Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (book club recommendations txt) 📗

“So, how do you and Isabel know each other?” David was being nosy only for the simple reason another man was holding me close.

I decided to answer, “Josh and I are working on the same case together and we only just met not too long ago.” I wasn’t prepared to say Josh was my boyfriend to David, even if he was just a pseudo-boyfriend.

“Yes, and we’ve been seeing each other for a little while now,” Josh added with his boyish smirk. He gently kissed my temple and moved his hand down to my waist.

I didn’t know how to react. “Er, yup, for a couple weeks now.” I told myself to pull it together and act like a love-struck girlfriend to Adonis standing next to me, so I wrapped my arm around his waist. It felt awkward so I moved his hand from my waist and held it instead. I inadvertently gave his hand a couple of tight squeezes since I was nervous. He was caught off guard and looked at me surprised. He squeezed back and I whipped my head to look at him. He was smirking; I smiled back and squeezed his hand again. We started to giggle, forgetting David was in front of us. Are we having a moment? I wondered. I didn’t know how long we were gazing at each other when David decided to clear his throat.

“Um…” I was trying to collect my thoughts. “Um, David, please keep me posted on Jill’s condition. I want to know when she comes out of surgery.” I was attempting to compose myself.

“Uh, yeah, of course.” He straightened his back and puffed out his chest. I thought he was trying to not look so average, standing next to my Greek God. However, I never thought he looked average and neither did a lot of the other females in the hospital. What with his dark hair, blue eyes and stunning good looks…he had women falling at his feet.

“Thank you,” I said.

David eyed us quizzically. Was he not sure how to react to whatever it was Josh and I had going on? “Okay, so, I’ll make sure I personally call you and update you.” He crossed his arms across his chest.

“Thanks, man. I know Isabel is extremely worried for her friend and colleague.” Josh lightly smacked him on the arm in appreciation and pulled me away toward the elevators.

I was lost in my own thoughts, trying to make sense of this ugly ordeal. I let go of Josh’s hand and began to rub my head. I was feeling light-headed from all the stress and no food. I let out a heavy sigh and glanced in the direction of the nurses’ station while waiting for the elevator. I noticed nurse Ginger was watching us wait for the elevator. If looks could kill, I would be dead. Her stare was piercing. Was she jealous of me talking with David? My relationship with him was over and she was giving him what he wanted, so what could be her problem with me now? I didn’t have time to worry about that right then; I had too much on my plate as it was. The elevator pinged, the doors opened and Josh placed his hand on the small of my back to lead me in.

I wanted answers so I hurried to my office where we could speak in private. Pam, Davis and the female agent were all congregated in my office. I walked in, confused, and looked to Josh for answers. He wasn’t surprised. The air in there felt severe and the silence was deafening. I was waiting for someone to speak, looking at everyone with wide eyes. They all looked to Pam as if they had appointed her their leader.

“Isabel, I’m sure you know by now that there was an attempt made on Jill’s and Agent Stevens’ life at the courthouse.” Pam was struggling to find the right words.

“Well, Josh said they were attacked but I wasn’t aware of the attempt on their lives. I just assumed it was another crazed defendant and they got caught in the middle of that defendant’s rampage,” I said, wringing my hands.

“I suppose you could say that.” Pam moved to the front of my desk to sit. “You see, Agent Stevens’ presence and the fact that he was there to look out for her presented a problem for the perpetrator to hurt or kill Jill, so he and/or they got creative.”

“They?” I sat on one of the chairs.

“Yes, the FBI believes it’s a group or an organization. Apparently, you called Jill this morning with a theory of yours and she sent her investigator to check on your theory. Her investigator was murdered; his body was found in his car in front of a well-known drug house. When the police searched his car and body, they found nothing on him or in his car. And what I mean by that is, his weapon was gone, they found no papers, files, identification, insurance on the car, receipts of any kind, and the car handbook was missing as well. These people took every bit of information they could get their hands on in order to better plan how to eliminate the very people that are trying to put them in prison.”

“This is my fault,” I said with dismay.

“Nonsense. Because of you, the FBI is now on the right track. Do not blame yourself, Isabel. No one was prepared or even suspected that the attacker would be so creative.” Pam’s eyes flashed to Josh.

“Creative?” I asked.

“The person that tried to kill Jill followed her into the ladies’ room. The one place Agent Stevens would not accompany her. He was a smaller man, dressed as a woman, so no one suspected anything or paid attention to him. So, yes, my dear, your theory was right on. These people are scared now.

“I