The Littlest Witness (Love Inspired Suspense) by Choate Jane M

Author:Choate, Jane M. [Choate, Jane M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

TEN

The shelter was alive with activity in the afternoon. At Reverend Monson’s insistence, Cassie Travers, a therapist who volunteered at the shelter two days a week, used his office for her therapy sessions.

Tommy had seen something the night of his parents’ murder. Shelley was certain of it. It was the most likely explanation for his silence, a shock so profound that it had forced him into a safe place where nothing could reach him.

“Shelley, could you take over the children’s story time?” Pastor Monson asked. “Our regular person is down with the flu. It’d be a real help if you could fill in.”

She would have rather walked barefoot over burning coals, but she found herself agreeing. She owed the pastor.

Pastor Monson introduced her to the children and reminded them of their manners.

Shelley picked up a thick book of fairy tales, and started reading.

“And they lived happily ever after,” she concluded an hour later.

“There’s no such thing as a happy ending,” a red-haired girl who looked around eight said in a loud voice. There was a certain insistency in the girl’s voice that gave Shelley pause.

Fortunately, Pastor Monson arrived at that moment. “Children, please thank Ms. Rabb for reading to you today.”

“Thank you,” twelve children parroted, all except the red-haired girl.

“You have the rest of them fooled with your stories, but not me. Happy endings are for suckers.”

“Cherry, it’s time for chores.”

“Okay, Pastor.” The little girl took herself off but not before giving Shelley a final challenging look.

Shelley searched for something to say. “She seems very mature for her age.”

“That’s Cherry Parker. She and her brother have been here about a month. They arrived with the clothes on their back and nothing else. Ordinarily, they’d be handed over to Child Protection Services, but I asked for and was granted permission to keep them here. I knew Cassie could help them more than CPS could. They’re overworked and understaffed.”

Sensing that there was more to the story, Shelley asked, “What happened?”

Pastor Monson’s expression grew grave. “Her parents left Cherry and her brother in a motel room. Somehow, Cherry got them here.”

“How old is her brother?”

“Five.”

Shelley turned away, gathering up the books.

“It hurts you, doesn’t it?” the pastor asked quietly. “Hearing about Cherry and her brother.”

“No.” Shelley kept her face averted, busying herself with stacking the books on a shelf. “Why should it?” she asked in a voice she couldn’t quite make sound normal.

“Because you understand.”

She was about to deny the charge, but Cassie appeared at that moment. “I sent Tommy to help with chores.”

“I’ll leave you ladies to talk,” Pastor Monson said and withdrew.

Shelley put the pastor’s question and the memories it evoked out of her mind. “What did you find out?”

“My guess is that Tommy saw something so horrible that when he buried it, he also buried his ability to talk.”

Though Shelley was gratified to have her guess confirmed by an expert, they were no closer to learning what he saw or how to help him. “What can we do for him?”

“Short answer.

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