Art works for the same sector of the government that my father does.
What they actually do, I’ll probably never know. As for their actual job titles, they are both contractors. Contractors who have worked with the CIA and NSA. But the rest, they don’t disclose. Over the years, my father always told me it was better I didn’t know.
That was his answer for everything.
I tried to believe that was true. I tried to trust that he knew what he was doing and I didn’t have to worry. But now that he’s gone- everything has changed.
There is literally nothing I can do but put my faith into the people he works for, hoping they will come through on their promises. Hoping that they weren’t the ones to make him disappear in the first place.
Art has been acting as liaison during the investigation. Relaying information back to me although there’s never any to give. He is probably sick of me by now, but if he is, he doesn’t say so.
“Hey, kiddo,” he says from the other line.
“Any news today?”
“If there were, you’d be the first person I’d call.”
I don’t really believe that. As much as I trust Art, I still feel like the agency is covering this up. They aren’t telling me everything.
They aren’t telling me anything.
The only thing I know for sure is that my father went missing during a job he was doing overseas. I don’t even know what country he was in.
“Have you had a chance to speak with Javier Castillo?” I ask.
Art is quiet for a long pause.
Javi is another thing that I was never supposed to know about. And Art has already warned me once that I should never speak his name again. That I should pretend I never saw his file or that my father ever mentioned it, for my own safety.
But my safety doesn’t matter anymore. Not when I’m stuck in this purgatory.
“I have spoken to him,” Art answers quietly.
“And?”
“And you already know the answer, Isabella. He isn’t going to meet with you. He doesn’t speak to anybody. He doesn’t even leave his home.”
“He speaks to you,” I argue.
“Through email,” he sighs. “Hell, Isa, I’ve never even met the guy. The only one that I know who has is your father.”
“But you know where he lives, right? Take me to him. Just let me ask for myself. Please…”
“You know I can’t do that,” he tells me.
I can no longer hide my frustration or the sharpness of my voice.
“Why?”
“Because. I don’t know where he lives. Nobody does.”
“Except for my father,” I finish for him.
Again, I don’t believe that.
Before I even heard the news about my father, someone came into our house and took everything from his office. His files. His computer. Everything.
They have to know something. And I know Javi is the answer. He’s the only lead I have to go on. But not if I can’t get to him.