Truth or Lies?

by A. Gomez

  David stood up and walked to his medical bag. He let his head hang. He was rubbing his forehead, pressing his lips in a thin line. “I’m so sorry, Isabel. I never meant to hurt you.” He paused. “Are you all right? Has he hurt you?”

  “No, he’s been weirdly pleasant. I think I’m his human Barbie doll, though. He likes to put me in nice dresses and has me wear them to dinner with him.” I paused. “I’ve been sold, you know… to the highest bidder. I didn’t ask for how much… I didn’t want to know.”

  “I know,” David answered, turning to gaze at me. “Rockwall is the one who bought you with Ricky’s help.”

  I felt a slight twinge of excitement. “Josh? You’ve talked to Josh? Wait. He bought me? With Ricky’s help?” I was confused. “You and he are talking to each other? I don’t understand.”

  “You may know Ricky as Chex?”

  “Oh, yes, I remember him. I never got a chance to talk to him, although I did meet him.”

  “Like I said… I’m helping the DEA and he’s FBI and Ricky’s been helping these girls get out for some time now, so once Davis told Rockwall what happened, it only made sense to work together since we’re all after the same bad guy.”

  I supposed I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Josh was the tech brains on the case… and Chang did place me on some strange website for special clients with deep pockets. It made sense that Josh would be able to find me online.

  “But what makes Chang think Josh actually has that kind of money? Or that it’s not the FBI?” I wondered.

  “With the help of your father, the FBI was able to acquire the money Josh bid for you, so it is actual money. Ricky helped us by showing us where you and all the girls were being held, and since it’s all through a website, Josh was able to be someone else and hide who he really is. Chang doesn’t suspect a thing. We’re just waiting for Chang to accept the bid and as soon as he has the money in his account the DEA and FBI can move in.”

  “Oh,” is all I could say, still shocked to hear that David and Josh were working together. “What about Conny? Where is he in all this?”

  “FBI director Tim Conny is dead,” David said flatly. “He was shot and killed by one of Chang’s men the day Chang had you kidnapped.”

  I covered my mouth in horror. I remembered seeing Conny on the floor, not moving. I remembered jumping over the man I shot when I was trying to get away. How could I forget?

  36

  There was a knock on the door and then Chang walked in. He saw David putting his things away in the bag he brought and then eyed me suspiciously. I stared back at him blankly. David’s demeanor was cool and collected. He was giving nothing away.

  “She looks better, doctor,” Chang exclaimed.

  “Her blood pressure dropped slightly, causing her to get lightheaded, nothing serious. She just needs more fluids and some rest and she’ll be fine,” said David, sounding very convincing. I didn’t remember him taking my blood pressure. “She’ll be ready for whatever you need her to do.”

  “Excellent news!” Chang handed David a very thick envelope. “Thank you, doctor. Tony will see you out.” Chang motioned to the man standing by the doorway. David nodded without cracking a smile or so much as glancing at me. I watched him as he walked out, not knowing what to think or feel. This was all very surreal.

  My eyes flashed back to Chang. Had he accepted the bid from Josh? I needed to know.

  “Mr. Chang, did you accept the offer? Am I leaving… um, you?” I tried to sound as if it was going to be a struggle for me to leave him. That should stroke his ego.

  “Yes, Dr. Langley, I have. But I decided to go with another man who put in his bid at the last minute. He not only matched the amount of the original offer but also added his yacht and crew with it. I couldn’t pass on that,” he said, sounding almost giddy. “The money is being wired now. He wants delivery tonight. Debbie will meet you in your room in thirty minutes to help with your luggage. Please pack everything I bought you, he is expecting you to look as you do on the website.”

  I stood up in a hurry. “Mr. Chang! Tonight? You want to get rid of me so soon?” This buyer couldn’t be Josh. David never mentioned a yacht. My stomach was doing flips and I was wringing my hands. What could I say to make him change his mind? “Mr. Chang, what about us? What about you and me?”

  He froze, staring at me in disbelief. “Dr. Langley, you actually think of you and me as an us?”

  “Yes,” I prompted, sounding desperate.

  “I don’t know what to say. I always thought we could be good together. We have so many things in common; we both appreciate the finer things in life, and we have such stimulating conversations. Your knowledge of art is very impressive.” He sighed, “Yes, we could be an us. I hate to see you go but business is business.”

  CRAP! Think of something, Dr. Langley. “Mr. Chang,” my voice cracked in my throat. “Please, at least have one last drink with me before you deliver me. Let me pack and change and then let’s have one last cognac together.”

  He smiled broadly. “All right… let’s. You’re right. We need a proper goodbye. We’ve spent so much time together, it’s only fitting I should say goodbye to you properly.”

  I smiled weakly, nodding. I hurried back to my room, practically knocking the door off its hinges, running in. I shut the door behind me and locked it, not bothering to be quiet about it. Everyone jumped to their feet, startled.

  “Good grief, Isabel Grace, what the hell is wrong with you?” Caroline exclaimed.

  I started to strip off my clothes and put on a pair of jeans and a cotton, long-sleeve t-shirt. “Caroline!” My voice had an edge to it. “Get Betty out of bed and dressed. Then I need you and Lilly to get dressed.” They stared at me, shocked but did as I said. I outlined for them what I had planned. I told them to fill the rest of the girls in on the plan.

  Caroline placed her hand on my forearm. “I’m going with you, Isabel Grace.” She gazed into my eyes, her eyes blazing and determined. “I would rather die than keep living like this, so there ain’t no way you’re going without me,” she exclaimed.

  I just nodded. Lilly and Betty Lou left to prepare the other girls. Caroline found some clothes in Lilly’s closet and pulled her hair back. I ran to the bathroom to retrieve my gun. I sat on the cold tile and counted how many bullets I had left. Twelve. I only had twelve left. Shit. I shoved the magazine back into the gun and loaded the chamber. My hands were shaking. At least there’s a skeleton crew of bodyguards and watchdogs at night. Just don’t miss, Isabel Grace. I stood up and placed the gun in the waistband of my jeans, covering it with my shirt. It was too bulky and very visible. I got a ski vest Chang had bought me for our trip to fetch the Isle of the Dead painting and put that on. A quick glance in the mirror and all looked better. I got my shoes on and shoved a bunch of clothes and shoes in two Gucci bags, just enough for them to feel heavy and Debbie not question me.

  There was a knock at the door and then the doorknob started to turn. It was Debbie; she couldn’t get in. I started for the door when Caroline grabbed my arm.

  “Here,” she said handing me a few of the special chocolates, neatly placed in a small plastic bag. “Place one of these in his drink. It’ll dissolve pretty fast and he’ll be easier to handle.”

  “Caroline…” my eyes flashed up to meet hers. Why did she have these with her? Was she one of the girls who was addicted to the drug? My heart sank.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not hooked on these things and no, I haven’t tried one… yet. I’ve been carrying them around with me for some time now. I was going to take enough to put me to sleep and never wake up, but now that you’re here and we’re about to…” she trailed off.

  Debbie was knocking harder. Caroline disappeared into the closet. I shoved the chocolates into my pocket, smoothed my hair, turned out all the lights so it would look like everyone was asleep and took a couple of deep breaths. I opened the door slowly, letting Debbie in.

  “Why was the door locked?” De
bbie demanded.

  “Because I was crying and I didn’t want you to just barge in and see me that way.”

  “Oh,” she said contrite, eyeing me for a minute and then taking a quick look around the dark room.

  I handed her both my bags as if she were the valet. She took them both without protesting. I supposed she was eager to get me out of this house so she was not going to complain about carrying my bags. I put on my cross-body purse and walked out the door with Debbie.

  I cracked the door behind me, making sure not to close it all the way. I took a fleeting look around the hallway, noticing a few girls watching me walk away with Debbie. My hands were still shaking and my palms were beginning to sweat. Keep it together, Isabel Grace. You can do this. No one suspects a thing. It felt like we were moving at a glacial speed. I could barely pick my feet up; it felt like I had lead feet.

  Debbie took me to Chang’s office instead of the dining room. Oh, thank my lucky stars! This could make things a little easier. She walked in before me and dropped my bags on the floor without saying a word to Chang or me. She turned, smirking at me and walked out, shutting the door behind her.

  My heart was pounding. Chang was already pouring our drinks. He had a disgustingly ridiculous grin on his face. No doubt from the sale he just made.

  “Ah, Dr. Langley, come in, come in. I have our favorite cognac already out and ready for us to drink. We have at least an hour before we have to leave to deliver you so we can take our time and savor our drink.”

  “We? You’re coming too? I thought for sure it would just be me with one of your men,” I said, sounding surprised.

  He handed me my cognac as he took a sip of his. “I don’t have to go but I thought it would be better if I went to make sure there are no hiccups. This is a great deal of money and I would hate it if you didn’t get delivered safely.”

  I eyed him sipping his drink. Crap. How the hell was I going to get his little goblet away from him to put this damn chocolate in it?

  I took a small sip of my cognac. “What an interesting choice of words, Mr. Chang. ‘…I would hate it if you didn’t get delivered safely.’ Safely, being the operative word here, especially since you’re about to send me to a fate worse than death.”

  He looked at me, still grinning. “Are you feeling a little… upset, Dr. Langley? Is it because you are leaving me?”

  Jeez! Did he really just ask that? In what alternate universe was this freak living in? I decided to play into his delusion. “Yes,” I answered, pouting. “I hate to leave you, Mr. Chang. Being with you has been one of the best times of my life,” I said, smirking at him, thinking I was a great actor. I took a long sip of my drink. I noticed my hands weren’t shaking as much anymore. Huh, I guess a good stiff drink did help. I took another sip.

  Chang was smiling even broader now. “Dr. Langley, you overwhelm me once again. I don’t know what to say.”

  Say you’ll let us all go and you’ll turn yourself in! I screamed in my head. I placed my drink on his desk and walked over to where he was standing. He was very still, gazing at me, watching my every move. I took his drink from his hand and placed it on a small end table beside him, my eyes never leaving his. I stealthily placed two chocolates in his drink without him noticing. I took his face in between my hands. I felt his body stiffen slightly and then kissed him on the corner of his mouth. He took in a sharp breath. I stepped back and picked up his drink. Caroline was right, the chocolate did dissolve quickly. I gently swirled his drink and handed it back to him. He looked like he was in shock. I picked up my cognac and clinked his goblet to mine.

  “To art.” I toasted and sipped my drink. He didn’t move, still staring at me, unblinking. I placed my hand on his elbow and gently nudged it upward for him to drink. He better drink or else I didn’t know what I was going to do. Thankfully, he began to drink. In fact, he downed it so quickly I don’t think he had a chance to taste anything.

  My eyes bulged. “Wow. That was super-fast, Mr. Chang. Are you having another?” Please say yes. Please say yes.

  “I think I will,” he said, looking red in the face. “Would you like some more, Dr. Langley?”

  “Yes,” I smiled. “I think I will.”

  He refilled his goblet and poured a little more for me. I sat down on the couch, watching him, waiting for the drug to kick in. How long would it take? Should I give him more? We only have an hour before his watchdogs come searching for us. Maybe the alcohol will help speed things along. He did just refill his glass. Alcohol and drugs—that should be a double whammy—easier to handle him, I would think.

  “Come sit next to me, Mr. Chang.” I patted the empty seat next to me. “Tell me about what first attracted you to art.”

  He willingly came and sat next to me. His eyes were beginning to look a little glazed and they were beginning to droop. Perfect. He proceeded to tell me about an art piece he first fell in love with but his speech was so slurred now I couldn’t understand him. I clinked his glass again and took a big sip of my cognac, and he did the same. He was grinning and looked high as a kite. I decided to put one more chocolate in his drink just to be good and sure he didn’t fight me. He didn’t even notice, he was so high.

  We clinked glasses again and we both took a drink. He downed his again and then let the goblet fall on the couch. His body and head fell back against the cushion and his eyes were mostly closed. He looked high as the sky.

  “Mr. Chang?” I softly called his name. He didn’t respond. I nudged him. He didn’t react or move. I pushed on his shoulder a little harder and he still didn’t move. The bastard was officially high.

  I quickly got up and locked the door. Reaching into my purse, I took out Betty’s duct tape and proceeded to duct-tape his mouth, wrapping the tape several times around his head and mouth. I pushed him face down on the couch, turning his head to one side so he could breathe and duct-taped his hands behind his back and then duct-taped his feet to his hands. No way was he getting out of this. I picked up my cognac and downed the rest of it. I poured myself one more glass. I needed something to make me feel brave if I was planning on shooting people.

  I stood up to head for the door and got a little dizzy. Crap! I had a buzz! I couldn’t afford to have a buzz now! Now of all times! Maybe I shouldn’t have had that last drink. Shit! I steadied myself and shook my head a few times. Well, at least my hands weren’t shaking and I was feeling pretty good. Okay, I think I can do this. I turned off all of the lights in his office except for one small soft light. I walked out the door, locking it before I closed it. Time to get Caroline.

  I casually walked back upstairs as if nothing had happened. No one was around, thank goodness. I was starting to feel the effects of the cognac more than I wanted. I was sure I wasn’t walking a straight line.

  I was back inside my room, locking the door behind me. I flicked one small light on and called out for Caroline a little too loudly.

  “Shhh! Isabel Grace, keep it down!” She came out of the bathroom. “I didn’t hear any gunfire so I’m guessing things went as planned?”

  “Yup. Jan is all taped up and flyin’ high,” I snickered softly.

  “Jan? Did you just call Victor Chang, Jan?”

  “Course not. I said Jan,” I answered blinking a few times, trying to focus. “Wait. Did I say Jan or Jan?” I started giggling. “Oh my gosh! Why can’t I say it?” I was giggling harder. “Vic-tour Jan,” I tried enunciating his first and last name to no avail. I was laughing harder.

  “Isabel Grace, are you drunk?” Caroline snickered. “Can you shoot your gun in this condition?”

  “I may be a tad buzzed and yes ma’am, I can shoot straight. Besides, all of Jan’s men aren’t exactly petit men, I can’t possibly miss their round bodies.”

  “Well, let’s hope not, if it comes to that.”

  “Right! Is everyone in place?” I asked, slurring the question a little.

  “Yes, with your cell phone fully charged… and they have the charger with them too.�
��

  “Great. Are you ready, Caro?”

  Caroline chuckled. “You haven’t called me that since we were kids. And yeah, I’m ready.”

  “Well, I’m kinda havin’ trouble with names right now and your name is really, really long so that’s as far as I could get with your name.” We both laughed. “Car-o-line,” I made a face as I was trying to pronounce her name. Caroline laughed. “I really want to try and say your last name and see how that goes.” I was laughing at the thought of her even longer last name. “F-i-tz, F-tz,” I fell on the bed laughing harder. “Oh my gosh! Who knew you had a hard first and last name.”

  “Isabel Grace!” She giggled. “Get your act together. We have to help the other girls, remember?”

  “Oh yeah, I forgot.” I was quickly on my feet, saluting her. “Let’s go a huntin’ for some jammers and maybe shoot us some Triad members along the way.” I pulled my gun out and got it ready.

  She exhaled, and pursed her lips. “Okay, whatever.”

  We headed for the living room closest to the dining room where I saw one of the jammers. That’s where we were going to start. We got there with no problem and quickly unplugged the first jammer. I followed her to another part of the same room where she unplugged another one, each time hiding the jammer under a piece of furniture. We went throughout the mansion trying to find and unplug as many jammers as possible before any of the henchmen or Debbie discovered us, all the while Caroline shushing me. I couldn’t stop giggling every time I stumbled or tripped or ran into her. She was beginning to get irritated with me and for some reason that made the situation even funnier. We instructed the rest of the girls to start calling Josh as soon as they could see they had a signal. I wasn’t sure if this sex trafficker had any local police on his payroll so we said no police.