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

He laughed and didn’t let go of her hand. “I can see where your daughter gets her beautiful green eyes from.” He looked absolutely smitten by her. What the heck?

“Mom!”

“I’m joking, darling. But it is a good book.”

Ben was snickering with them. He saw me scowling so he decided to introduce the doctor. “Isabel, this is Doctor Greg Kinney. He was one of my professors when I was in my last year of medical school. I trust him with my life and therefore I trusted him with yours.”

My mother didn’t let me speak. She took over as if I were four years old again. “Thank you so much for taking such good care of my baby, Doctor Kinney. She looks very well and she said she feels well too. You don’t know how relieved I am to hear her say that.”

“Please, call me Greg, and yes, I’m glad she’s coming out of this nicely. Those are very powerful drugs and taking them in combination with one another can be very deadly.”

My mother smiled at him and placed her other hand on his, murmuring, “Call me Cate, Greg.” Was she flirting? “Do you happen to have her blood work results?”

He let go of her hands. “Yes, I have them right here.” He took some papers out of his lab coat pocket and started to read it. “Her labs look good. The drugs are still in her system but we’ve been flushing them out since she arrived. I see no serious or lasting damage to her. I was very impressed with her when she first got here. She was responding to the paramedic on the ride here, she was able to tell me what was hurting, she was trying to open her eyes and I heard she pulled out her IV in the ambulance. She is very impressive.”

“I know,” my mother said unapologetically and kissed the top of my head.

“So, when do you think we can take her home, Greg?” Ben asked.

“As soon as she’s finished with this drip. Normally, I would keep the patient overnight for observation but I know she’ll be in good hands with Ben, so I’m not the slightest bit worried,” he said, glancing at the IV bag. “It looks like you’re almost finished here so I’ll get the paperwork started and…” he stopped mid-sentence and turned to Ben, saying, “But you said no paperwork. The FBI would take care of everything.”

“Yes, that’s correct, thanks for remembering, Greg. I appreciate your discretion.” Ben and Doctor Kinney shook hands.

“And Cate,” he turned to my mother to say, “take your time finishing that book, Ben can get it back to me.” He took her hand to shake it and added, “Or you can bring it back here to me personally.”

My mother kissed him on both cheeks and thanked him. “I may just do that,” she offered. He left the room smiling like a fool.

“Mother! What’s gotten into you? He’s obviously flirting with you and you’re encouraging him. You’re a married woman!”

“Honey, I may be a married woman but I’m not a dead woman. Hush now, and just rest.” She picked up her book, sat down and began reading. Ben chuckled. My goodness, my mother was a flirt. When did that happen? I elevated the head of the bed a bit more, not really wanting to rest anymore. I was ready to leave. I think I’d seen enough hospital rooms and ERs and IVs to last me a lifetime. I was anxious for tomorrow to come. I was curious to see if my suspicions were right.

Ben could see my impatience. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

“I could eat,” I replied.

“Good, your mother made a lot of food and I have to say it smelled and looked wonderful.”

“Thank you, Ben,” my mom chimed in. “I hope it tastes as good as it looks.”

I gazed up at my drip, hoping it was finished. Ben walked over to it and gently flicked it, saying, “I think this is good enough.” He pushed the button on the wall to call the nurse.

“Yes, Dr. Davis, I’m on my way,” said the female voice on the other end.

“Dr. Davis?” I asked, surprised. “I know you said you left a life in medicine to join the Bureau but I suppose it was never real for me until now.”

He smiled shyly. “Some of the nurses that I used to work with are still here and I suppose they will always know me as Dr. Davis.”

A young nurse came in like a whirlwind, taking my IV out and removing everything I was attached to. Just like that, she was in and out faster than you could shake a stick. I sat in bed for a second, getting my bearings and wondered if I should continue on with this case. It nearly got me killed and Josh was in the hospital fighting to recover. I could be putting the rest of my family in danger. It would be easier and safer to just pretend I didn’t know anything. But could I live with myself?

14

We arrived at home without incident. No one was shooting at us or trying to kill me by way of overdose. I never in my life would have ever thought that not being shot at or poisoned would be a good day. My arm was starting to ache but I didn’t want to say anything or act as if I were in pain for the mere fact that I didn’t want any more drugs in my system. My body still felt slow and heavy, and having gone through this ordeal had scared me away from any kind of pain medication. I’m sure Ben wouldn’t let that happen again but I was just not willing to take that chance. Ben took my jacket and my mother’s and hung them. I looked around