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

that is a perfect idea until dinner. And don’t worry about your dog, Isabel, I already took care of him.” She took his arm and led him to the kitchen. I believed Ben was taken off guard, so much so, he had forgotten to check my house. I smiled inwardly at his surprised demeanor.

12

I breathed a sigh of relief, happy to be home. I headed for my bedroom, practically giddy with anticipation, knowing I was about to get in a bubble bath. Before undressing, I decided to take a pain pill. My arm was throbbing. I poured a little lavender bubble bath and lavender bath salt in the tub and started the hot water. The lavender perfumed the air in my bathroom creating a serene ambiance. In a few minutes, the pain medication would kick in and I’d be in my own blissful world. I stepped in the tub and sank in, trying to keep my wounded arm out so as not to get it wet. The instructions were not to submerge the wound in water or try not to get it wet for the first twenty-four hours. I closed my eyes trying to relax and just take in the lavender aroma.

I was so glad Belín was here for a visit. She always had such great stories to tell. I wondered how she got in. I don’t remember leaving a spare key outside anywhere. In fact, Davis and I couldn’t get in because I had forgotten my key. Oh shit! How did she get in? And why didn’t she say anything about the other agents coming down on her the way they did with Charles Andrew? I jumped out of the tub and got dressed in a hurry, trying my best not to hurt my aching arm. So much for relaxing and being in my own blissful world. I was feeling a little impaired—the medication must be taking effect. I hurried to the kitchen trying not to stumble. I flew in like a herd of cattle almost crashing into the table looking wild eyed and crazy.

“I’m already on it, Isabel,” Davis said, while on his phone.

“How do you know what I was going to say, if anything?” I asked.

“Were you not going to ask Belín how she got in your house?”

“Um, yeah,” I was starting to slur my words. “Good job, Davis. Keep up the good work.” I gave him a thumbs up and smiled. I must have looked comical since they both just laughed. I sat down to eat the tapas Belín put together while we waited for my mother and brother. She was sipping on some wine. The brisket in the oven smelled wonderful; the sumptuous smell and the tapas only sharpened my appetite. Davis was finally off the phone and came to sit with us.

“So, what’s the verdict, Davis?” I asked, feeling a little too relaxed.

“They all thought it was you coming home in a cab. I can’t say they’re idiots for thinking that because she looks just like you, Isabel, green eyes and everything,” he declared. “She was able to walk right in because Josh just took off. He didn’t worry about anything except finding you.”

“They are idiots,” I exclaimed. “If they were paying any kind of attention they would’ve noticed that I left wearing one set of clothes and came back in another, hence not the real me, if they truly thought it was me. So, there you have it. Non-observant idiots.” Davis and my cousin glanced at each other both with grins on their faces. My eyes darted between both of them. “What?” I asked.

“Isabel,” Belín said in her charming Spanish accent, “Shh, eat some more tapas. You’re not making any sense.” She pushed two plates toward me. I ate greedily. Davis kindly got me a drink to wash it down.

“Ben was telling me how he left a career in medicine to join the FBI because he felt he could make a bigger difference in this agency,” Belín said.

“Davis, you were a doctor?” I was shocked. “What kind of doctor were you?”

“I was internal medicine. I practiced for seven years. I also did emergency medicine for a while and that’s when I decided I could do more good in the bureau. I treated a lot of young girls that were assaulted, raped or abused. All I could do was report it. It was frustrating.”

“Is this not amazing?” Belín asked.

“It certainly is impressive,” I agreed. “Are there any other agents like you, Davis?” I asked.

“Why must you call him Davis? Ben is so much nicer, Isabel.” Belín kissed my cheek and hugged my neck.

I snickered. “My apologies, Ben. I forget my mother’s side of the family is much more personal and loving than my father’s side.” I hugged her back. Ben was amused and enjoying how she was bossing me around.

“Almost all the agents have a specialty,” he said. “For instance, my background is medicine, so I’m usually the one that’s looking at lab work or DNA samples or odd markings on bodies. Agent Stems has a background in law so she’s essentially a lawyer for the FBI and Josh’s background is in computer science and technology. He’s good with all things computer and tech. That also includes cell phones.” He seemed to emphasize that little tidbit about Josh.

“I bet he is.” I frowned.

He smiled patiently. “You get the idea.”

My mother and brother walked in, making a ruckus, yelling for Belín. I guess they found out she was in town. Everyone hugged and kissed.

“Your mother called me and said you were passing through here from Kosovo. Where are you going next?” My mother hugged her tight and kissed her on both cheeks. I got up to get another drink and saw Davis and my brother introducing themselves. They talked for a minute or two and then Charles Andrew went to Belín;