For His Name's Sake (Psalm 23 Mysteries) (4 page)

Cindy struggled against the feelings of anxiety that threatened to overwhelm her and she kept reiterating to herself that God was in charge and that everything was going to be okay.

“I’m going to grab us some coffee,” Liam said finally.

“Thanks, sounds great.” She would have preferred a soda, but at this point she would take the caffeine in whatever form she could get it.

He got up and left. No sooner had he disappeared than her phone rang. She grabbed it out of her purse and blinked at the screen.

It was Gerald Wilson. She had been trying to get hold of the investigator turned author for the last couple of weeks. He had interviewed her almost a year earlier about her experiences with the Passion Week Killer for inclusion in his latest book about myths and legends surrounding notorious crimes. He had also been working on
investigating the cult that had set up camp decades earlier up in the hills above Pine Springs. He had been driven out of town by an armed intruder in his hotel room who didn’t like his investigations. She had called him hoping to get more information about that and to see if he could help her figure out how Paul was connected to all of it.

“Cindy, it’s good to hear from you. I was on vacation and just got back in town and got your messages. I wanted to let you know that I’m dropping a copy of the book you’re in into the mail today. They just came in and they won’t hit stores for another month. You know, I think this one has bestseller written all over it.”

“Thanks, Gerald, I appreciate that, but I’ve actually been trying to get hold of you so I could pick your brain about the cult that was in this area.”

“Thinking of going after their buried treasure yourself?” he asked, his voice teasing.

“No, I’m trying to run down a connection. You remember the two detectives who worked on my case, Mark and Paul?”

“How could I forget?” he asked drily. “Neither was very forthcoming when I tried to interview them.”

“Well, I don’t know if you knew this, but a couple of days after you left town Paul was killed.”

“I hadn’t realized. Was it part of that land scandal mystery you were involved in?”

“Yes.”

“Well, what can I help you with?”

She took a deep breath. “It turns out Paul had been lying since he was a kid about his identity. They found the body of the real Paul during that whole mess.”

He whistled low.

“I’ve been trying to help figure out who he might have actually been and I have reason to believe he’s connected to that cult.”

There was a long pause on the other end and she began to wonder if the connection had been lost.

“Hello, are you still there?” she finally asked.

“Yes. Look, Cindy, there’s something I should tell you.”

“What?”

“Remember that I left town after an armed gunman threatened me?”

“Yes.”

“I told you then I didn’t care about figuring out who the man was.”

“I remember.”

“Well, that wasn’t entirely true. I knew who threatened me because I recognized his voice.”

“Who?” she asked, gripping the phone tighter. “Who threatened you because of your investigation?”

“It was Paul.”

“Are you sure?” Cindy asked breathlessly.

“Positive. I never forget a voice.”

“And you think he threatened you because of what he was afraid you might find if you kept investigating the cult?”

“With what you’ve just told me I’m positive that’s the case.”

Geanie groaned and Cindy jumped in her chair. Relief flooded her as she saw that the other woman’s eyelids were fluttering. She was waking up.

“We need to compare notes,” she said to Gerald.

“I’m free now.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not. I have to take care of something. When can I call you?”

“I’ll be home for the next three days doing nothing in particular, feel free to call whenever you can.”

“Thank you,” she said before hanging up and turning her attention to Geanie.

“Wh-what happened?” Geanie asked.

“You hit your head,” Cindy said, not wanting to reveal too much too quickly lest she send her into shock.

Liam entered at that moment carrying two cups of coffee. Cindy took one and sipped it, wrinkling her nose at the bitterness.

“You’re awake,” Liam said cheerfully.

In her mind Cindy couldn’t help but contrast him with Mark’s former partner. Paul had always been quiet and staunchly against civilian involvement in police matters. Liam was much more friendly and easy going. At that moment, though, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was hiding secrets, too.

“Yeah,” Geanie said, edging herself up to more of a sitting position in the bed. “Why am I in the hospital?”

“The paramedics wanted to check you out and make sure there wasn’t any brain damage.”

“At least not any more than there already was?” Geanie asked wanly.

Her sense of humor seemed to be intact. That was a good sign.

“Well, you know, there was some concern in that regard, but I was able to set the doctors straight,” Cindy said with a smile.

Geanie smiled back. Color was starting to return to her cheeks and she was growing more alert by the second. Cindy sent a grateful prayer heavenwards. Everything was going to be okay.

A nurse entered. “Glad to see you’re awake,” the woman said briskly. “That was a nasty bump on the head.”

“Yeah, I’m fine, I think. When can I get out of here?” Geanie asked.

“That will be up to the doctor, but there’s no way you’re getting out of here tonight if that’s what you’re thinking,” the woman said.

“But, I’m getting married in a week and a half. I’ve got stuff I have to do.”

“And that stuff will just have to wait for you. I’ll get the doctor, though. He’ll want to check you over.”

The doctor came in a minute later and Cindy stepped out into the hallway. She called Joseph who answered, voice tense.

“She woke up. It looks like she’s going to be just fine,” Cindy reassured him.

“Thank you, God,” Joseph whispered. “And thank you for being there with her and for calling, and letting me know.”

“Of course. It’s the least I could do,” Cindy said.

“Can I talk to her?”

“In a few minutes. The doctor’s checking her over again now that she’s awake. Hopefully he’ll release her in the morning.”

“Whatever they need to do, make sure they do it.”

“I will.”

“Okay. Call me the minute I can talk to her.”

“I will,” she promised before ending the call.

Poor Joseph. He had been through so much. She remembered when he had told her he was thinking of proposing to Geanie but he had been afraid to because he felt that danger had been stalking him because of all the things that had happened. Cindy had reassured him that if anyone was cursed it was her and not him.

If it was someone coming after Geanie trying to get at him then maybe all his fears had been justified. She couldn’t let herself think like that, though. She couldn’t let him think like it either. For all they knew at this point it really could be coincidence. Or maybe someone had a grudge against the bridal shop and Geanie just happened to get in the way.

She wanted to call Mark and find out if the police knew anything yet about the driver of the car that had nearly hit them. She knew he and Jeremiah were with Joseph, though, so it would be best just to let them get their business done.

A minute later the doctor stepped into the hallway. “We’re going to keep her overnight for observation. At this point, though, I don’t see any reason why we can’t release her in the morning.”

“That’s good news, thank you.”

He shrugged. “We’ll see what the morning brings.”

He left and Cindy went back into the room just as Liam was stepping out. “I’m going to call Mark and see if he wants to post officers outside the door tonight,” he told her.

She nodded. She had a feeling the answer was going to be ‘yes’ unless the detective had learned something new.

“They won’t let me leave until the morning,” Geanie said, looking distressed as Cindy walked up to her.

“So I heard. It’s a good thing, though. You need the rest and they can keep an eye on you and make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. I don’t see what all the fuss is about. How did I hit my head anyway?”

“What do you remember?”

“I came out of the shop to get the slip from you. I was at the car and there was some kind of noise and then I woke up here.”

Cindy picked up Geanie’s hand. “There was an explosion in the bridal shop. It threw you against the car. I think that’s when you hit your head.”

“An explosion?” Geanie asked, turning pale. “What kind?”

“I don’t know what set it off.”

“It had to be big to knock me into the car.”

“Very big.”

Geanie blinked. “The owner and the seamstress?”

Cindy shook her head. “There’s no way they could have survived the blast.”

Geanie stared at her for a moment in shock and then began to cry. Cindy wrapped her arms around her and held her close.

“I never liked either of them,” Geanie sobbed after a moment.

“I know, neither did I,” Cindy confessed through tears of her own.

“But I never would have wished them dead.”

“Me either,” Cindy said, hugging her tighter.

“If it hadn’t been for forgetting my slip, and you not being able to get parking, I would be dead to.”

“I believe that God has a plan for each of us. It wasn’t your time and He was going to do whatever He needed to make sure you weren’t in that store when it happened.”

When they had both stopped crying Cindy handed her phone to Geanie. “Joseph wanted to talk as soon as you were able.”

Geanie took the phone gratefully and Cindy walked back outside where she joined Liam in the hallway.

“Figured you ladies could use some privacy,” he said sheepishly.

She smiled gratefully. “So, what did Mark say?”

“He’s called for an overnight protective watch, handpicked the men. As soon as the first shift gets here we’re free to leave.”

Cindy nodded, realizing just how tired she was.

“He also said that once she’s released in the morning he wants her staying at Joseph’s because of his enhanced security system.”

“She’s not going to like that,” Cindy warned. “She’s got a lot left to do for the wedding and some things she’s trying to keep as a surprise from Joseph. Plus, if it gets out she’s staying there I’m sure tongues will wag.”

“Not if members of the bridal party are staying there, too,” Liam said.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, Mark suggested that you and Jeremiah should stay there as well plus whoever else is closely involved.”

Cindy raised an eyebrow. “Then I guess when I get home I have to skip passing out in favor of packing.”

Liam shrugged. “I think Mark wants everyone where he can keep close tabs on them, just in case.”

“Of course, that also makes the whole bridal party one big target,” she muttered.

“If it turns out this is an attack against her and Joseph, Mark’s going to order round the clock security as well.”

Cindy couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, Royal Wedding it is.”

Jeremiah was at home just about finished with his packing when Cindy called. “Hey, long day,” he said. “How are you holding up?”

“Probably better than can be expected,” she said. “You?”

“Irritated. Trying to figure out what I’m missing that I need to take to Joseph’s.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

There was a hesitation in her voice that gave him pause. There was something she wasn’t saying.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit jumpy being here by myself. They’re not releasing Geanie until the morning.”

“Maybe you should head on over to Joseph’s tonight,” he suggested. “It would be safer.”

“I don’t know,” she said.

For some reason she was struggling with the decision although he wasn’t sure why. He sighed and went to his dresser to add another pair of socks to his bag. “Tell you what, how about I pick you up in half an hour and we both head over there?”

“Really?” she said, sounding tremendously relieved.

“Sure,” he said. “After all, Captain’s still over there. I figured he’d just get in the way of the packing and he was having fun with Joseph’s dogs. He’ll miss me if I’m not there tonight, though.”

He didn’t want to have to go over early, but clearly Cindy needed him to do this. That was fine.

“Okay. I’ve got a lot of stuff, though. I’m having to pack for both of us over here.”

“All the more reason you need help hauling it,” he said, putting a smile into his voice.

“Thank you. I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay, bye.”

He ended the call and zipped up his suitcase. He’d said he’d go over in half an hour, but he’d head over now. He was ready and there was no reason to leave her alone and feeling jumpy any longer than he had to.

He locked up the house, threw his bag in the trunk and headed out. Back in November he had been ready to leave because the relationship with Cindy was growing too close which was dangerous for both of them. Then Mark had begged for their help finding out the truth about Paul. He
had reluctantly agreed, telling himself that once they found out the truth he would go.

Maybe that was why he hadn’t worked very hard to actually help out with that. He knew he didn’t want to go, but staying was becoming less of an option. Staying meant telling Cindy the truth and that was something he couldn’t bring himself to do. It would shatter her. He’d spent the last couple of months trying to distance himself from her, but that hadn’t worked either. Somehow they seemed to be closer than ever. Wedding planning had thrown them even more and more together and for the next ten days they would be nearly inseparable. The thought gave him a deep sense of joy while at the same time it frustrated the logical side of him that knew that much togetherness was a mistake.

Five minutes later Cindy was opening the door. She threw her arms around him and hugged him so tightly he thought she might never let go. She finally did and he followed her into her house.

There was a massive pile of luggage next to the door and he felt his eyes bulge as he stared at it.

“I warned you there was a lot,” she said.

“Yes, you did,” he conceded.

“To be honest, I’ve run out of suitcases and I’ve had to resort to a couple of boxes and a trash bag. Not exactly dignified or up to the standards of a Royal Wedding.”

He chuckled. “I’m sure Joseph has a few loose diamonds you can glue on them that will class them up in no time.”

She stared at him for a moment and then burst out laughing so hard she sat down on the floor. After a moment he started laughing, too.