For His Name's Sake (Psalm 23 Mysteries)

  Jeremiah chased after him, aware that there was someone following him as well. He hoped it was Mark, but he didn’t have time to stop and look. He turned the corner just in time to see the man turn another corner.

  Jeremiah put on a fresh burst of speed. He neared the corner, heard the sound of a car engine, rounded the corner and then jumped back as a black car thundered by. It nearly ran him over and he turned, fuming when he saw that the license plates had been removed from the car.

  He turned and came face-to-face with Mark. “Did you get the plate number?” Mark asked.

  Jeremiah shook his head. “He had removed the plates.”

  For a moment he thought Mark was going to punch the brick wall next to them. Finally he pulled himself together. “Let’s go get the others and get out of here before the restaurant blows up or something.”

  “They’re boxing up our desserts to go,” Cindy announced when the two men walked back in.

  “You must be some kind of mind reader,” Mark grumbled.

  “No, that would be me, actually,” Traci said with a strained smile.

  “Cindy, you’re sure it was the same man you saw outside the bridal shop?” Mark asked.

  “Yes, I hadn’t even remembered him until I saw him peeking in here, just the same way. I couldn’t get a good look at him either time because he had his hand up to his eyes, but I’d swear it was the same guy.”

  “I didn’t get a good enough look at him to identify him either,” Jeremiah said.

  Mark just shook his head, muttering something under his breath.

  Five minutes later they were in the limo heading back to the house. Once there Milt and Dorothy called it a night and the others took their desserts and adjourned to the living room.

  Mark was anxious and he could tell the others were feeling it, too. “Okay, we need to talk about tomorrow and about the logistics.”

  “One of your officers will be driving the limo tomorrow to the church. We’re leaving here at two which will give everyone plenty of time to get ready at the church,” Joseph said.

  “I had officers sweep it earlier today looking for anything unusual. A couple will be posted there all night to make sure that nothing is tampered with,” Mark said. “And tomorrow, all of Pine Springs PD will be there and then some.”

  “Wow, that sounds like overkill,” Joseph said.

  “More like ‘avoid a kill’,” Mark noted grimly. “Tomorrow the watchword is security, security, security. No one goes anywhere alone, not even the bathroom, is that understood?”

  All around him heads bobbed up and down.

  “Now, we’re going to be securing the banquet hall as well, but my gut tells me they’re going to strike at the wedding, before the minister pronounces Joseph and Geanie husband and wife.”

  “That would seem in keeping with Amanda’s goals,” Cindy said.

  “We need to get in that banquet hall for decorating it in the morning,” Geanie reminded.

  “Eight a.m. someone will take you there and then bring you back at noon. Remember, if you see anyone or anything suspicious, you report in.”

  “Any chance the security will scare them off?” Dave asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Mark said, shaking his head. “Besides, at Geanie and Joseph’s request, most of the officers will be dressed as wedding guests.”

  Geanie grimaced. “It’s bad enough we all have to be stressed out, I didn’t want to have to explain to the whole world what was going on. If all goes well they’ll catch these people and only we’ll be the wiser and everyone can go about the business of enjoying the day.”

  “I know this would be awful, but has anyone considered postponing the wedding?” Lyle asked.

  “It might calm things down, for now, but even if it did, I have a feeling we’d just be right back here in three months or whatever it was,” Mark said.

  “And frankly, Geanie and I won’t wait any longer,” Joseph said. “We’ll elope if we have to,” he said, threading his fingers through hers. “It’s not our first choice, but we have been talking about if it would be better, safer for everyone. For all of you. I mean, we appreciate everything you guys have done, everything you’ve risked, but we want to protect you.”

  “But, that’s not how it’s supposed to be,” Veronica said.

  “Excuse me?” Mark asked.

  “You guys aren’t supposed to be protecting us, we’re supposed to be protecting you.”

  “Actually that’s the job of the police,” Mark said.

  “No, you don’t understand what I mean,” Veronica said.

  “Okay, then what exactly do you mean?” he asked.

  “You know what the original reason, the original purpose for having bridesmaids and groomsmen was?” Veronica asked.

  “No, What was it?” Mark asked, surprised that she was speaking up and a little irritated because he didn’t see how something like that could be relevant to the discussion at hand.

  “The attendants dressed in festive clothes similar to the bride and groom to confuse evil spirits and keep them from attacking the couple.”

  Before he could say anything Traci reached out and grabbed Veronica’s hand, “That’s brilliant,” she said.

  “Do you think it will work?” Charlotte asked.

  “It has to, and given one of Geanie’s surprises for the wedding, I think it just might,” Cindy said, her voice shaking with excitement.

  “It’s too dangerous, I won’t stand for it,” Geanie said, face pale.

  Mark blinked at them. “Would one of you ladies care to tell me what’s going on in that group mind you’re apparently sharing?”

  They all turned and stared at him as if he was a complete moron.

  “Amanda and her hired killer may be flesh and blood instead of spirit, but they’re still evil,” Veronica said.

  “And if we play this right, they should be just as easy to confuse,” Cindy said.

  “I still have no idea what you’re talking about,” Mark said.

  “I think I’m catching on to the idea, but I’m baffled as to how you ladies think you can execute it,” Jeremiah said.

  “Because us ladies know something you gentlemen don’t,” Charlotte said.

  “I think it’s time we showed them,” Cindy said, standing up. “Geanie?”

  Geanie took a deep breath and then nodded. “Yes, yes, it’s time they knew what we’ve been planning.”

  “I’m going to hate this, aren’t I?” Mark asked.

  Joseph stood hesitantly and grabbed Geanie’s hand, his eyes troubled. “You worked so long and hard to keep this a surprise. Are you sure you want to reveal it now?”

  Geanie stared intently into Joseph’s eyes. “Dear, husband-to-be, I love you more than anything. And I think God was leading both of us to this moment, to these decisions that just might help save our lives even as we are pledging them to each other. You know I don’t believe in accidents, coincidences. I think I was meant to do what I did. I think I’m also meant to reveal it now. Trust me.”

  And then she smiled at him with such love that it even moved Mark who cleared his throat and looked away. He found Traci’s eyes and she stared at him with the same love only magnified by all they had seen and experienced together. He smiled and reached out for her hand.

  “Come and see,” she said softly. “All will be made clear.”

  Together they all headed to the study that the women had declared off limits days ago. With great ceremony Geanie opened the door and led the way inside. At the far end of the room were tables with dozens of boxes. Geanie led the way over to one of them and opened the top.

  She pulled out a carnival mask, like one might see in Venice. She turned and smiled. “These are for the reception. They are the favors that each guest can take home.” She turned it over and there, printed on the inside of the mask, were her and Joseph’s names and the date.

  “The reception will be a sort of impromptu masquerade, in honor of Joseph’s proposing to me
with songs from Phantom of the Opera, beginning with “Masquerade”.

  She replaced it in the box and then moved to the end of the table to a much smaller box. She opened the lid slowly, reverently, then drew two objects out. In her one hand she held a mask clearly inspired by the Phantom of the Opera one. In the other she held a beautiful white silk mask covered with feathers and pearls. “These are for Joseph and I. There are gold ones for the rest of the bridal party. It was my intention that we enter the reception wearing them, but what the ladies are suggesting is that we all don our masks a little sooner, at the wedding. I confess, I had been strongly considering that already. The difference, here, is that they are also suggesting that Joseph and I disguise ourselves as attendants and that two of them take our places until the assassin can be discovered.”

  Mark gaped slowly, looking around the room at all the sincere faces staring back at him. “You’re insane, all of you,” he said at last.

  “In order for this to work,” Traci said, “no one but the eleven of us must know of the charade.”

  “Agreed,” the others echoed.

  “You’re out of your minds!” Mark said. “How could you even consider this? Whoever stands up there as bride and groom are risking their lives, regardless of who they are. You can’t think this is a good idea.”

  “It’s the only way,” Dave said softly.

  “Even if I thought you were right, who would assume such an enormous risk?”

  “I will stand in for Geanie,” Cindy said.

  “And I will stand in for Joseph,” Jeremiah said.

  The two of them looked at each other and a silent understanding seemed to pass between them.

  Mark stared at them. “Now, yes, now is the time.”

  “The time for what?” Cindy asked.

  “I think now would be a good time to pray,” he whispered.

  It was a crazy idea. So crazy, it just might work, Jeremiah reflected as he watched the sanctuary filling up with people the next afternoon. He and Joseph were waiting in the wings, masks already firmly in place. Mark was waiting with them.

  “This is insanity,” Mark hissed.

  “But inspired insanity, you have to admit,” Joseph said.

  Mark sighed.

  Jeremiah just kept a watchful eye out, wondering when one of their uninvited guests was finally going to show. He’d barely slept at all the night before, thinking about what this day was going to entail. Trying not to think about what Cindy was going to look like wearing that wedding dress and walking down the aisle toward him. Every time the thought crossed his mind he lost all ability to concentrate on anything else.

  If he was feeling this way he could only imagine how Joseph was feeling.

  “Five minutes ‘til,” Mark told them. “Those ladies had better start this show on time. I can’t stand the suspense much longer.”

  “Imagine how we’re feeling,” Joseph said, nudging Jeremiah in the ribs. Jeremiah forced himself to smile even though the implication that he should be as nervous as Joseph struck a nerve. The truth was he figured he was more nervous than Joseph. And not for the reasons Mark would guess.

  They had been able to decorate the banquet hall that morning, all of them working together. It was going to look amazing. If anyone made it that far.

  “You look beautiful,” Geanie said to Cindy.

  Cindy turned, her hands shaking as she smoothed down the white dress that her friend should have been wearing instead of her. “Thank you. And you look amazing.”

  It was true. Wearing Cindy’s fuchsia maid of honor gown Geanie had never looked so radiant. She looked around at the rest of the room. Veronica, Charlotte, and Traci were wearing their forest green gowns and also looked beautiful. All of them were wearing their hair up in matching hairstyles. Each of them had a gold mask in one hand and a bouquet of roses in the other.

  What had seemed so clear and like such a good idea the night before was now making her stomach churn with anxiety that had nothing to do with the killer who was on the loose.

  Even though it was all a masquerade, she was the one who was going to be walking down the aisle, and she was going to be walking toward Jeremiah. She got lightheaded every time she thought about it.

  “Are you ready?” Geanie asked Cindy.

  “I think that’s my line,” Cindy said, hating that she could hear her own voice shaking.

  Geanie smiled and slipped her mask on. The other women did the same. It was actually nearly impossible to tell them apart, she realized with a start. Cindy took a deep breath and then donned the white mask.

  “Let’s get this show on the road,” she said.

  Geanie pushed open the door to the small room the women had used to change in. One by one Charlotte, Veronica, and Traci filed out. Then Geanie followed, and after a moment’s hesitation Cindy went after her. They walked slowly to the closed doors at the back of the sanctuary.

  The place was packed. So many people were attending the wedding that they’d had to put overflow seating in the gymnasium and set up a large screen television in there. Police officers dressed as wedding guests were positioned all over, searching for Amanda or the assassin she had hired. Cindy couldn’t help but wonder if there had been this much security at the real Royal Wedding.

  They all paused outside the closed sanctuary doors. Dave, Jordan, and Lyle were already waiting for them there.

  “This is it,” Geanie whispered, barely able to keep the excitement out of her voice.

  The doors opened and she could hear a harp playing All I Ask of You. Jordan and Charlotte went down first. They were followed by Lyle and Veronica. Then Dave and Traci went down. Geanie walked down alone as Joseph was waiting up front with Jeremiah. Cindy felt a pang of sorrow for her friend that she wasn’t getting to walk down the aisle to the Wedding March.

  The Wedding March started and Cindy froze for a moment, nearly overcome with terror. Then she forced herself to move one foot forward then the other. Everyone rose as she entered the sanctuary. She kept glancing from side to side wondering where the killer was, wondering when disaster would strike. She kept looking everywhere, desperately avoiding looking forward.

  When she finally did her heart leapt. She recognized Jeremiah, even though he was wearing the mask. It was the way he held himself and she realized she would know him anywhere. She forced herself to keep walking.

  She reached the stairs and walked up them. Jeremiah stepped forward to take her hand and her skin tingled where he was touching it. She barely remembered to hand her bouquet to Traci.

  “You look beautiful,” Jeremiah whispered for her ears alone.

  “And you so very handsome,” she managed to say around the lump in her throat.

  The music stopped, everyone sat, and Cindy tried to calm herself. Surely the attack must come at any moment. Amanda had fantasies of marrying Joseph herself; she’d never stand to see him marry Geanie.

  “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the eyes of God, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony,” the minister began. That was when Cindy made the mistake of looking into Jeremiah’s eyes.

  The world seemed to stop and it was just the two of them, caught up in this moment together. Slowly, he reached forward and took her other hand so that he was holding both of them. Even though he was wearing a mask she felt like at that moment it was the first time she was really seeing him.

  “Which is commended to be honorable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined,” the minister continued.

  She could feel warmth spreading throughout her body even as part of her began to panic.

  “If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

  She sucked in her breath. This was it, the moment of truth, the moment when surely one of the uninvited guests would annou
nce their presence.

  Silence, and nothing more.

  Then the minister was moving on. He was speaking about love, and what it was, and what it wasn’t. Cindy could only half hear him because her mind was racing. It should be over now. She shouldn’t still be standing here. She started to take a step back, but Jeremiah squeezed her hands harder.

  She glanced past him to the wings where she could see Mark waiting. The detective nodded once at her then turned to sweep the crowd with his eyes. He wants us to keep going, Cindy realized, starting to get dizzy. Her knees started to give way, but before she could collapse, Jeremiah stepped forward and put his hands on her waist, holding her up. She put her hands on his upper arms. She could feel the play of his muscles beneath her fingers.

  “Is everything alright?” the minister whispered low.

  “Just a little dizzy,” Cindy managed to whisper back.

  “Don’t worry, my love, I’ve got you,” Jeremiah said, his voice husky.

  The minister continued and they just stood there, Cindy holding on to Jeremiah for dear life while he held her on her feet.

  “And now, the exchanging of the vows,” the minister said. “First you,” he said, addressing Cindy. “Repeat after me.”

  “I take thee as my wedded husband.”

  “I take thee as my wedded husband,” she said.

  “To have and to hold from this day forward.”

  “To have...and to...hold from this day forward.”

  “For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health.”

  “For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health.” She just kept staring up at Jeremiah. He was smiling bigger than she’d ever seen him smile. His eyes behind the mask were sparkling. She finally risked a glance at Joseph and realized that Jeremiah looked even happier than him.

  “To love and to cherish ‘til death do us part.”

  “To love and to cherish ‘til death -”

  The sanctuary was plunged suddenly into darkness.