Secret Place
By Leslie J. Sherrod
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PROLOGUE
Twenty-four hours ago she had been a virtual unknown, a radiologic technologist working the night shift at the local hospital, the Sunday school teacher for the nine-to eleven-year-old girls’ class at Greater Glory Worship Center.
Today, cameras surrounded her house. News vans with mounted antennas, reporters holding microphones camped in her front lawn and along the narrow city street waiting to capture any words she said, any movements she made, ready to broadcast and translate her life to the entire world.
“When you open the door, don’t hesitate. Walk straight to the car we have waiting for you. Don’t worry, Mrs. Joel, we will handle all of your public statements right now.” The man next to her patted her knee and offered a firm smile.
She hated what she saw in his eyes. Pity. She did not need that, not for herself, not today, and especially not for her little girl. Where was April anyway? Charisma Joel scanned the living room, sealed off from the rest of the world with the shades drawn tight and the television muted. She could not believe what kept running across the screen. That was her face in the pictures, her life in the headlines. She had to find April. As if reading her mind, another suited man shouted over the frenzy in her living room. Were all these people really necessary?
“April’s okay. We sent her to your next-door neighbor’s house.”
Next door. Charisma did not know whether to sigh in relief or cringe in horror. But she had no time to do either. They were already walking her to the door. It was time to face the cameras.
“Remember, let us do the talking.” The man smoothed down his suit jacket and cleared his throat.
That was fine with her. She had nothing else left to say. Not a statement, not a story, not a prayer.