No U Turn

7

It didn't take long for tongues to start wagging. Gossip at the beauty shop ranged from a deranged hobo killer to an escapee from the insane asylum.

It was supposed to be Cash's day off. He and Lori planned to go to the big box store off 58 and load up on junk food after her shift, but Lori burst through the door before lunch bawling like a baby.

"I'm out of a job," she said, and sat down on the couch with a box of tissues.

"You were fired?" Cash asked.

"No, stupid. Rosie's been killed."

"Oh, babe. Lori, honey. I'm sorry. Was she in a wreck?"

Lori didn't answer. She spied the photo that Cash had tried to hide between the sofa cushions when she burst through the door. She fished it out, glancing at the young woman who held a blonde little boy in her arms.

"Who is this?" she asked, momentarily distracted.

"Nobody," he said.

"Cash," she whimpered, "what am I going to do? Rosie was my friend. My employer."

"Don't worry about it," he said, staring at the worn photo in Lori's hand.

He left the room. Returning with a glass of water, he handed it to her. She gave him the picture and took the glass from him. He tossed the photo in a drawer and sat down beside her.

"How'd she die?" he asked, softly, gently pushing back a lock of hair that had fallen into her eyes. "Any suspects?"

"I don't know. The deputy didn't say," Lori said. "Active investigation."

He kissed her on the forehead and fluffed the sofa pillow at the opposite end of the couch.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Out to find out what I can. You rest. If I find out anything, I'll phone you."

Lori was already nuzzling down on the sofa as he closed the door.

She squirmed on the couch. Something was trying to make its way to the front of her conscious mind. What was it?

She sat up, went to the desk and pulled the photo out. It was old. Faded. The top right corner had been torn off. No wedding band on the woman's fourth left finger. The little boy looked to be about four years old. He was naked. And he was unhappy.

He was filthy. His face was smeared with tears, and his mouth was frozen in a silent wail.

"This is exactly why I don't have kids," she muttered.

Flipping the photo over, she read the inscription:

Cash & Rosie

Last time together before

they took him from me