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

why you left, baby. I know you saw those texts and pictures and there’s a perfectly logical explanation for all of that.”

I pushed him away and shut my door. “Okay, explain,” I said dryly.

He paused, his eyes fixed on mine, trying to find the right words. “Baby, all I can say is that it is work related.”

I sat at my desk and chuckled to myself. He’s kidding himself if he really thinks I’m going to believe that. How convenient for him that his profession gives him permission to say “it’s work related” and give no further explanations. I said nothing and just glowered at him. He was a good liar at the courthouse when he was bleeding and he was a good liar now. My phone rang. It was David.

“Yes, David,” I answered with a hint of irritation in my voice.

“Come down and have a coffee with me. I can get away for about twenty minutes.”

Josh was kneeling in front of me, saying nothing, just looking intently into my eyes.

“Now is not a good time, David.” I was exasperated.

“Please, Isabel. We really need to talk.”

I sighed loudly and said, “Okay, give me ten minutes and I’ll be there. Oh, and David, if Ginger is anywhere in sight, I turn around and head back.” I hung up the phone and got up to head down to the ER. Josh blocked my exit and grabbed me by the shoulders. I pushed him out of my way and kept walking.

“Isabel, baby, don’t leave. I love you,” he shouted.

I whirled, scowling him, “Joshua Rockwall, you lie like a rug. You should be ashamed of yourself!” My twang was more prominent than I’d have liked. “You don’t love me. You love the thought that I’m a virgin and you could possibly be the one to pop my cherry. In fact, this is the perfect scenario for you. You’re able to keep me close, all the while safeguarding the prize you’re hungry for. The same prize David wanted and still wants. Those other girls are just like nurse Ginger. You have them on the back burner waiting for you, feeding them lies, giving them just enough attention in the event what you’re after doesn’t pan out. And by the way, those girls on your phone are just that…girls. They look extremely young for the likes of you. What are they, college age?”

“Yes! That’s right, Isabel! They are very young. Think about it!” He stopped talking and froze. “Do you hear that?”

We heard scuffling sounds coming from Pam’s office and a few grunts. Wow, Conny and Pam must like it rough, I thought to myself.

“What’s that noise?” Josh asked.

“Tim Conny and Pam are in her office having a good time, if you know what I mean.” I kind of smirked.

“Those sounds aren’t the sounds of just two people having a good time.” Josh didn’t seem surprised about Conny and Pam.

“Well, I just saw them in her office and nearly got caught being a voyeur.”

“Isabel, please wait for me here, I will be right back. I need to make sure this floor is secure. Will you do me that courtesy?”

I regarded him for a moment, biting my lip. “Fine,” I said, sounding perturbed.

“Thank you, baby,” he said and kissed me hard on the lips.

Sigh, no man was worth this headache. I had to use the bathroom in my office. That large drink from earlier was going through me. I walked in, turned on the light and it burned out. Crap! Now I had to pee in the dark. I cracked the door a smidge so I could see. I finished, flushed the toilet and washed my hands. I stayed in there for a few minutes, trying to see myself in the mirror with no light on. I applied lip gloss as best I could when I heard gunshots. I jumped and dropped my gloss in the sink. I heard shots again. I gasped and my first thought was Josh’s been shot! I slowly peeked my head out of the bathroom and saw no one. I got to my purse to fetch my gun and remembered that Josh never returned it. Shit! I took my phone and put it in my back pocket. I stealthily headed for the door and carefully tried to look in the direction of Pam’s office. I felt so helpless with no gun or any way to help Josh or Conny.

I decided to call my house. If those other agents were really watching my house and block then they must have some way of hearing me if I scream for help. My phone at home rang and rang and rang and rang…for the love of Pete, how many rings until my answering machine picks up? Finally, I hear the beep, “Help! This is Doctor Langley. If y’all can hear me I need help! There is gunfire at the hospital on my floor. Josh and Conny are in the middle of a struggle and I can’t see a thing. Y’all need to get here STAT!”

I heard a click, turned to see what the noise was and there was a large, Asian man with his gun to my head. I dropped my phone and raised my hands in defeat. Was this really happening? The man said something in Mandarin and indicated for me to walk out of my office. I heard one more shot. Josh rushed out holding his side, blood spilling through his fingers and running down his chin. I inhaled sharply—Joshua had been shot! The large man yelled something in Chinese, perhaps calling for his partner? Josh and I locked eyes, his gun pointing at the man. The man was still yelling. I heard him cock his pistol and then I reacted, slamming my elbow into his nose and then dropping to the floor. Josh fired and the man collapsed like a