Truth or Lies?

by A. Gomez

  December was upon us and Christmas was fast approaching. This would be my first Christmas without my family and poor Betty… did she still believe in Santa?

  There was no snow on the ground yet, as far as we could tell. I would manage to get a glimpse of the outside at breakfast and at my dinners with Chang. He allowed those shutters to stay open. Probably because his watchdogs were always around in every part of the house except for the girls’ rooms. Actually, they weren’t allowed upstairs at all, since that little incident I had with Gator Leg, and me pointing out he was stealing from Chang. Ever since then, Chang wasn’t quite sure about his men’s urges so he took extra precautions and ordered all his men to watch one another. At least we knew they weren’t going to give us any trouble.

  It was almost dinner time… time for me to get dressed in one of the obscenely expensive cocktail dresses and a pair of stilettos. Chang had bought me a few more dresses and shoes since our first dinner together. He said he didn’t realize how much he enjoyed dressing me so he decided to buy me more. I was thrown back by the admission but graciously thanked him for everything.

  Betty Lou and I finished our chores a little early one time. We headed back to our room together, her hand in mine.

  “Isabel Grace? I’ve been praying and I haven’t stopped, just like you told me and so far, everything’s been okay,” Betty paused. “But how long do I have to keep praying for? I mean, I don’t mind and I really like talking to God but how long is this going to go on for? How long do you think we’ll be here?”

  I bit the side of my lip. These were all valid questions. I felt a spasm of fear and despair in my gut. I had the same questions.

  “I wish I knew, Betty Lou,” I muttered. “I was hoping someone would’ve come to get us by now but it doesn’t look like that’s happening.” We must have been very well hidden in here if the FBI, or anyone else for that matter, couldn’t find us. I felt a pang of sadness for Betty. Christmas would be here before we knew it and she was missing out on the fun activities they have for the kids at school. Not to mention, she was also missing out being with her friends during the holidays. “Hey, instead of doing your evening reading and math, why don’t you have some fun tonight and make some Christmas bracelets or flowers with Caroline and Lilly? We can try and decorate our room with that.”

  “That’s a great idea!” Betty jumped up and down with excitement. “I’ll tell Lilly and Caroline to bring only Christmas colors.”

  I quickly dressed and did my hair and makeup while Betty was getting her things ready for the evening. Lilly and Caroline, thankfully, had no appointments and were able to stay with Betty all night. Debbie no longer fetched me for dinner. Chang told her to let me come on my own once he realized she was beginning to get jealous. I supposed he didn’t want to deal with an irritated, jealous female.

  I was almost to the dining room when I heard voices coming from Chang’s office. Debbie was talking to Chang; it sounded more like scolding. I paused by the hallway, just close enough to hear their conversation.

  “…but why are you procrastinating? You can’t keep putting him off, you know. This is more money than you ever thought! Let her go and be done with it! A chance like this won’t come up again.” Her Midwest accent sounded so nasally and annoying.

  I didn’t hear Chang say anything. Silence followed and then what sounded like Debbie’s footsteps. I quickly ducked into the dark hallway so she wouldn’t see me. I stayed there for a few more minutes, waiting to see if Chang was going to follow her. He didn’t. I could hear him pounding on the desk and exhaling heavily. I didn’t move. I heard light switches being flicked and then the sound of his door closing. I peeked around the corner and saw him heading to the dining room. I watched as he disappeared around the next corner before I headed out.

  Was he upset? Angry? What was Debbie talking about? Let who go? My imagination started to run wild. My stomach clenched.

  35

  As I walked into the dining room Chang smiled warmly at me. He walked over to me, handed me a glass of wine and kissed me on the cheek. I was thrown back, blanching at him and blushing. The most he’d ever done was hold my hand in his, and that was just to say goodnight. Never anything like this. I didn’t know how to react. I was speechless. Was this what Debbie was talking about? She was afraid he was getting too close, too attached to me. Say something, Isabel Grace, for the love of Pete! Don’t make this more awkward than it already is.

  “Mr. Chang,” I whispered, “you’ve taken me by surprise. This is very unexpected.” I cupped my hand around my cheek. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything, Dr. Langley.” His tone sounded detached. “Let’s eat and enjoy our evening.” I nodded, biting my lip. “You look stunning as usual, Dr. Langley.” He pulled my chair out for me.

  “Well, thanks to you. Anyone wearing these clothes can look stunning, but thank you.”

  He took his seat next to me. “Not true, Dr. Langley. I think you are what makes the dress. You have the brains and the beauty, Dr. Langley. A very desirable combination.” He wasn’t looking at me. Instead he took a long drink of his wine, almost finishing it. Hm, something was definitely bothering him.

  “Thank you, Mr. Chang, you certainly do wonders for my ego,” I said with a warm smile. “You certainly know how to treat a girl,” I chimed, trying to keep the mood light. It was roast turkey and two vegetables for dinner tonight. It looked and smelled wonderful. “Dinner is perfect, as always, Mr. Chang,” I said, trying to make small talk. He wasn’t chatting away like usual and it was making me nervous. “By the way, were you ever able to locate the original Isle of the Dead?” I asked.

  “I think so,” he answered, not looking up from his plate. “I won’t know for certain until I get there and look at it in person.”

  “Oh, well, that was quick. I hope it is what you’re looking for. I for one can’t wait to see it.” I tried to sound excited. “Am I still accompanying you on this trip, Mr. Chang?” I took a sip of wine.

  “It is what I originally wanted,” he sighed. “I wanted you with me and together we could have visited several art auctions and galleries.”

  “Could have…?” I was confused. “What are you saying? You don’t want me to go anymore?”

  “On the contrary, Dr. Langley, I want you with me more than you’ll know. We have the most interesting and exciting conversations and you’re always surprising me with your knowledge of art history and the artists.” He let his head drop slightly, some unspoken torment in his expression. “But the time has come for me to make a decision.” He gently placed his knife and fork on his plate. He lifted his head to gaze at me. “For several weeks now there has been a bidding war on you. A bidding war on who would pay the most to buy you. One man has declared he must have you and has set the price so high for what he’s willing to pay for you that all the others have dropped out,” Chang sighed, squeezing his eyes shut. Was he agonizing over selling me? Oh, give me a break! A thug with feelings. “Debbie is right. This opportunity will not present itself again and I would be an idiot not to accept it.”

  My heart was pounding; I swallowed convulsively, trying to push the lump in my throat down. I was frozen in my seat, staring at him with wide eyes. He kept talking but his words were echoing in my ears. I couldn’t comprehend anything else he was saying. So, this was what Debbie was scolding Chang about. It was time to get rid of me. Her words came flooding back to me. “Let her go and be done with it.” So, he wanted me with him but apparently not enough to say no to the money. I’d run out of time. I’d taken too long trying to find the best way to escape this hell and now Mr. Devil Incarnate was ready to sell me for an obscene amount of money. I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t leave Betty Lou to a fate worse than death.

  I placed my utensils on my plate and leaned back in my chair, briefly closing my eyes. I was starting to feel lightheaded. “Mr. Chang,” I interrupted him. “When am I supposed to go with my new… um…” words failed
me.

  “Tomorrow, late in the evening. I just need to accept the offer and he will then wire the money to my account within the hour.”

  “And what will happen to Betty Lou?” I asked, my voice trembling.

  “She will be placed on our app and begin working, or…” he paused, “I may place her on the same website as you and see what I can get.”

  Fucking bastard! I would kill you right now if I had my gun with me. I placed my hand over my mouth. I was beginning to feel sick to my stomach. I must have turned several shades paler because concern was now etched on Chang’s face.

  “Dr. Langley, are you all right? You don’t look well at all.” He sounded concerned.

  “I’m suddenly feeling very faint and sick to my stomach.”

  Chang jumped out of his chair and was at my side instantly. “Let me help you back to your room. I hope it wasn’t the dinner. I always make sure the ingredients are fresh.”

  I resisted the urge to scream delusional bastard at him. This guy’s reality was more distorted than I thought if he really believed it was the food that made me feel this way.

  “Actually, Mr. Chang, I don’t think I can make it to my room. Please, just let me lay down on one of the sofas down here. Just for a minute at least.”

  “Yes, of course.” He helped me to the sofa that was closest to one of the jammers. He then told one of his watchdogs to get Debbie.

  Debbie scurried over in a panic but when she saw it was me, she rolled her eyes. Chang sitting with me on the sofa didn’t help matters either.

  “Debbie, if you could please call the doctor and ask him if he could make a house call for us. Let him know I will pay him handsomely. Dr. Langley needs medical attention.

  Debbie pursed her lips and scowled at me. “Sure, Boss but it’s in the middle of the week. It might take him an hour or longer if he’s at the hospital.”

  “Then tell him to take the hospital’s emergency airlift helicopter,” he snapped at her. “It’ll take him only ten minutes to get here. He knows what to do.”

  She quickly ran off to do his bidding. Wow, doctors making house calls this late in the evening. I guess money did talk. He told one of his men to get me a glass of cold water and a cold compress. Chang was being very attentive and acting extremely concerned for my wellbeing. Who was he kidding? He was about to sell me to the highest bidder. It was more about protecting and taking care of his property than being concerned for me. Clearly.

  The watchdog came back with the glass of water and compress. I took a sip and placed the compress on my forehead. It felt good. The coolness was helping the nausea go away. It did nothing to calm my racing heart, however.

  “The doctor is in the area, Boss, so he’ll be here in just a few minutes,” Debbie informed Chang.

  “Excellent,” Chang exclaimed. “Dr. Langley, just lay here until he arrives. I need you healthy.”

  No shit, you need me healthy. You won’t get any of your filthy money if I’m not up to par. I laid on the sofa, listening to the pounding of my pulse in my ears. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe evenly and normal. I couldn’t believe it had come to this. I thought I was making progress with him. I thought he was enjoying my company so much that I could at least talk him into letting Betty Lou go. So I thought. I should’ve known better.

  The elegant chimes of the doorbell sounded. The doctor must be at the door. I heard only one set of footsteps walk in. Chang stood up.

  “Thank you for coming, doctor.” Chang was always so disgustingly polite. “I’m very concerned for this young lady and I do need her healthy.”

  “No problem, Mr. Chang. You do always compensate me handsomely. Now, where is the patient?”

  My eyes flew open. I knew that voice. That was David’s voice. Tony and Gator Leg were telling the truth! I sat up and turned to look over my shoulder. I locked eyes with David. He didn’t react when he saw me; his expression was impassive. My eyes were wide and my jaw dropped open, shock etched all over my face. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be happening. I was chanting in my head. How did I not know that David was involved in something so odious? Was he involved in this while we were dating or did Ginger bring him into this? This all felt like something straight out of an episode of the Twilight Zone.

  “I can’t examine her here with everyone looking. We need a room and some privacy please,” David said, his tone even and calm as if this was just business as usual.

  “Of course,” Chang answered. “You can use my office.” Chang held out his hand for me to take. I slowly took his hand and got up. He escorted us to the doorway of his office and then left us as we walked in. David closed the door behind him. He placed the bag he was carrying on a chair and just gazed at me.

  “Isabel,” he whispered. “Isabel,” and then he rushed to embrace me.

  I was taken off guard. “Let me go!” I hissed in a low voice through gritted teeth. “Don’t touch me!” I pushed him away as hard as I could. “They told me you worked for this monster but I just didn’t want to believe it. I thought I knew you, David. I told them you would never be involved in something so disgusting as this. Boy was I wrong.”

  “Isabel, keep your voice down.” His eyes were guarded. “It’s not what you think. I don’t work for Victor Chang. I’m helping the DEA and he just thinks I work for him.”

  “Liar, liar pants on fire,” I seethed, scowling at him. “Debbie said she needs a good rapport with Ginger for when she needs a doctor and you’re the only doctor I can think of Ginger will go to for this kind of help. And from what I keep hearing, the money is way too good to say no to.” My head was beginning to ache. I flopped down on the elegant love seat Chang had in his office, rubbing my forehead with my fingertips. “We dated for almost a year, David. I think I would’ve known if you were DEA at some point,” I whispered.

  “I’m not DEA, Isabel. I’m just helping them. That’s why I broke things off with you. Please, let me at least pretend to examine you. It could go bad for both of us if Chang thinks otherwise.”

  I sighed loudly. I peeked up at him and nodded. He sat down next to me with his stethoscope and began to listen to my lungs.

  “What do you mean ‘that’s why I broke things off with you?’ You left me for Ginger’s spread-eagled legs. Remember? I wouldn’t give you what Ginger was so willing to give you,” I spat with venom at him.

  He was probing my neck and collarbone with his fingers, “I left you because that’s when the DEA approached me to help them. They didn’t give me a choice, so I had to help.” He glanced at the door and then at his watch. “We don’t have much time before Chang barges back in here.” David was taking my vitals now.

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about, David,” I muttered in a low voice.

  He quietly exhaled. “The DEA knew that Ginger was buying opioids from someone or some group from south of the border and then delivering them to someone else in the area. They knew it was Chang but they had no proof. They just never thought that Victor Chang was involved in human sex trafficking as well. It wasn’t until you got involved in this case and the FBI came along.”

  “What does that have to do with you leaving me for Ginger?” I glared at him.

  “The DEA said if I didn’t help them then they would get you and your department to help them and I wasn’t about to let that happen. I didn’t want you anywhere near this kind of danger, so you see, I had no choice.” He took me by the shoulders, turning me slightly toward him, “I was supposed to develop a relationship with Ginger, gain her trust, just enough to where she would bring me into this hell and then get them the proof they needed.” He was gazing at me intently, his body tense. “Don’t you see, Isabel? I never wanted to leave you! I never wanted Ginger! I was and still am in love with you. It killed me to let you think that all I wanted was sex. And then I saw you with Rockwall… and that was it for me. Once I got the DEA some of what they needed, I told them I was out. I had to try t
o win you back. I had to ask for forgiveness and a second chance. But then this happened,” he sighed. “So much for keeping you out of harm’s way,” he scoffed. He continued his pseudo examination of me. I opened my mouth, stuck out my tongue, he looked into my ears, he poked and prodded all over my abdomen and limbs.

  I sat there, blinking at him, my temper beginning to boil and bubble. “David, do I look stupid? Or like some meek and weak helpless maiden in distress that always needs a man to save her?” I kept my voice low and even.

  He stopped his examination. “What? No, of course not.”

  “Then why on God’s green Earth, wouldn’t you just trust me with the truth?” I said matter-of-factly, blinking at him.

  “Because, Isabel, if Ginger would’ve had the slightest doubt in her mind about my feelings for you then my leaving you would’ve been all for nothing. I only agreed because you were the DEA’s second choice to help them. I couldn’t… I wouldn’t let that happen,” he said vehemently.

  “Well, David, then you’re a real good actor because your public displays of affection with Ginger were outstanding,” I said with indignation. “So much so that I can’t one hundred percent believe that this wasn’t a pleasurable experience for you. I believe you are helping the DEA and I also believe they wanted my help, but I don’t completely believe that being without me and being with Ginger was torture for you. You didn’t have to say yes. They weren’t forcing you. And if they would’ve ever approached me, which we will never know now, what made you think I would’ve agreed to help them?” I closed my eyes, sighing, “You made your choice, David, and it wasn’t me. Now that there’s another man that wants to be with me, that’s when you decide you want me.”