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

I never even counseled Tori; I only helped her get her GED. However she was going to start group therapy. Could she possibly have had more information on this case than what we thought and our friendly neighborhood Triads didn’t want her coming to therapy for that reason? What was I missing?

I could hear voices in the kitchen and one of them sounded too high to be Josh or Charlie. My parents must have made it in. I better get up before my mother decides to crawl in bed with me and cuddle. I’m not ready to cuddle and talk with her just yet. I took my time getting dressed only because my mind was elsewhere. I couldn’t shake this feeling that whatever I was missing must be obvious, but I just couldn’t see it. I decided to let it go for now and just look at my notes and my victim’s file after breakfast.

Mmmm, I could smell bacon, coffee and…brisket? My stomach started growling. I started to move a little faster now. I left my hair down so I could get out quicker. I always loved it when my mom comes to visit. She would cook a lot of food for me and freeze it so I had plenty of healthy meals for several days and we always had fun exploring new places in Chicago… especially because she paid for everything. My dad only joined us when he knew it wasn’t a shopping trip. I smiled inwardly at the thought of her cooking and our excursions. I finished getting ready and opened my shutters.

The sun shone in my bedroom, waking it up. It was a beautiful morning. I looked outside and saw nothing unusual. It was autumn so the trees were almost bare. I could see a few people walking their dogs, and the usual cars, including Josh’s, parked in front. But nothing strange or out of the ordinary and I doubted I’d see anything out of the ordinary, especially if the Triads wanted to keep their presence hidden. I headed for the kitchen, my mouth watering with anticipation of my mother’s cooking. My house smelled so yummy with the aroma of Texas cooking and the loud chatter in the kitchen. My spirits started to perk up and a smile spread across my face. I walked into a bright, sunny kitchen, biscuits and gravy on the table along with eggs, bacon, waffles and fruit. My brother and Josh were busy inhaling the food and Mom was drinking her coffee and eating fruit with her waffles.

“Mom,” I chimed. “When did y’all get in?” She stood up to embrace me and gave me a kiss. She held me for a lengthy amount of time and kissed me several times. She held me tighter and we rocked side to side, her kissing me again and again. I gave Charlie a pointed look. He threw his hands up in the air and shook his head no, indicating he didn’t say a word to her.

She relaxed her embrace to look at me. “Good morning, my sweet angel. I got to your place around six-thirty this morning. I wanted to make sure I was here when they delivered the groceries. Y’all were all asleep except for Josh here. He let me in and helped me put away all the groceries. He even had another agent come and take Samson for a walk.”

“Another agent?” I asked surprised.

“Yes, honey, while I was preparing the brisket for dinner, Josh filled me in on who he is, why he’s here and who he is to you. And Isabel Grace, why didn’t you tell me you had such a handsome and well-mannered boyfriend? I would’ve bought more food.” She gave Josh a warm smile.

“I can see where you get your beautiful eyes and good looks, Isabel. Your mom’s a knockout. Your father is one lucky man.” Oh brother. Where was this coming from?

“If you’re trying to get in my mother’s good graces, I think you’re already there, so you can stop with the cheesy compliments.” I frowned at him. I looked around the kitchen in confusion. It was as if last night had never happened. The mail was gone, including the card from the Chinese Triads, and everyone was talking, eating and smiling as if they hadn’t a care in the world. My mother sat back down to finish her breakfast and I sat next to Josh and whispered in his ear, “Just what did you tell my mother?”

He kissed me on my temple and muttered, “I’ll tell you later.” He went back to his food and talking with my brother.

“So, what exactly did y’all talk about?” I asked.

“Well, we talked about a great many things, honey. Josh told me he’s an agent for the FBI and he’s here to make sure you stay safe and how much he likes you. I talked about how smart you are and how you graduated early from every school you attended… that’s why you’re one of the youngest doctors at that hospital. We also talked about both your brothers and how they’re both at MIT. He asked me about your daddy’s profession and mine. I said your daddy’s in the car business and I’m a professor of psychology at the University of Texas in Dallas. And a few other things.” She let out a sigh and smiled. “Did I pass? Do you approve of our conversation?” I rolled my eyes at her and took a bite of some bacon. Charlie and Josh were still eating, Charlie chuckling to himself over what our mother said and Josh smiling at both of us.

“By the way, where are Dad and Thomas Henry?”

“Oh, your daddy’s gone a huntin’. He’ll see you on his way back. And your baby brother, Thomas Henry, went with him.” She sounded irritated with them.

“He’s actually extra excited about this huntin’ trip, Isabel Grace,” Charlie said, smirking. “He’s