Color of Blood(76)

“The guy she was having the affair with called me the next day and told me the whole thing. He was in tears, and he said he was originally not going to tell me, but then changed his mind. He thought I should know. Guess I’m glad he told me, sort of. Never occurred to me that she’d be having an affair. Afterward I just sort of got depressed, couldn’t get out of bed. Normal depressed stuff, I gather. Got a referral to see this psychologist. Hate the psychologist sometimes, but it seems to help. So there you have it.”

***

Dennis had barely touched his fish but seemed very interested in the chips. Judy tried to make small talk, but he appeared to have lost enthusiasm. In the past thirty minutes she had learned a great deal about her American friend, and she was now not sure it had been such a good idea to press him. She had felt the pain and self-doubt caused by a wayward spouse, but Dennis’s experience was far worse.

“Can I show you some phone records,” he said, in what she now recognized as the Working Dennis Voice.

“Yes, of course,” she said.

He pulled out several sheets of paper that had long rows of numbers.

“These are the records of Phillip’s mobile numbers, the two numbers you gave me,” Dennis said. “I’d like to see if you recognize any of the numbers that went in and out of those phones on these particular days.”

“Dennis, before I do that, I have to ask where you got this information. It’s not easy to get access to phone records in Australia. I mean, forget the fact that these numbers are my former husband’s— which I find disturbing enough—but these records are highly confidential, even for someone with my authority.”

“Why is it necessary that you know where this came from?” he asked. “Can’t you just look at it? I think we’re onto something here.”

“No, I won’t look at it until you tell me. I would feel more comfortable with the information if I knew it was authentic.”

“It is authentic. And I’m trying to help,” Dennis said.

Judy softened her voice, realizing he was agitated. “Yes, of course I know you’re trying to help, but I’m a law enforcement professional, Dennis. Surely you can see that? And I would be in serious trouble if I was party to hacking into Australian phone records.”

Dennis put down the papers. “These records came from US intelligence sources that I have access to.”

Judy put her hand on top of Dennis’s left hand as a way to soften her persistence.

“But where did they come from? I need to know.”

“NASA has a satellite station near Geraldton, north of here,” he said. “Have you heard of it?”

“Yes. They use it for the space station and satellites, things like that.”

“Adjacent to it is also a listening post for the National Security Agency. They listen to everything—especially in Asia—and catalog all of it into massive databases. I just asked a friend of mine to dig out records on two numbers that were picked up at the listening post.”

“You mean your NSA is listening in on domestic calls in Australia?” Judy said.

“Australia is one of the Five Eyes, correct?”

“You’re talking another language. I don’t work for the Australian Signals Directorate or any of the intelligence services here. I’m a policewoman. And don’t look at me like that, it’s condescending.”

“I’m sorry. The Five Eyes include the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. We all share signals intelligence at a very high level. One of the ways each country gets around its own internal laws against eavesdropping on their citizens is to tap into signals intelligence from one of the other Eyes. So we’re scanning everything in Australia, and then we later share it with Australia if they request it. That’s how it works.”

“Is this public knowledge? I don’t remember reading anything about this.”

“All I know is you’re one of the Five Eyes,” Dennis said. “Let’s just stop there.”

“And the NSA is monitoring every phone call in Australia?” she said.

“To my knowledge, they’re listening in to every call everywhere in the world, so the distinction of country of origin isn’t really important. Now can we get going on these records? There’s something here I need your help on.”

“I’m not sure I should be looking at these records,” Judy said. “I’m fairly uncomfortable with this, Dennis.”

“I have a theory about who your snitch is inside the AFP in WA, and why you were picked by Voorster,” Dennis said. “You can either help verify my theory, or we can stop. You can call your friend back east and go another route. Your call.”

Judy sat back in her plastic chair. The fish-and-chips shop was busy with take-away orders, and a constant stream of people filed through. She sat there, looking down at the columns of data.

“Sometimes you just have to do what you think is best,” Dennis said. “In my world it’s never black or white; it’s always gray. But that’s my world. I’m not here to contaminate you with my way of thinking. I’m here on my own personal mission, and to be honest, I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing in a fish-and-chips shop in Western Australia showing you NSA intercepts. Actually, I take that back: I know what I’m doing, but I’m not sure why I’m doing it.”