Page 15 of Behind These Four Walls
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Rey had said over FaceTime. “You can just come on back.”
He was in his usual spot, surrounded by his computer screens. His face was illuminated in the multitude of colors from the screens as he watched them all one by one in the setup secretly housed in the loft of the small storefront café he owned. A cover for what really paid the bills, cybersecurity work for Fortune 500 companies, and the little side hustle that Isla was in on but was currently taking a sabbatical from. Or maybe this trip was their latest job. A personal one for her. An unprofitable one for him.
“Cut your losses—hey, hear me out,” Rey said when Isla began to protest. How could he say that when they were talking about a missing girl? Her friend? How could he not understand that even though it’d been so long, Isla had never forgotten Eden and had always felt guilty for leaving her. For taking the money when she hadn’t shown and running. Isla owed Eden, and this was the way she’d pay her back. By finding out what this family had to do with Eden’s disappearance.
“I said I’m going at this on my own, so if anything goes down, there’s no blowback on you or Nat. Our clients won’t know. It’ll all be on me.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. Don’t do that thing you do,” Rey said, in the initial throes of agitation.
She studied the wall. “My thing?”
“Yeah, purposely misinterpret everything anyone says to cause a fight and create a way for them to be pissed at you so you can be on your own.”
“Oh.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah.Thatthing.” He snorted, sitting back in his seat. “Where’s Nat when I fucking need her? She’s better at talking you down off cliffs and shit that’s going to definitely be self-destructive. Does Miss Lydia know what you’re doing? And we’re not even going to start on Charli, who’ll blow her lid when she finds out where you’ve gone and who you’ve gone to. The dollar signs will be cha-chinging all through LA.”
“She won’t know if you and Nat stay off her radar. Don’t be around when she comes looking for me.”
“No matter what you see or whatever happens, don’t break cover. Don’t ever let them onto you until you’re ready to drop the bomb and expose them.”
“Yes, teacher, I know this already. We’ve covered just about every possible scenario. Plus, I’ve done stuff like this with Nat for jobs.”
“Those were all jobs for clients. This is real life, and you’re going into their territory. Me and Nat aren’t right outside or on the street waiting in a van. We’re thousands of miles away. You’re going to be embedded. You’re gonna be at their mercy.”
“Or they’re going to be at mine because they don’t know I’m coming for them.”
Rey couldn’t settle down in his seat any farther, but his face showed a truth bomb was coming. “You don’t know what you know, and you’ll need them to tell you what you don’t know so you can uncover the truth. It won’t be so easy to escape if they get onto you. This family ...”
He didn’t need to finish. She knew it all. This family was powerful. Too powerful. Not Hollywood-celebrity-and-elites power but real power that could blip a person into nonexistence. Isla had seen that happen firsthand. That was what she was back to rectify. What had happened to Eden?
“Whatever happens, you need to act as if it doesn’t faze you.” He paused. “No matter what you see, you do not break cover.”
Break cover. She cracked a smile, like she was some secret agent or something. Some kind of awkward 007. She wasn’t a spy. She was there for truth.
“Are you laughing? Because this is serious.” Though he had relaxed and was unable to mask his own humor and relief that she wasn’t slipping back into the depths of depression. If it hadn’t been for his idea to work with him on his “search-and-find team” ...
For his benefit she repeated, “Nothing fazes me. I don’t give a damn.”
He eyed her. “No matter what.”
She said it again, mimicking his tone: “No matter what.” She almost held up a Girl Scout honor sign but, since she’d never been one, wasn’t sure quite what it looked like.
“Don’t get angry. And remember, they’re all like sharks. Even the most innocent-looking ones. Assume someone’s always watching. No matter who it is, their family comes first. Even if they seem to personally like you. You’re the outsider.”
“Got it.” She knew all this. She studied the photos of the family members stuck to the back wall in the closet and the network of associates, employees, and staff she’d gathered information on so far.
“Honey, he’s talking to you.”
Kim’s voice cut into Isla’s thoughts. She needed to get it together. She was on as of this moment.
“Sorry,” Isla said, and she gave a quick rundown of the night before. “I’ve been trying to call Holland all day to tell her I have her ID and keys but haven’t been able to get through. I just figured I’d come and drop them off now after work. I’m sure she’s looking for her keys.” She didn’t dare ask to go in and raise suspicion.
“A girl needs her keys, you know,” Kim chimed in.
The guard at the gate glanced back into the little control room, saying that the family was not to be disturbed unless there was an emergency.
“I would just hate for them to get lost waiting to get into her hands, you know? School ID, dorm keys or something ...” Isla let him think about the consequences. “Are you sure you want to be responsible for not calling about something like this?”