter, sitting upright.
Decker just stared at him.
Now Sumter looked more guarded. “And you think one of the men here . . . ?”
“I just want to acquire the facts. It’s sort of like your radar here, always sucking up information.”
Sumter eyed Decker in a new light. “I, uh, I can make inquiries.”
Decker said, “Actually, we would prefer to do that. I doubt that anyone here will volunteer that they paid a hooker. Wouldn’t that land them in trouble?”
“It could. But we’re experienced with ferreting out the truth.”
Kelly said, “Why don’t you make a first sweep, narrow it down, and then we can interview those folks?”
