Case:Black - 34. Chapter 34

NSA Data Facility

Camp Williams Military Reservation, Utah

July 16/17, 2017 2250MST / 0050 CST

Jason Lee sat bolt upright in his chair. The intercept that he was listening to was flagged by the system earlier in the day. The computer flagged the encrypted cell phone call originating in Islamabad, Pakistan to a senior Lieutenant of the Sanchez Cartel in Mexico City and put it in the queue for decryption.

That was not an overly difficult task for a Cray XC30 super computer. However, many hundreds of high priority intercepts were being investigated on this day of all days. The American intelligence establishment was on a war footing and the President had issued a hunting license with no bag limit.

The conversation was in Spanish but that was no difficulty for Lee.

Intercept: 20170716:1920:MexCity00987654 Satellite K23 Duration 40sec

Caller: Bieto.

Receiver: Yes?

Caller: This is Geraud. I am of need of your services.

Receiver: What can I do for you Monsieur?

Caller: I have run afoul of customs and have a package stuck in Mexico City. A flight was canceled and I need it secured and protected.

Receiver: The destination?

Caller: Originally Paris but we can re-route it as necessary.

Receiver: Contact protocol?

Caller: As we have pre-arranged.

Receiver: It will be done.

Caller: Merci

Call Ends…

He quickly translated the conversation and printed it out.

“Yo, Boss. I think I’ve got something here.”