Mack wouldn’t say anything, as he knew it wouldn’t do any good. “Great job getting the data together so fast, Cam.”
“I aim to please.” Cam preened. “You want me to let you read the entire report or cut to the chase and give you the interesting tidbits?”
“Interesting tidbits,” Addy and Mack said at the same time.
“So, all these businesses are in strip malls, and the malls are all owned by a holding company, a Harp Holdings. In digging through the corporation’s organizational records, it tracks back to owner Senator Jack Noble.”
“Okay, so a senator owning these properties is interesting, but...” Mack shrugged.
“Can’t be a coincidence that he owns all five of the malls where these businesses are located,” Addy said.
“I don’t think it is either,” Cam said. “So I searched the senator’s business holdings and discovered that he owns a sixth mall in the general area and doesn’t publicly acknowledge this company.”
“He doesn’t want people to know he owns them.” Addytapped her finger on the table, her thinking mode. “The properties aren’t in the best condition and not in great neighborhoods. Maybe he thinks he’ll be accused of being a slumlord.”
“Could be,” Cam said, though he didn’t really sound like he believed it.
“What do we know about this senator besides that he owns these malls and comes from California?” Sean asked.
“Not a lot,” Cam said. “I’m running background on him now, but it looks like he’s pretty liberal.”
“I’ve heard of him, but since he’s from California, I never really paid much attention,” Addy said.
“I don’t know much about him either, but you all can’t be thinking he’s involved in gunrunning, can you?” Mack looked between his colleagues.
Sean shrugged.
Cam tilted his head. “Not the most farfetched thing I’ve ever heard.”
“It’s not like politicians these days keep their noses clean,” Addy said.
Mack shot her a look. “But gunrunning? That’s a far cry from some of the white-collar crimes we see politicians getting nailed for.”
“Yeah, there is that,” Addy said. “Yet we need to follow up on it.”
“Shouldn’t take me long to finish the background,” Cam said.
“Can you get a phone number for him?” Addy sat up higher. “If he’s in California right now, we should talk to him while we’re here.”
“I can get you that in a blink of an eye.” Cam got a cocky smile on his face. “You want his home or cell number?”
“Those numbers must be private.” She stared at him. “You can get them?”
“Cam can get almost anything,” Sean said, his tone laced with sarcasm, even though his statement was true.
“I forgot. You’re the Wonder Team.” Addy shook her head. “Then both, I guess.”
“You got it.” Cam held up a finger and opened his laptop.
Mack was getting antsier by the minute and wouldn’t waste a single minute by waiting for the numbers. “Kiley, are you still working on the dark web connection?”
“Uh-huh,” she answered but didn’t look up.
“She’s closing in on something,” Sean said. “That’s the first time she’s spoken in hours.”
“Okay, here are the phone numbers.” Cam shared them, and Addy jotted them down. “And before you ask, he’s in town for fundraisers. Staying at his ranch.”
“He’s a rancher?” Mack asked.
