I asked Adrian directly.
"Who is helping me?"
Silence on the phone.
Then:
"If they wanted you to know, you would."
"I don't like invisible allies."
"No one does."
That answer wasn't comforting.
Then he added:
"Your father earned their respect."
"And me?"
"That's still being decided."
I understood the message clearly.
Help was temporary.
Respect had to be permanent.