The Spy

Chapter 35

John paced back and forth in the airbnb, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders. Isabella's life was at stake, and now Sofia's too. He knew he had to act quickly.

He picked up his phone and dialed Jerry's number. "We had a deal," he said firmly.

"Ah, John. I was wondering when I'd hear from you," Jerry replied, his tone casual.

"Where's Isabella?" John demanded.

"She's safe for now, don't worry. But if you want to save Sofia, you'll need to bring me the real Mona Lisa."

John clenched his jaw. "Fine. Where do we meet?"

"I'll text you the details. But remember, no tricks, or your girlfriend pays the price."

John hung up, feeling sick to his stomach. He couldn't believe he had robbed a bank for Jerry Temple. But he had no other choice.

John took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves as he waited for Mr. Rodriguez to respond. The phone rang once, twice, three times before he finally picked up.

"John, how can I help you?" Mr. Rodriguez's voice was calm and collected, as if he was expecting John's call.

"Mr. Rodriguez, it's Isabella. She's been kidnapped." John's voice shook as he spoke.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Mr. Rodriguez spoke again. "I see. And what do they want in exchange for her release?"

"They want the Mona Lisa. The real one." John hesitated for a moment, unsure how to bring up his suspicion that Mr. Rodriguez might have been involved in some way.

But before he could say anything, Mr. Rodriguez spoke again. "I understand. I will have the painting delivered to you tomorrow morning. In the meantime, do everything you can to keep Isabella safe."

John was taken aback by Mr. Rodriguez's calm demeanor. "Aren't you worried? Isabella is your daughter."

"Of course, I am worried," Mr. Rodriguez replied. "But I have faith in your ability to handle the situation. "

John couldn't help but feel that something was off. Mr. Rodriguez seemed to be protective of his daughter, and now he seemed almost detached.

"Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez," John said, trying to keep his suspicions in check.

"Keep me updated on the situation, John. And please, bring my daughter home safe."

With that, the call ended, leaving John feeling even more uncertain than before.

^^^

John sat in his room, staring at the wall in front of him, lost in thought. He couldn't shake off the feeling that the Mona Lisa was cursed. Every time it was mentioned, something terrible seemed to happen.

He remembered the first time he had laid eyes on the painting. It was as if he had been hypnotized by the enigmatic smile on the woman's face. He had never seen anything like it before. But now, after all the chaos that had ensued, he wished he had never laid eyes on it.

He couldn't believe that the life of the love of his life was in risk because of a painting. Was it worth it? Had chasing the Mona Lisa been worth anything ?

He left the chair in his room for the bed,once he settled in the sheets, he lay staring at the empty spot next to him where Isabella should have been. He tried to get some sleep, but his mind kept racing with thoughts of her being kidnapped and held captive. 

John couldn't help but wonder what Isabella was going through right now. Was she scared? Was she hurt? Did she know that he was doing everything in his power to rescue her? The thought of her suffering at the hands of Jerry Temple made him feel sick to his stomach.

He knew he should try to rest, to gather his strength for whatever was to come next, but sleep eluded him. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Isabella's face, her bright smile, and the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at him. He missed her so much.

He got out of bed and walked to the window, looking out at the dark street below. The city was quiet at this hour, and the only sound he could hear was the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.He turned away from the window and walked back to the bed, hoping that he would eventually drift off to sleep.

Despite his worry, exhaustion eventually takes over, and John finally falls into a deep sleep. In his dreams, he's back at the Micaela Bastidas park, searching for Isabella, but he can't seem to find her.

As he wanders around the park, the scenery shifts and morphs into a dark forest. He hears Isabella's voice calling out to him, but the trees seem to be closing in around him, making it difficult to move.

Suddenly, John wakes up with a start, gasping for air. He sits up in bed and takes a deep breath, realizing it was just a dream. He glances at the clock and sees that it's almost morning.

With a heavy heart, John gets out of bed, ready to face another day of uncertainty and worry.