Channing would not have gone in expecting Amanda to have any sort of information for her. If she were being completely honest with herself, she'd have never expected anyone she wanted to see to be here. Over years Channing had put together a couple of community events with the help of Miss Dumount's boss. Channing was the de facto community event organizer of things like mostly precinct carnivals, but she'd also planned their anniversary event for later this week. Her mind had sent her here to officially cancel that. Channing and Miss Jullian had a very good working relationship, she had a good sense of the woman's schedule. The passing of her husband had destroyed her sense of time. Who she was when he was alive had died when he did. It was foolish to expect her to be capable of being on top of things. Of course Channing's mother just wanted to get back to some part of her daughter, so the older woman requested her child find a way to do something productive. The last place she'd been productive without pay was at this office. If the newest widow of Cider City had to spend her first week outside of home picking up the pieces of herself with memories, it was better now than later...at least that's what her mother thought. Channing didn't exactly agree, but she didn't have the energy to talk down her mother's tough love.
Channing hadn't been listening properly when Amanda had first began to speak of how things were working today. She was distracted, she wasn't sure if any part of what she needed have done had even been started. Of course even if Channing wasn't all there mentally yet, her brain had caught all of what she had been saying. It was hard for her to speak on most of it though, as she was trying just as hard and Amanda was too not get too emotional just listening to her. Channing knew exactly what that felt like, the only difference was there couldn't have been a clone of Kiera running around in need of her. She honestly wasn't ready to have such a horrible thing in common with so many people. Of course, she had needed to hear the advice the way she'd put it. " You sound like mother, she said something like that in gruffer terms. Umm, my mother just say come here today. What day is it? I know I need to cancel of adjust the Appreciation thing that John and I were going to do thank the family in blue for being so good to us for almost a decade. Chief Jackson was actually the one who set up the blind date, so we, I mean I owe the CCPD a debt of gratitude."
It was toward the end of this statement that her mind caught up the rest of the sound in this room. She couldn't have heard that reporter correctly. Did that glorified weather girl have the nerve to blame this latest tragedy on the police. Channing's gloved hands locked themselves together and found their over her heart. She took a couple of deep breaths, responding with a negative non verbal gesture to Amanda's request to join her at the new crime scene. Channing had to be a lady right now, her anger was reddening her ears, if she went anywhere near that clown...she'd end up in the back of a squad car. She took Amanda's card and was just able to get out a squeak about not getting in the way of cops, but wishing her empty luck. Channing completely understood wanting answers, but answers couldn't be found if you were constantly in the way or blinded by emotions. So Channing needed to be as far away from this sick case as possible for the time being.
Channing would much rather return to her home and her bed, but mother dearest had removed her house key from her ring of keys. Oh no. Channing immediately removed her cell phone from the pocket of her tan jean-leggings again. She saw that she had a reply from Benjamin and now she had a question for his girlfriend. If Channing hadn't been so infuriated at the thought her of mother locking her out for the purpose of cleaning that the widow didn't request the comforting that came from Benjamin's message would have been able to register on her face. She stepped in her hatchback and started to drive, unsure of where she was going at the moment, just needing to get someone with less people. She saw the sign on indicating that the park was coming up. So many of Jonah's important pictures had happened here. This park was still a happy place...safe enough to parallel park near the sign outside the place and not the parking lot.
It would seem that her mother or brother or one of her sisters had packed her a travelling meal. The dentist Channing had worked for before moving to Cider City had hooked her on to bento box thermoses and she'd insisted on using them ever since. Channing hadn't been able to eat since she had gotten the news of her husband's unfortunate passing. It would seem that now that she was out of home, her appetite was returning. She walked with her bento thermos to a nearby table without an umbrella. Channing was a little curious as to what kind of gumbo her brother had made for the household that eating when she wasn't. Opening her bento, she was pleasantly surprised to see greens gumbo, it had been years since she'd had this, steamed brown rice, and a small melon and mozzarella salad. It would be a decently filling meal if she allowed herself to eat. Channing was a little upset, paranoid about her mother might rearrange her home.
Channing removed her phone from her pocket and shot off quick messages to Lauren and Benjamin while she picked at her salad.
To: Lauren
From: Channing Rodgers
Message: I know this a random legal question, would I be able to legally bar my family from moving things in my home right now. I don't want or need them to change anything about my home right now, it needs to stay the same I don't want my other messing with our things.
To: Benny
From: Channing Rodgers
Message: Anything? I am truly ashamed to say this but water spilled on the phonebook...I can't get in touch with John's extended family for anything now. I know that John's phone is still in evidence and I know you've known John's family longer than I. Could you help me get in touch with them so I can make sure they can be here for the service. I going to try and have this service ready for him then, but I need them here too.
After hitting send, Channing made her phone call. "Mom look, I don't know what you think you are doing by taking my house keys from me. I understand that cleaning is something you want to do, but I don't want you rearranging anything. My house needs to look exactly as it was when you last visited John and me. You can't do that thing you do, my whole God forsaken living room is at whole nother angle, momma please. If you loved Jonah you wouldn't hurt our memories right now. Please mom, I need my normal, please.... I swear, momma if you don't respect my wishes on this, I don't need you in my house." Channing didn't know where the sudden bit of spine came from, but was just something that had to be said. Her mother was screaming on the other in end of the phone, she didn't want to hear this, her finger hovered over Airplane mode and she pressed the button while trying to pass it off as dropped call from bad weather.
Looking to her left she noticed the young Miss Cole. Channing hated the idea of being a bad example, so she felt the need to also say, "That wasn't a threat, somethings though you have to put your foot down with as an adult. There are some situations when it is okay to hang up on your mother."
YOU ARE READING
SPLATTER (draft)
Mystery / ThrillerIt's been on National TV. The obsession of the local newspaper. Fear in every resident's heart that compels them to lock their doors at night and to keep the dog loose. To never stay out past eight, or dark. The first body they found was of a you...
