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

“Oh.” He seemed satisfied. “Honey, I know you’re worried and upset over this Ginger thing but I told you I would fix it. Please don’t shut me out like this.”

“Then this is perfect for you, David. While I’m away you can ‘fix’ it and I won’t have to worry about Ginger doing her shit to me. Just don’t bother me until it’s all fixed.” I opened the car door to let Samson in. “Goodbye, David, and please be careful,” I said as I got in the car behind Samson.

“Isabel.” David’s voice cracked with an unexpected emotion I had never heard before. “Isabel, please.”

“David,” I said pointedly, “I have to wonder why are you wanting to be with me again… now, because there’s another man showing interest in me? Is this some sort of twisted mental thing where you’re thinking ‘I don’t really want you but I don’t want anyone else to have you either?’”

“What? No! It’s not like that.”

I blinked at him apathetically. “Get your shit together, David. And don’t call me. I’ll call you if and when I’m ready to talk to you.”

David was speechless at my audacity. I shut the car door and told Ben to drive. He obeyed.

Belín turned to me grinning. “Isa, I think you have cut David down a few notches. Also, I know your intent was not for him to want you more but I think you have achieved that, regardless.”

“You’re right, that actually wasn’t my intent. As for cutting him down a few notches… I should’ve done that a long time ago,” I declared, feeling guilty I was so cold with David. My phone began to ring. It was Jake. Wow! Jake was calling after work hours. He either had important information for me regarding Alexandra’s case or he wanted to get together. I rubbed my forehead, hoping it wasn’t the latter.

“Jake!” I chimed, hoping the call was about work. “So glad you called. What’s up?”

“Hey, Isabel. I have some interesting news on this case with Alex.” His voice was tense.

“Jake, if you don’t mind, I’m going to put you on speaker so Agent Davis can hear. I hope that’s not a problem for you?”

“No problem, Isabel,” he said politely.

“Go ahead, Jake.”

“That Debbie woman that brought those two girls into the ER… her name is Debra Danhour. She has a history and a record of drugs, drugs and more drugs. Drug possession with intent to distribute, smuggling drugs, manufacturing drugs, you name it. She was charged and convicted but only got probation for five years,” he said. “She was charged for assaulting an officer. She supposedly turned her life around after meeting some Asian guy and now runs this non-profit organization for at-risk girls. I don’t buy it though,” he declared. “Something doesn’t smell right. She takes these girls to get checked or treated to a lot of different ERs in the Chicago area, not just at Cook County. It’s as if she doesn’t want to draw attention to herself by going to just one or she has some sort of agreement at all these different hospitals.”

“What about the Asian man with the tattoo and the one that was with her?” I asked.

“Oh, right. That tat guy is part of that organization you told me about…Tri-something or other…”

“The Chinese Triads.”

“Right! I’ve never heard of it until now. They work and are set up like the mafia. And Isabel…” He lowered his voice as if someone else could be listening. “…They are everywhere.”

“Could you please elaborate? What do you mean by ‘everywhere?’” Ben asked.

“What I mean is, if a Triad member isn’t working in the ER or the hospital or a business then they have some of those organizations on their payroll.”

That wasn’t a surprise to any of us. We suspected as much and now it all made sense—what the girls were told by the Hongman—“don’t trust the ERs.”

“Ginger,” I whispered.

“Yep, she’s one that’s on the payroll,” Jake declared. “And they give her a nice little kickback at least twice a week for whatever she does for them.” He paused, exhaling loudly. “A few doctors are on their payroll too.”

I gasped softly, my mind automatically going to David. Surely, he would never take money from anyone so depraved… for any reason. I could never fathom David stooping so low. He was a selfish, egocentric man but I’d never known him to be a greedy man. Especially with money… or a man without morals or a conscience, for that matter. However, he had been acting differently since Josh showed up. It was almost as if he was trying too hard. All his changes had been positive for the most part. I shook my head at my wayward thoughts. David would never take a bribe or money from an organization so hideous as this.

Yet, I still had to ask, “Jake, do you know if Dr. David Summers is on their payroll?”

“That name has not popped up on any payroll that I’ve discovered, however, he is a person of interest since he’s been in a relationship with one of the nurses that is on the payroll.”

“Ginger,” I said flatly.

“Right again, Dr. Langley.”

“Can’t y’all just go arrest Ginger, since you know this?” I asked.

“It’s not that simple, Isabel,” Ben said.

“He’s right. We can’t just go in there and arrest her for being on their payroll. That’s not a crime. For all we know she could be on their payroll for cleaning Debra’s house,” Jake said. “I’ll call you once I have more on this supposed non-profit. If it’s a non-profit, I’m willing to bet there are investors, if you know what I mean.”

Ben raised his eyebrows as if to say, “I hadn’t thought of that one.”

“Thanks for calling, Jake. I’ll talk to you soon.” I hung up the phone and reclined back on my seat