Signs of Pain by Ilyn Welch

Author:Ilyn Welch [Welch, Ilyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shotgun Honey Books
Published: 2023-04-07T04:00:00+00:00

During the days before Sunday service, Cherry spied on the Errant Sheep Tabernacle day-care activity. With camo-green Spy-Chirp binoculars borrowed from Esther, she observed from one block north of Shutter Street that Paula was not showing up for day care.

The same week, Zinnia and Angie returned from vacation.

“Paula Frieberg is off the client roster,” Zinnia said over the phone, after checking with her adult-services counterpart Jorge Ramos at Cherry’s request. “Perhaps they moved out of the county, or she’s at home with her mother. Eventually there will be a paper trail, but for now, it’s unknown.”

Cherry told Zinnia about the bizarre visit with Wardens she recorded.

“Don’t play it for me, especially while I’m at work,” Zinnia said.

“I’m getting my religious-sign neighbor, Mrs. Cantu, to document a church service on video with a concealed camera, to show how crazy it is.”

“Girl, you need to exercise caution!” Zinnia whispered, exasperated. “I cannot condone your methods. Is Mrs. Cantu of sound mind? You don’t want to be accused of manipulating...you know what? I can’t hear this. If you cross the line, don’t tell me!”

Zinnia hung up. Then Zinnia called back.

“You’re a good one, Cherry,” Zinnia said. “But be careful. Love you.”

Cherry blew an audible kiss into the receiver.

Exercise caution. Cherry thought about Zinnia’s grave warning. She considered her motivations, the imbroglio that had risen out of her...meddling? No, she thought. This was an existing unjust, ongoing matter, noticed on that bingo day by simply turning her head toward Paula’s voice, and looking. In looking at pregnant Paula, the fight-or-flight response ignited, and Cherry’s gut instinct went with fight mode, though in months since, the obsession had ebbed, flowed and crashed into legal and apathetic barriers.

But I’ve put Zinnia in a tough position. Cherry realized she couldn’t jeopardize her dear friend’s job. So mum’s the word to Zinnia, even if I wade into deep shit.

Then there was Cherry’s longtime neighbor. Was she using Mrs. Cantu? Would Mrs. Cantu be at risk? Cherry put the issues Zinnia raised into mind storage, reasoning that Mrs. Cantu would be acting as a voluntary church goer, not posing as a day-care client.

“I will make it up to you, Mrs. Cantu,” Cherry said out loud.

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