Chapter 19 - Lies And Deception (1/2)

Isaac looked at Halia in surprise, ”Your drink was spiked?”

”That explains it. I think my drink was spiked too!” he replied.

Halia looked at the man in confusion. This was not the answer she expected to hear.

”How did you carry me out of the bar, then?” she asked.

”I didn't, I actually blacked out inside a toilet cubicle and by the time I woke up, it was 4am the next day and the bar was cleaning up. But...I did see your friend carry you out,” Isaac explained. ”I was worried about you, that's why I called you out for dinner today.”

”Did your friend get you home fine?”

Halia continued to look at Isaac in confusion. What friend was he talking about?

”He looked really worried about you. I guess he's not that bad.”

At that moment, their steak arrived so Isaac stopped talking. Halia wanted to question Isaac a bit more, but a violinist suddenly came around and began playing.

Halia sighed and started cutting into her steak.

Soon, the meal was finished and the violinist stopped playing.

But, just as Halia spotted an opportunity to speak again, Isaac beat her to it, ”Halia, can you consider me as your friend?”

”Of course,” Halia replied.

”I'm glad. I felt bad when you told me that you only had one friend in Beijing.”

”One friend?” Halia asked.

”Yes, the guy that brought you to the hospital when you fainted. I was glad to see him carry you out of the bar last night. You must have called him to get you. Is that why you were on the phone?”

Halia stared blankly at the man as she tried to decipher what he was talking about.

All of a sudden, she remembered a recent conversation she had with Isaac. Last time, she panicked and told him that she only had one friend in Beijing.

That friend was...Jackson Wu!

That's when Halia remembered Jackson's voice in her ear, ”Listen to me. I'm going to get you out of here. You're going to be OK.”

For some reason, his voice sounded so trustworthy.

Halia pinched her hand. ”Snap out of it, he's a gangster,” she whispered to herself.

”Are you OK, Halia?” Isaac asked.

”Uh, yes...I'm lucky that my friend came to get me,” she smiled. ”I don't know what would have happened if he didn't.”

Halia looked at Isaac. Why were they both spiked? Was it the killer? Did this mean Isaac was innocent?

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