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“That’s a fair point,” conceded Kelly. He suddenly gave Decker a hard stare. “Some young punks went to the hospital the other night with assorted injuries. Nothing too serious. You know anything about that?”
“Why would I?”
“They didn’t file a police report, but one of my guys was over there interviewing some other dumbbells who got into an altercation. That’s how he hooked up with them. They said it was a couple of really big, rough-looking guys who took them out. Six against two, and the two kicked some serious ass. Surprised they admitted to that, but I think even they were impressed. Sure you don’t know anything about that?”
“Lot of really big, rough-looking guys in this town.”
“Yeah, there are,” said Kelly, not looking convinced.
“You want to call the Brothers so we can head out?” said Decker. “I’ll go bring the SUV around.”
He left Kelly and Jamison there.
Kelly eyed her. “So what exactly is going on?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You going down the obfuscation road, too?”
“Wow, that’s an SAT word if ever I heard one.”
“Where do you think I got it?” replied Kelly.
On the drive out to the Colony they passed the All-American Energy Company’s oil well site, which bordered both the Brothers’ land and the Air Force station.
“Colonel Sumter really hates all this stuff right next to his installation,” said Jamison. “I guess I can understand that. I mean, what if there’s an accident with one of those oil rigs, a fire or something? It could affect what he’s doing over there.”
Kelly stuck an unlighted cigarette in his mouth. “Like shooting fish in a barrel.”
“What is?” asked Jamison.
“Drilling for oil around here.”
“You ever think about getting into the fracking business?” asked Jamison.
He shook his head. “I prefer steadier work. It’s not like crime is ever going to go away.” Kelly glanced at Decker. “If you weren’t a cop, what would you be?”
“Unemployed,” answered Decker quite truthfully.
MILTONAMES ANDPETERGUNTHERwere waiting for them in the dining hall. They were dressed the same as before, but each man seemed paler, with Ames looking feeble and disoriented.
He mumbled, “When can we have Pammie’s remains? We have to bury her properly.”
“I’ll let you know as soon as possible, Milton,” said Kelly in a gentle tone. “It shouldn’t be too much longer.”
“Do they . . . did they have to, you know?”
“They had to perform an autopsy, yes,” said Jamison quietly. “It’s legally required under the circumstances.”
“I . . . I guess so. Susan keeps asking. She . . . we . . . want to . . .”
Kelly said, “We’re doing all we can, please believe that.”
“I do, Joe. Thank you.”
Decker said, “I know you didn’t keep a file on Cramer’s documents, but after she gave you the information about her undergraduate degree, did you check with Amherst to see if she actually went there?”
Ames said firmly, “No, we didn’t. Why would she lie about that?”
