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

No more fighting with the FBI if I was going to stay or leave. And so far, everything had gone smoothly. No unpleasant surprises or “weird Chinese men” trying to kill me. Josh would be glad to hear tonight went well. I couldn’t wait to tell him.

“Isabel, how many cafeteria vouchers do you have so we can hand them out to these girls?” Pam asked. “Conny and Davis are taking care of where to house the girls and I told them we could help with feeding them.”

“I have twenty? Roughly?” I answered. “Each one is good for two meals a day at the cafeteria closest to the ER.”

“That should be sufficient. Patti has twenty as well. If we need more, I’ll purchase more with our petty cash.”

I nodded. “Pam, as you know, I’m leaving for Dallas tonight with Conny…”

“Yes dear, I know that.”

“Yes, well, I was wondering…” I paused, glancing at Tim Conny. “I was hoping you could speak with him about letting me come for next week’s group therapy? I can’t imagine not being here for the kids, especially since someone out there is telling them I’m the only one they can trust.”

“The thought did cross my mind.” She looked over at Conny. “Clearly, there’s someone watching you. The thought is unsettling.” She shook her head, incredulous. “But it seems that we need you here because of that. I’ll speak with Tim and touch base with you some time before next Monday.”

“Thank you, Pam,” I said, smiling, feeling satisfied.

Ben approached us with two girls from the group flanking him. His expression unreadable. “Isabel, Pam, this is Special Agent Sabrina Swan.” The brunette with blue eyes extended her hand for us to shake. We politely took it, trying not to gawk. “And this is Special Agent Dawn Fletch.” The long-haired blonde politely extended her hand as well; again, we tried not to gawk. Whoa! These women looked like teenagers! They were here as part of one of the teens during therapy the whole time? They weren’t kidding when they told me I wouldn’t see them. “These agents will be with the girls who need shelter. We have arranged for them to stay at an all girls’ school,” Ben said. “The school has graciously agreed to help us with room and board and a few classes to help get them back in school or what have you. They are also helping us with hot meals so no need for the cafeteria vouchers.”

“Very nice to meet y’all,” I said. “And by the way, whatever kind of moisturizer or beauty regimen y’all are using, I want in on that.” I stared at them both. “Y’all look like babies.”

Everyone laughed. Pam actually agreed with me and asked what their secret was. The women didn’t answer, they just continued to laugh. Pam and I eyed each other. Had they found the fountain of youth and didn’t want to share?

“Isabel,” Ben began, his professional tone and serious demeanor back, “I don’t want you to worry about any of these girls while you’re out of town. Agents Swan and Fletch may look like teens but I assure you they are highly trained agents with the bureau.”

“Thank you, Ben, I appreciate that. And just to be clear,” I asked, “none of the girls or other patients know I’m leaving for Dallas, right?”

“That’s right, Swan and Fletch know not to mention anything to the girls.” Ben nodded to the agents, letting them know they were free to rejoin the group. I eyed Ben, wondering if he would tell me if anything happened to any one of the girls while I was in Dallas.

“And don’t worry, Isabel, I’ll make sure to keep you abreast of everything that happens with these girls while you’re away,” he answered my unspoken question as he strode off in Conny’s direction. I hoped he really did.

Melody was waving at me from across the room. “Isabel, is that the girl that ran away with her boyfriend?” Pam asked.

“Yes, ma’am, Melody. She’s talking with her mother right now. I told her to get me before they hang up so we can arrange for her to get home safely.”

“Let me take this case,” Pam said, looking concerned, “if you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” I answered, looking at her quizzically. Pam rarely took cases, if at all.

“Conny has asked me to step in on several of these cases and this is one of them.”

“Be my guest. I’m sure you’ll do a better job than me,” I declared, glad to see that Pam wasn’t too affected from that awful bump on the head. She made her way toward Melody. I waved at Melody and just pointed to Pam, smiling. I didn’t want to give her a chance to say no to Pam helping her so I chose not to accompany Pam.

26

I looked at my watch. It was getting late. I was finally finished talking with my last set of parents and kids and answering questions. Patti was still busy with a crying mother and her daughter. It could be a longer night for poor Patti if she couldn’t help the mother calm down. I was going to make my way in that direction when I noticed Pam striding that way to help. I looked around for Ben and saw Conny was down to his last two sets of parents and girls. Did he really interview them all personally? Surely, he must have only done a brief interview and perhaps has set up appointments with all of them for a later time. Ben was already in my office making ready to leave. My mother and Belín looked tired and ready to get home.

David was still there waiting. I couldn’t believe he actually waited. He must have sat in my office for a good two hours post therapy session. Oof! Was he finally becoming a patient man?