“That’s right.”
Eager to hear from this guy, Mack sat forward. “Answer and put him on speaker so we can listen in.”
She tapped her screen and held out her phone, resting her arm on Bear’s side. “Thanks for calling me back, Rob. I’ve got you on speaker so my associates can hear.”
“Let me guess,” he said, his tone deep and sounding amused, “you want more info on the ocean cables.”
She cast a surprised look at Mack. “Ocean cables?”
“What?” He snorted. “You forget about coming to see me about them, or are you just messing with me?”
“Actually, I was in a car accident, and there are holes in my memory from the last few days.” She ran a hand over her hair. “When did I come by?”
“Tuesday around two.”
Mack tried to make eye contact with Addy, yet she was staring ahead as if trying her best to remember.
“What’s your office address?” She gave Cam a pointed look.
Rob rattled off the address, and Mack shot a look at Cam to see if this was the same office he’d located. He nodded.
Addy shifted in the chair, waking Bear. The dog’s head came up and he peered around. “And I wanted to know about ocean cables?”
“Yeah, internet cables run along the ocean floor. You said some bad dude—a gunrunner—might be cutting them to take out the new border X-ray imaging systems so he could smuggle his guns.”
Her mouth dropped open. Bear whined as if he were sensing her discomfort. She stared at the others. “Are you familiar with these recently added frontline systems?”
“Machines placed just before the border to X-ray every vehicle for contraband,” Mack said. “So when they reach the actual border, the customs officers can search the questionable vehicles.”
Addy nodded.
“I take it you don’t remember that visit,” Rob said.
She petted Bear’s head, soothing him. “Not exactly.”
Rob let out a breath that hissed through the phone. “You said you had someone who could help you figure out if the border agencies own any of the cables or were leasing them.”
“Cam,” she whispered.
“Hurt my feelings, girl,” Rob said. “Like anyone is better than me.”
Cam opened his mouth to say something, but Mack assumed it would be a smart-aleck response so he slashed a hand across his neck to tell Cam to keep quiet.
Addy blinked a few times. “Anything else happen at our meeting?”
“I showed you the map that lists all the cable locations in the world and explained a few things. Other than that, not really.” He let out another long breath. “Glad to review it with you again if you want. Or find that additional data you need.”
“Thanks, Rob,” she said, sounding sincere. “Could you text me with the link to the map, and I’ll let you know if I need additional help?”
“So you’re going to two-time me with the other geek, huh?” He chuckled.
She stared at her phone. “It’s a clearance thing.”
“Yeah, you said that when we met. Wouldn’t give me any details at all, other than you were dealing with guns being smuggled into the U.S.”
“I didn’t give you a specific location, then?”
“Nah. You were tight-lipped.” He sighed. “I’ll send the link the minute we hang up.”
