Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (books to get back into reading TXT) 📕

Alex.” I gave her a warm smile. “And last question… the Asian man that helped you, how does he know who I am?”

“He said he’s been watching you and knows who you are.” She seemed surprised that I didn’t know. “He told us you are a good person and helped other girls.”

An uneasy feeling took over me. I gave Ben a look; he just nodded at me, with his stony face, as if he had this all under control. Jeez, Ben! Give some sort of emotion! I just didn’t know how to feel about this. I had yet another person watching me that I didn’t know about. At least this one didn’t want to kill me. And what did the man mean when he said I helped other girls? I was just a psychologist. I handed Belín her phone and thanked her. She quickly left the room, no doubt to get to a computer after hearing what Alex had said.

“Beth, tonight is group therapy night for the teenagers we treat. I’d like Alex and you to come. She doesn’t have to talk but I’d like her to be there so she can meet the other kids in her situation.” I wrote down the information on a piece of paper and handed it to her. “Next, I’d like to know if y’all have eaten this morning?”

Beth sighed, grateful for my question. “No, our nerves had our stomachs in knots so we couldn’t eat. It would be nice to get something.”

“Okay then,” I said in a cheery voice. “Let’s walk over to the cafeteria and get you settled and fed. Give me just one minute and I’ll be right back to take you there.”

I eyed Ben and inclined my head toward the door so he would step outside with me. I began to tell him about the woman and the Asian man that had just left with the Triad member and Alex identifying them as being her captors. I outlined for him what I thought should happen and how we should go forward with this information. He agreed with one exception: he wanted to be present when I talked to David about the girl or girls he was treating. I agreed.

“Go ahead and make your phone call,” I told Ben. “I’ll go back with them and tell them we can talk more after they eat.”

I headed back to the room, waiting for Ben to finish his call. It killed me to know these perps were right there, in the same building as Alex, and we could do nothing about it. I didn’t tell them about who we saw; I just said Ben was on the phone and we’d leave once he was finished. I started to wonder if the house Alex was talking about was close by. If that woman frequented the hospital, it must be. This could be a good sign for the FBI. It might make it easier for them to get these assholes.

Ben peeked his head in and asked if we were ready to go. Alex and her mother grinned with anticipation of the thought of food.

Beth and Alex went through the breakfast line while I found them a seat. I chose one that was against a wall with a lot of other patrons around them. I didn’t think they should be isolated away from everyone as it might draw attention to them.

Agent Stems arrived just like Ben promised. I waved at everyone so they can see where we were sitting. Alex got to us first and I can see apprehension in her eyes. She set her tray down, her eyes darting from Stems to her mother.

“Alex, this is Special Agent Allison Stems. She works with Ben… and I guess a little with me too. Don’t worry, she’s super nice.”

“Nice to meet you, Alex.” Stems held her hand out for Alex to shake.

“Please, everyone have a seat, so I can explain just a little on what we need to do.” I sat next to Beth and put Stems and Alex together. Ben sat at whatever free seat was left. “This is Agent Allison Stems. She’s going to be Alexandra’s guardian angel for a spell.” They laughed at my choice of words. “Beth, once y’all are done eating, Stems will bring you up to my office and Agent Davis will continue with his questions,” I said. “We’ll explain in more detail what all this means once you’ve had a chance to eat and we’re in private. Don’t worry, it will all be fine,” I promised.

“Feel free to ask Agent Stems whatever you like. She’ll answer as best she can,” Ben added.

Ben and I left them with Stems and headed back to the ER to find David. I was still holding the charts. I skimmed through Elsa’s as we walked. She was a new patient so there wasn’t a lot of information. David had prescribed an antibiotic and Ginger’s name was in there as well as one of the attending nurses. Not a whole lot to go on.

“Ben, Doctor Somer said that the woman comes here often, claiming to run a non-profit that helps young girls get the medical attention they need. If that’s their front, don’t you think that perhaps that’s also how they are soliciting these girls on line?”

“It is a possibility,” he pondered. “They could be hiding it through that ruse, making it hard for us to see it or find it.”

“Isn’t this something Josh can help with?” I asked coolly.

He eyed me, expressionless. “Yes, it is.”

We found David but he was busy with another patient. Thankfully, Ginger was not around. He saw me waiting and told one of the residents to take over.

“Love, I’m glad you came back.” He kissed me on the cheek and neck below my jaw line.

“I’m sorry for disappearing like that. Dr. Somer needed my help.” I glanced nervously at