For His Name's Sake (Psalm 23 Mysteries)

  19

  Jeremiah blinked for a moment in the sudden darkness. The happy haze that had been enveloping him a moment before burst like a bubble. It was happening. He had rehearsed his exit dozens of times throughout the afternoon. He knew the steps by heart even if he had to take them in the dark.

  He scooped Cindy up in his arms, turned and headed for the side exit to the sanctuary where Mark was waiting. Only when he got there the detective was gone. Hopefully that meant he was chasing down one of the bad guys.

  He made it out the side, turned toward the front of the sanctuary and crashed to his knees as something struck him sharply on the back of the neck. His vision swam before his eyes and it was all he could do to hold on to Cindy who was now screaming and thrashing.

  He felt someone grab him under his armpits and then a moment later release him.

  He heard a shout and a moment later a flashlight hit him full in the face.

  “Tell me your real name,” Mark demanded.

  It was such an eerie echo of the thing Jeremiah had been dreading him asking that it took his breath away for a moment. “It’s me, Jeremiah,” he managed to whisper at last as Cindy stopped struggling. “Behind me.”

  Mark ran past him, as Jeremiah struggled to retain consciousness.

  Mark made it out of the sanctuary just in time to see a black-clad figure disappear around the corner of the building. He raced forward, rounded the corner and kept running, trying to figure out where the assailant had gone next.

  If it hadn’t been for the tiniest flash of what looked like peach fabric disappearing inside Mark would have run right past the one darkened meeting room. The clerk at the store in the mall had said that Amanda had bought a peach dress.

  He spun on his heel and moved silently toward the entrance of the room, pressing himself against the outside wall and waving several other officers over.

  “What are you doing here? You’re ruining everything!” a woman’s voice hissed.

  “Me? What about you, where’s Joseph?” the second voice sounded like Amanda’s.

  “We need to try again later.”

  “No, Sonja, I paid good money to have him now!” Amanda shrieked, her voice rising a full octave.

  Mark nodded. So, it was the American assassin whose name Liam had gotten who was behind all this. With the appearance of the snake he’d begun to wonder if it was one of the others on the list.

  He lifted his hand and let it fall and the officers flowed into the room. “Freeze, police!” the lead one yelled as he flipped on the light switch.

  Mark entered the room just as Sonja spun Amanda around to use as a human shield.

  “I told you that you were crazy to want to take him here,” Sonja hissed.

  “And you promised me he would be mine before he married that tramp,” Amanda wailed.

  Sonja was backing up, her left arm wrapped around Amanda’s chest with a knife held against her. In her right hand she held a gun aimed at Mark. She was heading for the door behind her that led out toward the parking lot. If she got through it, they might lose her.

  “What do you want me to do?” Liam asked softly.

  “Do you have a clean shot?”

  “Murky.”

  The two women were co-conspirators, even though one had now turned on the other.

  “Take it.”

  Liam fired and a moment later Sonja dropped like a stone, a bullet hole in the middle of her forehead. Amanda fell with her and Mark rushed forward, kicking both the gun and the knife away from her.

  “He’s mine!” Amanda shrieked even as another officer rushed forward and handcuffed her. He pulled her to her feet and Amanda stared at Mark in rage. “How dare you come between us?”

  “You hired her to kidnap him for you,” he said, pointing to Sonja.

  “Yes, I had to sell my house to afford it, but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat,” Amanda raved.

  “And you paid her to kill Geanie so she’d be out of the way permanently.”

  “Oh no, I couldn’t afford to have Geanie killed. Sonja said it would be another five hundred thousand for that, and I just didn’t have that kind of money. Besides, I knew that if I could just get him alone, away from her, I could make him see reason,” Amanda said, her eyes shining with madness.

  “Right, so you both just wanted us to think it was about Geanie,” Mark said.

  Her face twisted in fury. “That witch kept me from getting my invitation. He wanted me here. Joseph invited me. Me.”

  “No, we invited you,” Mark said. “Joseph didn’t want anything to do with you.”

  “It’s not true,” she said, her lips trembling.

  “Take her away,” Mark said to the officer.

  “He loves me, me! You’ll see! One of these days he’ll come to his senses,” Amanda shrieked all the way out of the building.

  “Great shot,” he complimented Liam as the other officer stepped forward.

  “Thank you,” Liam said, looking like he was going to be ill.

  Mark clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s okay,” he said.

  Liam just nodded mutely.

  Jeremiah set Cindy down and then struggled to his feet. Mark had chased the assassin, but something didn’t seem right to him.

  “Where’s the main power shut off for the building?” he asked Cindy.

  “Um, It’s on the outside wall, far left side, by the library.”

  “And the circuit breakers?”

  “Back wall, far corner.”

  Whoever had cut the power wouldn’t have had time to get into position to hit him in the back of the head just now. So, either the assassin had Amanda or another person helping them or they had a whole different problem.

  He had a moment of indecision as he tried to decide whether Cindy would be safer with him or away from him. He finally pulled her back inside and thrust her into Dave and Joseph’s arms. The rest of the wedding party was hunkered down at the front of the sanctuary. They grabbed her and pulled her into their midst.

  “No one gets near her until this is done. Understand?” Jeremiah hissed.

  “No one,” Dave reiterated.

  Jeremiah took off back through the side door and made it outside, then started running around the building. He could see the main power shut off and had nearly reached it when the hair on the back of his neck stood up.

  He spun in midstride and grabbed the man who was charging him, slamming him to the ground and pinning him there with an arm across his throat as he knelt on his chest.

  Instinctually he knew this was the man who had bombed the bridal shop and left the black rose and the message for Mark. He was middle eastern, well-dressed, and even though he was in the weaker position he was smiling.

  “Why try to kill Cindy?” he demanded, grateful that no one was around to hear.

  “She is your woman. That is reason enough.”

  Jeremiah didn’t bother arguing with him, telling him that she wasn’t his. Instead he asked, “You know who I am?”

  “Yes. So did the man whose dog you now have.”

  “Did you kill him?” Jeremiah asked.

  The man’s grin widened. “One of my brothers was responsible for that. The important thing is we know where you are now, we know who you love. And no matter what happens here, you will die.”

  Jeremiah heard a gunshot. One way or another everything was ending now. “How many of you are there?”

  “Enough.”

  “Who are you?”

  “You do not recognize me?” the man asked.

  Jeremiah didn’t, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Of course, how could you?” the man said. “You never look to the left or the right.”

  “I will hunt down all your brothers,” Jeremiah promised.

  The man just kept grinning. “No need. They will be coming for you. Not today. Not tomorrow. But soon.”

  Jeremiah heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

  The man on the ground kept talking.
“And I promise you that when they find you-”

  Jeremiah snapped his neck and stood up. A moment later Mark and Liam came into view.

  “What happened here?” Mark asked.

  “I think he must have surprised whoever shut off the electricity,” Jeremiah said. “I checked him for a pulse and everything. He seems to be dead.”

  “Looking like that? I’d be shocked if he wasn’t.” Mark sighed. “I hope Joseph or Geanie weren’t good friends of his.”

  “I don’t recognize him, so I’m guessing not,” Jeremiah said.

  “Good. Now, let’s get the lights on and then you come with me.”

  Mark led Jeremiah back into the sanctuary a minute later where people were happy to have the lights restored. Mark and Jeremiah walked up to the front and at their approach the rest of the bridal party stood.

  “It’s over,” Mark said softly.

  And then they were all hugging and crying together. It lasted for several seconds before Mark finally broke free and borrowed the microphone from the bewildered minister. He looked out over the assembled wedding guests, most of whom seemed to be finding their way back to their seats if they had gotten up.

  “Everyone okay? Yes? Great. Then, everyone take your seats and let’s get ready to do this all again.”

  Geanie and Cindy headed for the room they had changed in earlier. It was a miracle, but in less than five minutes they’d managed to trade dresses. As everyone huddled up at the back door of the sanctuary Geanie told everyone to ditch their masks for the ceremony, but to make sure to keep them for the reception.

  As Geanie and Joseph exchanged their vows Cindy felt a tear roll down her cheek. All the fear and the death and the chaos was over and the wedding was happening and it was beautiful.

  She noticed the other bridesmaids dabbing at their eyes, too. Tears were streaming openly down Dave’s cheeks and he didn’t seem to care who saw them. As for Geanie and Joseph, they were both smiling like they’d never stop. Cindy said a prayer for them and their marriage that it might be true.

  When the ceremony was over the guests started heading to the reception location while the wedding party stayed behind to pose for photos for the photographer. The man was still rattled from everything that had happened and distraught over having not been allowed to be present earlier for photos.

  When it was finally time to take a group shot with the whole wedding party together Cindy held up her hand over the couple’s heads and Jeremiah high-fived her. That, at least, got a smile out of the photographer.

  The limo ride to the reception was filled with excited laughter that was completely different in feel and nature to the nervous laughter that had filled the limo on the way to the church.

  When they entered the banquet hall Cindy was thrilled to see that all of the guests had already gotten into the spirit of the evening and were wearing their masks.

  The reception line was interminable, but at least people were respectful and kept moving through quickly. Cindy’s feet were hurting by the time they finally were able to sit down and start eating. All around her was color and pageantry but she took a few moments to just breathe and focus on her food. It was all a bit overwhelming but once she had cleaned half her plate she was starting to feel much better.

  Joseph and Geanie had their first dance. The dance following everyone was encouraged to join in and Jeremiah took Cindy’s hand and led her to the dance floor. The music playing was “Point of No Return” from Phantom of the Opera. Jeremiah held Cindy in his arms and together they moved across the dance floor. He couldn’t help but listen to the lyrics to the song even as his own emotions collided within him. A week ago he had still been planning to leave before things got more complicated between him and Cindy.

  Now that was impossible. He couldn’t leave, because his past had finally caught up with him and he wouldn’t abandon her to it. The time had come to tell her the truth, no matter what it cost him. Not the whole truth, but what she needed to know. She deserved to know at least part of it. But not now, not during Geanie and Joseph’s much deserved celebration and not during this dance which he wished would never end.

  Cindy leaned her head against his chest and it made him ache deep inside. He loved her. There was no denying it. When they had been standing in front of the minister and she had been reciting vows to him part of him had wished that it was all real.

  He wasn’t sure how or when it had all happened, but it had. Two years ago she was the pretty stranger whom he’d see in the neighboring parking lot when he got into work sometimes, nothing more. Now she was everything, and he had thoughts about her that he couldn’t control, feelings that were getting harder and harder to just ignore. He cursed his past which kept them apart.

  “Is everything alright?” she whispered against his shoulder, as though sensing the struggle he was going through.

  He tightened his arms around her. He could have this moment, he would give it to himself. “At this moment, everything is perfect,” he said.

  20

  Mark was sitting next to Traci. The reception was still in full swing and everyone seemed to be having a magnificent time. He had to admit that seeing all the dancers in their masks whirling by was a sight to behold.

  “If you don’t finish your cake, I’m stealing it,” Traci warned.

  “It is really good,” Mark said with a grin, “but I’d sacrifice my dessert to you any day.”

  Joseph walked over to them, a grin on his face. He sat down in one of the empty chairs. “Thank you both for everything,” he said.

  “Just doing my job,” Mark said, his reflex response.

  “No, you went far above and beyond your job. And, it certainly isn’t Traci’s job.”

  “That’s true,” Traci said with a laugh.

  “Here, this is for you,” Joseph said, handing Mark and Traci an envelope.

  “What is it?” Mark asked.

  “Two weeks, all expense paid trip to Tahiti. Your plane leaves tomorrow. I’ve made all the arrangements.”

  “What?” Traci gasped.

  “Liam helped me clear it with your captain. He said as long as the case was solved, you were free to take some of your vacation time. I wanted to surprise Geanie with our honeymoon destination, but I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure what her surprises were for me and so I kept my options open. I booked one trip to Paris and the other to Tahiti, making the arrangements in such a way that I could easily switch the names on one vacation. I figured we’d give the other one away, and the two of you certainly deserve it. Now, I have to get back to my bride.”

  When Joseph had walked away Traci punched Mark lightly in the arm. “Bet you’re glad I volunteered to be a bridesmaid now,” she said.

  “I am, I really am,” he said, still feeling slightly dazed.

  “You promised me a vacation after this,” she said with a happy smile.

  “I did. I just didn’t think it would all work out quite so well,” he said, tucking the envelope into his jacket. “You know the thing about Joseph?”

  “What?”

  “He’s really down-to-earth and easy going, but when he decides to make a big gesture, he makes a really big gesture.” He turned and smiled at Traci. “Well, we have some packing to do, but right now would you care to dance?”

  “I’d love to,” she said with a smile.

  He took her hand and led her onto the dance floor.

  Cindy felt a surge of relief as they saw Joseph and Geanie off. Once they were gone she and the others went back inside. It looked like the party was going to continue well into the night.

  She danced several more times with Jeremiah until her feet were so sore she could barely stand. When the party finally broke up just after midnight she helped with the clean-up efforts along with everyone else.

  The wedding party made it back to Joseph’s, but instead of heading straight for bed, exhausted as they all were, they congregated in the living room to relive everything that happened.

  Ci
ndy had to retell the events at the church since most of the group hadn’t seen what had actually happened. It was nearly four a.m. by the time she was in her room. The second her head hit the pillow she was asleep.

  The next morning was more bittersweet than she would have thought as everyone started packing up to go home. She realized with a start that she was going to miss the camaraderie of the past week.

  Jeremiah dropped her at her house, but they made plans to have a late lunch together and decompress some more.

  After dumping everything in her room Cindy looked around the house and it suddenly hit her that she no longer had a roommate. She felt tears sting her eyes. She had enjoyed having Geanie as a roommate and she was going to miss her.

  She wandered into her office and sat down at her computer. She pulled up her email and gasped. There was a message from Gerald that looked to have been sent the morning he was attacked. It had three attachments. With a shaking hand she clicked on the first one.

  Mark was sitting at his desk feeling like he was drowning in paperwork. He rubbed his eyes, wishing he could just slough all of it off onto Liam. Liam had his own stack of paperwork, though.

  He saw someone walking toward him and he turned and was surprised to see that it was Cindy. Without preamble she sat down in the chair next to his desk.

  “Can I do something for you?” he asked.

  “Actually, I can do something for you,” she said, handing him three sheets of paper.

  “What are these?”

  “When I checked my computer this morning I found that Gerald had emailed these to me the morning he was attacked.

  The top one was a birth certificate for a boy, Andrew John Matthews. His parents were listed as Tobi A. Matthews and Sarah Matthews.

  He glanced up. “Andrew John Matthews. Do you think...is this Paul?” he asked, finding it suddenly hard to speak.

  “Look at the other two pages,” she said.

  He turned to the next one. It was an elementary school record for Andrew John Matthews, age 7. In the field reserved for parent or legal guardian it listed Simon A. Matthews and a notation next to it read ‘Grandfather’. With a shaking hand he turned to the third picture which looked like it was from a school yearbook. The seven year old boy who was staring back at him was Paul. He’d bet his life on it.