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“If we got lucky and were close when he took our call, we could have it narrowed down to the right structure within a minute or two. If not, it might take several calls.”
“What if he’s on the move?”
Dumond shook his head. “Not good for us.”
“Why can’t you do this with Villaume?”
“I’d have to get his number first. He calls us, and it’s blocked, and then he only stays on for a minute or two. That’s not enough time to crack it.”
“But you might be able to with the Professor?”
“Might be able to.”
Rapp rubbed his chin for a second while he thought about makingthe call. “So what do you suggest we do?”
“I think we should call this number and see what we can find out.” Dumond looked eager.
“Any chance it can be traced back here from the other end?”
Dumond scoffed at such an idea. “Not with my gear. I’ll have this baby bounced off six different satellites and twice as many ground stations before I’m done with it.”
“What about the NSA picking it up?”
“Big Brother.” Dumond shrugged. “It’s hard to say. Sometimes I think they are all-knowing, and other times I think they know nothing. I always recommend keeping it short and staying away from details.”
Rapp and Coleman both nodded. They had lived by the exact same philosophy for years. Rapp glanced over at the former SEAL. “What do you think?”
Coleman looked down at the notepad, and he thought about the man he’d seen in Colorado. The man they now knew as the Professor. He didn’t strike him as a killer. He also didn’t strike him as a leader. He was working for someone, and if Coleman had to guess, that someone was a big hitter.
Coleman tossed the notepad back on the desk and said, “We need some backup. In fact, I’d recommend we move this whole operation to a safe house.”
“Marcus says this place is fine. What’s bothering you?”
“This Professor is working for someone. And whoever that person is, he or she has the type of pull that put them in the know about that little op you were running over in Germany.” Coleman raised an eyebrow. “That worries me.”
Rapp hadn’t spent a lot of time dwelling on this obvious fact. He was leaving that up to Kennedy and Stansfield. He could tell by the look on Coleman’s face that he suspected someone at the NSA. He could very well be right, but the last thing they could afford right now was to become incapacitated by fear. “I trust Marcus on this one. If he says they can’t trace us, I believe him.”
Coleman looked over at Dumond. “This is no time to be cocky. Give me the straight poop. Can Big Brother track this call or not?”
Dumond thought for a moment. Finally, he answered, “I don’t think they can trace it, but just to be safe, we should keep it under two minutes.”
“You’re sure?”
“At two minutes or less, I’m positive.”
“Are you satisfied?” asked Rapp of Coleman.
Coleman nodded slowly. “Yes, but I think it would be a good idea if we brought some more people to the party.”
“Who do you have in mind?”
“A couple of my men. You’ve worked with them before.”
“All right.”
“What are you two talking about?” asked
Dumond.